Key Information for Foreign Travelers in India

Visiting India can be a wee bit unnerving for the first-time visitor as the lifestyle and culture is totally different from that of the West. We’ve made a list of some important dos and don’ts for hassle-free and enjoyable travel.

General Tips for Travel to India

• A proper visa and complete paperwork to enter and stay in India is a must, except for some countries which can get Visa on Arrival.
• Do not encourage beggars.
• Don’t trust strangers with money. Trust your hotel, but not people you may bump into on the streets.
• Don’t offer bribes to get any job done. Bribe-taking and bribe-giving are a common practice in India but they are intended to speed up things or win a favor that you are not entitled to. Plan well in advance. Seek help from travel consultants or trade and industry associations. If you expect favors, let them come free or not at all. Warn anyone (even in government) who asks you for a bribe that you would report him to the Anti-Corruption Bureau or the nearest police station. If he persists, do it discreetly so that he can be caught red-handed.
• Indian English may sound different to foreigners of English origin. Don’t show amusement at the different Indian accents and choice of words.
• It is advisable to cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim.
• Carry proper maps of the places you plan to visit in India, as signboards are often absent. Try to reach a station during daytime if traveling on your own. In any case avoid persistent touts and taxi-drivers at airport/stations/bus stands to help you find your hotel. Always use tourist assistance desk for proper advice.
• Women traveling alone in certain deserted places should avoid walking at odd hours.
• While changing money, insist on getting encashment certificate.
• Do not checkout of the hotel in hurry. In some hotels, there may be errors in your bill, which you would end up paying if you don’t cross-check.
• Do not leave your cash and valuables in your hotel rooms. Keep your cash divided in different pockets on your person. Otherwise, deposit the extra money in the safe keeping of the hotel, but remember to take a receipt.
• Take care of proper disposal of your waste materials always whether you are exploring desert, or Himalayas or beaches or anywhere else. Your behavior is your identity.
• Don’t accept offers of visiting anyone’s home unless you are confident of the person.
• Use licensed guides for sightseeing.
• Always use strong suitcases/baggage, as mishandling is common at airports/stations.
• Don’t tip unreasonably and unnecessarily in a hotel. The news soon spreads in the hotel and by the time you checkout there will be a group of them saluting you to expect something.
• In monsoon time avoid night stay in the desert while you do camel safari.
• Check out the weather as per your time of travel and come prepared accordingly.

Car – Private Transportation for Travel

• Best way to travel in India.
• Avoid driving in India unless you have been trained on Indian roads.
• As a driver you should always have one person alongside to help you and your luggage.
• It is better to hire a commercial taxi with a professional driver. Never use your personal vehicle, as in case of any accident, your insurance policy may not cover the damages incurred in a foreign country.
• Be abreast of the traffic rules in any country you visit. For any offense, however unintentional, the traffic police or Regional Transport Officer can penalize you heavily.

Religion

• Do not visit places which encourage orthodoxy, social injustice and inhuman practices (like visiting a sati temple)
• Politics can be freely discussed in India and most people will have an opinion which they will not mind being contradicted. But avoid discussing religion as you might hurt someone’s sentiments.
• Avoid offers of spiritual salvation and magic remedies from saints, or anyone. There may be some spiritually elevated people in India, but there is no way you can distinguish genuine ones from crooks. If you are seriously interested in these aspects of India, take help from someone you know or visit one of the respected and well known spiritual organizations in India.
• Don’t ever enter a temple, mosque, tomb, dargah or Gurudwara ( Sikh Temple) with shoes on. Avoid being scantily dressed. Things to remember include that one should cover his/her head with a cloth while in a Gurudwara or Dargah, and the parikrama or walking around the sanctum should always be in clockwise direction.

Food & Water

• Take care of contamination of water and food poisoning. Always drink safe mineral water and take well-cooked food from a joint that appears neat and hygienic.
• Drink bottled water only. Even many Indians who have lived out of India for a few years sometimes suffer stomach upsets on drinking local tap water. If there is no alternative to tap water, ensure it is boiled. Some popular brands of mineral water are Bisleri, Aqua Fina, Kinley and Himalaya.
• Avoid eating buffet meals, even in expensive hotels. The food may become contaminated due to over-exposure.
• It is advisable not to buy food from roadside stalls or mobile canteens. Not that they are bad, but your system may not be accustomed to such delicacies and you might end up with an upset stomach.
• Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Curry and Naan are the most common dishes preferred by western people, but  the Indian cuisine is very diverse and you can choose as per your mood and preferences.
• Lassi, aerated cold drinks & mineral water are popular drinks. Kingfisher large beer is one of the most preferred alcoholic brands consumed by foreigners.

