Travel Tips
Things to remember
On the streets, wear shoulder bags across the body (impossible to snatch), and keep all money
and valuables out of sight (never in unzipped pockets). Beware of being frisked by beggars
pretending a friendly hug. Never give anyone your camera, radio or walk man to 'look at',unless
you feel quite sure of getting it back again.
On trains, where there is much robbery, use your ruck-sack or bag as a pillow(or stash it under
your knees)when sleeping. If going to the bathroom, bolt your bag to a fixed compartment
attachment or to a window bar.
On crowded local buses, keep a constant eye on your luggage. You may be asked to put your
bags under a seat to make room for other passenger. Don’t do it.
In cheap lodging, double-lock the door(with combination padlock) and secure all windows
before retiring for the night-thieves are adept at creeping into unsecured hotel rooms.
If leaving your luggage for anywhere, for any reason, padlock it to a pipe, a bedstead, or
anything that cannot be moved. Some hotels will remind it for you-but always get a receipt, and
always check nothing's missing on your return.
Don't accept any food or drink from total strangers, especially on trains or buses. There are
good chances that it might be drugged.
Fear, anger or carelessness all attract theft; calm confidence and alertness deter it. If you
become a victim, report your loss to the police by all means(you will need their report for any
insurance claim), but do not expect a lot of sympathy. India is for the self-reliant -a quality that
some travellers have to learn the hard way.
Health Precautions
Stay Healthy, Do:
Wash your hands often with soap and water or, if hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless,
alcohol-based hand rub to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help
prevent disease transmission. .
In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in
cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how
to make water safer to drink.
Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your
health care provider for a prescription.)
To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot,
even on beaches.
Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Protect yourself from mosquito insect bites:
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when outdoors.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
Use insect repellents that contain DEET (N, N-diethylmethyltoluamide). For more information
about insect repellents and correct use, see What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellent
on the CDC West Nile Virus site.
If no screening or air conditioning is available: use a pyrethroid-containing spray in living and
sleeping areas during evening and night-time hours; sleep under bed nets, preferably
insecticide-treated ones.
If you are visiting friends and relatives in your home country, see additional special information
about malaria prevention in Recent Immigrants to the U.S. from Malarious Countries Returning
'Home' to Visit Friends and Relatives on the CDC Malaria site.
Do not :
Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of
infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).
Do not drink beverages with ice.
Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as
schistosomiasis. (For more information, please see Swimming and Recreational Water
Precautions.)
Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases
(including rabies and plague). Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccination if you might have
extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas. For more information, please see
Animal-Associated Hazards.
Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV
and hepatitis B.
After You Return Home
If you have visited a malaria-risk area, continue taking your antimalarial drug for 4 weeks
(doxycycline or mefloquine) or seven days (atovaquone/proguanil) after leaving the risk area.
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or
flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1
year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician your travel
history.
Travel Tips
Airoport Tax
Departure tax is included in the cost of your ticket.
Climate
Being such a vast country, India has enormous variations in climate and so can be visited
throughout the year depending on destination. Overall the climate has 3 major seasons:
The dry season is from early October until end of March, which is the premium time to travel.
The months of December – January can be chilly in Rajasthan and the central regions with
temperatures dropping to 3C at night. Tamil Nadu on the south east coast receives a different
monsoon and most of its rainfall during October – November.
The hot season lasts from April to June. During the hot season in the interior and some parts of
the Western deserts temperatures rise to 40-45C. The hill stations of the Himalayas and the
Western Ghats are particularly beautiful in April – mid June and October – November. Ladakh
lying at an altitude of 3500 m and in the rain shadow of the Himalayas is best visited May –
September.
The dominant Southwest monsoon is from July to September. The monsoons full force is felt in
the North East of the Country and Western Ghats which should be avoided but in some regions
it can be pleasant with a unique light and fewer tourists.
Currency
The exchange rate at the banks and hotels is pretty similar. Most of the larger hotels offer
foreign currency exchange; however if staying in some of the very small heritage style hotels or
homestays, you will not be able to change money. Always carry sufficient Rupee cash when
travelling to remote areas where you are unable to change money or use credit cards.
