|
India
Back to Country Page
Overview
India is a mystical land of seductive images. Hinduism and its religious
rites and red-letter days are woven into the fabric of everyday life.
It is also India's vastness that challenges the imagination, being home
to one sixth of the world's population.
Its intoxicatingly rich history can be traced back to at least 2500BC
when the first known civilisation settled along the Indus River.
There was an influx of Moghuls in the 1520s from Central Asia, who maintained
effective control of the north until the mid 18th century. At the end
of that century, as the Moghul Empire declined, the British took control
of the whole subcontinent, and the whole of India was administered by
a single alien power.
The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, but made little progress
on independence until Mahatma Gandhi began the policy of non-cooperation
with the British. But the congress itself was split on the issue of Hindus
and Muslims. The Muslims, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, claimed a separate
homeland and in August 1947 the independent states of India and Pakistan
came into being. Since this time, India has been a democratic republic.
Such a rich history has spawned palaces, temples and monuments. The most
frequently visited part of India is the Golden Triangle. The unfairly
maligned great cities of Mumbai and Kolkata have a bustling, colourful
charm, while the holy city of Varanasi or the awe-inspiring temples of
Tamil Nadu are worthy objects of pilgrimage. For those who prefer more
sybaritic pleasures, tackle the palm-fringed beaches of Goa. And for solitude,
India ripples with mountains and hills, from the towering beauty of the
Himalayas to pine forests, lakes and babbling streams.
One of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new;
centuries of history rubbing shoulders with the computer age; and Bengaluru's
(Bangalore's) 'Silicon Valley' is as much a part of the world's largest
democracy as its remotest village.
Area
3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).
Population
1.1 billion (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density
347 per sq km.
Capital
New Delhi. Population: 13.8 million (2001).
Government
Republic since 1947.
Language
The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population;
English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official
purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognised by the constitution.
These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi which are widely used
in the north, and Tamil and Telegu, which are common in the south. Other
regional languages are Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population
largely speak Urdu.
Religion
About 81% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist
minorities.
Time
GMT + 5.5.
Social Conventions
The Indian Hindu greeting is to fold the hands and tilt the head forward
to namaste. Indian women prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked
to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. The majority
of Indians remove their footwear when entering their houses. Because of
strict religious and social customs, visitors must show particular respect
when visiting someone's home. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially
women, do not drink alcohol. Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Small gifts
are acceptable as tokens of gratitude for hospitality. Women are expected
to dress modestly. Short skirts and tight or revealing clothing should
not be worn, even on beaches. Businesspeople are not expected to dress
formally except for meetings and social functions.
English-speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important
tourist centres. Guides speaking French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian
or Spanish are available in some cities. Consult the nearest Indiatourism
office. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments.
Tourists are advised to ask for guides with certificates from the Ministry
of Tourism or Indiatourism (see Contact Addresses).
Photography: Formalities mainly concern protected monuments and the wildlife
sanctuaries. Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India,
New Delhi, is necessary for the use of tripod and artificial light to
photograph monuments. Photography at many places is allowed on payment
of a prescribed fee, which varies. Contact the nearest Government of India
Tourist Office.
Electricity
Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are
of the round two- and three-pin type.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.
Head of State
President APJ Abdul Kalam since 2002.
Culture
Food and Drink
Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such
as turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although
these vary from region to region. Vegetable dishes are more common than
in Europe, particularly in southern India.
Things to know: Bottled water is essential for visitors but make sure
the bottles are properly sealed. Most restaurants serve alcohol with meals
and most Western-style hotels have licensed bars. Various states impose
prohibition and in some big cities certain days are observed as dry days
when the sale of liquor is not permitted. Tourists may check with the
nearest local tourist office for the prohibition laws/rules prevailing
in any given state.
National specialities:
o Dal (crushed lentil soup with various additional vegetables).
o Kulfi (Indian ice cream).
o Gulab Jamuns (flour, yoghurt and ground almonds).
o Jalebi (pancakes in syrup).
o Pan (betel leaf in which are wrapped spices such as aniseed and cardamom).