Traveling in Trains, Buses, Cars & Flights

• While traveling, don’t act confused. Keep a posture of a person known to the region.
• If you are traveling in the trains then you may have to reserve your seats in advance, as it may not be easy to get confirm seat reservations at the last minute.
• Some buses may not be as comfortable as trains. If you wish to travel by bus, choose the class of travel carefully. A ride in a Volvo bus could be very relaxing.
• Be careful about your luggage while travelling.
• Flights to and from popular tourist destinations are often over booked so try to get a booking as soon as possible.
• Trains and buses are the best and cheapest option if you are traveling for more than one month. Also not all cities have an airport.
• It is always better to arrive one hour before scheduled departure at the railway station/ airport.
• Always chain and lock your luggage under your berth in a train. Don’t keep anything valuable near the window. Always carry plenty of water, fluids in trains. A lone woman traveler may request to be accommodated near other female travelers.
• Don’t eat anything offered by fellow travelers. It might be contaminated by drugs.
• Trains and domestic flight’s can get cancelled without any prior notice but it wont happen unless there is some major problem.

Shopping

• Don’t buy antiques more than 100 years old. Selling and buying “shahtoosh” shawls is a crime. The same goes for ivory and wildlife.
• Buy at genuine shops only. Bargaining is a popular practice in India and necessary too. Don’t ever believe in lucrative offers of antique dealers in which they offer you to carry a parcel of some other buyer back home with your own margin described. Entire transaction should be legal and transparent so that you may claim later if dissatisfied.
• Guides & Taxi drivers often get commissions if you buy anything from the shop they take you to. Percentage of commission depends on your bill, so more you bargain, lesser is their commission.
• If you are buying from roadside stalls or hawkers, bargain you must. Start by offering half the price they ask for and settle for 70 – 80%. Don’t bargain in shops, especially those that display “Fixed Price” signs,  that will be seen as bad manners. It is always better to buy from the shops which have price tags attached on their merchandise.

Society & Trends

• Participating in a social occasion or visiting a person’s home requires conservative dress codes. Do not shake hands with ladies. Always pick up a thing and eat with your right hand. Take only as much as you can eat, do not leave anything uneaten over the dish.
• Do not point your finger at any person. It is taken as a sign of annoyance.
• Be careful of cultural and social sensitivities of the regions. There is no single rule for that, the best way is to observe and follow.
• The “NAMASTE” is a local form of greeting. It involves the joining of your palms as during prayer in church (in church, the two thumbs are crossed, in the Indian “NAMASTE” , the thumbs join but remain parallel to each other: this is only for information as the difference is not visible to the person in front of you).
• If you find the lady is not extending a hand shake, go for the “NAMASTE”. Even with men, the “NAMASTE” can be an excellent little PR gimmick! Follow it up with a “AAP KAISE HAIN” (how are you?) and you have broken the first block of ice if there was one ever.
• If somebody has invited you home for dinner, carry with you a box of sweets or at least a chocolate bar for the kids.
• Don’t show your amusement even if some practices you witness may appear funny.
• Don’t photograph women without permission.
• Enjoy Indian weddings and other festivities to the full, as they are very colorful and gay.

Tipping

• Tipping in India is a common practice. There are basically two types of tips. In the first case, the tip is paid after the work is completed. In the second case, tip is given beforehand to ensure a good service. In hotels, porters and room service attendants are generally tipped at the end of the stay. However, the amount of tip varies depending on the type of services rendered and the type of establishment.
• In restaurants, the tip to waiters is around 10-15 percent of the bill. In cases of restaurants of famous and prestigious hotels, generally a 10 percent service surcharge is added to the bill. Tipping at such a place is discretionary. In smaller places, the tip is not a percentage of the bill. Rather, few rupees are given as a tip, depending on the quality of service.
• Tipping taxi and three-wheeler a driver is not too common but still they expect from foreigners. It is up to your discretion. However, if you want to tip, then, 10 percent of the fare or leaving the change is enough. If you are hiring a car throughout your stay, then, tip the driver Rs. 100-200 per day, depending on the distance travelled. At railway stations, pay the porters around Rs. 10-20 per bag. But, make sure to set the rate beforehand. If you stay at somebody’s house, ask your host before tipping their domestic help.

Customs & Airport Authority of India

• Please confirm with the Indian Customs department at the airport before carrying any liquid item, especially medicines.
• Remember to announce your weapons, if any.

