Overview   

India is a mystical land of seductive images. Hinduism and its religious rites and red-letter days are woven into the fabric of everyday life. It is also India’s vastness that challenges the imagination, being home to one sixth of the world’s population.

Its intoxicatingly rich history can be traced back to at least 2500BC when the first known civilisation settled along the Indus River. 

There was an influx of Moghuls in the 1520s from Central Asia, who maintained effective control of the north until the mid 18th century. At the end of that century, as the Moghul Empire declined, the British took control of the whole subcontinent, and the whole of India was administered by a single alien power.

The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, but made little progress on independence until Mahatma Gandhi began the policy of non-cooperation with the British. But the congress itself was split on the issue of Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, claimed a separate homeland and in August 1947 the independent states of India and Pakistan came into being. Since this time, India has been a democratic republic.

Such a rich history has spawned palaces, temples and monuments. The most frequently visited part of India is the Golden Triangle. The unfairly maligned great cities of Mumbai and Kolkata have a bustling, colourful charm, while the holy city of Varanasi or the awe-inspiring temples of Tamil Nadu are worthy objects of pilgrimage. For those who prefer more sybaritic pleasures, tackle the palm-fringed beaches of Goa. And for solitude, India ripples with mountains and hills, from the towering beauty of the Himalayas to pine forests, lakes and babbling streams.

One of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new; centuries of history rubbing shoulders with the computer age; and Bengaluru’s (Bangalore’s) ‘Silicon Valley’ is as much a part of the world’s largest democracy as its remotest village.

   
General Information 
 
Area 
3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).
 
Population
1.1 billion (UN estimate 2005).
 
Population Density 
347 per sq km.
 
Capital 
New Delhi. Population: 13.8 million (2001).
 
Government 
Republic since 1947.
 
Language 
The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telegu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages are Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speak Urdu.
 
Religion 
About 81% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.
 
Time 
GMT + 5.5.

Climate
Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from December to February, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between March and May. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.

Western Himalayas: Srinagar is best from March to October; July to August can be unpleasant; cold and damp in winter. Shimla is higher and therefore colder in winter. Places like Gulmarg, Manali and Pahalgam are usually under several feet of snow (December to March) and temperatures in Ladakh can be extremely cold. The road to Leh is open from June to October.

Required Clothing:   Light- to mediumweights are advised from March to October, with warmer wear for winter. Weather can change rapidly in the mountains and therefore it is important to be suitably equipped. Waterproofing is advisable.

Northern Plains: Extreme climate, warm inland from April to mid-June, falling to almost freezing at night in winter between November and February. Summers are hot with monsoons between June and September.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights in summer with warmer clothes in winter and on cooler evenings. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons.

Central India: Madhya Pradesh State escapes the very worst of the hot season, but monsoons are heavy between July and September. Temperatures fall at night in winter.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer clothes during evenings, particularly in winter. Waterproofed clothing is advised during monsoon rains.

Western India: November to February is most comfortable, although evenings can be fairly cold. Summers can be extremely hot with monsoon rainfall between mid June and mid September.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler winters, and waterproofing is essential during the monsoon.

Southwest: The most pleasant weather is from November to March. Monsoon rains between late April and July. Summer temperatures not as high as Northern India although humidity is extreme. Cooling breezes on coast. Inland, Mysore and Bijapur have pleasant climates with relatively low rainfall.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.

Southeast: Tamil Nadu experiences a northeast monsoon between October and December and temperatures and humidity are high all year. Hills can be cold in winter.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.

Northeast: March to June and September to November are the driest and most pleasant periods. The rest of the year has extremely heavy monsoon rainfall and it is recommended that the area is avoided.

Required Clothing:   Lightweights. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year and essential in monsoons, usually from mid June to mid October. Warmer clothes are useful for cooler evenings.

Social Conventions 
The Indian Hindu greeting is to fold the hands and tilt the head forward to namaste. Indian women prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. The majority of Indians remove their footwear when entering their houses. Because of strict religious and social customs, visitors must show particular respect when visiting someone’s home. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Small gifts are acceptable as tokens of gratitude for hospitality. Women are expected to dress modestly. Short skirts and tight or revealing clothing should not be worn, even on beaches. Businesspeople are not expected to dress formally except for meetings and social functions.

English-speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important tourist centres. Guides speaking French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish are available in some cities. Consult the nearest Indiatourism office. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments. Tourists are advised to ask for guides with certificates from the Ministry of Tourism or Indiatourism (see Contact Addresses).

Photography:  Formalities mainly concern protected monuments and the wildlife sanctuaries. Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is necessary for the use of tripod and artificial light to photograph monuments. Photography at many places is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee, which varies. Contact the nearest Government of India Tourist Office.
 
