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1. Visa Information
Foreign Nationals desirous of coming into India are required to possess a valid passport of their country and a valid Indian Visa.
There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Passport and Indian Visa before they start their journey to India.
The Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian visas to the foreign nationals for their visit for various purposes. This facility is granted through various Indian missions abroad.
Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The Indian Mission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. Granting of Visa does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.
Specific Visas are granted on the basis of purpose of staying in India.Special permits are required for visiting certain areas in india. For information on this is provided by the VISA authorities.Additional fee is required to pay for each restricted/protected areas namely Sikkim,Andaman and Nicobar Islands. For VISA services kindly contact the respective authorities in the country and region of residence.
Indian Missions Abroad (http://india.gov.in/overseas/embassy_detail.php?type=IE)
2. Travel Information
Travel advisory (http://india.gov.in/overseas/travel_advisories.php)
India is a land of rich cultural heritage and geographic beauty. There are many places of tourist interests in India and every year many foreign tourists from different parts of the world come to explore the eternal beauty of this Nation. Tourists come for different purposes such as tourism, business, education, family reunions, etc. Cited below are certain guidelines that the foreign visitors are advised to follow:
• Foreign tourists are required to obtain a visa from the Indian Mission in the country of their residence or in a nearby country. They need a valid permit to visit certain restricted/protected areas.
• They must fill up their Disembarkation/ Embarkation cards on arrival/departure.
• Foreigners coming from or through Yellow Fever countries must be able to produce a valid vaccination certificate.
• Vaccinations like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Typhoid are recommended. There are some health risks in India like Cholera, Dengue Fever, Dysentery, Malaria and Meningitis. Travellers are advised to take precautionary measures against the same.
• Foreigners visiting India, who hold long-term visas (more than 180 days) are required to obtain a Registration Certificate and Residential Permit from the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office (FRRO) within 15 days of arrival. The foreigners registered at FRRO are required to report change of their addresses.
• Certificates of registration issued by the Registration Officers should be surrendered to the immigration officer at the port/check post of exit from India.
• Passengers embarking on journeys to any place outside India from a Customs airport / seaport are required to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs 500 to most countries and Rs 150 on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the provisions of the Act are punishable with heavy fines and imprisonment. Foreigners are therefore, advised not to buy any wild animals or their products and derivatives like articles of ivory, fur and skin.
• Climate in India generally is cooler in the north, especially between September and March. The south is coolest between November to January. In June, winds and warm surface currents begin to move northwards and westwards, heading out of the Indian Ocean and into the Arabian Gulf. This creates a phenomenon known as the south-west monsoon, and it brings heavy rains to the west coast. Between October and December, a similar climatic pattern called the north-east monsoon appears in the Bay of Bengal, bringing rains to the east coast.
• Foreign tourists are advised to do a complete research on the travelling and accommodation arrangements on the places they intend to visit.
• Some religious places in India have dress codes, like covering your head, being barefoot, etc. Tourists are advised to comply with them, so as not to seem offensive towards the religious sentiments of the concerned community.
Photography
Tourists should seek permission from the authorities concerned before taking photographs of places of military importance, railway stations, bridges, airports, military installations, metro trains, tribal areas and sensitive border regions. It is prohibited to take photographs in some of the temples, historical monuments, forts, palaces, tombs and monasteries. Visitors are required to take special permits from the Archaeological Survey of India for photographing monuments with tripods and artificial lights. Camera fee is charged extra in some historical monuments.
Protected Areas in India
There are certain places in India where entry is restricted. Tourists are required to take special permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi for visiting these places. These places include certain areas of Assam, North Eastern Frontier States (Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh) border areas of Jammu & Kashmir, selected areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Union Territories of Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands. One can visit in person or inquire on phone the details of getting special permits:
Foreigners' Division
Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block,
Central Secretariat, New Delhi - 110 001
Phone: +911123092011, +911123092161
Fax: +911123093750, +911123092763
Language
There are 22 National Languages recognized by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is the Official Union Language. Besides these, there are 844 different dialects that are practiced in various parts of the Country.
The official language is Hindi in the Devanagri script. The States are free to decide their own regional languages for internal administration and education. English is widely spoken.
Guides
Trained English speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important tourist centres. The Govt. of India Tourist Offices can be contacted by tourists for the services of approved guides. French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese speaking guides are available at some cities. Please consult the nearest Govt. of India Tourist Office. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments, and tourists are, therefore, advised to ask the guides for the identity card issued by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of India.