National drinks:
o Chai (tea) is India's favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed
with milk and sugar unless 'tray tea' is specified.
o Coffee is increasingly popular.
o Nimbu Pani (lemon drink).
o Lassi (iced buttermilk)
o Indian beer (in many varieties).
Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants.
Nightlife
India has generally little nightlife as the term is understood in the
West, although in major cities a few Western-style shows, clubs and discos
are being developed, and Western-style pubs are increasingly common. In
most places the main attraction will be cultural shows featuring performances
of Indian dance and music. The Indian film industry is the largest in
the world, now producing three times as many full-length feature films
as the USA. Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) are the country's two
'Hollywoods'. Almost every town will have a cinema, and large towns will
have many, some of which will show films in English. Music and dancing
are an important part of Indian cinema, combining with many other influences
to produce a rich variety of film art. Larger cities may have theatres
staging productions of English-language plays.
Shopping
Each region has its own specialities, each town its own local craftspeople
and its own particular skills. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork
and antiques, India is a shopper's paradise. Bargaining is expected, and
the visitor can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia.
Fabrics: One of India's main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the
brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with
its distinctive 'tie and dye' design is usually brilliantly colourful,
while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive 'bleeding' effect after
a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated
with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful
woollens, particularly shawls.
Carpets: India has one of the world's largest carpet industries. Each
region will have its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly
coloured Tibetan rugs, available mainly in Darjeeling.
Clothes: Clothes are cheap, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops.
Cloth includes silks, cottons, himroos, brocades and chiffons.
Jewellery: This is traditionally heavy and elaborate. Indian silverwork
is world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies,
star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl
centre.
Handicrafts and leatherwork: Each area has its speciality; the range
includes bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), canework and pottery.
Woven rugs and papier mâché (some decorated in gold leaf)
are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are
specialities of Agra. Rajasthan is known for its colourful fabrics and
silks. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers.
Woodwork: Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and
Chennai (Madras).
Other goods: Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper,
Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1700 in most large stores.
Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100
years old, animal skins and objects made from skins.
Environment
Climate
Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather
lasts from December to February, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings
and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant,
is between March and May. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer
between June and September.
Western Himalayas: Srinagar is best from March to October; July to August
can be unpleasant; cold and damp in winter. Shimla is higher and therefore
colder in winter. Places like Gulmarg, Manali and Pahalgam are usually
under several feet of snow (December to March) and temperatures in Ladakh
can be extremely cold. The road to Leh is open from June to October.
Required clothing: Light- to mediumweights are advised from March to
October, with warmer wear for winter. Weather can change rapidly in the
mountains and therefore it is important to be suitably equipped. Waterproofing
is advisable.
Northern Plains: Extreme climate, warm inland from April to mid-June,
falling to almost freezing at night in winter between November and February.
Summers are hot with monsoons between June and September.
Required clothing: Lightweights in summer with warmer clothes in winter
and on cooler evenings. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons.
Central India: Madhya Pradesh State escapes the very worst of the hot
season, but monsoons are heavy between July and September. Temperatures
fall at night in winter.
Required clothing: Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer
clothes during evenings, particularly in winter. Waterproofed clothing
is advised during monsoon rains.
Western India: November to February is most comfortable, although evenings
can be fairly cold. Summers can be extremely hot with monsoon rainfall
between mid June and mid September.
Required clothing: Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer
clothes for cooler winters, and waterproofing is essential during the
monsoon.
Southwest: The most pleasant weather is from November to March. Monsoon
rains between late April and July. Summer temperatures not as high as
Northern India although humidity is extreme. Cooling breezes on coast.
Inland, Mysore and Bijapur have pleasant climates with relatively low
rainfall.
Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the
monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.
Southeast: Tamil Nadu experiences a northeast monsoon between October
and December and temperatures and humidity are high all year. Hills can
be cold in winter.
Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the
monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.
Northeast: March to June and September to November are the driest and
most pleasant periods. The rest of the year has extremely heavy monsoon
rainfall and it is recommended that the area is avoided.
Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is advisable throughout
the year and essential in monsoons, usually from mid June to mid October.
Warmer clothes are useful for cooler evenings.
India shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with
China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to
the south the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and
the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and
territories are all but separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh
as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. The Himalayan
mountain range to the north and the Indus River (west) and Ganges River
(east) form a physical barrier between India and the rest of Asia. The
country can be divided into five regions: Western, Central, Northern (including
Kashmir and Rajasthan), Eastern and Southern.
Money
Currency
Rupee (INR; symbol Rp) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rp1,000,
500, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of Rp5, 2 and
1, and 50, 25, 20 and 10 paise. Note: The import of local currency is
prohibited. Export of local currency is also prohibited, except for passengers
proceeding to Nepal (excluding notes of denominations of Rp100 or higher),
Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka (up to Rp20 per person).
Currency Exchange
Currency can be changed at banks, airports or authorised money changers.
It is illegal to exchange money through unauthorised money changers. US
Dollars and Pounds Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
Traveller's Cheques
These are widely accepted and may be changed at banks and larger hotels.
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take
traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse
to change certain brands of traveller's cheques which others exchange
quite happily.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 1000-1400, Sat 1000-1200.
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into India by persons over 17 years
of age without incurring customs duty:
o 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
o 2l alcoholic liquor or wine.
o 60ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
o Goods for personal use.
o Travel souvenirs (differing amounts according to nationality and duration
of stay).
o Reasonable quantities of medicines.
Note: (a) Import by non-residents is only permitted if the national has
entered India for a stay of not less than 24 hours and not more than six
months, provided they visit not more than once a month. (b) Domestic pets
(cats, dogs, birds etc) are permitted to be imported into India as long
as they have a health certificate from the country of origin.
Prohibited Imports
Livestock and pigs and pig meat products, live plants, dangerous drugs,
gold coins, gold and silver bullion.
Traveller's Guide
Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required.
Visas
Required.
Visa Note
Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted
areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government
authorisation. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be
indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit
that region only. Passengers are advised to check with Indiatourism for
up-to-date information before departure. The following states are subject
to some restrictions: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Sikkim, Port Blair, Mizoram, Nagaland and Mundgod.
Types of Visa and Cost
The following prices are for UK nationals only; prices for other nationals
vary. Tourist: £30 (six months). Business: £30 (six months);
£50 (one year); £90 (two years). Transit: £8 (single/double-entry).
Student: £55 (irrespective of duration).
Note: (a) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK need to pay an additional
£10 (amounts charged may also vary according to nationality and
type of passport held) unless holding proof of at least one-year residence
in the UK. (b) A £1 fee may be required for postal applications,
depending on consulate.
Validity
Tourist: six months for multiple entry. Transit: for stays of up to 72
hours within 15 days of date of issue. Business: three or six months,
or up to two years for multiple entry.
Applications to:
Embassy or high commission (or consular section at embassy or high commission);
see Contact Addresses.
Working Days Required
Personal applications can normally be processed the same day. Postal applications
may take up to 15 working days or longer (early September to February).
Those requiring an additional fee may need a minimum of seven working
days and possibly much longer for their visa application to be processed.
Contact Addresses
High Commission of India in the UK
India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 8484 or 7632 3149/52/53 (visa enquiries).
Website: www.hcilondon.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 (visa enquiries); 0915-1730 (visa applications
and collections; telephone enquiries).
Indiatourism in the UK
7 Cork Street, London W1S 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7437 3677 or 0870 010 2183 (brochure request line).
Website: www.incredibleindia.org
Embassy of India in the USA
Chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Consulate: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 7000 or 9806 (consular section).
Website: www.indianembassy.org
Indiatourism in the USA
Suite 1808, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, USA
Tel: (212) 586 4901.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org
Health Care
Health care facilities are limited and travellers are strongly advised
to take out full comprehensive medical insurance before departing for
India. It is advisable to bring specific medicines from the UK. There
are state-operated facilities in all towns and cities and private consultants
and specialists in urban areas.
On leaving India: Visitors leaving for countries which impose health
restrictions on arrivals from India are required to be in possession of
a valid certificate of inoculation and vaccination.
Note
* Any person (including infants over six months old) arriving by air or
sea from an infected country must obtain a yellow fever certificate (includes
passengers who have been transit in a country in the endemic zone).
|
