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Some Important Do’s & Don’ts
| General Information
Customs/ Immigration/ Visas |
Airport Tax |
Restricted Zones
- Do some background reading before visiting India, so that your visit
becomes a great experience, something you had never dream could happen
to you.
- Don’t be concerned about living conditions in India. Our 5-star and
4-star hotels, are of international standards and the comforts and cuisine
they provide compare with any in the world. The deluxe and palace hotels
are a world apart and many have been accorded ‘Leading hotels of the
world’ status. The 3-star hotels are there for the medium budget traveler,
and 1-star and 2-star hotels, Travelers lodges, Tourist Bungalows, Holiday
Homes, Youth hostels, YM/ YWCA’s are for those with small budgets.
- Your travel arrangements should be made well in advance, especially
if you are traveling between October- March (high tourist season) and
May- June, the Indian holiday season. Travel facilities are limited
in relation to demand so prior bookings are a must.
- If traveling by air, you should include one or more trips by rail
or road so that you can experience rural India. When planning your trip,
ask your travel agent to include an Indian fair or festival in your
itinerary. Witnessing the color and gaiety of these events is a great
experience.
- At each city you visit, try and attend a folkloric or classical music,
dance or drama program. Information on programs can be obtained from
any India tourist office.
- English is spoken at almost all tourist centers, but you can also
request us to book Government-trained and approved guides who also speak
German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or Russian. Tour guides will
help you not only in your sightseeing, but also help you understand
India better.
- Indians are hospitable and friendly people, if they stare at you,
do not consider it rude, it is only a matter of curiosity. A tourist
need never be lost in India, most people are more than willing to go
out of their way to guide you to your destination.
- If you want to meet Indians or go to n Indian home, contact us. We
will arrange a visit.
- As with any foreign destination, the tourist is advised to drink bottled
water, bottled drinks, coffee or tea. Most premier hotels have their
own filtration system.
- Avoid eating spicy food all at one time soon after you arrive in India.
Take one Indian dish only with each meal and ask the waiter to cut down
on the chilies. Within a few days your system will get used to Indian
food, one of the most delicious of world cuisine. It is advisable to
stick to only cooked foods and to eat fresh fruits whose skin you can
peel off or remove.
- Bring your own medicines, since all medications in India are locally
manufactured and you may not find the same brand names. There re very
good druggists and doctors everywhere, and they can advise on substitutes.
If the necessity arises, ask your hotel to recommend a doctor.
- Do not forget to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship
or mausoleum. Also some temples do not permit any leather articles at
all on their premises. Certain areas of temples are not open to Non-Hindus.
- Travel with a camera and a color film. India is a land of sunshine
and color, begging to be photographed. Most type of films are available
in India.
- Most cities have Beggar Homes to look after indigent persons and to
teach them a trade, but professional beggars find begging more lucrative.
If you wish to help them, do so through a recognized charitable organization,
not by giving them alms.
- It is safe to travel in India, as you will find out for yourself.
Even if you read of some trouble in any town or region, do not be discouraged,
since most of India is safe at all times.
- Most museums in India are closed on Mondays and Site Museums, those
near archaeological monuments, on Fridays. However, please check with
us for timings.
- The electric current in India is 220/ 250 volts and 50 cycles. It
is AC practically everywhere.
- India is a shoppers dream. Shopping is recommended from Government
Emporia and suggested shops by us. Most of the large stores will ship
your purchases for you, though, for convenience and to avoid postal
delays, it is advisable to carry your shopping with you or to book it
as baggage.
- Do not crowd too many places into your itinerary. Make sure that you
get an occasional free half-day for rest, shopping or exploring on your
own.
- If you wish to visit any restricted areas, as in the north- eastern
region, check with the nearest India Tourist Office as to the permits
needed.
Photography
For amateur photography of national monuments, there are no restrictions
on taking photographs with a still camera (with flash inside the camera
synchronized with exposure) or an 8mm.movie camera. It is prohibited to
photograph places of military importance, i.e. airports, bridges, sensitive
border regions. Certain temples may prohibit interior or exterior photography.
Charges may be levied to photograph some monuments, forts or temples.
Inside museums, or when photographing art works, flash cameras are prohibited.
Photography inside the Taj Mahal is prohibited but prior permission can
be requested from the Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi,
110 001. We at SITA will assist you with same. If tripods or other outside
aids such as props or floodlights are used, or for professional and commercial
photograph, special permission must be obtained from the Archaeological
Survey of India. Similar permission must be obtained for movie cameras
other than 8mm and for video cameras.
Tipping
Some hotels include service charges on their bills. In such cases tipping
is not necessary. Where this is not done, at tip of 10% is customary.
If you are in a big group and the food bill is high, the tip on the total
can come down to 5%. The porter who takes your baggage to your room is
usually tipped Rs.5 per bag or Rs.10 to Rs.20 per trolley. (These estimates
are for 5 and 4-star hotels and are proportionately less in 1, 2 or 3
star hotels.) Tipping of taxi drivers is not customary.
Currency
The units of Indian currency are the Rupee and Paisa (100Paisa equal
1 Rupee). Paper money is in denominations of Rupees 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50,
100, 500 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of Rupees 1, 2 and 5.
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers’
checks a tourist may import, provided a Declaration form is completed
on arrival. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as
well as the export of unspent currency on departure. Cash, bank notes
and traveler’s checks up to US $ 10,000 or equivalent need not be declared
at the time of entry. Any money in the form of traveler’s checks, drafts,
bills, checks, etc., which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency
should be exchanged only through authorized money- changers.
Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is
not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency.
To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money-
changers is an offence. Please note that no Indian currency whatsoever
can be imported or exported, except for Rupee travelers’ checks. Banks
abroad to keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able
to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee travelers’ checks to intending
tourists.
There are 24- hour exchange facilities available at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta
and Chennai international airports.
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