ATM machines are common in all the major cities and cards must be compatible with the
following; Amex, Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Visa. As a credit card Amex, MasterCard and Visa
are accepted. Only Amex or Thomas Cook travellers’ cheques are accepted.
Please remember to keep your money exchange certificates as these will be required for
reconverting Rupees back into your own currency. Torn notes are not accepted although the
banks will change them. Watch out for some INR 500 notes which can look very similar to the
INR 100 ones.
Domestic Flights
Scheduled airlines include Jet Airways, Indian Airlines and Kingfisher. Many flights are ‘hopping’
flights meaning they touch down en route. There are a number of low cost airlines including Air
Deccan, Spice jet, Jetlite, IndiGo, Goair etc.
Driving
Chaotic roads, incessant horn blowing, erratic driving and a complete disregard for any traffic
rules. However be reassured that although the rules may not be evident to most travellers,
some do exist and your driver knows these. Our drivers are experienced and reliable and their
vehicles are checked for compliance with safety standards. To make your journey more
pleasant please do tell the driver if you wish to go faster or slower or stop for photographs,
refreshments etc.
Electricity
The electric current in India is 220 -240 volts, 50 hz. Adaptors for electrical gadgets and power
surge cables for laptops should be carried to protect from voltage fluctuations.
Indian uses round pin plugs and socket sizes vary and so you are advised to carry a multi –
purpose adapter; one with a triple round pin plug would be most useful.
Etiquette
Despite recent exposure to different cultures, India remains a conservative society steeped in tradition. Religion and family are at the core of Indian society closely followed by National pride. Greet people with a verbal ‘Namaste’ at the same time pressing the hands together at chest level. Indians generally are extremely hospitable people and helpful to foreigners. They will ask what we perceive to be personal questions about family, marital status and even earnings but it is not meant to cause offence. A sense of humour and polite firmness is more likely to achieve a successful outcome in a difficult situation. The universal head shake or wobble from side to side can mean yes, no, may be or I have no idea.
General Advice
Poverty is an inescapable face of India. Beggars usually operate in organized gangs with most of the money going to the gang leader and so it is better if you wish to donate to do it through an organized channel. Visitors are requested not to encourage development of begging practice by giving money or sweets to children. If travellers wish to contribute to, say a village community,
gifts should be directed to the local schoolteacher or headmaster. Contributions can also be
arranged through recognized local charity organizations. Occasionally for the first time visitor,
the noise, hassle from street sellers, lack of personal space, and lack of public hygiene can be
daunting. The key to enjoying India is to try not to fit in too much allowing time for
spontaneous moments, relaxation and simply absorbing the sights, smells and light. We always
endeavour to plan itineraries which take this into consideration.
Health Requirements
No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to India. Travellers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis and malarial prophylaxis. Should you have transited a yellow fever area at least 10 days prior to arrival in India, an inoculation certificate is mandatory. Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes, especially during the warmer months. Hat and high-factor block cream are advisable as protection against the hot tropical sun when sightseeing.
Health Advice
Carry a tube of mosquito repellent with you Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Most incidences of stomach bugs are actually heatstroke. Nimbu pani (fresh lemon juice with water or soda ) taken either sweet or salty or a mixture of both is one of the most refreshing and rehydrating drinks available.
Eat Indian food freshly prepared where possible as opposed to buffets.
Avoid oily dishes for first few days if concerned and order a grilled dish to supplement one with sauce Eat fruit you can peel Avoid snacks sold by hawkers Carry basic health kit
Should you wish to see a doctor, the hotel can arrange this. In the Metro cities very good doctors and medical facilities are increasingly available.
Insurance
It is suggested that visitors consider short-term health and accident policies from your own insurance company prior to leaving home. As medical evacuations can be extremely costly, we
recommend that you take out a comprehensive insurance policy that will cover the costs of a
medical evacuation and subsequent medical care.
Internet
Now widely available in most hotels with many offering Wifi. Some more remote places will not
have very reliable or fast access.
Language
Hindi, India’s official language is spoken by over 400 million people. However English is widely spoken in cities and towns and even in most villages, it is not hard to find some-one who has
some knowledge. The accent and grammar of Indian English may take some time to adjust to. Other European languages are rarely known excepting for a few specialized tour guides.
