With our understanding of what to expect in the sub-continent, we have put together some information and travel tips for your convenience.
Visas and Permits
To visit India you have to obtain a visa from the Indian embassy in your country of residence. A Tourist Visa is usually a multi-entry visa, valid for a period of 180 days. Verify whether the visa starts from the date of issue or the date of arrival in India. As a rule, an extension of stay on a Tourist Visa will not be granted.
Seasons
India’s range of climate is enormous. In the far north, the mountain valleys of the Himalaya experience the four seasons of northern temperate zones, while down at the other end of the country, the Deccan peninsula is tropical. With the northern Gangetic plain, it shares a long dry season building up in heat and intensity until the monsoon douses it in massive quantities of rain. The mountain Valleys of the Himalayan foothills are usually snowed in winter and pleasantly warm in summer.
Some passes are closed in winter and several places are extremely cold and difficult to reach. In summer the snow has melted and all the passes are open. The best time to see the high Himalayan flora in bloom is towards the end of the rainy season around early September. Autumn brings the harvest, with fresh products available in every mountain valley.In the rest of India, the most important feature of the climate is the wet season, or monsoon. The main (“southwest”) monsoon strikes the coast of Kerala at the very end of May, working its way northeast across the country over the next month and a half. While it lasts, expect heavy tropical rain every day. Most days, the rain will last a couple of hours, then the sun will come out and everything will be steamy and flooded. By September, the monsoon has started to recede.
The east of Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands, are subject to a different monsoon (the “northeast”) which begins around mid-October and continues to beginning of December.Down on the plain, the heat begins to build up as the dry season gets under way. In the north, it is still tempered by the winter until February, leaving a cool period in between. It is at this time of the year that many travellers head south, before the heat there gets serious. South India is at its most pleasant from October up to the end of March. The temperatures are delightful – not too hot and not too cold and stay between 24ºC (Nov-Jan) to 32ºC (March). From April the temperature rises and reaches its peak in May – June (38°C). Occasional rainfall in July brings the temperature down. Nights are generally about 5ºC cooler than the days.
Health
There are no compulsory inoculation requirements for entry into India, however, it is recommended to have current inoculations to protect against tetanus, hepatitis and typhoid. Providing you take some basic precautions, you should be able to stay healthy during your visit. Don’t drink tap water, as it has not been sterilized. Avoid raw food such as salads and peeled fruits and if not used to spicy food, have a simple plain meal in the beginning of the journey to give your system time to adjust. Before your journey you should also have a dental check-up and perhaps obtain spare glasses.
Money
Indian currency is the Rupee. Notes are printed in the denominations of Indian Rupee 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10. Coins are minted in denominations of Rupee 5, 2 and 1, and 50 and 25 Paise. Exchange rates vary from time to time and all airports, banks and hotels provide fixed exchange rates for convenient conversion. All major credit cards visa, master are accepted.
It is recommended that you carry local currency for making small purchases or for providing personal tips.
What to Take
Keep your luggage to a minimum; get a few pairs of light cotton clothes such as shorts, sleeveless shirts. Carry with you a hat, sun lotion, flashlight and mosquito repellent.
Getting There
International Airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and others have many Airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Air, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, KLM, Qatar Airways, Singapore, SriLankan connecting to them. Flights to India may be heavily booked and more expensive from November through March.
For more information please visit website of the
Government of United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
