Practical Information

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Practical Information

India is a part of South Asia and its northern frontiers are defined largely by the Himalayan mountain range, where the country borders China, Bhutan and Nepal. It shares its western border with Pakistan separated by the plains of Punjab and the Thar Desert. In the north-east the forested mountain regions of the Chin and the Kachin hills separate India from Burma.

In the south, the Arabian Sea to the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast, and the Indian Ocean to the South bind it. The Ganges, which is the most sacred river in India, is the longest river, and the Gangetic plain, which occupies north central and eastern India is the most densely populated area in the country, while the rocky Deccan plateau occupies most of peninsular India. This vast land mass is home to varied vegetation and climates – ranging from alpine to equatorial

Historically the Indus Valley civilization, which existed in the north-western part of the Continent from 3300 to 1300 BC, is considered the earliest urban culture to exist. Since then and until Independence in 1947, India was ruled variously by the several foreign powers with the dominant being the Muslim and the British. Muslim rule started in the 11th Century an culminated in the great Mughal Empire which was annexed by the British East India Company in the 18th century, ending with Independence in 1947, with the division of the sub-continent and the formation of two countries – India and Pakistan. India became a republic on 26th January 1950. India is the birthplace of four of the world’s major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Of the current population of 1 .2 billion, Hindu’s form the largest religious group, followed by the Muslims and the Christians.

Official Name – Republic of India
Capital – New Delhi

Head of State – President Ram Nath Kovind

Population – Approximately 1.2 billion, growing at 1.31% per year

Religion – 80% Hindu, Islam (13% ), Christian (2%), Sikh (1.9%) are the major religions followed by the people of India.
Economy – Mixed (Agriculture, textile, mining, tourism, infrastructure etc)

**Please do note that most visitors to India require a visa & please also note it is illegal to carry a satellite phone into India.

Visa

There are 2 ways to apply for a visa – Traditional form, where you apply via the agency in your country where India has outsourced the visa process to – this is a longer process and means your passport needs to be sent away but allows for a longer visa and also often quicker immigration on arrival. To smooth this further, there are visa processing services who can do all the leg work for you. You can contact:

Visas & Passports
2351 W. Northwest Hwy Suite 3359
Dallas Texas 75220
Cell: (214) 600.1242
Office: (214) 352-8472
[email protected]

The second option is by E-visa which is an electronic visa which you do entirely online prior to arrival, and have your bio-metrics taken on arrival in India when they will stamp your passport with the visa. This option is easier given it’s done online and your passport isn’t sent away, but on arrival in India it’s not as quick at immigration nor can it be fast tracked. Please see this website (only) to process an e-visa. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

The reference notes below can guide you through the online application.

Passport


You must be in possession of a valid passport, which is valid for at least six months at the time of your arrival into India. It should have clear pages for entry and exit stamps as well as your visa.

– Traditional visa

You will be requested to give a reference address in India – please use the following:

Banyan Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd.
903-904, Vatika City Point,
Sector 25, MG Road,

Gurgaon (this is the city)
Haryana (this is the state)
122002

India

Telephone: +91-124- 4563800

Unless we have informed you separately you are NOT travelling to a restricted area and it is best to apply for a multiple entry 6-month visa. Please note that most visas for India are valid from the date of issue therefore please be careful when applying to ensure your visa will be valid when you travel. Additionally please note the passport must be valid for 6 months after the date of travel.

– E-Visa

Application Notes are available if you wish to do this yourself online.

Money


India’s currency is ‘Rupee’, abbreviated as ‘Rs’. One Rupee is equal to 100 paise. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees. Notes are usually in the denomination of 10, 20, 50, 500 and 2000. You are not allowed to bring in Indian currency of more than Rs 5000 into the country. If you are visiting the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan, you can carry Indian currency as long as the denomination of the notes is less than Rs 1000.

The best place to change money is either on arrival at the International airport, at your hotel or any authorized money changer/Banks. ATM’s are largely available across the country. You should retain the receipt you receive from the money changer/ATM machine so you are able to change any left over rupees at the airport before departures

You cannot purchase Indian Rupees outside India (although sometimes in Dubai airport it can be found but this is not guaranteed). Please ask us for any further assistance or guidance on this.


Travellers Cheques/Credit Cards

All hotels, larger shopping establishments, airlines and the railways, accept travellers’ Cheques and credit cards issued by major banks. ATM machines are available in most places.

