Travel Tips for India Visitors, India Travel Tips

Customs /Baggage Visitors are usually asked if they have anything to declare on arrival. You should not bring in more than US$10,000 in cash without declaring it. Likewise, video,camera,cellphones and laptop etc. equipment and other expensive, easily sold items should be declared on arrival. If the customs officers issues you are Tourist Baggage Re-export Form (TBRE) detailing the items declared and their value, these items must be shown when leaving the country. If currency was declared and noted when entering the country , exchange receipts must be shown on departure if you take less than declared amount out. India allows one bottle of spirits, 200 cigarettes and a reasonable amount of gifts to be imported free of duty.

Visitors can be exported from India without restriction. Only Rs 2000 worth of gold and up to Rs. 10,000 worth of manufactured jewellery or precious stones can be exported without the permit. Any object over 100 years old needs an export certificate from the Director of Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India. India is a signatory to CITES and the export of ivory, animals and snake skins and products made from them is forbidden. CITES certificates can be issued by the Deputy Director of Wildlife Preservation in the major cities. They should fill in the Disembarkation card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight. There are two channels for Customs clearance:

Green Channel : For passengers not in possession of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.
Red Channel : For passengers with dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to be entered on the Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.

Passport Information
Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure. For more information.....

Currency
Rupee = 100 paise. Exchange: At banks or authorised exchangers.. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques can be widely exchanged. Pound sterling and US dollars are the preferred currencies.

Telephone Services
Country Code India:+ 91
Outgoing Code: 00
IDD: International Direct Dialling is available.
Phone calls are much cheaper from the STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) booths than from hotels.

Medical insurance
If you have medical or travel insurance, do check whether the company will make payment overseas or will merely reimburse you later. Most Indian hospitals and doctors will insist on payment on the spot.

Drinking water
As a rule most water is unsafe for drinking. The better (equated to more expensive) hotels and restaurants will serve safe drinking water. Elsewhere, well known brands of bottled water are recommended. Make sure the bottle is sealed and do not accept opened bottles. Otherwise, stick to drinking carbonated drinks or hot tea/coffee or treat water with iodine drops/chlorine tablets.

Service
Indians are a genuinely warm and friendly people and service is a part of the culture. In most places the service is genuinely friendly and not a mere facade.

Language
English is widely spoken and language should not be a barrier to travel.

Tipping
At a restaurant a tip of 10% of the bill is considered adequate and can be reduced to 5% if you run up bills of Rs.1000 or more.

Money changing
Visit authorised foreign exchange dealers and banks and keep the encashment certificates.

What to carry
Travel light. A hard suitcase is preferable to a soft topped one, as it better withstands wear and tear, is water proof and can be used to sit on at railway stations and bus stops! Do include your anti bacterial creams, sun screen lotions and, if you are travelling to remote areas, water purification tablets. A flashlight and a Swiss army penknife will always come in handy. A padlock will be useful if you are staying at budget hotels. Remember to carry your personal medication and a handy medical kit.

Electrical gadgets
The power outlet in India is 220-240 volt. Most sockets are 3 pin sockets.

Documents
Do keep photo copies of important travel documents. One set can be left behind with someone at home and the other can be kept on your person or in a different bag/article of luggage, from where you keep the originals. Photocopies should be made of your tickets, credit cards and passport, visa and travellers cheques. Carry extra copies of passport size photographs.