Travel Information

Essential information on Travel to India, including information regarding Visa’s, Currency, Health requirements, Safety etc. Our travel guide to India (below) covers a lot of common questions, that almost all travelers to India seek answers for.

Arrival Instructions

If you have pre-arranged an Airport arrival transfer in India, you will find a representative from Travel East waiting to meet you outside the Customs Hall. Please look for a Travel East sign, with your name on it (not a hotel sign). The Airport arrival area tends to get crowded with lots of people holding signs, so you may need to look carefully for your transfer Representative. In the unlikely event, that you are unable to find our Airport Representative with your name, please call the below mentioned Travel East emergency contact numbers.

Delhi: (+91) 7042743079 / (+91) 9911661230

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance policy prior to your India trip . Insurance should include coverage for personal accident, medical expenses, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. You must have adequate insurance, to cover you in the event you suffer a medical problem while travelling.

Delhi: (+91) 7042743079 / (+91) 9911661230

Money/Currency

The currency in India is known as the Indian Rupee (INR). Approximate exchange rates as of 01 Feb’2018 are as follows:

1 GBP = Inr 92
1 USD = Inr 66
1 EURO = Inr 81

ou are advised to carry a mix of cash and Travellers Cheques (US$ are preferable outside of the main cities). Traveller cheques can be exchanged at most major hotels. It is a good idea to keep the exchange receipts, as you may need these if you want to change the Indian currency back to your local currency at the end of your trip. Credit cards can be used at almost all the hotels and in most shops and restaurants in major cities; however they are not widely accepted in more rural areas. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted amongst Credit / Charge cards. Cash advances can be obtained using these cards at most Bank branches, using your passport. ATM access is available in almost all cities.

Delhi: (+91) 7042743079 / (+91) 9911661230

Climate

India has 3 main seasons – winter, summer and monsoon. The winter months, November to March, are usually pleasant all over India with day time temperatures in North India averaging around 20-25 degrees Celcius.. December and January can get very cold in Northern India, particularly in Rajasthan , in the desert region and in Delhi. Evening / Night time temperatures during Winter would average between 8-12 Celcius. Lightweight warm clothing or jackets may be necessary during this period. Around the Christmas period in Northern India, there is often fog, which can disrupt some flight or train schedules.

The summer months from April to June are increasingly hot almost everywhere in the country. During May and June daytime temperatures are routinely upto 40 Celcius.

The South West monsoon starts around the beginning of June on the West coast and with the exception of parts of South East India, India receives the majority of her rainfall between the months of June and September.

In the mountain areas of Southern India such as Munnar and Periyar National Park, the climate is temperate and evenings can be cool year round. Air conditioning is not necessary here and it may also be advisable to bring some lightweight warm clothing.

The peak tourist season in India runs from October to April , the cooler months … but, travelling to India during the Summers does have the advantage of lower prices , fewer crowds and better Animal sightings in the National parks.

Baggage & Clothing

Baggage allowance on domestic flights in India is 15 kgs for Economy class passengers and 30 kgs for Business Class.Excess baggage is charged at around Usd 5 per kg on all Domestic flight sectors.

Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi tropical climates . Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive.

Electricity

The electric current in India operates on 220 volts. Electric plug types come in at least two sizes and vary throughout the country, the rounded two or three pronged plug is most commonly used.

Food & Water

Indian food is well known throughout the world and is one of the things to savour on your holiday . Each region of India specialises in its own cuisine.Our representatives will be happy to give you a list of recomended restaraunts in each city . Breakfast is included each day on most of our tours and is usually a buffet with both Western and Indian dishes.

Drinking local tap water is NOT recommended. Bottled water is cheap and readily available throughout India and infact we recomend you use that for brushing as well.

Tipping

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers, a tip is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across the Indian Sub-continent. As a general guide, if you are happy with the services provided , you should tip between Usd 4-5 daily to your driver and a similar amount to your local guides daily. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Should you be dissatisfied with the services provided by your local guide or driver or tour leader, please let us know straightaway , so corrective action can be taken.

Safety & Security

These have become essential parts of travel information about India now, an information on safety and security, is often required by Travellers. India is generally a safe country, however petty street crime does occur, especially in some cities. In larger cities we recommend you wear as little jewellery as possible and make sure your spending money is kept in a secure place close to your body. We also recommended you take taxis, rather than walk at night. Taxis are mostly metered and inexpensive, but make sure the driver activates the meter and is clear on your destination – carry a hotel card, so your taxi driver knows where to take you. Only take essentials out with you on the streets. Leave valuables (passport, credit cards, excess cash, jewellery) in hotel safety deposit boxes where available. It would also be advisable to make photocopies of your passport, credit card numbers, and airline tickets, and keep a record of your travellers cheques. These documents should be kept in a safe place separate from the originals. When travelling on trains, clients may wish to take extra precautions with their finances by using money belts. If you are a single woman travelling, or a group of just female travelers, we recommend you exercise some extra caution, and only use transport organized either via a Travel East India office, or, a reputable hotel.

Mail & Communication

International direct dial is available from most hotels but it is rather expensive. It can cost upwards of INR 200 per minute to make an international call from a Hotel. Cheap international calls can be made from local shops with an STD/PCO/ISD sign outside. Most hotels also offer internet and email services which are convenient . Internet cafes are also present in most important tourist places. Mobile / GSM phone coverage in India is excellent, and your GSM phone with International roaming, will function almost throughout the country. It is also possible for travelers to purchase a local Sim Card that can be used on GSM networks almost throughout the country. These can be purchased at most major Airports, as well as at several city locations. For security reasons, the travelers ID is required, and hence a SIM Card can not be arranged by us prior to your arrival.

Other Information

Should you require any other information regarding travel to India, feel free to email us at tours@travelest.in

Visa Requirements & Departure Taxes

All foreign tourists to India, except nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, must possess a valid visa.

Visa on Arrival Facility is available for holders of passport of following countries : Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

For more information on Visa on Arrival scheme, please visit the authorized government website – https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

A tourist visa is valid for 3 to six months. For this you will require a completed application form with two passport photos and your passport. Passports need to be valid for a minimum of 6 months. It is your responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met prior to arrival in India. Feel free to email us, for any other Visa / travel information on India that you may require.

Weather in India

The India Travel does not cease due to its seasons as the tourists come from all across the globe for India Tour. The three principle seasons of India which make up the Climate in India and are responsible to decide the kind of Weather in India are mainly summer, monsoon and winter. Anybody who is coming to India for an Indian holiday or India vacation must be aware of this fact.

Hot Summer

The whole northern plains are under the effect of heat current. If you are planning a trip to India during Summer (from April to Mid July) season then you require a toolkit containing light cotton clothes, glucose, sun screen lotion, and sunglasses. The majestic Himalayas in the North India, Nilgris in the South India, and the small hill resorts of Western Ghats in theWestern India could be the ideal haven for those striving to get rid of the scorching heat.

Heavy Monsoon

The Monsoon hits India during the months of June and marks its effective presence till Mid September. Heavy rains are highly probable in India specially South India so beware and bring waterproof clothes like a raincoat and umbrella.

Chilling Winter

Winter is the ideal season to tour India. The fog covers the mornings while the days are quite warm contrary to the chilly nights specially in the North India. In rest of India, the cold remains within tolerable limits. The Snowfall areas and snowladen mountains of North India are nice to enjoy the winter sports. You should drape yourself well with a number of woolen garments. Equally necessary are the cold creams and moisturizers. Contrary to this, Southern India has moderate temperature throughout the winter so you don’t require much while visiting this region.