Country dialing code

+91

Capital city

New Delhi

Official language

Hindi and English

Currency

Indian Rupees



Highlights

Delhi

Delhi is sprinkled with glittering gems; captivating ancient monuments, magnificent museums, and some of the subcontinents best places to eat. A vibrant melting pot, Delhi encapsulates two very different worlds, the ‘old’ and the ‘new’.

National Parks

Whilst not widely known as a wildlife destination, India offers Asia’s greatest nature experiences for travellers with an excellent network of national parks and safari lodges. The big cats such as Tiger and Leopard are widely distributed and often seen on jeep safaris.

Varanasi

Few places in India are as colourful or charismatic as Varanasi. The city is the beating heart of the Hindu universe, and the Ganges the river of salvation. Watching the sun rise over the Ganges is a spiritual experience.

Rajasthan

From historic cities rich in forts and palaces, bazaars and colour, to superb countryside homestays and fascinating villages, this desert state is the source of much of India’s most iconic images and experiences. Don’t miss it.

Useful information

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Shopping

The following business hours should be considered as a guideline as there are regional variations. Government organisations and private businesses are usually open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Some of them may be open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday. Shopping hours are generally Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Some shopkeepers may take a siesta. Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday morning until about noon. The main post offices may have longer hours. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and 10am to 12.30pm on Saturday. Restaurants are usually open until 11pm, with nightclubs and discos closing much later.

Tipping

Local guides: We recommend tipping your local guide for their service on your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline INR 120-180  per person, per half day (more for a full day) can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of the guides service quality and the length of your trip. 

Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants add INR20-50 to your bill. More up-market restaurants we suggest up to 10% of your bill.

Monuments and temples where you are required to remove your shoes will charge a small fee for shoe minding - usually INR 10-20 is sufficient. Toilets often have an attendant and there may be an official charge of INR 10-20 signposted; if not, a small tip of a similar amount to the attendant is appreciated.

Getting Around

Luggage for internal flights
Flight allowances: 
Economy Class 15kg 

Inter-city transport in India may not be the fastest or the most comfortable in the world, but it’s cheap and goes more or less everywhere. You generally have the option of train or bus, sometimes plane, and occasionally even boat. Transport around town comes in even more permutations, ranging in Kolkata, for example, from human-pulled rickshaws to a state-of-the-art metro system. Whether you’re on road or rail, public transport or a private vehicle, India offers the chance to try out some classics: narrow-gauge railways, steam locomotives, the Ambassador car and the Enfield Bullet motorbike – indeed some people come to India for these alone.

Language

Hindi, English, and 16 other official languages.

Health

The following information is intended as a guide only and in no way should it be used as a substitute for professional medical advice relative to a travellers individual needs and vaccination history. No guarantee is made as to its accuracy or thoroughness. For further information, please contact The Travel Doctor.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for travellers to India. Frequent or long stay travellers should consider vaccination against hepatitis B. Vaccination against rabies (particularly if working with animals), typhoid (particularly when travelling to areas with poor sanitation and hygiene) and meningitis should be considered by travellers to India. Cholera is reported in India but vaccination is generally not recommended. Care with food and beverage selection is far more important. Those spending at least 4 weeks in rural areas of the transmission zone may require vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis. There is a medium risk of malaria in India and dengue fever also occurs, thus insect avoidance measures and anti malarial medication may be necessary depending on your itinerary. 

Please consult a medical practitioner or contact The Travel Doctor for your specific risk to these preventable diseases and the appropriate avoidance measures. Australians travelling to India should ensure that they have adequate travel insurance to cover the length of their stay. For further information on please visit www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/india

Electricity

Electrical Plug: Indian
Special Tip: While the Indian electrical plug is the official socket type, various other sockets are found throughout India including the similar South African plug and the European plug.
Voltage: 220-240 volts (same as Australia)
Modem Plug: USA (same as Australia) 

Communications

Country Code for India: +91
Visa Global Assistance: 000 1 17 then 866-765-9644

Emergency Services: Ambulance: 102 Fire: 101 Police: 100. The emergency numbers apply to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, but may not always have English speaking staff. 

Visas

The Travel Corporation has partnered with the company Sherpa to provide travellers with the latest government and health restrictions. Simply enter the country you want to travel to for information on safety regulations, border closures, quarantine requirements, your travel visa and more using the Sherpa travel tool.

FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR TRIP


Official travel advice is available by visiting the SmartTraveller Website

Customs

By and large, India is a very hospitable place to visit. Take care to avoid religious offence, however. In particular, respect all religious faiths: do not touch a holy man, do not pose for photographs on religious statues and remove shoes and socks when entering temples. Try to find out as much as you can before you arrive, read about the religion and culture, learn about local rules and values, and even learn some of the language. Be sensitive to cultural difference. Note that kissing and cuddling is frowned upon in public. On the whole, remember that patience, friendliness and courtesy are highly valued virtues that will win you the respect and confidence of the Indian people. If you give the impression of being from a different country, the chances are that you might be stared at. This may seem over-familiar to some, but it is merely curiosity and you should not take offence. Indians believe in sharing happiness or sorrow and a festival is never far away.

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