India is completely different from any other country with its diverse mix of people, climates, scenery, religions, and cultural influences. It can be inspiring, moving and, at times even infuriating. In order to enjoy your tour to the maximum, do go with an open mind; and perhaps without drawing comparisons with any other destination or culture. We have prepared these notes to help you with your pre-holiday planning, and also for after you arrive in India.
Local Time India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
Visas
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad. E-Tourist Visa facility is available for nationals of following countries/territories:
Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon Union Republic, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger Republic, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Applicants of the eligible countries may apply online a minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 30 days. For example, if you are applying on 1st Sept then applicant can select arrival date from 5th Sept to 4th Oct.
Please visit the following site for more information and online applications:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
What to pack
Modesty in dress is an important aspect of Indian life and, away from beaches, one should respect the local customs. This is especially important when visiting temples and religious sites, where trousers or full-length skirts should be worn, shoulders should be covered; in Sikh temples, your head must be covered. Shoes that can be slipped on and off easily are very useful as they must always be removed at all religious sites. On game drives, clothes should be in muted jungle shades of beige, brown and green. A wind proof jacket, a sweater and even a woollen cap may be required since the open vehicles can be rather chilly in the early morning and at dusk – even in the warmer months. Formal clothes are not necessary but something elegant is always appreciated. For general day wear, we recommend light cottons and loose clothing, with jumpers or fleeces and sturdy shoes for those travelling to hill stations and desert locations. In many hotels, restaurants and trains, the air conditioning can be rather chilly. A light jumper or pashmina is very handy in these situations.
Health and Vaccinations
Recommended vaccinations are polio, tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis A. You may need to take anti-malarial tablets as well. Please consult your doctor or a travel clinic for the latest medical advice at least one month prior to your departure. If you will be travelling during the summer or monsoon times in a tropical climate, such as South India, carry Insect Repellent sprays/creams. Please discuss health requirements for your travel itinerary with a qualified health professional at least six weeks prior to departure. If you do have any known food restrictions, allergies or medical conditions or physical disabilities, which need special care, you should ensure that your travel agent, and we, are made aware of these. A copy of your health insurance should be available with you when you travel.
Food and Water
Everyone wants to avoid the infamous Delhi Belly and by observing a few sensible precautions, this can be achieved. Generally speaking, food in four and five star hotels and good restaurants is safe. Drink only bottled water from a reliable source and use it when brushing your teeth as well. All hotels provide bottled water in your room. If you do become unwell, the hotels have good doctors who have plenty of experience in dealing with upset stomachs. Avoid uncut fruit and food that has been kept in the open for a long time.
Travel Insurance
Adequate travel insurance is vital. Mountain and other adventure sports enthusiasts should have insurance that covers trekking, climbing and mountain biking. Most insurance offered by credit cards does not provide sufficient cover. Please check before you travel to ensure that you are fully covered.
Language
Hindi is the official language although most regions have their own languages and dialects. The country functions in English alongside Hindi, so you should not have any problems communicating unless you are really in the middle of nowhere.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
The Indian Rupee cannot be purchased outside India. Traveller’s cheques in US dollars or sterling are widely accepted and safer than carrying cash. You can exchange cash and traveller’s cheques at the airport, banks and at most of the larger hotels. Banks hours are 1000-1400 hrs. Remember to keep your money exchange forms as proof and obtain plenty of small denomination notes such as ten and twenty rupee notes for tips. It is advisable to carry some rupees in cash when travelling to remote areas, as credit cards and traveller’s cheques may not be accepted at smaller places. ATMs are available in larger towns and cities but not all banks allow cash withdrawals. Please ensure your card is valid during your period of travel and it is advisable to notify your card provider that you are going to be out of the country to ensure they do not cancel your card.
Weather and Climate
Average Minimum and Maximum Temperatures of India by Region
NORTH INDIA (DELHI, AGRA, RAJASTHAN)
|
SEASON |
CLIMATE |
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE °C |
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE °C |
|
WINTER (December – February) |
Cool days, Cold nights |
16 / 22 °C |
4 / 10 °C |
|
SPRING / FALL (November, March, April) |
Warm days, Pleasant nights |
20 / 28 °C |
12 / 22 °C |
|
SUMMER (May – October) |
Hot, possible monsoon rains |
32 / 44 °C |
22 / 28 °C |
WESTERN INDIA (MUMBAI, GOA)
|
SEASON |
CLIMATE |
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE °C |
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE °C |
|
WINTER (December – February) |
Warm days, Cooler nights |
28 / 32 °C |
13 / 22 °C |
|
SPRING / FALL (November, March, April) |
Hot days, cooler nights |
28 / 32 °C |
13 / 22 °C |
|
SUMMER (May – October) |
Very hot, monsoon rains |
31 / 32 °C |
23 / 26 °C |
NOTE:
The above temperature chart shows average temperatures by region and will differ from city to city as each region covers a large area. More weather details will be available for each individual itinerary.
