India Destination Information

India is a Country which lies in the South Asia with diverse terrain – a fact that is visibly prominent in its people, culture and climate. From the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated peninsula of far South, from the deserts of the West to the humid deltas of the East, from the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography. Down in India’s south, cruising Kerala’s backwaters on a converted rice barge is a suitably relaxed way to embrace this region’s laid-back approach to life. The food, clothing and habits of an Indian differ in accordance to the place of origin.

Visa Requirement

E TOURIST Visa
The Government of India has done the facility of E Tourist Visa on Arrival. This Visa is for Tourist going for holidays for less than 30 days in India and is A SINGLE ENTRY VISA. And can be obtained 30 days prior to departure. You need only to fill the e TVOA forms online upload the photos and passport page ( with photo graph ) in PDF form and Photo in JPEG . All this is mentioned in Documents required. You would need to fill the ETVOA visa application.
This can be done 30 days prior to departure. Please do read the information before you start filling. Please NOTE you require 2 Photos each with Light Back ground and the size of the photo is specific to 2 inches by 2 inches which you need to get from a photo shop. Kindly also keep your passport and photo scanned with you when filling the online E Visa application as you would need to upload. All Visitors to India require a visa: An application form must be filled as per the requirements Original passport valid for 6 months and above .

E-Visa Facility is available for nationals of following countries/territories
Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi Cambodia, Cameron Union Republic, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, China- SAR Hongkong, China- SAR Macau, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia

Fiji, Finland, France Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana Haiti, Honduras, Hungary Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy Jamaica, Japan, Jordan Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger Republic, Niue Island, Norway Oman Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Rwanda Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam Zambia and Zimbabwe

Culture
The Indian culture varies like its vast geography. People speak in different languages, dress differently, follow different religions, eat different food but are of the same temperament. So whether it is a joyous occasion or a moment of grief, people participate whole-heartedly, feeling the happiness or pain. A festival or a celebration is never constrained to a family or a home. The whole community or neighborhood is involved in bringing liveliness to an occasion. Likewise, an Indian wedding is a celebration of union, not only of the bride and groom, but also of two families, maybe cultures or religion too! Similarly, in times of sorrow, neighbours and friends play an important part in easing out the grief. The official language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population. English is often used for official or commercial purposes. There are other regional Languages which are spoken within the respective States. The Time in India is IST (UTC + 5:30)

Insurance
We strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance policy prior to your India trip. Insurance should include coverage for personal accident, medical expenses, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. You must have adequate insurance, to cover you in the event you suffer a medical problem while travelling.

Currency
Indian Rupee (INR) is the currency of India. Currency like Dollars and Sterling Pounds are also accepted at some Hotels and can also be exchanged at the Money Exchange available at International Airports and Money Exchange Centers available at Major Cities. Credit cards can be used at almost all the hotels and in most shops and restaurants in major cities; however they are not widely accepted in more rural areas. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted amongst Credit / Charge cards. ATM access is available in almost all cities.

Clothing
Travel as light as possible. Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi tropical climates. Clothing and Laundry are quite inexpensive. Laundry services are available throughout the country.

Food and Drinks
Indian food is different from rest of the world not only in taste but also in cooking methods. Itreflects a perfect blend of various cultures and ages. Just like Indian culture, food in India has also been influenced by various civilizations, which have contributed their share in its overall development and the present form. Each region of India specializes in its own cuisine. Try to eat the foods from good Hygienic Restaurants and Drink only Sealed Bottled Water. Buy it only from respectable or known outlets. In restaurants insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table.

Electricity
The electric current in India operates on 220 volts. Electric plug types come in at least two sizes and vary throughout the country, the rounded two or three pronged plug is most commonly used.

Tipping
Tipping for good service is expected in India and should preferably be paid in local currency.If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers, a tip is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across the Indian Sub-continent.