Time
GMT + 5 1/2 hours.
Electricity
Voltage in most places is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, although some areas also have DC supplies.
Communications
The Indian telecommunications Network is the fifth largest in the world and is the second largest among the emerging economies of Asia.
Today it is the fastest growing market in the world. Private operators like vodafone, Reliance, Tataindicom have made mobile telephony the fastest growing industry (over 164% p.a.) in India.
Wireless and Broadband internet is among the fastest growing communication sectors.
The international direct dialing code for India is +91.
Currency
Currency of India is Rupee. 1 Rupee = 100 Paise.The Reserve Bank has the sole authority to issue banknotes in India. The Reserve Bank has introduced banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series since 1996 and has so far issued notes in the denominations of Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 in this series. Coins in India are presently being issued in denominations of 10 paise, 20 paise, 25 paise, 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees and five rupees.Coins upto 50 paise are called 'small coins' and coins of Rupee one and above are called 'Rupee Coins'.
There are 24 hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports. All Credit cards are accepted in Major cities of India. All major Banks in India have a facility of 24hr Internationl ATMs. http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/ic_banknotes.aspx
| Indian Quotation |
Amount |
International Quotation |
| 1 Lakh |
100,000.00 |
100 Thousands |
| 10 Lakhs |
1,000,000.00 |
1 Million |
| 1 Crore |
10,000,000.00 |
10 Million |
| 10 Crores |
100,000,000.00 |
100 Million |
| 100 Crores |
1,000,000,000.00 |
1 Billion |
Customs and Currency Regulations
Al personal objects which are required in India are free from duty. Professional material and articles which have a high value can only be imported duty free if the traveler gives a written undertaking that these articles will be re-exported.
For the purpose of Customs clearance of arriving passengers, a two channel system has been adopted
(i) Green Channel for passengers not having any dutiable goods.
(ii) Red Channel for passengers having dutiable goods.
However,
(i) All the passengers shall ensure to file correct declaration of their baggage.
(ii) Green channel passengers must deposit the customs portion of the disembarkation card to the custom official at the gate before leaving the terminal.
(iii) Declaration of foreign exchange/currency has be made before the custom officers in the following cases :
(a) where the value of foreign currency notes exceed US $ 5000 or equivalent
(b) where the aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeds US $ 10,000 or equivalent
Public Holidays
India is a land of festivals. There are many festivals and special events in India, but only a few of these are celebrated in various parts of India on various days.
The full public holidays are:
26. January Republic Day
15. August Independence Day
02. October Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
Click here for more information on holidays and festivals in India.
3. Weather and Climate
India Meteorological Department (http://www.imd.gov.in/)
The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. There are four seasons:
i. winter (December-February)
ii. summer (March-June)
iii. south-west monsoon season (June-September)
iv. post monsoon season (October-November)
Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from November to mid-March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather,is between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.
Required clothing:.
Lightweight cottons and linens in summer with warmer clothes in winter and on cooler evenings. Waterproofing essential during monsoons. Warmer wear for winter. Weather can change rapidly in mountains and it is therefore important to be suitably equipped.
4. Travel Connections
Air Travel
Travellers can enter India through any of the five major cities with International Airports - New Delhi, the capital, in the north; Mumbai (formery Bombay), the commercial capital on the coast of the Arabian Sea in the west, Chennai (formerly Madras) on the southern coast of the Indian Ocean, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), in the east, and Thiruvananthapuram in the South-West.
In addition to the International Airports there are also several Domestic Airports in India with limited international operations: - These have customs and immigration facilities for limited international operations by national carriers and for foreign tourist and cargo charter flights. These include Bangalore (CE), Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Calicut, Goa (CE), Varanasi, Patna, Agra (CE), Jaipur, Amritsar, Tiruchirapally, Coimbatore and Lucknow.
Please click here for more details on Airports in India
Domestic Airlines in India
International Airlines connecting India
Customs and Baggage Rules
There are two channels for customs clearance :-
(i) Green Channel for passengers not having any dutiable goods.
(ii) Red Channel for passengers having dutiable goods.
Passengers walking through the Green Channel with dutiable / prohibited goods are liable to prosecution/penalty and confiscation of goods.
