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India Travel Information

Passports and Visas

All foreign nationals require visa to enter India. However, there are some relaxations for Bhutanese and Nepalese nationals. Details and types of visa and the fee may be obtained from the Embassy of India. (Address given on opening cover page).
 

Information for Tours which offers trekking and mountaineering expiditions to India.

1) Where the proposed tour includes any point above 6000 mtrs, visa may be given only after receiving the formal clearence from the indian Mountaineering Federation.

2) Where the proposed tour is for areas below 6000 mtrs. the visa applications should be accompanied ba an iterary indicating days and places to be visited alog with their height, a map of the proposed area with the distinct markings of the places to be visited and a copy of the broshure outlining the tour highlights. These details are required to ensure that the proposed tour does not violate the mandatory conditions laid down by the IMF.

• Embassy of India in Stockholm, Sweden
  Adolf Fredriks kyrkogata 12, Box 1340,
  111 83 Stockholm
  E-mail: information@indianembassy.se
  Telephone: 08-10 70 08, 08-4113212 /3
  Telefax: 08-24 85 05, 08-24 85 24
  Telegram: INDEMBASSY
  -> Visa form download

• Indian Embassy Helsinki, Finland
  Satamakatu 2 A 8
  00160 Helsinki
  Tel.: + (358) (9) 608 935
  Fax:+ (358) (9) 622 1208

• Indian Embassy Den Haag, Netherlands
  Buitenrustweg 2
  Den Haag 2517 KD
  Tel.: (+31) (0) 70 - 3469771

• Embassy of India Tel Aviv, Israel
  Tel: +972 - 3 - 510 1431
  Fax: +972 - 3 - 510 1434
  Email: indemtel@netvision.net.il

• Belarus
  H.E. Mr. B.R. Muthu Kumar,
  Ambassador,
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, MINSK,
  Ulitsa Koltsova 4,Block No. 5 ,
  Minsk 220090 Phone:(375-172)- 629339
  Fax: (375-172)-629799
  Telex: 252510 INDEM BY
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, MINSK

• KAZAKHSTAN
  Ambassador
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, ALMATY
  Ulitsa Internatsional’naya, 71  Almaty 480091
  Phone:(8-3272)- 694-805, 696-191
  Fax:- 926767
  Telex: 251352 INDAL SU
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, ALMATY
  E-Mail: india@in-emb.almaty.kz rajiv@india.alma-ata.su

• KYRGHYZSTAN
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, BISHKEK 
  Chui Prospekt, 164-A, Bishkek 
  Phone:-8-10-996-312-210863 
  Fax:- (7-3312)-660708 & 210849 
  Telex: 245109 INDEM KH 
  E-Mail: ss@indemb.bishkek.su 
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, BISHKEK

• TAJIKISTAN
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, DUSHANBE
  45,Bokhoro Street, Dushanbe
  Phone:(8-992-372)-212-350, 212-046, 212461
  Fax:  212-461 & 510-045
  Telex: 201114 SAFAR TJT
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, DUSHANBE

• TURKMENISTAN
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, ASHGABAT
  Suite 103, Hotel Nogina, Nogina Street 11,Ashgabat 13
  P.O.Box 80, Krugozar Post Office,Ashgabat-744000
  Phone: (7-3632)- 418756, 418736, 418744
  Fax: 350944, 469030
  Telex: 228125 INDEM RU
  E-Mail: ambtm@cat.glasnet.ru
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, ASHGABAT

• UKRAINE
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, KIEV
  4, Terekhina Street,Kiev,Ukraine
  Phone:(7044)-4686605, 2245191
  Fax: (7044)-4356619
  Telex: 131459 INDKU SU Cable: INDEMBASSY,KIEV

• UZBEKISTAN
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, TASHKENT
  3,Alexei Tolstogo Street, Tashkent
  Phone:(7-3712)-1338357, 1338267
  Fax:(7-3712)-1361976
  Telex:116115 INDEM RU
  Cable: INDEMBASSY, TASHKENT

• Yerevan
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, YEREVAN
  8th Floor, Hotel Razdan,
  72a Dzorapi Street, Yerevan, 375 019
  Tel.No. 8-10-8852-535027, 535342
  Fax no. 537833

• Azerbaijan
  EMBASSY OF INDIA, BAKU
  Oktay Karimov Street 31/39
  Ganjlik, Narimanov District,
  Baku – 370069, Azerbaijan Telephone:- 8-10-99412-474186, 474187
  Fax:- 472572
  E-mail:- eibaku@adanet

• Hungary
  Embassy of India
  Buzavirag utca 14,
  1025 Budapest II,
  Hungary
  Ph :+361-3257742,3257743 Fax :+361-3257745

• Czech Republic
  Embassy of India
  Valdstejnska 6 Mala Strana
  118 00 Prague 1
  Tel: +420 2 57 53 34 90 - 93
  Fax: +420 2 57 53 33 78

India Consulate Offices in the Russian Federation

• Mr. Rajiv K. Chander, Consul General,
  CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA ST. PETERSBURG
  35,Ryleeva Street, St. Petersburg 191123
  Phone:(7-812)- 2721988 Fax: (7-812)-2722473
  E-Mail: cg@congendia.spb.su
  Telex:64-121799 CGSPB SU
  Cable: CONGENDIA,ST.PETERSBURG

• Mr. I.H. Zhimomi, Consul General,
  CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA BLADIVOSTOK
  14, Aleutskaya Street,Post Box No. 90308 Vladivostok 690090
  Phone:007-4232-413920 Fax:007-4232-413956.
  E-Mail: cgivlad@online.marine.su Telex:213240 CGIVV RU
  Cable: CONGENDIA,VLADIVOSTOK

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Restricted and Protected Areas

Certain parts of the country need special permits before they can be visited.

