DO'S

All foreign nationals must pay hotel bills in foreign currency (cash or travelers’ cheques) This can be paid in Rupees if the visitor has a bank receipt as proof of currency exchange.

Exchange money only through authorised banks or money changers.

Insist on a receipt when exchanging money.

Retain all receipts to facilitate reconversion of unspent money on departure from India.

Shopping is recommended from Government Emporia and suggested shops on the list of the Department of Tourism, Information on these can be obtained from Tourist Offices in India.

Export of most wildlife and their products is either banned or strictly regulated. Export of the few permissible items even as passengers’ personal luggage is allowed only under an export permit.

Insists on getting a certificate for the legitimate sale of a particular animal product and permission for its export to avoid inconvenience on departure.

Taxis and auto-rickshaws in cities do not all have meters, but where they do insist on the meter being flagged in your presence. If the driver refuses to co-operate, seek the assistance of a policeman. Always use a pre-paid taxi while travelling from airport to city.

In addition, the above fares change from time to time and so will not always conform to readings on the metres. To avoid confusion, insist on seeing the latest fare chart and pay accordingly.

If you wish to visit any prohibited or restricted areas, check with the nearest Government of India Tourist Office to ascertain details of the formalities required.

Check with the nearest Government of India Tourist Office the rules regarding photography at archaeological monuments.

Avoid the touts and brokers of shopkeepers.

It is obligatory to cover your head before entering Sikh shrines.

In case of any difficulty contact the nearest tourist office or police station.

Concessional tickets such as Indrail Pass on Railway, Youth Fare, Discover India Fare and South India Air Fare (Indian Airlines) are to be purchased in foreign exchange only.

 

India as a Tourist Destination has always been favourite to Disabled & Senior Travelers. This is because of the fact that India is itself a poor country with a large number of disabled locals because of poverty & lack of cheap health facility for the locals.

Disabled Travelers are suggested to hire a private vehicle with a driver in order to avoid any transport related problems. This also helps when mobility is a problem for these people.

Hiring a full- time Help in India is extremely cheap because of the huge population & high exchange rate of Dollar versus Rupee. If you hire a local help for your travel, it reduces the problems which you could face because of your restricted mobility. It also helps in smooth movement in heavily crowded places.

We suggest Disabled Travelers to carefully recruit any Personal Help/ Driver. Also they should be careful enough not to carry too much of cash/ jewellery with themselves. These kinds of object draw the attention of certain anti- social elements who may create some probles

We also suggest Disabled Travelers to carry their travel documents/ passports in order to avoid any mis-happenings.

With some care & attentions, India is a Destination where you can enjoy it to the fullest without spending good amount of money.
 

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 most of the cities and towns. The international direct dialling code for India is +91

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.

Festivals in India

Festivals in India are determined by the Solar & Lunar positions & they may fall in a different month as specified here. Kindly contact our members for exact date/ month of festivals/ fairs in India.


January:
Common Festivals:
Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal, Thai Pusam, Float Festival, National Kite Festival, Kerela Village Fair, Bikaner Festival, Pattadakal Dance Festival, Id-ul-Fittr, Vasant Panchami

February
Common Festivals:
Mahashivratri, Goa Carnival, Desert Festival, Nagaur Fair, International Yoga Week, Elephant Festival, Deccan Festival, Taj Mahotsav, Surajkund Crafts Mela, Chapchar Kut, Islands Tourism Festival

March
Common Festivals:
Holi, Gangaur, Jamshed-e-Navroz, Ramnavami, id-ul-Zuha, Mahavir Jayanti, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Elephant Festival, Hoysala Mahotsava, Ellora Festival,

April
Common Festivals:
Good Friday, Easter, Baisakhi, Gudi Padva or Ugadi, Pooram, Maharram, Buddha Purnima, Mewar

May
Common Festivals:
Urs

June
Common Festivals:
Ganga Dussehra, Hemis Festival,

July
Common Festivals:
Rathyatra, Guru Purnima

August
Common Festivals:
Janmashtami, Onam, Nag Panchami, Rakshabandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi

September
Common Festivals:
Tarnetar Mela

October
Common Festivals:
Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Marwar Festival

November
Common Festivals:
Sharad Purnima, Diwali, Guu Purab, Ka Pomblang Nongrem, Sonepur Fair, Pushkar Fair, Hampi Festival

December
Common Festivals:
Christmas, Konark Dance Festival

Restricted Areas:
Assam
Restricted Areas:
Kaziranga National Park,Manas Bird Sanctuary,Guwahati City and Kamakhya Temple, Sibsagar, Jatinga Bird Sanctuary.
Individual tourists not permitted, 10 days allowed.

For Permission:
Ministry of Home Affairs and all FRROs, all Indian missions, AssamGovt, New Delhi and Trade Advisor Govt of Assam a Assam,Calcutta.

 
Arunachal Pradesh
Restricted Areas:
Itanagar, Ziro, Along, Pasighat, Miao, and Namdapha.
Individual tourists not permitted, 10 days allowed.