Monuments

Some important monuments are closed on particular days of the week, or during specific times of the year. So one should plan accordingly:

• Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays.
• Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays.
• Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
• Lotus Temple in Delhi is closed on Monday.
• Akshardham Temple is closed on Monday.
• Most of the national parks in India remain closed from 1st July onwards till 30th of September but Corbet National Park is open after 15th November.
• National Museum in Delhi closed on Monday.

As the temperature rises as the day progresses, it is advisable to start sight seeing little early in the morning. If you start around 8:00 AM, you can avoid the scorching heat of the northern plains. Also the traffic encountered on the city roads is lesser during the early hours of the day.

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Some important tips for FIT (Foreign Independent Traveler) in India

India is a vast country with a population size of more than 1 billion and comprising all experiences in geography with mountains in North, deep valleys in East, desert in West and beautiful beaches in South. The 28 states of India are 28 countries in reality, with varied culture, language and people.

Most travelers from foreign countries prefer to book an organized tour, but of late, there has been a rise in independent travelers as well. Some feel that one can experience the real flavor of India at his own pace in the tranquility of solitude.  Some guided support may be sought as and when desired, which essentially means that one can be among the real people instead of know-all tour operators and guides all the time. There would be no air-conditioned bus from one place to other; but he can explore things himself.

In such cases, a traveler needs to plan well in advance and prepare of checklist of do’s and don’ts. A little pre-planning can make the trip a lot smooth. Our current blog series is primarily targetted to provide some key information to travelers from foreign countries.

General Important Things

• At least a week or two before your trip, make a list of what you’ll need to take with you. Make sure your passports are current and that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip.

Tourist Visa on Arrival

• Government of India launched a scheme of Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) in January 2010. Currently, it is single entry visa for a short period with a validity of 30 days strictly for the purpose of tourism and a tourist can come to India only twice a year on this visa. Citizens from 15 countries are cover under the TVOA scheme – Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia. The fee for the visa on arrival is $ 60 (Sixty USD) or equivalent amount in Indian Rupees per passenger (including children). It is important to note that persons holding diplomatic or official passports are not eligible to avail this facility.
• All other visitors will need a valid visa beforehand. A Tourist Visa, generally valid up to 6 months,  is given to those visiting India for tourism or other non-business related purposes. Plan your visa application in advance. Although a tourist visa for up to six months is usually easy to obtain, you still need to be aware that there are certain bureaucratic requirements which you should check before you apply – and remember that they get updated continuously. A very unusual condition that has been introduced recently is that your photo must be 2” by 2” in size – sending a photo with different dimensions would lead to rejection. It is best to apply via a professional visa agency that will sort out the documentation and submit the application on your behalf.

Pet in the Flight and Hotel

• Unfortunately, India is not a particularly pet-sensitive country. Pets are not generally allowed in domestic planes, trains, public transport and hotels. In case of domestic travels via air, it is best to check in advance whether your pet is permitted on board. In domestic flights of Jet Airways,Air India and Jet Lite, your pet (dogs, cats, household birds and other pets) can travel in the cargo hold, when properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates. The pilot should be informed in writing prior to the flight that there is a live animal in the cargo hold and he would adjust the temperature suitably. Pets below 10 weeks of age are not allowed to travel by flight. The charge for your pet traveling on the aircraft depends on the weight of your pet and differs from airline to airline. If your flight doesn’t allow your pets with you, you would need to send it through cargo to the port nearest to your destination.
• Similarly, in hotels too, guests are not usually allowed to bring in their pets.  It is always better to check with hotel agents about their policies towards pets. The best option is to book your stay in vacation homes or homestays in India, which are more caring approach towards pets.

Local Culture

• India can be viewed as a conglomerate of 28 countries and 7 union territories, so different is one region from the other in terms of geography, climate, culture, food habits, festivals and rituals or anything that you can think of. India is the world’s largest democracy with a population of more than 1 billion people and still there is large divide between urban and rural centres. Hindi is widely spoken in most of the states. English is the only widely spoken foreign language in India.
• In southern part of India, the literacy rate is quite high and most people can speak English including drivers, local guide or operators and hotel staff. However, it is difficult for people to communicate in other languages like French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese etc.
• Local people love to offer greeting with folded hand and say NAMASTE (Hello). They sayDHANYAVAD or SHUKRIYA (Thank You) and MAAF KIJIYEGA (I am sorry). However, shaking hand is not a problem now, except with women in rural areas. Indian Business Culture is quite different from the west. You can get information from the presentation:

Importance of Religion

• Indians are very attached and sentimental about their religion. There are 6 prominent religious creeds in India – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. Foreign visitors always receive a warm welcome at religious places and get local assistance from the tourist centres in the respective premises. It is important to show respect to the religious orientation and beliefs. It is also easy to make some good friends through this. Foreign Independent Travellers (FIT) can learn local culture and customs, taste local food and can get exposure to the true India.
• Each religion has some key important centres like Akshardham (Hinduism), Jama Masjid(Muslims), Basilica of Bom Jesus (Christianity), Golden Temple (Sikhism), Dilwara Temple(Jainism) and Lumbini (Buddhism).

