travel info
HEALTH
Foreign tourists should be in possession of their Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate conforming to International Health Regulations, if they are originating or transiting through Africa or South America. The validity of this certificate is for a period of 10 years.
No other vaccination certificate is needed, but for personal protection, inoculation is recommended for cholera, typhoid, malaria and hepatitis.
VISA & SPECIAL PERMITS
Tourist visas are issued either for one month or for six months. In case of the former, entry into India has to be within one month from the date of issue. This visa is not available by post. The latter is issued for six months from the date of issue.
Fees for both categories are the same, so it is advisable for tourists planning to visit neighbouring countries to ask for the latter. It is preferable for tourists to apply for visa in the country of their residence.
Tourist visas can be extended by three months at the foreigners' registration office in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Madras, or with the Superintendent of Police at any District Headquarters. Four passport size photographs are needed for obtaining a visa.
If stay in the country exceeds 180 days, then tourists are required to get a tax clearance certificate, available at the foreigners' section of the income tax department in every major city. It is also advisable to keep bank receipts to show that the money has been changed legally.
Special permits may be required additionally with the visa to visit certain areas of the country. Areas such as parts of Sikkim and the north-east frontier states, and northeast of Himachal Pradesh near the Tibetan border are out of bounds for foreign nationals.
In case you need to visit any of these areas, apply for a permit at least four weeks in advance at the Ministry of Home Affairs Foreigners' Section , Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi 110 003.
Special permits are available at all Indian embassies, consulates and high commissions abroad, including all foreigners' registration offices, immigration offices at main international airports in India.
MONEY & BANKING
Indian Money
India's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. One Rupee is equal to hundred paise. Notes are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500. Coins start at 10, 20, (not used so much these days) 25, 50, paise and 1, 2, and 5 rupees.
Notes can get disfigured, so do not accept torn or disfigured notes. In case you do get torn notes you can change them at the Reserve Bank of India or large branches of other big banks.
Traveller's cheques and credit cards
It is advisable to carry a mixture of cash and traveller's cheques to guard against any situation. US dollars are the easiest currency to change with pounds sterling coming a close second.
Other hard currencies such as Yen, French Francs, Canadian Dollars, Deutsche Mark can also be changed in tourist areas and big cities.
A currency declaration form has to be filled out by the tourists if they enter the country with US$10,000 or its equivalent in any other currency.
Tourists can get a relatively better exchange rate for traveller's cheques and they are safer to carry though not as liquid as cash. American Express, Visa or Thomas Cook Traveller Cheques are readily accepted.
A growing number of hotels, restaurants and shops are beginning to accept credit cards, the well known and more accepted ones being American Express, Access or MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa.
Banks
It is advisable to change ample amounts of money at one time and keep the encashment certificates. Encashment certificates will be needed when changing excess rupees back or for tax clearance certificates.Banking hours in India are from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Mon-Fri) and from 10 a.m.-12 noon on Saturdays. Banks at the Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, and Madras airports, Ashoka hotel in Delhi and the Air India building in Mumbai are open 24 hours a day.
You can also wire money into India. These services are offered by foreign banks with branches in India and also with Indian banks with branches abroad such as the State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.
* The information regarding this page is from The India Travel site.