|
 Destination
India 
Visas
Currency
Credit
Cards
Business
Hours
Time
Communications
Climate
Language
A Few Words
Destinations in India :
Ahmedabad,
Amritsar, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad,
Kozhikode,
Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram.
Visas
Tourist visas are valid for six months from the date of issue.
However, if you wish to extend your stay 3 months extensions are
routinely issued at the Foreigners' Registration Offices in all
metropolitan cities and in all state and district capitals at the
office of the Superintendent of police. Permit for travel to
Sikkim the Andaman and Nikobar Island and Lakshadeep can also be
obtained from the above offices.
Currency
The rupee (Rs.) is divided into 100 paise. There are coins of 10,
20, 25 and
50 paise and Rs. 1, 2, and 5 as well as notes of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10,
20, 50,
100 and 500.
You are not allowed to bring Indian currency into India. You can
however,
bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency in either cash or
in
travellers cheques. However, anything in excess of US $ 10,000 (US
$ 2500 if
in cash only) must be declared on arrival.
Credit Cards
Diners Club, Master Card, American Express and Visa are widely
accepted
credit cards.
Business Hours
Shops, banks and post offices generally open at 10am. However,
banks close
for business at 2 p.m. and post offices at 5 p.m. Shops of course
are open
till 7pm, 6 days a week. Government offices work from 10 am to 6
p.m. 5 days a week-Monday to Friday.
Time
India is 5 1/2 hours ahead of GMT, 4 1/2 hours behind Australian
Eastern
Standard time and 10 1/2 ahead of American Eastern Standard Time
(summer).
Communications
Local, inter-state and international calls can be made with ease
in any part
of India. STD / ISD call booths with direct interstate and
international
dialing are freely available and are well signposted.
Mobile telephones are available at Mumbai and Delhi. Should you
require any
further information you can contact the cellular telephone
operators at
either of these places.
Climate
Basically India has 3 seasons in the year - summer, monsoon, and
the winter.
However India is so vast that the climatic conditions in the far
north have
little relation to those in the extreme south.
Language
It is very easy to get by with English. Many Indian speaks English
and most
shopkeepers have a working knowledge of the language.
A Few Words
Here are some Hindi words and phrases for your convenience.
|
Bara |
Big |
Maf Kijiye |
Excuse Me |
|
Chota |
Small |
Kripaya |
Please |
|
Aaj |
Today |
Namaste |
Hello |
|
Din |
Day |
Chai |
Tea |
|
Raat |
Night |
Kafi |
Coffee |
|
Mahina |
Month |
Doodh |
Milk |
|
Davai |
Medicine |
Pani |
Water |
|
Han / Nahin |
Yes / No |
Chini |
Sugar |
|
Kitna hai? |
How much? |
Aap kaise ho? |
How are you? |
|