Indian Currency (Rupees)

• Foreign exchange is easily available in most big cities. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at airports and hotels too. However, it is better to check with a couple of banks or financial institutions to make sure that you get the best rate. Foreign currency (dollars, pounds, euros, etc) is accepted in most upmarket places and tourist spots but it is better not to rely on them. Remember that exchanging money is very bureaucratic and requires your passport. Also, if you have any surplus at the end of your trip, it may be costly and difficult to exchange back to your home currency – so don’t go around with much more than you need, and try to spend your rupees before you go.
• One good option is to withdraw money from an ATM. India has a big network of ATMs now –MasterCard and Visa. State Bank of India (Largest Public Bank) and ICICI Bank (Largest Private Bank) have the largest spread of ATMs in the country. Visa, Visa Electron, Master, Cirrus and Maestro cards can be used in all the SBI and ICICI Bank ATMs. Many other ATMs operate with international credit cards. They are available 24Hrs. For local currency, the maximum withdrawal limit is Rs. 25,000 ($550) a day using international silver card and Rs. 50,000 ($1,100) a day for the international gold cards. It is possible not to get caught in small towns without adequate cash, as the ATM network is quite good in most cities.

Mobile SIM and Internet

• International travelers used to face numerous problems due to lack of reasonably priced connectivity options.  The availability of international SIM cards has resolved the concerns for making long distance calls from foreign base. On the other hand, global data cards have provided a cost-effective option for accessing internet with a pocket-sized device. Both postpaid and prepaid data cards are available in the Indian market. Traveler can buy a prepaid internet data card (data traveler) and can enjoy a seamless internet connection throughout India, except Jammu & Kashmir state, enjoying high speed connection everywhere, except big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai where the speed could be marginally low due to congestion. 
• There are three key options for pan India connection – Reliance Netconnect, Tata Indicom Photon and Airtel Wireless. Normally, a data card costs around Rs. 2,000 ($45) and has several different tariff plans, ranging from Rs. 100 ($2.5) to Rs. 1500 ($35) (unlimited).
• A mobile phone connection is one of the cheapest options in India. An Indian prepaid SIM Card, together with a tri-bandunlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you not only to have a local cell phone number for India but enjoy local rates – that too, without a contract. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card by submitting photocopy of passport. There are many cell operators in India. Incoming calls are free in the city where you buy the number. However, one need to pay roaming charges in the other cities for both outgoing and incoming services. It is advisable to purchase a SIM card from the city where you are planning to stay for a longer time. Traveler can also use calling cards, such as Matrix.

Bargaining for Souvenirs in India

• You may have heard about bargaining for souvenirs in India. This is reasonable, and in some ways, expected. If you visit an upmarket tourist shop, for expensive items, it is fair to bargain as much as is possible. However if you visit a small store or street trader, whereas they may be willing to bargain with you, please remember many exist on poor pay, some around $15 a day, and every penny saved represents lesser money for them, so don’t bargain them out of existence. A rough guideline is that a fair price is about half the price you’d pay in more affluent countries. If you are pushing them beyond, perhaps you are being unfair.
• In Delhi, you can buy handicraft and arts materials from Delhi Haat or from States Emporium at Connaught Place.

Eating and Travelling in India

• The Indians generally use their hands for eating, and at best, may use a spoon. Use of knives and forks is not common. Most authentic restaurants have hand washing rooms. If you want such cutlery, and are in such a restaurant, ask for two spoons. It is not a bad sign to visit a restaurant without knives and forks – some of the best and most authentic restaurants with the most elite food are primarily for the inhabitants of the region, who are familiar with the taste of high standard local food. Of course, hotels and restaurants with western cuisine will have full cutlery, and most places will find a knife and fork for you.

Allow time for traffic

• Car ownership is on the rise in most Indian cities. However, due to the limited expansion of road network, congestion is common. If you want to travel in urban centres, avoid the rush hours. Try to start early (7:00 – 7:30 AM), or in the late morning (11:00 AM onwards) or in the evening (7:00 PM onwards) or go on weekends, if you want a fast ride. If you are not fussed then of course, it does not matter, but budget the extra time (sometimes hours) to reach your destination. Do not plan a mad dash to an airport or train station. Keep in mind that if on Sunday afternoon it took half an hour, it could take two hours on Monday morning.

