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Passports & Visas
You require a valid passport from your country and a visa from an Indian mission abroad to enter India.

For more details visit: http://india.gov.in/overseas/indian_missions.php

The exceptions are:
 

. Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal do not require visas

. Nationals of Maldives 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

Type of Visas - for more information kindly visit http://india.gov.in/overseas/passport/passport.php

. Tourist Visa: Up to 6 months. Apply with: documents supporting your financial standing
. Tourist Visa on Arrival : The Indian Government has announced tourist visa on arrival for citizens of five countries, Finland, Japan, New  

  Zealand, Luxembourg and Singapore, in an effort to promote tourism w.e.f. January 01, 2010 for an year. With a maximum validity of 30 days

  with single entry facility, the visa on arrival shall be granted by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports. A fee

  of US $60 or an equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger, including children, will be charged from each foreigner for the grant of

  tourist visa on arrival.
 

For more information visit www.immigrationindia.nic.in

. 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.

v) Is it safe to travel in private transport (taxi/auto) and what is the payment system ?
Yes, it is safe to travel in the local taxies in the city. Try to hire the taxies from the prepaid taxi and three wheeler auto booths in the city. Almost all the hotels have attached taxi service. They are reliable and the charges are as per the meter reading in Delhi.


List of important Documents when you apply for a visa

. 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.

Airport and Customs
International airports operate the conventional green and red channels, with officials liable to carry out sudden spot check on passengers passing through the green channel. If carrying items of high value such as cameras, laptops and the like for your personal use during your trip, you may be asked to fill in a Tourist Baggage Re-export Form (TBRE) when you enter the country, which allows you to bring items into India free of duty, provided you take them back with you when you are leaving.

For more details visit: http://cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm

Baggage Allowance

The normal free allowance while flying he government-owned Indian Airlines is 30 kg in Economy and 40 kg in First Class. For the private airline operators it is 20 kg in Economy and 30 kg in First Class, where available. You can carry only a single piece of hand baggage (within certain size specifications) on domestic flights.

Airport Departure Tax

Airport departure tax is usually included in your international tickets and does not have to be paid at the airport.

Health
Yellow Fever - Vaccination Certificate is required if arriving from an infected area.
Cholera/Typhoid - Innoculation recommended.
Malaria - No certificate required, but advisable to have a course of pills.

Eating and Drinking

Tap water is not purified for drinking. Unless you have access to a water filter, or are sure water has been boiled, it is safer to stick to bottled water. Avoid ice in your drinks outside your hotel. Avoid ice cream or food sold by roadside vendors, uncooked or undercooked foods, fruit or vegetables that cannot be peeled.

Climate

Due to the sheer size of the subcontinent, it is quite difficult to confine the different seasons to particular periods of the year. One can say, India has three major seasons: winter, summer and the monsoons.

The winter months (Nov-March) are pleasant throughout India with bright sunny days. In the Northern plains the minimum temperature at times drops steeply, and there is snow fall in the hills. The rest of the country is pleasantly cool, never really cold. The summer months (April-June) are hot in most parts of India with the mercury touching 45 Degrees centigrade. It is the ideal times to explore the sub-Himalayan region. The Monsoons tend to be depressing in some regions, and yet seem to uplift the spirit in some other parts of India.

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 adaptors.

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

India is a "shopper’s paradise". Due to the patronage received over the past centuries, different types of arts developed in different areas. Silk, brocades, carpets, rugs, brass-ware, textile, miniatures, wooden carvings, furniture and jewelry are great bargains.
Returning or exchanging of goods once bought is not entertained. If you desire, the shops will export your purchase to your address. Most shops that sell to tourists welcome the major credit cards, some even except personal cheques.

Tipping

Hotels, restaurants, taxis, etc., in this part of the world, do not include a tip in their bills. It is not obligatory to tip, but expectations are there.