For Permissions:
HomeCommissionor, (Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar), all FRROs (at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta), Chief Immigration Officer Chennai; all Indian Missions abroad.

 
Andaman and Nicobar
Restricted Areas:
Municipal Area, Port Blair, Havelock Island, Long, NeilIsland, Mayabunder, Diglipur and Rangat, Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet and Madhuban.
Individual tourist not permitted, 30 days allowed.
For Permissions:
Ministry of Home Affairs and All FRROs,all Indian Missions abroad, Immigration Officer, Port Blair.

 
Himachal Pradesh
Restricted Areas:
Poo-Khab-Sumdho-Dhankar-Tabo, Gompa-Kaza, orang-Dabling.
Individual tourists not permitted.
For Permissions:
Ministry of Home Affairs /Govt of Himachal Pradesh/ District Magistrate/ Sub- Divisional Magistrate -Concerned/ ITBP. Spl.Commissioner Resident Commissioner, Govt of Himachal Pradesh, New Delhi, DG of Police, H.P.Shimla.

 
Lakshadweep
Restricted Areas:
Bangaram.
Individual tourists not permitted, 7 days allowed.
For Permissions:
Administrator, Lakshadweep; Ministry of Home Affairs, Cochin Office.

 
Meghalaya
Restricted Areas:
Shillong, Barapani, Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, Jakern, Ranikor, Thadlaskein, Nartiang, Tura, Siju.
Individual tourist not permitted, 10 days allowed.
For Permissions:
Ministry of Home Affairs and All FRROs, All Indian Missions abroad, Home Commissionor, Meghalaya.

 
Mizoram
Restricted Areas:
Vairangte, Thingdawl and Aizwal. Individual tourists not permitted,10 days allowed.HomeCommr. For Permissions:
Govt of Mizoram, Aizwal, all FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta, Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai and all Indian Missions abroad.

 
Sikkim
Restricted Areas:
i) Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang, Pemayangtse.
For Permissions:
MHA, all FRROs, All Indian Missions abroad and Immigration Officers at airports at Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and New Delhi.Chief Secretary/ Home Secretary/ Secretary(Tourism) Govt of Sikkim, Gangtok, I.G. Govt of Sikkim, Siliguri, Dy. Directors(Tourism), Sikkim Govt, New Delhi, Asst. Resident Commissionor, Govt of Sikkim, Calcutta, Tourism Officer, Rangpo, Dy. Commissionor, Darjeeling, Dy.Secy/ Under Secy., Home Deptt., Govt of West Bengal, Calcutta.
Individual tourists not permitted,15 days allowed.

Restricted Areas:
ii)Zongri in West Sikkim.
For Permissions:
Ministry of Home Affairs, and all issuing authorities of Govt of Sikkim and its representatives at Calcutta,Siliguri and Rangpo.
Individual tourists not permitted, 15 days allowed.

Restricted Areas:
iii)Tsangu (Chhngu) lake in East Sikkim.
For Permissions:
Home Secy.,Govt of Sikkim Gangtok,Secretary(Tourism)Govt of Sikkim.
Individual not permitted,Day visit only.

Restricted Areas:
iv)Mangan, Tong, Singhik,Chungthang,Lachung and Yumthang.
For Permissions:
Home Secy., Govt of Sikkim Secretary (Tourism) Govt of Sikkim.
Individual tourists not permitted, 5 days allowed.

Restricted Areas:
v) Gangtok, Rumtek, Rhongdong.
For Permissions:
Home Secy., Govt of Sikkim Secretary(Tourism) Govt of Sikkim.
Individual tourists not permitted, 15 days allowed.

 
Uttar Pradesh
Restricted Areas:
Nanda Devi Sanctuary,Niti Ghati and Kalindi Khal in Chamoli, Uttar Kashi districts. Adjoining areas of Milam Glacier.
For Permissions:
MHA/ Govt of U.P./DM/SDM concerned/ITBP.Individual tourists not permitted.

 

                                                                Senior Traveler

India has always witness very good number of Senior Travelers across the globe. This is mainly because of the available infrastructure & facilities.

Senior Travellers enjoy the cultural heritage of India. Senior Travelers normally prefer destinations like Rajasthan, Delhi, Mumbai, Hindu Pilgrimage Places like Haridwar, Rhishikesh. They also prefer Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation Tours.

Rajasthan is an ideal place for Senior Travellers. Rajasthan offers good Forts & Monuments, Heritage & Cultural sites, reach in essence. Rajasthani people are very much cooperative and of great help to Senior Travelers. They extend all kind of help & support to Senior Traveler.

Senior Travelers can always take help of families & elder people whenever & wherever required.

Senior Travelers are also requested to take certain precautions like traveling with too much of cash or goods as these may land them to certain problems. They should also avoid wearing expensive jewellery & other expensive ornaments. They are also supposed to take care of their travel documents & passport.

Senior Travelers should also discourage undue attention or advances towards them by certain anti-social elements. They should take help of people or inform the nearest Police Station/ Booth in case of any requirements


However, traveling in India is considered as safe as being at home.