INDIA MINI GUIDE

India: General information

Location: Asia

Local time: GMT +5½

Capital: New Delhi

Language: Hindi, 18 other official languages. English widely used

Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

International direct dialling code: 91

Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit recommended, temporary licence available from local authorities on presentation of National licence

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR 1 = 100 Paise)
Notes: INR: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: INR: 1, 2, 5. Paise: 10, 20, 25, 50

Emergency services: Police: 100. Fire: 101. Ambulance: 102

Air Travel

India’s national airline is Air India (AI) (website: www.airindia.com). British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly to India from the UK; Delta Airlines and United Airlines fly from the USA.

Approximate flight times:

From London to Delhi is nine hours, to Kolkata (Calcutta) is 12 hours, to Chennai is 12 hours 30 minutes and to Mumbai is nine hours. From Los Angeles to Delhi is 25 hours 30 minutes. From New York to Delhi is 18 hours. From Singapore to Delhi is five hours. From Sydney to Delhi is 10 hours.

International airports:

All the airports mentioned below have money exchange facilities, tourist information offices and hotel reservation services:
New Delhi (DEL) (Indira Gandhi International) is 23km (14 miles) south of the city (travel time – 45 minutes). There are coach, bus and taxi services to the city. There are duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, restaurants and car hire.
Mumbai (BOM) (Chhatrapati Shivayi International) is 29km (18 miles) north of the city (travel time – 50 to 75 minutes). Taxi services go to the city. Taxi fares should have fixed rates from the airport to the city. Public transport is also available in the form of the EATS bus service and local buses. There is also a railway system connecting with the Metro rail system. Facilities include a bank/bureau de change, post office, nursery, restaurant and shops.
Kolkata (Calcutta) (CCU) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 40 to 70 minutes). There is a 24-hour coach service to Indian Airlines city office and major hotels. A bus goes every 10 minutes, 0530-2200. Taxi services go to the city. There is a post office, bank, bars, duty-free shops and restaurants available.
Chennai (MAA) is 14km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). A coach meets all flight arrivals 0900-2300. There is a train every 20 to 30 minutes from 0500-2300. Bus 18A runs every 25 minutes from 0500-2200. Taxi services go to the city.
Amritsar (ATQ) is 11km (7 miles) from the city. Car hire, taxis and hotel pick ups can be arranged from the airport.

Compulsory vaccinations:

Yellow fever certificate if arriving:
a) within 6 days from an infected area
b) has been in transit in an infected area (except those who while in transit through an airport in an infected area, remained within the airport during the period of their entire stay)
c) has come on a ship that started or disembarked at any port in an infected area up to 30 days before arrival in India (unless it has been disinsected)

Exempt infants under 6 months. Note: When a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded as infected and is added to the list above

Recommended immunisations:

diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *Japanese B encephalitis, *malaria, polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month

Health risks in India:

Malaria exists all year below 2,000 metres except in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim. Rabies

Indian Passports

Required by all

Notes:

Passport validity: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of travel

Indian Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of India
2) Nationals of Bhutan & Nepal provided they are not missionaries or intending to take up employment or business activities

Notes:

Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 72 hours (24 hours via Mumbai) provided holding confirmed onward tickets

Notes: Nationals of Pakistan must continue their journey on the same day via Amritsar, Mumbai or Delhi airports only

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