Seasons in India
Winter : Winter
is the most pleasant of all the seasons. Days are bright & sunny and it
is never very cold except in the northern plains. Here the temperature falls
sharply and the northern hills experience snowfall.
Coldest Months :
Dec - Jan
Summer : Summer months are hot in most parts of
India. But the hill stations spread out in the country are the most favorite
resort for many during this season.
Hottest Months : April -
June
Monsoon : The western parts of India receive rainfall
in June. Rest of India gets the rains later with the exception of
south-eastern India, where it rains in mid October to December end.
Rainy
Months : June - Sept
Currency Regulations
There is
absolutely no restriction on the amount of foreign currency you can get into
India. It is important that you fill up the "Currency Declaration Form"
on arrival if you are carrying more than US $1000, wherein you declare the
amount of foreign currency you are bringing in. This will enable you to
easily :
1. exchange currency, drafts, bills, cheques,
travellers' cheques etc. into Indian currency at the authorized money
changers and banks who in turn will issue "encashment certificates"
2. take the unspent currency out of India at the time of
departure. Please note that to change unspent Indian currency to your own
currency, the "encashment certificates" will be required.
Always get Indian currency from the Authorized Money Changers or Banks.
Customs Formalities and Regulation
On
arrival you are required to
1. orally declare your baggage and
foreign currency
2. fill the "Currency Declaration Form"
(available from Customs)
3. fill the "Disembarkation Card"
(available in the flight)
For Customs clearance there are two
channels
1. Green Channel for passengers not carrying any dutiable
items/ unaccompanied baggage
2. Red Channel for passengers with
dutiable items/ unaccompanied baggage/high value articles. You will need to
fill the Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form if you are carrying high value
articles.
Immigration & Passport
You are
required to have a valid national passport/ travel document and a visa
granted by the Indian Missions in your country. However, for Nepalese and
Bhutanese citizens no passport or visa is required but a document for
identification should be carried.
Arrival & Departure Formalities
You
are required to fill in a "Disembarkation Card " on your arrival.
If your visa is for more than 180 days stay in India, then within 15
days of your arrival, you are required to obtain from the "Foreigners'
Registration Office" the following :
1. Registration Certificate
2. Residential Permit
On departure from India, you are
required to 1. fill in a "Embarkation Card ", however
for Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens there are no such formalities
2. return the Registration Certificate at the "Foreigners' Registration
Office" or the Immigration Officer at departing port.
Visas
Visas can be obtained by you from
the Indian Mission placed in your country.
- Tourist Visas : Multiple-entry visa, valid for 180 days
- Collective Visas : Issued for a group sponsored by a travel
agency for not less than 4 people. They may split after getting a "License
To Travel" from the immigration authorities in India. However, they
will have to reassemble at the time of departure.
- Transit Visas : Short visas issued for a maximum of 15 days.
- Business Visas : Multiple-entry visa, valid for a period upto
of five years
- Employment Visas : Granted for a period of one year, but can
be extended till the end of the employment contract.
- Student Visas : Valid upto a period of one year but can be
extended for the duration of the course. Proof of admission and means of
sustenance needs to be produced for obtaining this visa.
- Conference Visas : Delegates attending international
conferences are issued conference visas, which also covers tourism in
India.
- Yoga/Dance/Music/Vedic Culture Visas : A visa for a period
upto five years is granted if you wish to learn Yoga or Indian dance or
Indian music or Vedic Culture.
- Others : Sports team or sportsmen participating in sporting
events, journalists, film makers, media men, botanical explorers,
trekking, canoeing, rafting teams may be granted visa from the Indian
mission.
Inland Travel
Air : Major
cities and tourist locations are connected by air. Government owned Indian
Airlines and Private Airlines operate modern aircrafts in these routes.
Rail : Almost all of the country is linked by rail. There are also
special tourist trains like "Palace On Wheels" and "Royal
Orient Express" in addition to the normal ones.
Road :
Cars and Taxis are available on rent in India. Taxis normally charge on
per kilometer basis. Cars are on hire are usually provided by international
operators like "Herz Rent-A-Car" and "Budget Rent-A-Car".
Regular bus services also operate in fixed routes between cities.
Accommodation
There are various
kinds of accommodation available in India.
- Heritage Hotels And Palace Hotels : These are old palaces
turned into hotels. They offer a fine Indian experience. In some of the
Hotels you may even have the opportunity to witness erstwhile Indian
Royalty.
- Deluxe Hotels : They are hotels with exclusive decor and
amenities to match their counterparts elsewhere in the world.
- Tourist Bunglows and Travellers' Lodges : You may find here
rooms with attached bathrooms or dormitories. These places have a
restaurant often with an attached bar.
- Rest Houses or Dak Banglows : These are the remains of the
British Raj in India, largely meant for Government officials. Tourists
are allowed here only under certain conditions. Usually situated by the
National Highways, hence facilitates travellers travelling by road.
- Railway Retiring Rooms : Travellers by train may avail this
facility as these are located in close proximity to the railway
stations.
- Paying Guest Accommodations : Indian families offer paying
guest accommodation for those who would like to experience the taste of
real India.
- Youth Hostels : They offer low cost accommodation with
comfortable lodging.
- Temples and Camping Sites at Pilgrimages : You would find a
variety of accommodations in the holy places, including free stay at
some temples.
Seasons in India
Formalities
