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The best place to exchange money is either at the airport,
within the banks or at large hotel chains. Make sure that
you receive an Encashment Certificate for each exchange. This
acts as a receipt, which may be required when paying cash
at certain hotels or upon exchanging rupees back in to foreign
currency once you leave the country. Always be wary of the
state that the bills are in unless you want some funky wallpaper
for when you get back home. Most people will not accept bills
that are ripped or unrecognisable.
Don't rely on ATMs or Credit Cards either, as they are not
widely available or accepted in smaller cities across the
country.
People
India is a land of great diversity and its over 1 Billion
people descend from varying ethnic backgrounds. Over 80% of
the population adhere to the Hindu religion, one of
the oldest and continuous faiths in the world. India also
houses the world's second largest population of Muslims
at 12% of the population and is equally a land of other popular
faiths such as Christianity, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and
Parsi.
Travel
All the major and some of the more unusual types of travel
are available in India. The most popular forms of transport
within the large cities are taxis and auto rickshaws.
It is best to check the fare with the driver before you go,
as many taxis or rickshaws do not have working meters and
the fares often change from time to time.
Unmetered, chauffer-driven tourists cars can also
be hired from tourist centres within large cities. They run
at a slightly higher fare than regular taxis but they are
also approved by the Department of Tourism. For those who
are brave and have taken out tons of life insurance, self-drive
cars can be hired within the major city centres.
For travel around the country, one of the best and most interesting
ways to get around is by rail. The Indian international
railway system is the largest in Asia and second largest in
the world. Travel is relatively inexpensive and there is a
special Indrail Pass that allows tourists to travel
on any train within the valid period. A tourist travelling
on Indrail Pass is exempted from paying the reservation fees,
sleeper charges or supplementary charges of travelling by
express trains. These passes can be bought from travel agents
in your home country before you go to India.
For those with a bigger budget and less time, Indian
Airlines operates domestic air services between all
the major cities in India. Special tourist fares are available
here as well.
Food
As diversified as its people, India boasts an astounding array
of cuisine. The country is divided into a patchwork of highly
seasoned flavours with the North featuring rich, delicate
dishes and the South more pungent concoctions. North Indian
cuisine has a heavy Persian influence with grilled lamb kebobs,
cheese (paneer) dishes, yoghurt (dahi) and creamy
braised meat dishes called kormas.
Bread accompanies each meal to scoop up the meats and sauces
and comes in many different varieties such as deep-fried poori,
thin chapatis or flaky paratha. Garam Masala
is the popular spice, which is a blend of black pepper, cinnamon,
cloves, cardamom, cumin and coriander.
By contrast, in the South, dishes are flavoured by red chillies,
tamarind, ginger, lime and turmeric, combined together to
create the popular tongue scorching vindaloos. Food
staples include rice, bananas, seafood and coconut milk. Dosas
(pancakes) filled with spicy potatoes and vegetables are popular
feasts for breakfast.
India's cuisine is influenced by its various religions. Hindus
do not eat beef, with many totally vegetarian, and Muslims
are forbidden to eat pork. Vegetarian food is quite common
usually comprises dhal (pulses), vegetables and chutneys.
Bottled Water, fizzy drinks or even beer are the safest things
to drink and are easily available throughout India. Tea and
coffee are the favourite drinks with tea or chai more popular
in the North and coffee in the South.
Language
There are fourteen official languages of India: Bengali,
Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada,
Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit;
Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken
widely throughout Northern India but is not an official language.
English continues to be the official working language
and for many people, English is their readily used second,
if not first language.
Climate
India is basically known for its hot, tropical weather. In
general, April to June provides the hottest and most uncomfortable
weather. The Monsoon rains come shortly after and last through
September. The cooler weather lasts from November to mid-March,
with fresh mornings or evenings and nice dry, sunny days in-between.
Dress
Since the weather is usually hot, lightweight cottons and
linens are recommended for the summer months and slightly
warmer clothes for the winters or cooler evenings. Waterproof
clothes are a must during monsoon season.
Religious places have different requirements for clothing
such as obligatory head covering in Sikh shrines and no footwear
or leather articles allowed inside Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or
Jain places of worship. Shorts, sleeveless tops or any revealing
clothing should never be worn in any place of public worship
and it's more dignified for men to keep their legs covered
and for women to dress moderately modestly, covering the shoulders
and chest.
Health
Food and waterborne disease are the number one cause of illness
in people travelling to India. All areas of India, including
the cities of Delhi and Mumbai also prevent the risk of malaria.
Travellers are recommended to take one of the three antimalarial
drugs: mefloquine, doxycycline or Malarone.
The Centre for Disease Prevention also recommends the following
vaccinations at least 4-6 weeks before your trip: Hepatitis
A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis
(if you plan to visit rural areas for four weeks or more)
and typhoid.
In order to stay healthy on your trip:
· Wash hands often with soap and water.
· Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated
(bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain
drinks, and ice cubes.
· Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables
you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel
it, or forget it.
· Take your malaria medication before, during and after
your visit as directed.
Visas
Indian visas are necessary for all foreigners wanting to
visit India, with many different types available (Entry visa,
tourist visa, business visa, etc.) Applications for multiple
and single entry visas are accepted at any Indian Consular
Office around the world. Tourist visas are available for a
maximum of 180 days.
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