Electricity 
Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are of the round two- and three-pin type.
 
Head of Government 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.
 
Head of State 
President APJ Abdul Kalam since 2002.

Passport/Visa's

 

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
 
Visas
Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
 
Visa Note
Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorisation. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to check with Indiatourism for up-to-date information before departure. The following states are subject to some restrictions: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Port Blair, Mizoram, Nagaland and Mundgod.
 
Types of Visa and Cost
The following prices are for UK nationals only; prices for other nationals vary. Tourist: £30 (six months). Business: £30 (six months); £50 (one year); £90 (two years). Transit: £8 (single/double-entry). Student: £55 (irrespective of duration).

Note:  (a) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK need to pay an additional £10 (amounts charged may also vary according to nationality and type of passport held) unless holding proof of at least one-year residence in the UK. (b) A £1 fee may be required for postal applications, depending on consulate.
 
Validity
Tourist: six months for multiple entry. Transit: for stays of up to 72 hours within 15 days of date of issue. Business: three or six months, or up to two years for multiple entry.
 
Applications to:
Embassy or high commission (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.
 
Working Days Required
Personal applications can normally be processed the same day. Postal applications may take up to 15 working days or longer (early September to February). Those requiring an additional fee may need a minimum of seven working days and possibly much longer for their visa application to be processed. 


Money 

Currency 
Rupee (INR; symbol Rp) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of Rp5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20 and 10 paise. Note: The import of local currency is prohibited. Export of local currency is also prohibited, except for passengers proceeding to Nepal (excluding notes of denominations of Rp100 or higher), Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka (up to Rp20 per person).
 
Currency Exchance 
Currency can be changed at banks, airports or authorised money changers. It is illegal to exchange money through unauthorised money changers. US Dollars and Pounds Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange.
 
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
 
Traveller's Cheques 
These are widely accepted and may be changed at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to change certain brands of traveller’s cheques which others exchange quite happily.
 
Banking Hours 
Mon-Fri 1000-1400, Sat 1000-1200.


Entertainment 

Food and Drink 
Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such as turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although these vary from region to region. Vegetable dishes are more common than in Europe, particularly in southern India.

Things to know: Bottled water is essential for visitors but make sure the bottles are properly sealed. Most restaurants serve alcohol with meals and most Western-style hotels have licensed bars. Various states impose prohibition and in some big cities certain days are observed as dry days when the sale of liquor is not permitted. Tourists may check with the nearest local tourist office for the prohibition laws/rules prevailing in any given state.

National specialties: 
• Dal (crushed lentil soup with various additional vegetables).
• Kulfi (Indian ice cream).
• Gulab Jamuns (flour, yoghurt and ground almonds).
• Jalebi (pancakes in syrup).
• Pan (betel leaf in which are wrapped spices such as aniseed and cardamom).

National drinks: 
• Chai (tea) is India’s favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed with milk and sugar unless ‘tray tea’ is specified.
• Coffee is increasingly popular.
• Nimbu Pani (lemon drink).
• Lassi (iced buttermilk)
• Indian beer (in many varieties).

Tipping:: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants.
 
Nightlife 
India has generally little nightlife as the term is understood in the West, although in major cities a few Western-style shows, clubs and discos are being developed, and Western-style pubs are increasingly common. In most places the main attraction will be cultural shows featuring performances of Indian dance and music. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world, now producing three times as many full-length feature films as the USA. Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) are the country’s two ‘Hollywoods’. Almost every town will have a cinema, and large towns will have many, some of which will show films in English. Music and dancing are an important part of Indian cinema, combining with many other influences to produce a rich variety of film art. Larger cities may have theatres staging productions of English-language plays.
 
Shopping 
Each region has its own specialities, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork and antiques, India is a shopper’s paradise. Bargaining is expected, and the visitor can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia.

Fabrics:  One of India’s main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye’ design is usually brilliantly colourful, while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding’ effect after a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful woollens, particularly shawls.

Carpets:  India has one of the world’s largest carpet industries. Each region will have its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly coloured Tibetan rugs, available mainly in Darjeeling.

Clothes:  Clothes are cheap, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops. Cloth includes silks, cottons, himroos, brocades and chiffons.

Jewellery:  This is traditionally heavy and elaborate. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl centre.

Handicrafts and leatherwork:  Each area has its speciality; the range includes bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), canework and pottery. Woven rugs and papier mâché (some decorated in gold leaf) are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are specialities of Agra. Rajasthan is known for its colourful fabrics and silks. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers.

Woodwork:  Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and Chennai (Madras).

Other goods:   Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1700 in most large stores.

Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100 years old, animal skins and objects made from skins.