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Custom Rules  
 General Travel Tips
Essential Documents
 

All visitors to India must be in possession of a valid passport. All visitors also need visas, except citizens from Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

Carry your passport with you at all times.
Visas can be obtained from the Indian Embassy or High Commission in your home country. Ask for a multiple-entry visa, in case you want to  make a quick trip to a neighboring country.

Visas are usually issued without much difficulty if you meet the application requirements. These are: sufficient funds for the duration of your stay, a valid passport, ID photos, and a company letter for business travelers. The length of visas varies, allowing visitors to stay in India for anything from 15 days to six months.

In addition to a visa, you may need a special permit to visit certain protected or restricted parts of the country, such as areas in Sikkim,     Ladakh, the Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep and some northeastern hill states.
Permits are available at foreign registration offices, immigration offices, and Indian Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions.

For Sikkim you will need a trekking permit. If you have a visa for Bhutan, you'll also need a transit permit to cross the border. This permit is available from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Peak Seasons
 

The peak tourist season is from mid-September through to March, as the cooler winter months are from November to February. But as long as you take the weather into account, India is a year-round destination. Expect crowds at popular tourist spots and be sure to make reservations well in advance.

September to March is the best time to visit the plains and the southern regions. If you want to visit the northern Himalayan region, rather plan your trip between April and August (late spring and summer). The monsoon rains are heaviest in July and August. For trekking in the northern parts of the country, June is the best time to travel.

Cyclones are not unusual along the east coast. The risk of cyclones is greatest between the end of October and early December, but they have been known to occur as early as June.

Public Holidays
 
India has a wide range of holidays and festivals, due to its religious and regional variations. Most Indian holidays follow the lunar year, so the dates vary from year to year. It is best to check the dates of the public holidays with an Indian embassy or consulate before traveling.

Business Hours
The following business hours should be considered as a guideline as there are regional variations.
Government organizations and private businesses are usually open Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 17:30. Some of them may be open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday.
Shopping hours are generally Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:30. Some shopkeepers may take a siesta.
Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday morning until about 12:00. The main post offices may have longer hours.
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00, and 10:00 to 12:30 on Saturday.

Restaurants are usually open until 23:00, with nightclubs and discos closing much later.

Money
 
The local currency is the rupee (INR), which is divided into 100 paise.
Notes are available in denominations of INR 1.00, 2.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 50.00, 100.00 500.00 and 1000.00. Coins come in 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise, and INR 1.00, 2.00 and 5.00 (although the latter is very rare).
Be careful not to accept torn notes from anyone as no-one else will accept them, making them quite useless.
Change is often in short supply, so try not to carry large denominations.
Visitors are not allowed to bring Indian currency into India or take it out of the country. However, you may bring an unlimited amount of foreign currency or traveler's cheques with you. Note that any amount exceeding USD 2,500.00 must be declared on arrival in India. Most foreign currencies and traveler's cheques can be changed in the big cities.
If you've been in India for more than 180 days, you must obtain a tax clearance certificate before leaving the country. These are available at the foreigners' section of any income tax department in larger cities. You'll need to produce bank receipts ('encashment certificates') to show that you have changed money legally.

All popular credit cards are easily accepted in most metropolitans of India.

Communications
As a general rule, the postal service in India is excellent. Mail to destinations in Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand takes about 10 to 14 days. A Speed Post service is also available, which usually takes just a few days
Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday morning. Larger post offices may have longer hours. Large hotels sometimes also sell stamps. When mailing something in India, ask the clerk to rank your mail in front of you, as unranked stamps are sometimes removed.
Poste rest ante facilities are available at the main post office in most of India's cities. Mail will usually be kept for a month, and then returned to the sender. It is not advisable for anything of value to be sent to you this way.
Mailing a parcel can be a hassle. Either have it packed by a postal packing service, or ask a tailor to make a linen bag for the parcel and ensure that the seams are sealed with wax. There's a much cheaper rate for posting books and magazines, and these items do not have to be wrapped in cloth.
The telephone system is usually quite good, but the quality of the telephone lines is dependent on the weather. Local and international calls can be made from 'STD/ISD' (standard trunk dialing/international subscriber dialing) phone booths. These can be found in shops or other businesses. They are quick and easy to use, and are sometimes open all day. Your bill must be paid on completion of your call/s. Many of these booths also have fax machines for public use.

Another service available is the 'Home Country Direct' service, which gives you access to the international operator in your own country. This enables you to make reverse charge calls, as well as credit card calls. Telephone calls made from hotels are often quite expensive.

Disabled Travelers

In spite of the fact that many Indians have disabilities, it is not easy for people with limited mobility to travel here. Never assume that special facilities are available. Wheelchair ramps are almost nonexistent, and access to bathrooms, restaurants and hotels is sometimes impossible without assistance. Airlines and major hotels are usually helpful, and taxi and rickshaw drivers are usually also eager to assist.

Budget Travel 
Indian Airlines offers special packages allowing travelers unlimited economy class air travel on the airline's domestic routes. Other airlines also offer special fares and packages so check the options before making a reservation.
There are about 16 youth hostels throughout the country, all of them quite cheap. Each one has at least 40 beds, roughly half for men and half for women. Hostels supply bedding, wardrobes with locks, electric light points, kitchen utensils and parking. You do not need a Hostelling International card to stay in the youth hostels but will pay slightly less if you have one. Hostels are usually busy, especially during big festivals, so book early if you want to be certain of a place. Other budget accommodation options include a 'home stay' (staying with an Indian family in their home), YMCAs and YWCAs, and Salvation Army Hostels
Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Although electricity is widely available throughout the country, breakdowns and blackouts are common. Be sure to pack candles or a torch. Sockets usually have three round pins. European plugs will fit loosely into the sockets, but because they are slightly smaller, bad connections are possible.

Safety
Generally speaking, India is a safe country to visit. Crime levels are well below those of Western countries and violent crime is unusual. However, tourists are always obvious targets for thieves.
Bihar is notorious for its absence of law and order. Kidnappings, banditry, murder and rape are common occurrences. Be careful when traveling here, especially at night.
It's advisable to make a copy of your passport, visas, airplane ticket and other important documents to make it easier to get replacements if they are lost or stolen. Also keep a record of the serial numbers of your travelers cheques, and a copy of your travel insurance policy.
Make sure that your travel insurance policy covers you against theft. If you do get robbed, report it to the police. You will need a police report if you want to file an insurance claim.
Be alert to credit card fraud: insist that restaurants and shops process your credit card payment in front of you. Sometimes credit cards are used to make duplicate forms, and the client is then billed for fictitious transactions.
Flooding is India's major natural hazard. By early July, the monsoon (seasonal wind) rages throughout the whole country, bringing moisture with it. Usually it comes from the southwest, but the southeastern coast gets the short and very wet northeastern monsoon. This monsoon brings rain from mid-October to the end of December. The monsoon can be very destructive, resulting in floods, homelessness and even death, as well as causing poor road and rail conditions.