INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE

India Travel Guide - ENTRY AIR:   All the four major cities- New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai have direct international air connections. Domestic airlines operate between cities. And, the domestic carrier, Indian Airlines, flies into the neighbouring countries. SEA: Mumbai, which used to be the main point of entry into India, still receives sea travellers via passenger ships and freighters.

ROAD:  Overland, there are several points of entry into India. For up-to-date information on border crossing-points, contact Indian overseas missions or government tourist information offices.

India Travel Guide - VISAS AND IMMIGRATION:  All visitors, except those from Nepal and Bhutan, must have valid passports stamped with current visas. Visitors must register with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office within 14 days of arrival. Your hotel will take care of this service upon check-in. In any case, contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate in your home country before making your travel plans. All Indian consular offices around the world issue visas. Business travellers should apply for a multiple-entry business visa, which is valid for one year.

India Travel Guide - CUSTOMS Visitors possessing more than US$ 10,000 (or the equivalent in travellers' cheques or bank notes) must fill in a currency declaration form. Visitors may bring in up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, and one litre of alcohol, duty-free. Non-sporting firearms and narcotics are prohibited, as are gold bullion or coins (except by Indian nationals returning from working abroad, who may bring in a maximum of 5 kilograms). The penalties for violations are heavy. India restricts the export of antiques, including foreign-made artefacts and items more than 100 years old. The Archaeological Survey of India is the authority that determines whether items are restricted. Visitors may not bring in or take out of India anything made from endangered animal species.

India Travel Guide - CURRENCY The units of Indian currency are the Rupee and Paisa (100 Paisa equal 1 Rupee). Paper money is in denominations of Rupees 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 and Rupees 1, 2 and 5 in coins. Visitors may not bring in or take out any Indian currency, except in the form of travellers' checks. Do not use unauthorised moneychangers for exchanging foreign currency. Exchanging facilities are generally available at airports and docks, and authorized moneychangers usually display the rates of exchange. Credit cards are widely accepted in major hotels, restaurants and shops.

DRESS
Light and loose, easily laundered clothing is best for the south, and the northern plains, especially from April to September. You will need warmer clothes, including woollens, for the north during winter. Warm clothing is a must in the hill stations all year round.
India does not have a very formal dress code, though some hotels and clubs could insist on a minimum of formality in their dining rooms - long trousers and a conventional shirt usually suffice.
Businessmen should wear a jacket and tie, or a tailored safari suit when meeting counterparts or senior officials. Women should follow the same principle. When touring, avoid revealing tops, short skirts and all but the baggiest shorts. A set of loose-fitting salwar-kameez is a good investment.

LANGUAGE
English is the lingua franca between Indians of different regions. Staff at airline, railway and telecommunication counters and offices are usually fluent in English. Most direction signs usually have an English version too.