|
Country Introduction
India is set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the highest, youngest
and still evolving mountain chain on the planet. The subcontinent as it is rightly
called, touches three large water bodies and is immediately recognizable on any
world map. This thick, roughly triangular peninsula defines the Bay of Bengal to
the east, the Arabian sea to the west, and the India Ocean to the south.
Country Information
FOOD & DRINK
Indian cuisine is as diverse in variety as the country itself. The basis of Indian
food is a grain (bread in the north and rice in the south), most likely eaten with
daal (lentils), sabzi (vegetables) and chatni (chutney). Fish and meat can be added
to these staple foods.
RELIGION
Religion and ritual are important for almost every aspect of live in India. Four
of the world's main religions were founded here, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and
Sikhism. Approximately 85% of the population of India are Hindus.
LANGUAGE
There are 17 major regional languages in India with hundreds of dialects, with Hindi
being spoken by the largest number of people in the country. English is widely spoken
in tourist areas.
CLIMATE
India is a huge country and the weather in the far north bears little relation to
that in the far south. India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the
cool. Generally speaking, the best time to visit is in the winter (November to February)
although there are regional variations. The south has a tropical monsoon climate
with humid, warm weather and some rain.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
India has many holidays and festivals. Most of these either follow the Indian lunar
calendar or the Islamic calendar, which means that they fall on different dates
each year. Some examples of festivals and the time of year they occur are as follows:
*26 January - Republic Day * Jan/Feb - Pongal - Tgamil festival marking the
end of the harvest season * Vasant Panchami - a Hindu festival where people traditionally
dress in yellow * Feb/Mar * Holi - a Hindu festival marking the end of winter *
Mar/Apr * Mahavir Jayanti - the birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism * ramanavami
- celebration of the birth of Rama * Easter * May/June * Milad-un-Nabi - celebration
of the birth of Mohammed * Aug/Sept * 15 August - Independence Day * Ganesh
Chaturthi - celebrates the birth of the elephant headed god Ganesh * Sept/Oct *
2 October - Ghandi's Birthday * Dessehra - a popular festival that celebrates the
victory of Durga over the buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura * Oct/Nov * Festival
of Diwali - happiest festival of Hindu calendar * Govardhana Puja - a Hindu festival
dedicated to the cow.
Ramadan is the main Muslim festival where muslims fast from dawn to dusk for 30
days. In 2008 this festival will start on approximately 30 August. Eid al-Fitr is
a day of feasting to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
WHILST IN INDIA
SHOPPING
Each region in India specializes in a particular skill, be it pottery, weaving,
metalware or painting. There is a fantastic choice of silk and cotton woven textiles
to be found all over the country, and, of course, tea can be purchased anywhere.
Most shops in the principal shopping areas in urban India are open from about 10am
to 7.30pm. Shop timings do vary from city to city, as do holidays. Republic
Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Ghandi's birthday (2 October)
are national holidays and by law all shops and markets in the country remain closed.
CAR HIRE/TAXIS
Several large reputable car hire companies such as Avis, Budget and Europcar now
operate in India. They offer both self driven cars and chauffer driven cars as Indian
road and traffic conditions can be difficult for those unused to driving in them,
and hiring a driver is consider much the safest option, and not all that expensive.
Taxis are metered and can be hailed in the street or hired from a stand. Even though
the taxis are metered they may not be that accurate and it is best to firmly negotiate
the fare in advance. Auto-rickshaws are noisy three-wheeled vehicles powered by
a motor-cycle engine. They are generally metered, about half the price of a taxi
but follow the same ground rules as a taxi. Cycle-rickshaws are a popular and practical
means to traverse the congested pockets of the old quarters of cities. It is also
best to negotiate the fare for these in advance, though some do have a flat rate
for some fixed routes.
BANKS
Most international banks now have branches in all the larger cities across India.
