ADAPTORS: Most sockets in India are triple round-pin (accepting European-size double-pin plugs). British, Irish and Australasian plugs will need an adaptor, preferably universal. Adaptors can usually be bought at major hotels and many shops.
AIRPORT TAX: Airport tax is built into the cost of your flight tickets wherever possible, although some private airports – for example, Cochin & Calicut airports in Kerala – are privately-run airports and still charge departure tax. Here, an airport tax of approximately Rs.500 is charged here for international flights. It is advisable always to travel with a reasonable amount of loose change.
ALLOW ENOUGH TIME: India will not be rushed and a genial, relaxed service is not always a rapid one. There is no advantage in deliberately causing people to lose face. Remember that this is not the West. Allow a little more time for checking out of hotels, ordering food, traveling, paying bills, enjoying yourself.... in fact, anything at all. If you match the Indians for their tolerance and patience then you are likelier to discover the beauty and harmony of the country.
BARGAINING:Bargaining over the price of goods is widely expected for a variety of transactions, including the hire of trishaws and the purchase of handicrafts. Note though that not all sellers will quote you a price that is inflated and that therefore requires bargaining. Modern shops, for instance, have adopted Western habits where bartering is not welcomed. We recommend you try to ascertain the guide prices for goods or services before purchasing. Remember that a small and inconsequential saving for you could be an extremely important amount to the seller. Bargaining is best carried out in a good-humoured and courteous manner. Aggressive haggling will offend the seller and ultimately increase the price.
CAMERAS:Beware of pointing your camera at anything might be considered ‘strategic’, including airports, anything military and sometimes even bridges, main roads and railway stations. Please do ask permission before taking photographs of people and respect their wishes if they refuse. Minority groups, in particular, are often unhappy to have their photo taken. Religious photographs may also cause offence. so assess the situation and if in doubt, ask. We do not recommend paying for the right to take a photo, although you should be sensitive to the fact that a tip may sometimes be expected. If you do take a photo including local people, especially children, do share the picture with them if you have a digital camera as this will often be greatly appreciated.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING: India is a land of many climates: from the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the tropical climate of Kerala in the 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 fporest foothills. Habits have evolved according to the climate. Ensure you have researched the appropriate clothing for your Protect yourself from the sun with creams, hats and sunglasses; drink plenty of bottled water to avoid dehydration; and stay safe in the event of a thunderstorm. Topless sunbathing is officially illegal. The use of bikinis is generally considered acceptable while on the beach. When swimming inland, in rivers or lakes, ask for local advice regarding swimwear as covering with a sarong may be necessary. Away from the beach, be aware that dress standards are comparatively conservative and it is respectful to wear loose, long and lightweight clothing. Shorts should always be knee-length. Be especially careful about modest dress when visiting religious sites, and be wary of the fact that some properties may be closed to non-Hindus. You may be tempted to travel light as clothing and laundry are both relatively inexpensive – although standards of laundry vary considerably.
COMMUNICATIONS: Consider buying an Indian SIM card and top-up cards for your mobile phone, as mobile phone call rates are relatively cheap for both local and international calls. Scratch cards are available for immediate Internet access; these are good value and easy to use. IDD (international telephone) facilities are available in the vast majority of tourist hotels and sometimes so are fax lines. Some hotel business centres offer Internet access, and cyber cafes exist in most tourist areas, although connection speeds can be quite slow. Once again, allow enough time!
CUSTOMS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCE: By and large, India is a very hospitable place to visit. Take care to avoid religious offence, however. In particular, respect the Buddhist faith: do not touch a holy man, do not pose for photographs on religious statues and remove shoes and socks when entering temples. Try to find out as much as you before you arrive, read about the religion and culture, learn about local rules and values, and even learn some of the language. Be sensitive to cultural difference. Note that kissing and cuddling is regarded as part of sex, so please do so in private. On the whole, remember that patience, friendliness and courtesy are highly valued virtues that will win you the respect and confidence of the Indian people. If you give the impression of being from a different country, the chances are that you might be stared at. This may seem over-familiar to some, but it is merely curiuousity and you should not take offence. Indians believe in sharing happiness or sorrow and a festival is never far away.
