Need to Know

Currency

Indian rupees (₹)

Languages

Hindi, English

Visas

More than 100 nationalities can obtain a 30-day e-Tourist visa; this is valid from the day you arrive. For longer trips, you'll need to obtain a six-month tourist visa, valid from the date of issue, not the date of arrival in India.

Money

There are ATMs in most towns; carry cash as backup. Mastercard and Visa are the most widely accepted credit cards.

Mobile Phones

Roaming connections are excellent in urban areas, poor in the countryside and the Himalaya. Local prepaid SIMs are widely available; they involve some straightforward paperwork and sometimes a wait of up to 24 hours for activation.

Time

India Standard Time (GMT/UTC plus 5½ hours)

When to Go

High Season (Dec–Mar)

APleasant weather – warm days, cool nights. Peak tourists. Peak prices.

ADecember and January bring chilly nights in the north.

ATemperatures climb steadily from February.

Shoulder Season (Jul–Nov)

APasses to Ladakh and the high Himalaya open from July to September.

AMonsoon rain-showers persist through to September.

AThe southeast coast and southern Kerala see heavy rain from October to early December.

Low Season (Apr–Jun)

AApril is hot; May and June are scorching. Competitive hotel prices.

AFrom June, the monsoon sweeps from south to north, bringing draining humidity.

ABeat the heat (but not the crowds) in the cool hills.

Useful Websites

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/india) Destination information, the Thorn Tree Travel Forum and more.

Incredible India (www.incredibleindia.org) Official India tourism site.

Templenet (www.templenet.com) Temple talk.

Rediff News (www.rediff.com/news) Portal for India-wide news.

World Newspapers (www.world-newspapers.com) Links to India’s English-language publications.

Important Numbers

From outside India, dial your international access code, India’s country code (%91), then the number (minus the initial ‘0’).

Country code	%91
International access code	%00
Emergency (Ambulance/Fire/Police)	%112

Exchange Rates

Australia	A$1	₹51
Canada	C$1	₹51
Euro zone	€1	₹73
Japan	¥100	₹61
New Zealand	NZ$1	₹48
UK	UK£1	₹85
US	US$1	₹69

For current exchange rates see www.xe.com

Daily Costs

Budget: Less than ₹3000

ADorm bed: ₹400–600

ADouble room in a budget hotel: ₹400–700

AAll-you-can-eat thalis (plate meals): ₹120–300

ABus and train tickets: ₹300–500

Midrange: ₹4000–9000

ADouble hotel room: ₹1500–5000

AMeals in midrange restaurants: ₹600–1500

AAdmission to historic sights and museums: ₹500–1000

ALocal taxis/autorickshaws: ₹500–2000

Top End: More than ₹9000

ADeluxe hotel room: ₹5000–22,000

AMeals at superior restaurants: ₹2000–5000

AFirst-class train travel: ₹1000–8000

ARenting a car and driver: ₹1800 upwards per day

Opening Hours

Opening hours are year-round for banks, offices and restaurants; many sights keep summer and winter opening hours.

Banks (nationalised) 10am–2pm/4pm Monday to Friday, to noon/1pm/4pm Saturday; closed second and fourth Saturday of month.

Restaurants 8am–10pm or lunch noon–3pm, dinner 7pm–10pm or 11pm

Bars & Clubs noon–12.30am

Shops 10am–7pm or 8pm, some closed Sunday

Markets 10am–7pm in major cities, usually with one closed day; rural markets may be once weekly, from early morning to lunchtime

Post Offices 9.30am–5pm Monday to Saturday

Arriving in India

Indira Gandhi International Airport Prepaid taxis cost from ₹450 to the centre, while radio cars are around ₹100 to ₹200 more; express buses every 20 minutes (₹100); airport express metro trains (₹60/100 Sunday/Monday to Saturday) link up with the metro system. If you're transferring from terminal 1 to 3 allow at least three hours; the shuttle bus can take an hour.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Prepaid taxis cost ₹680/820 (non-AC/AC) to Colaba and Fort and ₹400/480 to Bandra. For the train (but not during 6am to 11am rush hour), take an autorickshaw (₹18/km) to Andheri train station and then the Churchgate or CST train (₹10, 45 minutes). From Colaba, an UberGo is around ₹385 off-peak.

Kempegowda International Airport Metered AC taxis to the centre cost ₹750 to ₹1000, including the airport toll of ₹120. Air-conditioned Vayu Vajra buses run very regularly to/from the airport to destinations around the city; fares start at ₹180.

Chennai International Airport Suburban trains to central Chennai run every 15 minutes (₹10) from 4.53am to 11.43pm from Tirusulam station at the airport. Prepaid taxis cost ₹450 to ₹600.

Getting Around

Transport in India is frequent and inexpensive, though not always fast. Consider domestic flights or sleeper trains as an alternative to long, uncomfortable bus rides.

Air Flights available to most major centres and state capitals; cheap flights with budget airlines.

Train Frequent services to most destinations; inexpensive tickets available, even on sleeper trains.

Bus Buses go everywhere; some destinations are served 24 hours but longer routes may have just one or two buses a day.