You will need a
valid passport and visa to enter India, Nepal or Sri Lanka. Please
contact the necessary Consulate or Embassy closest to you to apply
for a visa. Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. Foreign nationals
arriving in India on long term multiple visas are required to
register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
within 14 days of arrival. Over-stayers will be fined and may be
prosecuted.
Passport and visa
must be obtained in advance. Each participant is responsible for
determining specific passport and visa requirements in the
participant's country of origin and for obtaining the necessary
documents prior to departure.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED VISA
INFORMATION
If you have
diabetes, allergies, asthma or any condition that may require
emergency care, always carry some identification (tag, bracelet or
card) indicating so and prescriptions of the medicines. Preferably
also carry a letter from your physician.
Bring personal
medicines, especially if you have diabetes, asthma, allergies, or
other disorders that require a regular intake of
medicines.
Insect repellent:
If you will be traveling during the summer in a tropical climate,
such as South India, take something DEET (dimethylphtalaat or
n,n-diethylmetatoluamide) based, like the Swedish "Jungle Olja."
Other preparations will just disappoint you. The World Health
Organization recommends wearing anklets dipped in DEET insect
repellent. Should be applied from dusk to dawn, when malaria
mosquitoes bite the most. Reapply repellent when the weather is hot
and you perspire more.
Food and
waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in
travelers. Travelers' diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria,
or parasites, which are found throughout the region and can
contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and
vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever
(typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.
| Inoculations For Travelers To India, Nepal Or Sri
Lanka |
No compulsory
Inoculations are required if you are arriving from the United
States, Canada or Europe. If you entering from Africa or parts of
Latin America, certification of Yellow Fever Inoculation is
required.
Although no
vaccinations are required to go to India, Typhoid and Hepatitis A
vaccinations are recommended. Also Anti Malarial Medication,Tetanus
Gamma Globulin Viral Meningitis For further information
contact your local physician or travel clinic or the travel service
of the Center for Disease Control at 404 -332-4559.
Malaria is a
preventable infection that can be fatal if left untreated. Prevent
infection by taking prescription antimalarial drugs and protecting
yourself against mosquito bites. Malaria risk in this region exists
in some urban and many rural areas, depending on elevation. Most
travelers to the Indian Subcontinent at risk for malaria should
take mefloquine to prevent malaria.
There is no risk
for yellow fever in the Indian Subcontinent.
Dengue,
filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, leishmaniasis, and plague are
diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region.
Protecting yourself against insect bites will help to prevent these
diseases.
Vaccinations
recommended by the Center for Disease Control:
Hepatitis A or
immune globulin (IG).
Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example,
health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local
population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through
medical treatment.
Japanese encephalitis, only if you plan to visit rural areas for 4
weeks or more, except under special circumstances, such as a known
outbreak of Japanese encephalitis.
Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through
your work or recreation.
Typhoid vaccination is particularly important because of the
presence of S. Typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in
this region.
Booster Shots. As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and
measles, and a one-time dose of polio for adults. Hepatitis B
vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages
1112 years who did not receive the series as infants.
Anti-malarial drugs.
Precautions against insect bites
Some kind of antibiotic from your medical doctor
Dysentery Tablets
| Baggage Allowance and Handling |
Please contact
your travel agent or airline for international baggage restrictions
and allowance. Most international airlines allow 2 pieces of
baggage. Neither bag should exceed 62 inches or 70 lb. A carry on
bag may also be allowed provided that it fits underneath the seat
on the aircraft. On domestic flights within India and Nepal, 20
kilos or 44 pounds are allowed. For checked luggage and one carry
on bag is allowed, weighing 3 kilos or 6.6 pounds. This bag should
be tagged with a hand baggage tag provided by the airlines and
checked by security.
Domestic Indian
airlines require all check-in baggage to be locked, as airlines
will not be responsible for loss of any item in unlocked bags.
Please note that in remote areas of the Himalayas luggage may be
carried on tarpaulin-covered roof racks or packed on donkeys.
Weather and loading and unloading can cause more than usual wear
and tear to luggage in India. The Tour Organizers are not
responsible or liable for any lost or damaged baggage or personal
effects.
Divine
Travels and its local representatives will not be held responsible
for any extra baggage penalties or
irregularities.
We strongly
recommend that you purchase travel insurance in the event that you
have to cancel your trip. Also, comprehensive travel insurance is
strongly recommended. It is advisable to have cover for unexpected
losses such as canceled flights etc. Participants are advised to
consult the following non-profit informational web site: http://www.insuremytrip.com/
Divine
Travels and its local representatives provide no insurance
whatsoever.
