India - Country Information

Film Commissions

Permits
Visas are required.

General Information

Location: Asia
Local Time: GMT +5
Capital City: New Delhi
Population: 1029 million
Area: 3,287,590 square km, 1,269,338 square miles.
Language(s): Hindi, 18 other official languages. English widely used
Dialling Code: 91
Emergency: Police: 100. Fire: 101. Ambulance: 102
Directory Enquiries: 197
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit recommended, temporary licence available from local authorities on presentation of National licence
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

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

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. Currency may only be exchanged at banks or authorised money changers

Opening Hours
Bank: 1000-1400 Mon-Fri, 1000-1200 Sat
Office: 0930-1700 Mon-Fri, 0930-1300 Sat
Shops: 0930-1900 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Dec/Jan* Idu'l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice), Jan 10 Muharram (Islamic New Year), Jan 26 Republic Day, Feb* Mahashivratri, Feb/Mar* Mahavir Jayanthi, Mar/Apr* Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet), Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, Apr/May* Buddha Purnima, Aug 15 Independence Day, Sep* Janmashtami, Sep/Oct* Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), Oct 2 Mahatma Ghandi's Birthday, Oct 2 Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan), Nov* Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights), Nov* Guru Nanak's Birthday, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day.
*Dates to be confirmed.
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints:

Tipping: Around 10% of bill is customary

Health

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)
d) has come on an aircraft which has been in an infected area and has not 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.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, Japanese B encephalitis*, malaria, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* 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.

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

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: 1)Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of travel
2) Valid visas in expired passports are still acceptable, provided accompanied by a vaild passports of the same nationality of the expired passport

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of India
2) Nationals of Bhutan & Nepal
3) For stays up to 90 days by nationals of Maldives within a six month period
4) For stays up to 60 days by nationals of Cambodia
5) For stays up to 30 days by nationals of Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Laos & Uruguay

Air 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

Exit Permits

An Income Tax Clearance or a Tax Exemption Certificate is required by all persons requiring an entry visa having stayed more than 180 days with the exception of holders of tourist, transit or courtesy visas

Climate

Hot tropical weather with considerable regional variations. The climate is dominated by the Asiatic monsoon. From Jun-Sep the country is influenced by the rainy monsoon from the south west. At this time rainfall can be very heavy, particularly over the higher regions facing the sea. The coolest time with the driest weather is between Dec-Feb. The weather gets hotter from Mar-May with continuing drought. The rains tend to start in late May in the south, arriving up to 6 weeks later in the north

Clothing

Lightweights for most of the year with warmer clothing between Nov-Mar. Rainwear is required between June and October during the monsoon season

Charts for Delhi

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 21 24 31 36 40 39 36 34 34 34 29 23 Min Temp (C) 7 9 14 20 26 28 27 26 24 18 11 8 Humidity am (%) 72 67 49 35 35 53 75 80 72 56 51 69 Humidity pm (%) 41 35 23 19 20 36 59 64 51 32 31 42 Rainfall (mm) 23 18 13 8 13 74 180 173 117 10 3 10

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Charts for Mumbai

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 28 28 30 32 33 32 29 29 29 32 32 31 Min Temp (C) 19 19 22 24 27 26 25 24 24 24 23 21 Humidity am (%) 70 71 73 75 74 79 83 83 85 81 73 70 Humidity pm (%) 61 62 65 67 68 77 83 81 78 71 64 62 Rainfall (mm) 3 3 3 0 18 485 617 340 264 64 13 3

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
India Tourism
7 Cork Street
London, W1S 3LH
tel: +44 20 7437 3677
fax: +44 20 7494 1048
e-mail: info@indiatouristoffice.org
website: www.incredibleindia.org

Embassy
High Commission of India
India House, Aldwych
London, WC2B 4NA
tel: +44 20 7836 8484, 0906 844 4544* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7836 4331
e-mail: visa@vhcilondon.fsbusiness.co.uk
website: www.hcilondon.net
hours: 0830-1200 (Mon-Fri) visas
* calls cost 60p per minute