India Travel Guide
Here you will find all the useful information and general tips about travelling to India. For any further information you may require, please reach us to your Private Travel Expert or reach us on hello@indusbound.com
Visas
Every Foreign National needs to obtain a VISA for visiting India. For details please click on: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
Indian Government is providing Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Authorization, which is also called e-Visa.
For details, please click: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
Travelers who do not require a visa:
- Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal, who do not require visas.
- Nationals of Maldives who do not require a visa for visits of up to 90 days.
- Persons of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indians who possess either an OCI or a PIO card, which are the equivalent of a long India visa.
India issues the following types of visas [http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/visaServices]
- Tourist Visa: Up to 6 months. Apply with: documents supporting your financial standing.
- Business Visa: One or more years. Apply with letter from the sponsoring organisation.
- Student Visa: For the duration of the academic course of study or for a period of five years whichever is less. Apply with: proof of admission to recognised Universities / Institutions in India
- Transit Visa: Maximum period of 15 Days. Apply with: Evidence of onward travel to a destination outside India.
- Conference Visa: For the duration of the conference or seminar. Apply with: letter of invitation from the organiser of the conference.
When you apply for a visa at an Indian Embassy or High Commission you must include the following:
- Your passport valid for at least 6 months.
- Visa fee in cash or by postal order (cheques are normally not accepted).
- Two passport-size photographs.
- Supporting documents, where necessary.
- Duly completed application form.
- Note: Allow one month’s processing time for postal applications.
- Some parts of India are “restricted areas” and require special permits.
Climate
India is a tropical country. Nevertheless, there are huge variations according to the region and the season. The coolest months are from mid-November to mid-March, which also happens to be the tourist season. In the south, and on the coasts, day time temperatures even in the cool months can be in be the mid-20s centigrade, though the nights are cool. In central India, and in the hills in the southern part of the country, night temperatures can drop to under 10°C in winter. In the north, winter temperatures can approach 0°C even in the plains, and of course it drops below freezing in the Himalayan region. Summers are very hot, with some parts of south and central India, and the plains in the north, getting temperatures over 40°C. The monsoons, the rainy season, stretch from June until October, with different levels of intensity in different parts of the country. The West Coast and the north-east get the heaviest rain (two towns in Meghalaya vie for the title of the place with the most rainfall in the world).
Clothing
Currency
Cuisine
Indian food is as varied as the country itself, with every region having its own specialties. It therefore, does not always have to be “hot” nor can any one dish be labelled a “curry.” (That said, many Indian cuisines can be pungent to those unaccustomed to it. Even if you have eaten at Indian restaurants outside India, remember that many such establishments tone down the spice quotient for local tastes) Most dishes with a gravy are normally called curries but are prepared with a different masala (a combination of spices and seasonings) containing among other things coriander, cumin, garlic, onions ginger, turmeric, chillies, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves cinnamon, bay leaves, saffron, mace and nutmeg; all the aromas and flavors that brought traders to India for centuries.
Health
Language
English is widely spoken, especially in areas that are used to tourists, though accents and grammar may vary considerably. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the country, but it also has regional variations and accents. There are totally 15 major languages 544 dialects spoken in India in addition to English.
Communication
India has both GSM and CDMA cellular phone systems. Reception is usually clear in urban areas, but can get patchy or non-existent in remoter parts of the country. If you plan to use international roaming, check with your phone service provider on whether they have tie-ups with any Indian providers that will give you favorable roaming rates. If you use a GSM phone, you may want to consider buying an Indian phone card to use for your trip. We can help you choose a good plan for your stay.
Electricity
The majority of India works on 220 volts AC 50 Hz. However, it is possible that certain areas have DC supplies and it may be a good idea to check before using electrical appliances. Socket sizes vary, so it is well to take along a set of plug adapters.
Note: You will probably need to get an adapter for your devices. It’s pretty easy to get “all-in-one” adapters that you can use to plug your device’s power chord into before plugging into the power supply.
Shopping
In India, a huge number of things are still hand-made, using skills and secrets passed down for generations. Dazzling silks and other hand-made fabrics, clothing, hand knotted carpets, religious imagery and decorative articles in bronze, wood, stone and more, jewellery, leather, musical instruments, perfumes… the list goes on and on, and each region has its unique specialities. And prices, you will find, are very reasonable. (Do note that we’d be happy to provide you with expert shopping assistance.) You can bargain hunt at colourful, crowded bazaars, (be prepared to haggle!) on roadsides in the hinterland, in air-conditioned hotel arcades and bustling modern malls. Many reliable establishments that cater to tourists offer to deliver purchases to you in your homeland. Remember, though, that these deliveries can take a long time to reach you.
Indian law prohibits the export of antiques over 100 years old. Keep sales receipts and certificates to show proof of purchase and legitimacy when you’re leaving the country.