ENTERTAINMENT: Predominantly, but not exclusively, most forms of entertainment are based around the top hotels, which offer nightclubs, a range of restaurants, bookshops, bars, sports facilities ranging from swimming pools to floodlit tennis courts, health clubs, as well as traditional entertainment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:
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Water conservation. Water is a precious resource in many parts of India, much needed for personal use, industry, farming and power generation. In recent years, despite the heavy rains, there have been droughts and severe water shortages in some parts of the state, so please do avoid excessive use of water. A few options which will help to save water:
(i) Consider taking a shower rather than a bath;
(ii) Take shorter showers;
(iii) Ask for your towels to be folded rather than washed each day;
(iv) Don’t leave the tap running when brushing teeth. |
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Electricity conservation. Power is a precious resource at present and the demand for electricity places an enormous strain on the economy, as an increasing amount of electricity is being produced by burning non-renewable fuels. Try to conserve electricity where possible: make sure you turn off your lights, TV etc. when leaving your bedroom or bathroom. Try to limit your use of air-conditioning by cooling the room down before sleeping and then switching to an overhead fan. |
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Waste pollution. This is a fairly serious problem in India as disposal systems are often inadequate and the recycling of products is quite rare. The plastic bag is a particular blight, littering streets and the countryside. They will be offered for almost every purchase so try to take your own or re-use the same bags when shopping. Cotton bags are readily available and very cheap. |
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Endangered species and natural resources. Take special care when shopping that you are not encouraging the wasteful destruction of important natural resources and endangered species. Avoid hard wood products likely to have been produced in an unsustainable manner, shells from beach traders or ancient artifacts. |
EXCESS BAGGAGE: Beware of breaking the 20kg baggage limit (plus one piece of hand luggage). Additional charges may be levied, or equipment left behind. Requests for a higher limit can be made on your behalf, but success is not guaranteed.
FOOD AND DRINK: As you will no doubt know, Indian cuisine is renowned for causing stomach complaints and it pays to follow the following guidelines. Only drink (and clean your teeth with) bottled water. This can be bought much more cheaply from local shops than hotels but wherever you get it, check the seal. Top hotels supply flasks of boiled and filtered water. Ensure that you always have adequate supplies of water so that you do not become dehydrated, especially after strenuous exercise. Coconut water is good for settling a queasy stomach, although some may prefer to take their medicinal coconut in the form of arrack, the local firewater. When eating, consider the old advice: `boil it, bake it, peel it or ignore it.' Be particularly wary of salads and peel-less fruit. Ensure your meat is thoroughly cooked. If you have any doubts, overlook the buffet and order something freshly-cooked, even if it takes a little longer. Wash your hands thoroughly before each meal, and if you decide to pass on cutlery and eat with your hands, be sure to adhere to the right-hand rule. Indian cuisine is categorsied into six tastes – sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent – and a well-balanced meal is considered to contain all six tastes. Beef is not served in many parts of India and pork is also not readily available. Eat non-vegetarian only in reputable restaurants. Curd or yoghurt is a natural aid to digestion. If you do get a stomach bug consider:
(i) Lassi, a yogurt drink, or coconut water to settle a queasy stomach;
(ii) Plain rice
(iii) Fluids and electrolyte salts.
(iv) Starvation for 36 hours – drinking plenty of water.
HEALTH: You are strongly advised to contact your own GP or vaccination centre with regard to required vaccinations for India. Try to find out about recommended inoculations at least a month before travel. Malaria tablets, plus inoculations for tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A and polio are all recommended. Top hotels can advise on reputable local doctors or private hospitals in the event of serious illness. In case of diarrhoea, pack body-salt replenishment powder, such as Dioralyte, as well as Immodium or a similar product. Among the items you might pack are: suncreams (consider a higher factor than you would use in the UK or other comparatively cool climates), insect repellent, sting relief cream, antiseptic cream, a lightweight hat and sunglasses. The HIV rate is rising fast in India, so if you think you might be sexually active in India, pack condoms and practice safe sex. Discourage any trishaw drivers or hawkers who act on behalf of any illegal prostitution racket.