Visitors should
respect local codes of dress and behavior.
Dress informally
while on tour; carry lightweight clothes that can be laundered
easily.
During winter,
you will need light woolens, sweaters, a light jacket or wool wrap.
Dress in layers, so that you can strip down during the warmer days.
In summer, light cotton clothes will do everywhere except in the
mountain regions, where it will be cold at night. Bring a warm
jacket and be prepared for temperatures in the 30s F.
In South India,
It is advisable to wear light cotton clothes throughout the year,
as the climate is hot and humid. In North India prepare for hot,
sunny days and cool nights. Temperatures in North India range from
the 30s to the high 80s Fahrenheit. Be prepared for cooler weather
in higher altitude. Temperatures in South India range from the 50s
to the 90s Fahrenheit. In winter during the days the temperature is
rather warm, however, at night it can get cold. Therefore, both
warm and cold weather clothing is required. This is likewise for
the Himalayan foothills, even though it is cold there, while hiking
you will get hot and sweaty.
Women should wear
long pants or skirts to the ankles, Punjabi outfits, or saris. No
short skirts, bare-backed dresses, or shorts are allowed. Women
have to be fully clothed when they bathe in the Ganges. They will
not be allowed to wear swimsuits.
On your arrival
in India, you will be met by our local representatives. You will be
assisted with your check in at the hotel. If you have any special
request, please check with the representative.
Luggage arriving
in Delhi is often delayed. If your luggage is delayed, go to the
airline counter and fill out a lost luggage form. Then you will
most likely have to return to the airport to pick up the bags once
they arrive, probably the following day. Be sure to get a lost
luggage insurance policy before you leave your home
country.
Divine
Travels and its local representatives provide no insurance
whatsoever.
Taxis,
buses and auto-rikshaws are available at the airport to take you to
town. Bus charges are fixed. A prepaid taxi service facility is
available for all passengers. Contact the Pre-Paid Taxi booth at
the arrival building.
Visitors who do
not have any dutiable goods or high "Value articles" or foreign
exchange in excess of US $2500 or unaccompanied baggage, all of
which need to be declared, can simply walk through the Green
Channel. Others must go to the Red Channel for
clearance.
Each traveler can
bring in, without duty, goods valued up to Rs. 750 (Rs. 6000 for
persons of Indian origin) for personal use or giving as gifts;
these include 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 gms tobacco) and
liquor and wines up to 32 oz (0.95 litre). You can also being in
articles for your personal use including cameras with 5 rolls of
film, a reasonable quantity of jewelry , one pair of binoculars,
one portable musical instrument, one radio set, one tape recorder,
are portable typewriter, one perambulator and professional
equipment, on the undertaking that you will take them back with
you. Import of other high value articles are permitted duty free on
a written undertaking that they will be taken back on departure.
Drugs and narcotics and the import of firearms is prohibited. The
duty rate beyond the free baggage allowance is 50 percent plus 2
percent special duty.
A TBRE (Tourist
Baggage Re-Export Form) is to be completed on arrival and must be
produced along with the entered articles before Customs, for
verification at the time of departure. Please obtain a Landing
Certificate if you are expecting unaccompanied baggage and for
mishandled baggage.
Should any flight
delays or changes occur, our local offices / agents will do
everything in their power to minimize the inconvenience caused, as
we do not have control over airline schedules.
Confirm your
return tickets as soon as possible after your arrival.
Contact the Government of India Tourist Office, 88 Janpath, Delhi (Tel. 332-0005 and 332-0342).
http://tourism.gov.in/
| Transportation and Tour Guides |
English speaking
guides approved by the Govt. of India can be hired at all important
places of interest. The Tourist Office (88 Janpath, Tel. 332-0005,
332-0342) assists in hiring guides speaking other
languages.
Taxi/Scooter:
Both are metered. Ensure that the driver flags down the meter
before he starts. Minimum fares are Rs. 8.00 (taxi) and Rs. 5.00
(auto). The old meter readings will be Rs. 5.00 and Rs. 3.00
respectively, to which approximately 70 percent of the reading is
added. Revised meter reading fare charts are available with all
public transport drivers. Extra charges are payable for halting,
baggage and vehicles engaged between 11 am and 5 pm (20 percent
extra for autos and 25 percent for taxis). To complain about
overcharging or misbehavior call 331-9334 (during office hours) or
301-4896.
| Currency Exchange and Regulations |
In India, the
unit of currency is the Rupee (Re) divided into 100 paise (P).
