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have planned your trip by air, we recommend that you should include one
or more trips by rail or road to experience rural India. |
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Every city you
visit, try and attend a folkloric or classical music, dance or drama
program.
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English is
spoken at almost all tourist centers, but you may book Government-trained
and approved guides who also speak German, French, Spanish, Japanese,
Italian or Russian. Tour guides will help you not only in your
sightseeing, but also help you understand India better.
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Avoid eating
spicy food all at one time soon after you arrive in India. Take one Indian
dish only with each meal! Within a few days your system will get used to
Indian food.
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The
electric current in India is 220/ 250 volts and 50 cycles. It is AC
practically everywhere. For electric-powered equipment, bring a converter
and an adapter. Wall outlets take plugs with two round prongs.
All foreign nationals have to pay their hotel bills in
foreign currency only, in cash, traveler's checks or credit cards.Credit
cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly
American Express, Diners Club, master card and Visa. Credit cards can also
be used to get cash advances in rupees.
Do not hire any type of transportation from unlicensed
or unapproved operators.
Removing
shoes is a must before entering a shrine, though sometimes cloth overshoes
are provided for a small charge. Women should always be properly dressed
and should cover their head before entering a Sikh gurudwara or a mosque.
When you enter a mosque, you are supposed to step right foot first into
the courtyard.
In some Hindu and Jain temples all leather products
inside a shrine like shoes, belts, handbags, camera cases etc. are
prohibited.
In a Buddhist monastery always remember to follow a
clockwise direction while spinning a prayer wheel, going around the
interiors and exteriors of the monastery itself, stupa or mani wall.
Tipping is virtually unknown in India, except in swanky
establishments in the major cities. In tourist restaurants or hotels a 10%
service charge is often added to bills. In smaller places, where tipping
is optional, you need only tip a few rupees, not a percentage of your
bill.
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Essentials for packing
In
India, delicate fabrics do not stand up well to laundering facilities
except at deluxe hotels. Plain cottons or cotton/synthetic blends are the
most practical and the coolest in summer.
During the winter months, sweaters and light jackets are
required.
Trekkers and travelers going on any outdoor adventure
should bring a day pack that will hold a sweater, camera, a water bottle.
A good pair of binoculars and sunglasses that block out ultraviolet rays
are advised. Also carry strong sunblock, sewing kit, pre-moistened
towelettes, pocket knife with can opener, lock and key for each bag,
high-power impact-resistant flashlight.
Best seasons to visit
In
the far south, the monsoonal weather pattern tends to make January to
September more pleasant.
Sikkim and the areas of north-eastern India tend to be
more palatable between March and August, and Kashmir and the mountainous
regions of Himachal Pradesh are at their most accessible between May and
September.
The deserts of Rajasthan and the north-western Indian
Himalayan region are at their best during the monsoon.
The trekking season in the Indian Himalaya runs roughly
from April to November. The ski season is between January and March.
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