The State Bank of India is the bank with the largest distribution network. Banking
hours are between 9.30/10.00am to 2pm (Monday to Friday) and 9.30/10am to 12 noon
on Saturdays. Banks are always closed on regional and national holidays.
TIPPING
Most tourist restaurants include a service fee, so extra tipping is optional. In
smaller places, where there is no service charge, a tip is greatly appreciated,
even if it is only a few rupees. Hotel and train porters expect about Rs10 to carry
bags and hotel staff expect around the same amount of money for providing services
above and beyond the call of duty. Taxi or autorickshaw drivers do not expect tips.
ELECTRICITY
The electric current is 230-240V AC, 50 Hz. Electricity is widely available but
power cuts are not uncommon but the most large hotels have back up generators.
TIME
India is 5 and a half hours ahead of GMT.
USEFUL ADDRESSES:
High Commission of India
India House
Aldwych
London
WC2B 4NA
Tel: 020 7836 8484
Visa Line: 020 7379 6242
www.hcilondon.net
There are also two consulates in the UK based in Birmingham and Edinburgh as follows:
Consulate General in Birmingham
20 Augusta Street
Hockley
Birmingham
B18 6JL
Tel: 0121 212 2782
www.cgibirmingham.org
Consul ate General in Edinburgh
17 Rutland Square
Edinburgh
EH1 2BB
Tel: 0131 229 2144
www.cgiedinburgh.org
Useful Information
(PRIOR TO DEPARTURE)
PASSPORT - Required. Must be valid for 6 months from the date of your return from
India.
VISA - British passport holders need a visa to visit India. A tourist visa valid
for up to 6 months is available for approximately £30 and should be purchased
before travel. Further information and visa application forms can be obtained on
line from the Indian High Commission in London at www.hcilondon.net. All other travellers
are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy before they travel.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Health precautions must be taken to avoid the risk of contracting cholera, typhoid,
poliomyelitis and malaria. Consult your health centre well in advanced to confirm
which vaccinations you will require.
WHAT TO TAKE:
A raincoat or umbrella, a hat and sun screen as protection against the sun, sun
glasses. In some areas a torch is useful. A basic first aid kit to include all personal
medication, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medicine, plasters, antiseptic lotion should
be considered.
WHAT TO WEAR:
The clothes you will need depend on when and where in India you are making your
visit. In northern India from November to February you will need a warm jacket,
sweater and socks, especially at night, whereas in the south the weather is much
warmer at this time of year. In February and March, and again in October, it is
prudent to bring light wollens. During the summer and monsoon season (April to September)
only loose-fitting cotton clothes are comfortable. It is adviseable to bring footwear
that is easy to remove, as you will be expecteed to take off your shoes in places
of worship. If planning to visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary bring warm and waterproof
clothing.
Indians tend to dress conservatively and keep their bodies well covered. Women should
try and avoid wearing items such as short skirts or halter necked tops as these
might cause unwanted attention.
It is acceptable for men to go shirtless on the beach, but nude sunbathing is never
allowed and women are advised to wear full swimsuits or sarongs over their bikinis.
Some places may have a dress code for night time. Feet are considered to be the
lowliest part of the body and shoes are considered unclean and people are expected
to take off their shoes when entering a house.
CURRENCY
The currency is the Indian rupee (Rs) divided into 100 paisas. Be careful not to
mix up the 100 and 500 rupee notes as they look very similar and beware of accepting
torn or damaged notes as shops and even banks are reluctant to accept them. Banks
often give notes stapled together in large packs. Ask them to remove the staples
for you because you could find it difficult to do it yourself without tearing the
notes. Foreign nationals are not allowed to bring or take Indian currency into or
out of the country.
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards are now widely accepted in most big hotgels, restaurants and department
stores. The most common are Visa, MasterCard, Diner's Club and American Express.
RECOMMENDED READING
India - published by Lonely Planet
India, Eyewitness Travel Guides - published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd
|
|