Restricted Areas
Special permits need to be obtained prior to arrival for some ‘sensitive’ regions of India ie The
North Eastern Frontier States (Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh), border areas of Jammu & Kashmir, selected areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Union Territories
of Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands. We will require at least 3 weeks to apply for a special
permit on your behalf.
Religion
Four of the world’s major religions originated from India; Hinduism, Sikkism, Jainism and Buddhism. Hinduism with its three hundred and thirty million gods is practiced by around 80%
of the population, Islam by 12%, Christianity 2.3%, Sikhism 2%, Buddhists 0.76% and small
numbers practicing Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism.
Security
India is generally a safe country where others are respected. However some simple common
sense precautions with possessions lessen the chances of becoming a victim to petty theft.
Carry your handbag or rucksack to the front of you, keeping an eye on it. Always remember to
keep luggage locked while travelling, whether it is stored in the hold of a car or bus, or during
domestic flights and train journeys. For females travelling alone, India is pretty safe if the usual
precautions are taken.
Sightseeing
Most sightseeing usually involves quite of lot of walking on uneven surfaces often including
many steps up and downhill. Sites tend to be more crowded at weekends and many museums
and some monuments are closed on Mondays. Taj Mahal is closed on a Friday.
At Sacred places footwear has to be removed and you are advised to carry thick cotton socks in
case the floor is hot. Wear modest clothing and no leatherwear can be worn in Hindu temples.
Entrance fees to monuments will normally be included in the cost of your tour, but you will be
required to pay locally for any camera or video camera fees.
Shopping
India is a shopper’s paradise. Best buys include textiles, silverware, brassware, stoneware,
handicrafts, artifacts, jewellery and herbal products. All gem and jewellery purchases should be
made through an authorized dealer, who must issue an official receipt, which is required for
export of such items. Bargaining is essential for all souvenirs shopping, if travellers are to obtain
reasonable prices. Possible price reductions of up to 50% are not uncommon. Be particularly
careful when purchasing antiques, jewellery, pashmina shawls and rugs checking they are
genuinely what you are paying for. Antiques over 100 years old require permission to be
exported which can be time consuming.
Time
GMT + 5 ½ hours throughout the year and all of India.
Tipping
Porterage at railway stations and airports is included. In restaurants check the bill before
deciding as in many larger ones, service charge is included. Where it is not 10-15% is usually
fine. Tipping drivers and guides is discretionary and should only be given for ‘good service’.
Train Travel
Indian Railways is the world’s largest employer, moves over 14 million passengers a day and for
its size remarkably efficient and uniquely ‘romantic’. The express trains with their 1st class and
2nd class AC are well insulated from the heat. Your guide will escort you to your seat and take
care of the porters. On arrival at your station, stay on the platform next to your carriage as you
have been advised of your seat numbers.
Tour Guides
Major tourist areas Tour guides in India are free lance with a Government controlled license.
They are University educated and usually speak good English, sometimes excellent. Language
guides are harder to obtain as demand exceeds supply and therefore as much notice as possible
is advisable for us to confirm this.
Transportation
The Ambassador, a Morris Oxford unique to India and made locally is still a great favourite for
some. The Innova is our recommended first choice for comfort, space, safety and visibility for 2
to 3 passengers. Distances and time to travel when travelling is not to count the kilometers but
the time it takes you from one place to the other. This then can determine your mode of
transportation.
Water
Drink only bottled water of a reputable make and check the top has not been tampered with.
Each vehicle during your journey will be adequately stocked with bottled water.
Health Requirements
No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to India. Travellers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis and malarial prophylaxis. Should you have transited a yellow fever area at least 10 days prior to arrival in India, an inoculation certificate is mandatory. Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes, especially during the warmer months. Hat and high-factor block cream are advisable as protection against the hot tropical sun when sightseeing.
Health Advice
Carry a tube of mosquito repellent with you Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Most incidences of stomach bugs are actually heatstroke. Nimbu pani (fresh lemon juice with water or soda ) taken either sweet or salty or a mixture of both is one of the most refreshing and rehydrating drinks available. Eat Indian food freshly prepared where possible as opposed to buffets. Avoid oily dishes for first few days if concerned and order a grilled dish to supplement one with sauce Eat fruit you can peel Avoid snacks sold by hawkers Carry basic health kit Should you wish to see a doctor, the hotel can arrange this. In the Metro cities very good doctors and medical facilities are increasingly available.