LANGUAGE AND RELIGIONS: Hindi, which is spoken by more than 80 per cent of the public, is India’s main language. English is widely spoken and understood in all but the most out-of-the-way areas. Hinduism is the predominant religion, although Buddhists, Moslems and Christians are also present.
LAUNDRY: All the top hotels offer an on-day laundry service, the prices of which are varied. Large cricket tour parties might like to try to negotiate discounts for the laundering of kit.
MONEY: Currency is the Indian Rupee (Re/Rs), which you will not be able to buy before you leave. If you want cash on arrival it is best to get it at the airport bank. Credit cards are widely accepted and there are ATM machines in major centres. Scottish and Northern Irish notes are NOT accepted. Travellers cheques are still widely used, but not as direct transactions. Guard your money carefully and use hotel safes where possible, as casual thieving can occur.
PASSPORT AND VISAS: Holders of passports from the vast majority of countries, including UK, Ireland, United States, Germany, France, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Sri Lanka, will often require a six month visa in order to holiday in India, although you may be given a shorter one. Even if you are only visiting for a few days, make sure that your passport is valid for the entire duration. You should be able to access download forms from embassy and consulate websites (http://passport.nic.in/ vspassport/missions.htm). In Britain and North America, you’ll need two passport photographs and an application form, obtainable by post in advance or on the day. The rules and regulations regarding passports and visas can often change and it is best to check details and costs with the relevant office. In London, applications normally take an hour or two. UK London embassy: India House, London WC2B 4NA, T020-78368484 (0930-1300, 1400-1730), www.hcilondon.org. They have outsourced collection and delivery of visa applications in the UK to VF Services who can be found at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ Always carry extra photographs of yourself. These are required for a wide variety of uses.
Red Dot can assist with referees for clients booking a full tour with us. Clients in such circumstances can use the following:
Tour Masters (India) Pvt. Ltd,
North India & Corporate Office,
Flat E, South Patel Nagar Market,
New Delhi - 110008 , India.
Telephones : 91-11-25847470, 25840692, 24 hours : 91-9312223142.
Fax : 91-11-25841364.
E-mail : rajiv_chopra@vsnl.com .
24 Hours Access: Mr Rajiv Chopra 91 - 9868210788 or 91-9811218960;
Mr Yashwant Kumar: 91 - 9868210792; Mr S P Minotra: 91 - 9868210797.
SECURITY: Use hotel security boxes for your money, travelers cheques, passport and other valuables: this service is normally free of charge. Do not carry unnecessarily large amounts of money on your person. Pickpockets and con-men exist in all the world's tourist areas.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Police : 100
Fire : 101
Hospital Ambulance : 102
TIME ZONE: GMT +5 1/2 hours.
TIPS: Taxi drivers, hotels and restaurants: 5 to 10 percent is common. If you hire a car and driver, please also consider tipping your driver for good service.
TRAVEL: The simplest and cheapest way to travel around India is by auto-rickshaw, or three-wheeler. Good-natured price bartering is widespread. In towns, work on a rough guide of about Rs20-30 per mile and agree the price before you set off. Tuk-tuk drivers outside five-star hotels are invariably the most expensive. Taxis are good value for longer journeys and operate on set charges – although taxis operating from 5-star hotels are dearer. Buses are cheap and plentiful, at least during the day, but they are often overcrowded and unreliable. Many roads will seem chaotic to all but the most experienced traveler in Asia. Independent hire is generally not available but chauffeur-driven cars can be arranged for nominal costs, and are generally strongly advised. Bicycle hire is also available, although not to be recommended on anything but the quietest roads, as accident rates on busy roads are high. Jet Airways is widely regarded as the most upmarket choice among a growing number of flight operators.
Tours operated by Red Dot Tours Ltd. ATOL No: 5517. http://RedDotTours.com
Also see our Frequently-Asked Questions sheet for more of your common questions answered.
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