Foreign Tourists can visit Nagaland
In order to promote tourism in the North-east region, the Government of India has decided to allow foreign tourists to visit Nagaland. Until recently the entire state of Nagaland was a restricted area. However the Government of India has decided to allow foreign tourists to visit the destricts of Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchong and Wokha for a maximum period of 10 days and in a group of 4 or more. this restriction of group is not valid for married couples.

Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. These States/Union Territories have been designated as protected areas and foreigners cannot enter these areas without special permits. These permits are issued by the Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi 110 003 at least 4 weeks before the date of the expected visit.

Certain areas of Sikkim like Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pamayangtse have been excluded form the inner line and declared as restricted areas. Individual tourists are permitted to visit Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang. Tourists are permitted to visit Zongri and Pamayangtse. The duration of stay has been raised from 7 to 15 days. Permits can be issued by all Indian Missions abroad, all FRROs, Immigration Officers at Airports at Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and New Delhi. Manipur. Manipur has also been opened to foreign tourists; permits can be issued by all Missions abroad, all FRROs, Home Commissioner, Manipur, Imphal. The duration of stay has been raised from 3 to 5 days. Permits are no longer required for Darjeeling, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura.
 

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Individual foreign tourists can visit Port Blair Municipal Area, Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, where a night halt is allowed and Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet, Madhuban where only day visits are allowed. Prior permit is necessary.
 

Lakshadweep Islands. Only Bangaram and Subeli Islands are open to foreign tourists. Permits are required, obtainable from the Lakshadweep Administration, Wellington Island, Harbour Road, Kochi -3.
 

Manipur Loktak Lake, Imphal, Moirang, Keibul Deer Sanctuary and Waithe Lake.

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Health Regulation

Facilities: It is advisable to bring specific medicines. There are state operated facilities in all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists in urban areas.

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Language

The official language is Hindi in the Devanagri script. The States are free to decide their own regional languages for internal administration and education, so there are 18 official languages spoken throughout the country. English is widely spoken.

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Tip

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Guides

Trained English speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important tourist centres. The Govt. of India Tourist Offices can be contacted by tourists for the services of approved guides. French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese speaking guides are available at some cities. Please consult the nearest Govt. of India Tourist Office. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments, and tourists are, therefore, advised to ask the guides for the identity card issued by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of India.

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Opening Hours

These may vary from region to region. All international Hotels have a 24 hours money changing facility.
GMT + 5 1/2 hours.GMT + 5 1/2 hours.

Banks : 10.00 to 14.00 (Mo. to Fr.), and 10.00 to 12.00 (Sat.).
Post Offices : 10.00 to 17.00 (Mo. to Fr.) and Sat. mornings, In big cities often longer.
Shops : 09.30 to 18.00 (Mo. to Sat.).

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Time

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Electricity

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Photography

Travelers to India find ample themes with varied subjects for photography from faces to monuments, wildlife, festivities, scenic beauty, etc. However, formalities in respect to protected monuments and the wildlife sanctuaries are :

• Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod and artificial light.

• Photography in the wildlife sanctuaries is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee. Photography is prohibited in tribal areas.

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Communications

Fax/Telex/Telegram : International 24-hours service from large hotels and telegraph offices in major cities.

Telephone : Telephone calls to most countries are now direct. There are telephone facilities between the most cities and towns.

The international direct dialing code for India is +91.

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Money

Currency: Rupee = 100 Paise. Coins are in denominations of 10, 25 & 50 Paise & l, 2 & 5 Rupees. Notes are in denominations of Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500.

actual exchange Rates

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Currency Regulations

Foreign Currency. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers’ cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival, This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure. Cash, bank notes and travelers’ cheques up to US$2.500 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of travellers’ cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. which tourists wish to convent into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorised money changers.

Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorised persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorised money changers is an offence. Please note that no Indian currency whatso-ever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee travellers’ cheques. Banks abroad do keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee travellers’ cheques to intending tourists. There are 24 hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports

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Customs Regulations

All personal objects which are required in India are free from duty. Under this heading fall personal jewelry, presents up to a value of Rs. 600, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 0.95 l alcoholic beverages. Professional material and articles which have a high value can only be imported duty free if the traveler gives a written undertaking that these articles will be re-exported.

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Airport Tax

Passengers embarking on journey to any place outside India will have to pay an airport tax of Rs. 300. For journey to Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maledives = Rs. 150.

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Public Holidays

There are many festivals and special events in India, but only a few of these are full public holidays. These are: 26 Jan Republic Day, 15 Aug. Independence Day, 2 Oct. Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. For dates of other holidays and festival please contact Tourist Offices in India.

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  Information provided by Department of Tourism. Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Government of India.

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