Insurance
It is suggested that visitors consider short-term health and accident policies from your own insurance company prior to leaving home. As medical evacuations can be extremely costly, we recommend that you take out a comprehensive insurance policy that will cover the costs of a medical evacuation and subsequent medical care.
Internet
Now widely available in most hotels with many offering Wifi. Some more remote places will not have very reliable or fast access.
Language
Hindi, India’s official language is spoken by over 400 million people. However English is widely spoken in cities and towns and even in most villages, it is not hard to find some-one who has some knowledge. The accent and grammar of Indian English may take some time to adjust to. Other European languages are rarely known excepting for a few specialized tour guides.
Restricted Areas
Special permits need to be obtained prior to arrival for some ‘sensitive’ regions of India ie The North Eastern Frontier States (Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh), border areas of Jammu & Kashmir, selected areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Union Territories of Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands. We will require at least 3 weeks to apply for a special permit on your behalf.
Religion
Four of the world’s major religions originated from India; Hinduism, Sikkism, Jainism and Buddhism. Hinduism with its three hundred and thirty million gods is practiced by around 80% of the population, Islam by 12%, Christianity 2.3%, Sikhism 2%, Buddhists 0.76% and small numbers practicing Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism.
Security
India is generally a safe country where others are respected. However some simple common sense precautions with possessions lessen the chances of becoming a victim to petty theft. Carry your handbag or rucksack to the front of you, keeping an eye on it. Always remember to keep luggage locked while travelling, whether it is stored in the hold of a car or bus, or during domestic flights and train journeys. For females travelling alone, India is pretty safe if the usual precautions are taken.
Sightseeing
Most sightseeing usually involves quite of lot of walking on uneven surfaces often including many steps up and downhill. Sites tend to be more crowded at weekends and many museums and some monuments are closed on Mondays. Taj Mahal is closed on a Friday. At Sacred places footwear has to be removed and you are advised to carry thick cotton socks in case the floor is hot. Wear modest clothing and no leatherwear can be worn in Hindu temples. Entrance fees to monuments will normally be included in the cost of your tour, but you will be required to pay locally for any camera or video camera fees.
Shopping
India is a shopper’s paradise. Best buys include textiles, silverware, brassware, stoneware, handicrafts, artifacts, jewellery and herbal products. All gem and jewellery purchases should be made through an authorized dealer, who must issue an official receipt, which is required for export of such items. Bargaining is essential for all souvenirs shopping, if travellers are to obtain reasonable prices. Possible price reductions of up to 50% are not uncommon. Be particularly careful when purchasing antiques, jewellery, pashmina shawls and rugs checking they are genuinely what you are paying for. Antiques over 100 years old require permission to be exported which can be time consuming.
Time
GMT + 5 ½ hours throughout the year and all of India.
Tipping
Porterage at railway stations and airports is included. In restaurants check the bill before deciding as in many larger ones, service charge is included. Where it is not 10-15% is usually fine. Tipping drivers and guides is discretionary and should only be given for ‘good service’.
Train Travel
Indian Railways is the world’s largest employer, moves over 14 million passengers a day and for its size remarkably efficient and uniquely ‘romantic’. The express trains with their 1st class and 2nd class AC are well insulated from the heat. Your guide will escort you to your seat and take care of the porters. On arrival at your station, stay on the platform next to your carriage as you have been advised of your seat numbers.
Tour Guides
Major tourist areas Tour guides in India are free lance with a Government controlled license. They are University educated and usually speak good English, sometimes excellent. Language guides are harder to obtain as demand exceeds supply and therefore as much notice as possible is advisable for us to confirm this.
Transportation
The Ambassador, a Morris Oxford unique to India and made locally is still a great favourite for some. The Innova is our recommended first choice for comfort, space, safety and visibility for 2 to 3 passengers. Distances and time to travel when travelling is not to count the kilometers but the time it takes you from one place to the other. This then can determine your mode of transportation.
Water
Drink only bottled water of a reputable make and check the top has not been tampered with. Each vehicle during your journey will be adequately stocked with bottled water.