Communication


Calling India from overseas:
+91 followed by the city code (dropping the 0 from the start of the number)

Electricity


In India voltage is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, though some areas also have DC supplies. Visitors are advised to check the voltage before using electrical appliances. Socket sizes vary, so it is as well to take a set of plug adapters, available from most electrical stores. Most luxury hotels have converters already installed in the bedrooms or are available at reception. The plug point in India are mostly like those found in southern Europe (two-prong) but please note that there are older forms of the electrical plug points also in use in older hotels in India so converters may still be required. We suggest that you consider a universal plug adapter, which will ensure you are covered.

Clothing

India is casual and even in luxury hotels formal attire is not required. For the evenings smart casual is the dress code advice – jackets and ties are not needed – though often after a day of sightseeing you may like to ‘change for dinner’ but dressing up is not expected. For touring closed shoes or sneakers are the most comfortable because there is often dust and dirt when exploring a market for example but note that often you will take your shoes off when you enter a temple or religious site so you may like to keep this in mind while planning your shoes for touring. The cold marble can be extra cold on bare feet and some temples allow for socks.

Temples and religious sites: It is normal practice to remove ones shoes before entering places of worship. Additionally when visiting the temple of the Jain religion, all leather items have to be removed before entering the temple. Women visiting a temple or religious site should stick to the rule of ‘to the elbow and to the knee’ – so essentially covered as much as possible out of respect, but while its best to stick to the rule of at least to the knee you could also consider carrying a cotton shawl for during sightseeing tours – this can then be used to cover your upper body or while out walking in the sun can be used as a head scarf. In some places, such as the Gurdwara (Sikh Temple), both men and women are required to cover their head; but you will be given the appropriate head wear for such occasions if you are not carrying it.

Essential packing is a sun hat, sun block, insect repellent with a high percentage of Deet, prescription glasses and medication.

We would encourage you to check temperatures on accuweather or similar websites before your arrival, so that you pack the right clothes for your trip.

Travel Insurance

While travelling in India it is important that you obtain good personal travel insurance from an insurance agent in your country. A suitable policy will include an unlimited amount for medical, hospital and additional health associated costs. Most policies cover loss of baggage, personal money (usually limited) delay and curtailment. We would also suggest you take a trip cancellation policy; in the unlikely event you have to cancel your trip at the last minute. You should carry your insurance policy with you at all time.

For the best possible service and value, we recommend:
Jean Gilbert
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 813 258-4041 (US based)
Mention the trip name and she will happily run a comparison between all leading travel insurance providers to give you the best deal available.
She can also assist with international flights if necessary.

Food & Drink

Indian food is varied and the spices and cooking is dictated by regional traditions. The variety available is huge. The food in hotels and restaurants selected by us is hygienically prepared and safe to eat. Outside hotels, safe eating should be guided by the rule – “if you can peel it, eat it” and always eat food which is freshly cooked and hot.

Always restrict yourself to bottled water and ensure the cap is sealed when getting a bottle of water. There are a large variety of sodas and bottled drinks also available. Our vehicles will always have an icebox stocked with branded bottled water and sodas; if you would like anything specific please ask your driver who would always be happy to help.


Inoculations/Vaccinations:

There are no essential vaccinations needed for travel to India. It is advisable to have your tetanus, hepatitis and typhoid shots updated. However we suggest you consult with a travel clinic or your own physician for any medication for India, including anti-malarial tablets.


Begging:

Beggars are usually seen at the traffic signals, and on the streets in certain areas, especially in urban India. We would advise against handing out money, pens, gifts, sweets etc to them as this encourages the practice and does not alleviate the problem in any way. If you would like to contribute it is better to bring equipment (crayons, color pencils, books) for schools or make a donation to a recognized charity.

Shopping

India is a shopper’s paradise with wide ranging products ranging from handicraft, textiles, paintings, decorative items and jewelry. Each region has its own specialty, and prices range from the inexpensive to top of the line items. Its own emporium, which highlights the best of the art and craft available, represents every State and here the quality is assured and the prices fixed. If shopping in markets, remember bargaining is part of the Indian shopping experience.

Prohibited Articles

The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the provisions of the Act are punishable with heavy fines and imprisonment up to 7 years. Foreigners are, therefore, advised not to buy any wildlife or wildlife products or derivatives especially ivory articles, fur and skin articles derived from wild animals such as Shahtoosh.

Due to security restrictions, Satellite phones are strictly banned and carrying one into the country will result in imprisonment for up to one year.

You are also not allowed to transport antiques, which are over 100 years old out of the country.

Photography

India is an immensely photogenic country and you will find yourself often looking through the lens of your camera. There is a certain etiquette attached to photography, especially when photographing people. Always check with your guide if it is appropriate to take a picture, and at times the subject of the photograph may expect a small remuneration. Your guide will always be able to advise you