Precautions for the Traveler to India

• In India, especially the South, insects such as mosquitoes can be very irritating if you are not careful. Don’t sleep with windows open. Close windows at around 6:00 PM, and keep them closed all night. Otherwise, even if there is insect repellent, you may be kept awake all night with insect bites.
• Remember not to keep sweet food out too long as it may get invaded by ants. Instead of opening your window, use air conditioning, if available, or fans in your room. When you pack, it is advisable to keep some toilet tissue, and carry this with you, as it is slightly unpopular in India.
• Bring your medicines in case you are on some medical regime. Most other necessities, if required, can be obtained by visiting an appropriate store. Of course top class and expensive western style hotels will have most of these facilities, but it is always better to be prepared when you are staying elsewhere.

Emergency Numbers in India

• Indians are very hospitable and if you ask for something, they will take great trouble to help you, but it may be time consuming. Just be patient, help will be on hand. Calm down and remember that not everything can be done immediately.
• It is important to note key numbers – Police (100), Fire Brigade (101), Ambulances (102), National Toll Free Trauma Care number (108) and Railways Inquiry (139). To call police from GSM mobile phone, people need to call 112.

Registration with Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO)

• A foreign national, especially in case of FIT, visiting India should register himself withImmigration Cell, New Delhi. Foreigners visiting India on long term (more than 180 days) Student visa (S) (including those coming for study of Yoga, Vedic Culture, Indian system of dance and Music), Research Visa (R), Employment Visa (E), Missionary Visa (M), Medical Visa (M) or Medical Attendant (MX) Visa are required to get themselves registered with concerned FRRO/FRO within 14 days of his/her first arrival, irrespective of the duration of their stay.
• It is mandatory for all properties for accommodation in the state to submit a Form C to the Registration Officer (Copies of Form C can be obtained, from any FRO on application) for each foreign national staying with them within24 hours of their arrival. The Commissioner / Superintendent of Police of Cities / Districts are the Foreigners Registration Officer.
• If the passport of the foreigner is irrecoverably lost, he should report the same to the nearest police station, and obtain a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) in the case of theft or a certificate if it is lost otherwise. The foreigners should obtain new passport/emergency certificate from their embassies in India. Before leaving India, the foreigner should seek an exit permit from the Chief Immigration Officer or from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Officers and produce the same at the point of embarkation.

Electricity

• In India electricity voltage is 220. You will not find adaptor very easily at all the places. It is advisable to carry the convertor if you want to use 110 or 240 voltage equipment.

We, at The Other Home, endeavor to making your stay in India a memorable and convenient one. Do get in touch with us and allow us to design your travel plan for you.

Foreign Independent Traveler (FIT) – An increasing trend in India

FIT, although a common term in the travel industry, is not popular among people, including those for whom it has been coined. FIT is acronym for ‘Foreign Independent Traveler’, which means lone travellers as opposed to groups, whose origin is other than India.

Increasingly, there has been an increase in the inflow of FIT in India as more people realized its benefits over group travel:

• In the internet age, one does not need the help of others to plan out things. Sitting in the comfort of a hotel room, he can plan a city tour, book tickets online, call a cab or whatever he wants.
• Travelling in a group of strangers isn’t always an appealing idea. Personality traits, preferences, etc vary from individual to individual. For example, if one wishes to spend some extra time at a particular location, and his tour party wants him back after a stipulated time, it becomes very disturbing. Being alone also offers a lot of privacy.
• Nowadays, travel has come to mean a lot beyond being away from the work. People want to spend quality time on their own or with their close friends or pets. Like Ms. Emilie Chatel (French national) was in India with her dog (Lola) for a vacation in Mumbai and Goa.
• There is hardly much difference in the charges of tour operators between self-guided and guided tours.
• Preference for accommodation has also shifted to homestays and vacation homes, instead of conventional hotels. At these locations, the host can be the guide, companion or facilitator.

Above all, being independent is always economical compared to travelling in groups. A solitary traveler needs to pay according to his consumption, unlike group travel where everyone needs to bear the equal cost.

Most people think that FIT and self guided travel is synonymous. However, these terms can be used interchangeably but not everywhere. Self guided travel means that traveler designs his own itinerary and plans his trip instead of having an escort for the trip. The traveler would hire local guides at specific locations only, being on his own for most of his trip. This would reduce the travel expenses, provided the proper homework is done before embarking on the journey.

If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.