Change money with AUTHORIZED MONEY CHANGERS (at the airport, most
banks, hotels and certain large shops) and insist on a receipt as
it will help you reconvert unused rupees into the original foreign
currency at the time of departure. Avoid any people on the street
who offer to change your money at a temptingly high rate of
exchange. U.S. dollar = approximately 49 Indian rupees (subject to
fluctuation).
You can exchange
currency at the most hotels in the major cities and the
international airports. Major credit cards are accepted at the city
hotels and the wildlife lodges accept cash only. Small
denominations should be purchased for tips etc.
You can bring in
any amount of foreign currency, travelers checks, etc., and take
out as much as you brought in. However, if you are carrying more
than US $2500 (or equivalent), you should declare it, on arrival,
on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), to be attested by the
Customs Officer. No Indian currency may be brought into or taken
out of the country. When remitting money to India, indicate the
bank, branch and full address.
Banks: Open 10 am
to 2 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to noon on Saturday. Central
Bank in Ashok Hotel (Tel. 60-1848) and State Bank of India at the
Airport are open round the clock. Banks in residential areas
generally observe the weekly holiday of the area.
Credit Cards:
American Express, Masters Charge Visa and Diners Club Credit Cards
are generally accepted by large establishments, including hotels,
shops and airlines.
Every Indian
State has its own history, culture and food. Try some of the
regional specialties such as Grilled Tinder Food. Keep a diet of
fresh cooked vegetables, rice and Indian breads. In coastal areas,
try a fresh tender coconut water, it is safe cooling and delicious.
India has an amazing variety of non-vegetarian and vegetarian
cuisine. Contrary to what you may have heard, all Indian food is
not hot and spicy-most dishes are only richly garnished to provide
an exciting flavor. You will find excellent restaurants that serve
Indian, Chinese, Continental and other cuisine.
Liquor is
available freely in wine shops. It is also served in bars and
restaurants in all major hotels. The 1st and 7th of each month and
specified holidays are dry days when all liquor shops remain
closed. CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR IS PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC
PLACES.
In the town of
Haridwar, no meat or alcohol is allowed to be served or
consumed.
Voltage in most
places is 220 A/50 cycles. A few areas however have DC current.
Please check the voltage before using any electric appliance. Most
American Appliances need a step up converter and special rounded
plug points.
Avoid ice and
drink only bottled water. Eat cooked meals, avoid green salads. Do
not buy food at the street stalls. Eat fruits that you can peel
yourself. Avoid seafood except in coastal areas. It is healthier to
eat vegetarian food in India and to avoid meat altogether, due to
lack of refrigeration in local transportation.
If you visit the
Himalayan Mountains, ascend gradually to allow time for your body
to adjust to the high altitude, which can cause insomnia,
headaches, nausea, and altitude sickness. Drink plenty of water to
avoid altitude sickness. In addition, use sunblock rated at least
15 SPF, because the risk of sunburn is greater at high
altitudes.
If you are
planning to go somewhere alone or together with someone else,
inform authorities or friends or the group you came with of your
plans, destination(s) and expected return time/date. In the popular
tourist areas, do not walk in isolated spots on your own especially
after dark. Women are advised never to walk alone anywhere, due to
harassment. Always take a friend with you.
Motor vehicle
crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers. Walk and
drive defensively. Avoid nighttime travel if possible and always
use seat belts.
Several recent
drownings have highlighted the lack of warning signs/flags and
life-saving equipment on most of India's beaches. Strong
undercurrents are a particular hazard.
Travelers to
areas adjoining Pakistan or those planning to cross the
international border should take account of heightened tension
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. We strongly advise against
travel to Jammu and Kashmir (see separate travel advice), except
for parts of Ladakh. We therefore strongly advise trekkers against
traveling alone, or in small groups of 2-3, and recommend that they
travel in large groups with local guides. Visitors to India should
be aware of travel agents who will try to convince them that it is
safe to travel to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite increased
official promotion of Kashmir as a tourist center, tensions remain
high there. No matter how convincing the agents appear to be, their
advice should not be followed.
Crime in Delhi is
rife. Avoid individuals at Delhi railway stations offering tickets
and tours (mainly to Kashmir and Rajasthan).
There have been
bomb explosions in public places in Delhi including at the main
railway station and in a hotel in Paharganj, home to most of the
budget accommodation.
| Theft and Loss Precautions |
Carry your
valuables in two places. Put the money you expect to use during the
day in a visible wallet hanging around your neck or in an obvious
money belt around your waist, and keep the rest of your money and
your documents hidden in a money belt under your
clothes.