Duty free allowances and the rates of duties applicable for goods imported as personal baggage are contained in the rules established by the Central Board of Excise and Customs, Government of India.
Currency Declaration
Travellers can bring into India any amount of foreign exchange, subject to the condition that on arrival a declaration is made to the custom authorities in a Currency Declaration Form. It is necessary to fill out a declaration form if the foreign exchange exceeds US$ 10,000 or its equivalent and /or the aggregate value of foreign currency notes is US$ 5,000 or its equivalent.
Travellers Cheques in US Dollar and Pound sterling are easily exchangeable and ATMs are available in major Indian cities. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and large stores.
Rail ( http://www.indianrail.gov.in/)
India by rail offers a fascinating odyssey through time and space,cultures and history offering magical glimpses, cultural and natural diversity, shrouded in enchanting, mystery colours that captures the heart while soothing the soul.
Spread over 63,000 km. this massive rail network is served by nearly 7,000 railway stations.The Indian international railway system is the largest in Asia and second largest in the world. There are 63,000 km of track, over 8000 stations runing over 12,000 trains every day carrying more than 20 million passengers.
The Rajdhani Express, India’s superfast, fully air-conditioned,deluxe train gives you the unique opportunity of experiencing Indian Railways at its best. The train links New Delhi (the capital/ Rajdhani) to India’s major cities. Fare includes all meals and mineral water.
Superfast, intercity trains known as the Shatabdi Express link major cities and offer facilities for quick and comfortable travel.Faster, cheaper the newly introduced super fast intercity trains known as the Jan Shatabdi Express, link major cities and offer facilities for quick and comfortable travel to the budget
tourists. Sampark Kranti trains have been introduced to provide quicker
connectivity from a particular State to the national capital, with value added features such as non-stop run beyond the State, dedicated staff throughout the run and public address system.
The luxury trains of India provide a unique travel experience.
The Fairy Queen,The Deccan Odyssey,Heritage On Wheels,Palace On Wheels
Mahaparinivan.
Golden ChariotSpecial arrangements can be made to book a whole carriage or special carriiages can be reserved for an entire event. You can experience the royal and incredible India on one of these trains
Roads
Travel By Road
India has 3.32 million kilometers of road network, which is the second largest in the world. Roads occupy an eminent position in transportation as they, as per the present estimate, carry nearly 65% of freight and 85% of passenger traffic. Traffic on roads is growing at a rate of 7 to 10% per annum, while the vehicle population growth, for the past few years, is of the order of 12% per annum.
If you are new to India, it is important to familiarise yourselves with rules and regulations of the roads if you wish to drive. We drive on the left-hand side of the road, and the cars, including the rental cars are right-hand drive vehicles. All distances, speed limits (and speedometers) are in kilometers. While driving on the road, wearing of seat belts is compulsory and usage of hand-held phones is banned.
Petrol (Gas) stations are situated on both main and country roads. It is advised to fill up the tank before it starts giving warning signals, as sometimes there is a considerable distance between the towns. Indian petrol stations are not self-help. A helper will check tire pressure, oil and water, and fill the car, and if necessary, clean the windscreen.
After the railways, surface transport is the chief means of travel in India. It is a viable option to rent a car in cities, and fares are charged on a kilometer basis. In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other major cities, metered taxis, as well as luxury cars are easily available on hire. There are many rent-a-car services, with prominent international companies tying up with Indian firms to provide these services. You can hire a car for a full day or for a destination.
Sea
Travel By Sea
India is a large peninsula bounded by sea on three sides, and is blessed with a long coastline extending to more than 7500 kilometres. To the east lies the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea lies to the west, and the Indian Ocean lies to the south.Some of these States and Union Territories of India, lying along the coast, operate regular transportation services and scenic tours between various points. Traveling on the blue waters enveloping the Indian subcontinent is an experience to be cherished. Regular passenger ships are available in most of the coastal states. Sea journey is mostly used to reach the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Both these islands are a part of the Indian subcontinent, and are also well connected by airways. A sea journey can also be undertaken to travel between the different port cities of the Country. Apart from taking a journey by sea, you can also hire a ship for fun trips in the blue waters.
There are nine Indian states and three Union Territories, which are situated along the coast. These are:
Andhra Pradesh
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Goa
Gujarat
Kerala
Karnataka
Maharashtra
Orissa
Tamil Nadu
Puducherry
Daman and Diu
Lakshadweep Islands
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