We request a guest visiting India for the first time to consider the points listed below before or while traveling to India. These will be useful to you while traveling within India.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Your travel arrangements should be made well in advance, especially if you are traveling between October- March (high season) and May- June, the Indian holiday season. Hotel rooms and airline seats are limited in relation to demand so prior bookings is a must.
If traveling by air, you should include one or more trips by rail or road so that you can experience rural India. PASSPORT & VISA
Citizens of all countries need to have a valid passport and an entry, transit or tourist visa obtained from the Indian Mission in their country. Tourist Visa is normally valid for 120 days. Those wishing to visit a neighbouring country like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and then coming back to India, should obtain a double/multiple entry Visa.
REGISTRATION
All foreigners are required to get themselves registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Hotels will take care of this for you.
CUSTOM CLEARANCE
Those without any goods attracting custom duty or high value articles or foreign exchange more than US $2,500 or unaccompanied baggage, which needs to be declared, can walk through the Green Channel. All others need to pass through the Red Channel. Goods beyond the free baggage limit invite the duty rate of 52% plus 2% special duty.
BRINGING IN CURRENCY
Any amount in the form of currency, travellers cheques and the like can be brought in and the same amount can be taken back. In case the amount exceeds US $10,000 in the form of currency notes, travellers cheques or bank notes alone of more than US $2,500, they have to be declared on arrival on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), duly attested by the Custom Officer.
INDIAN CURRENCY
No Indian currency can be brought in or taken out, and while remitting money to India the full address of the bank should be given.
MONEY CHANGING
The unit of currency is rupee and all money should be exchanged with authorised moneychangers available at various places. You should insist on a receipt, which will help in reconverting the money whenever you desire so. Tourists are warned that exchanging money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency.
There are 24- hour exchange facilities available at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai international airports.
EXPORT CURBS
All articles brought in can be taken back. From India one can take back souvenirs worth Rs 1,00,000 in value and more than that after getting permission from the Reserve Bank of India. Jewellery or precious stones of high value need an advance RBI permit as also appraisal by the Customs Appraiser at the airport in advance.
ANTIQUITIES/ART OBJECTS
Restrictions exist on art objects more than 100 years old. Any doubts should be cleared from Director Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, telephone number : 23017220. Export of wildlife items is prohibited and in some cases regulated.
FOREIGN TRAVEL TAX
Rs 500 and only Rs 150 for citizens of Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
ARRIVAL/LEAVING THE AIRPORT
Transport of various sorts is available at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. These include auto rickshaws, taxis, and even buses most of which are operated by private operators. There is also a prepaid taxi service and it is advisable that this facility is made use of as it proves to be the most economical and safe.
TIME DIFFERENCE
Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris, about 10 hours 30 minutes behind New York, 3 hours and 30 minutes behind Tokyo and 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Sydney.
CREDIT CARD
All major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa and Diners Club are generally accepted by large establishments including hotels, shops, and airlines.
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