Use traveler's
checks so that if they are stolen, you can recover them. Keep
traveler's checks in the locked safe in the hotel or in a money
belt hidden under your clothes. Keep a record of your traveler's
check numbers in a separate place from the checks.
Con tricksters
(particularly in Agra and Jaipur) promise a substantial cash reward
for delivery of jewelry abroad but only in return for an initial
financial deposit. The jewelry is invariably worthless and the
deposit is lost.
Theft of
valuables - especially passports - is a particular risk at major
railway stations and on trains.
Penalties for
possession of even small amounts of narcotic substances are severe
(a minimum of 10 years imprisonment). The slow judicial process
means that lengthy pre-trial detention is the norm.
Shops and offices
are generally open from 1000 hrs to 1800 hrs with a lunch break
Monday to Saturday.
India is a
shopper's paradise. Of particular interest are carpets,
handicrafts, jewelry, ready-made garments and leather goods. It's
best to buy goods only from the more established shops and official
Indian government outlets. Refer to the Shopping and Services
section for select establishments. Do visit the local bazaars,
however, for interesting bargains.
The visitor can
take back all articles brought in by him. In addition, he can take
out the following purchased in India; (a) Souvenirs (including
Indian silk, wool, handicrafts, etc.) without any limit; (b) gold
jewelry and silverware up to Rs. 100,000 in value (and in excess of
Rs. 100,000 after obtaining an RBI permit) Other jewelry and
precious stones of large value should be appraised by Customs
Appraiser at the airport. For these items an RBI permit should be
obtained in advance and thereafter declared to Customs.
There are
restrictions on the export of antiquities and art objects more than
100 years old. In case of doubt, consult the Director, Antiquities,
Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath (Tel. 301-7220). It is
advisable to obtain a certificate of proof.
Export of most
wildlife products is prohibited or strictly regulated; therefore
generally avoid buying anything made of ivory, reptile skin,
tortoise shells and any part of wild animals.
There are
DUTY-FREE shops at the airport both in the Arrival and Departure
lounges.
Income-Tax
Clearance Certificate:
You will need this at the time of departure if your stay in India
exceeds 120 days. The certificate is issued by the Foreign Section
of the Income-Tax Office (ITO), Indraprastha Estate, Tel. 331-7826.
Observe the instructions under Currency Regulations and Changing
Money (above) to facilitate its issue.
Foreign Travel
Tax:
Rs. 300 (Rs. 150 in the case of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Burma, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) is payable
separately at the of departure.
Foreign air mail
rates: Letter Rs. 11, Aerogramme Rs. 6.50, Card Rs. 7, Post Card
Rs. 6. Inland postal rates: Letter Rs. 2, Aerogramme Rs. 1, Post
Card containing printed communication Rs. 1.50; Letter Postcards
Rs. 0.75, Standard Yellow Postcard Rs. 0.25.
| Telephone, Telegraph, and Internet |
You can direct
dial to most cities in India, and to many other countries abroad,
for elsewhere book a call through the operator. On the direct dial
facility within the country, note that while during the day, 6 am
to 7 pm, the full rate is charged Monday to Saturday, on Sundays
and National Holidays there is a concessional charge of 50%. Half
rate is also applicable daily 7 am to 8 am and 7 pm to 8.3 pm
daily. The tariff from 6 am to 7 am and from 8.30 pm to 11 pm is
1/3 the rate, and from 11 pm to 6 am it is 1/4 the rate. Contact
the International Telegraph Office (Tel. 336-2881 or 336-2754) to
send a telegram, telex or fax. The Telecom, Arunachal Bldg,
Barakhamba Road, offers all telecommunications facilities including
Fax, 10 am to 7 pm all days except Sundays & public holidays.
Bureaufax facilities are available at the main telegraph offices.
The Eastern Court PO. Janpath, has a multi-media telecom center
that offers desktop video conferencing, high-speed transfer and
other facilities.
Your cell phone
can be configured to work in India. Check with your cell phone
service.
Internet access
is readily available in "Internet cafes" throughout India, even in
small towns. The price is about 30 rupees per hour. Also you can
usually log onto the Internet from your hotel.
Indian Standard
Time (IST) is the same throughout the country and is 10 1/2 hours
ahead of New York, 5 1/2 hours ahead of London, 4 1/2 hours ahead
of Paris, 3 1/2 hours behind Tokyo and 4 1/2 hours behind
Sydney.
Tipping is
generally expected at hotels and restaurants. Ten percent of the
bill or around Rs. 5 for other services is in order. With regards
to gratuities we have outlined a suggested guideline. For exemplary
service please tip at your discretion. The amounts listed are
minimums.
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