Electricity
Electrical current in India is 220 volts. If you are traveling with electrical appliances it is worth bringing along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs. These are available from most electrical and hardware stores. It is suggested that you take battery-operated appliances wherever possible, along with a supply of extra batteries.
When you are here in India
Upon arrival in India, you will be met by our Airport Executive who will transfer you to your hotel. Next morning our Head Concierge will meet you in person and explain your travel documents, be it the Travel Journal (which is an extensive book with essential details about India and your itinerary), exchange orders for hotels and local offices, air or train tickets. Our Concierge will also hand over to you our 24×7 National roaming hand phone as well. (Do note that the meeting of the Concierge is only available in select cities and in the rest of the cities, our concierge and airport representative will be same person who will hand over everything together to you).
Photography
Photographic opportunities in India are immense. The scenery and architecture are superb, and you will wish to capture the colourful local people, their animals, houses and shops etc. Please be respectful when taking photographs and ask the permission of people before taking their picture. Photography in religious institutions is generally not permitted. Outdoor photography is usually permitted when visiting such places, but please check with your guide before taking any photographs. At most major monuments, you have to pay a camera fee that may be between 50 and 200 rupees.
Communication
Mobile network coverage throughout India is good and you will be able to use your mobile phone in some rural areas, if you have international roaming. Emails and internet access are available in most hotels, but like phone calls, they can be very expensive. If you are bringing your laptop with you, bring an adapter and an extra battery pack if you have one.
Touts, Beggars and Pickpockets
The way to deal with touts in India is to simply ignore them – try to look occupied with something else – and they are more likely to ignore you. If that does not work, a more firm approach – ‘No thank you’ – should do. As for beggars, this comes with the experience. It will take time to adjust, but generally speaking the best method to donate money is to do it through charities. When in crowded bazaars, at railway stations and at major tourist sights, be aware of your possessions, particularly wallets, handbags and cameras.
Tipping in India
Tipping is a part of life in India and it is a good idea to always have small denomination notes within easy reach, separate from your main wallet. Tipping is entirely at your discretion and not compulsory, however, on more than one occasions, the person providing you a service (driver, bell boy, waiter, porter etc.) would expect a tip which would mean you liked his services. Tipping after meals is 10% of the bill amount. When tipping at hotels, we encourage you to use a central tip box wherever possible. The cumulative tip should be approximately about INR 800 – 1000 per day for the number of nights you have stayed at the hotel. For the bell boys and the porters who assist you during check in and check out, INR 100 per large bag and INR 50 for a small bag is an approximate tip amount. For instances of airport transfers you can tip between about INR 100 – INR 150 to the porters. When you have a driver over multiple days, you could tip him between INR 400 – INR 500 per day for in-city driving and INR 800 – INR 1,000 when driving across cities or on especially long days, depending on how happy you were with their service and local knowledge.
You could tip a guide between INR 1,000 – INR 1,500 per day depending on how happy you were with their knowledge, and, with your overall experience.
Baggage allowances on domestic flights
Security in Indian airports is very stringent and all hand baggage is x-rayed and sometimes physically searched prior to boarding flights. Domestic airlines do not permit any dry cell batteries, sharp implements and inflammable items to be carried in cabin baggage. Therefore please ensure that camera batteries, scissors, razors etc. are packed in your checked baggage.
There are several different sets of baggage allowance regulations in effect for international and regional flights. Baggage allowance varies depending on type of aircraft and class of service. Currently the baggage allowance on domestic Indian flights is 15 kgs only for economy class travel. One piece of hand luggage is only permitted per passenger and the allowance varies between 5 kgs to 7 kgs depending on the airline and the sector.
Please note: The baggage allowance is included in the ticket print out we email to you. Please read the same carefully to confirm the exact baggage regulations pertaining to your specific itinerary. Any baggage in excess of airline limitations may be subject to excess baggage charges. These charges are the sole responsibility of the traveller. And we will not be held responsible or pay for the same on your behalf.
Every piece of checked baggage should be locked, and contain identification both inside as well as outside. In addition, do not pack valuable items, such as cameras and jewellery in checked baggage. While every precaution will be taken with your baggage, we cannot be held responsible for any damaged, lost or stolen baggage or personal property and we strongly recommend the purchase of adequate baggage insurance by each traveller.