Facts and Tips for the traveler

When to go:
India is at its most pleasant between October and march when much of the country enjoys balmy blue skies and fresh clean air. In the north from December to late February the night turns chilly and a sweater or jacket is required. By mid-march the days start getting warmer and from late April the temperature in central India becomes too hot for comfortable travel. In may the dust and thunderstorms with occasional shower precede the monsoon? This is when the British raj used to move to the hills, as many Indians still do.
Most of India, with the exception of the trans-Himalayan area of ladakh, is in some way affected by the southwest monsoon. In kerala the rains arrive by the first week of June, they then make their way northward, reaching Bombay in the middle of the month and Delhi by early July. The rains last for almost three months and after the initial chaos of flooded roads, the people take the downpours and regular drenching in their stride. By the end of September the humidity decreases and in October temperatures begins to drop.
In Kashmir, himachal Pradesh and uttar Pradesh, the winter months are often extremely cold. These areas are best visited from April to July or after the monsoon. Sikkim and arunachal Pradesh, while part of the Himalayan chain, are more affected by monsoons and have rain from May. Southern India has a more regular climate that is also controlled by the monsoon. The southeast coast gets rain from October to late December as the northeast monsoon moves across the Bay of Bengal.

Getting there
Travel in India is itself an adventure, sometimes pleasant, sometimes no. international flight often arrive at unsociably early hours and hotel touts and persistent taxi drivers wait outside the arrival building , ready to pounce on the vulnerable and ill-prepared traveler. Traveling within the country also has its drawbacks when the demand for seats on train, plane or bus exceeds availability. Any trip to India therefore involves a certain amount of preparation and forethought. Even the most basic information on what to expert will help to make your stay more enjoyable.

By air:
Bombay and New Delhi are well connected with most cities in the Far East, the subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe and east Africa. The majority of long haul flights still arrive between midnight and 6 am but an increasing number of airlines are introducing evening departures from Europe, allowing for morning arrivals. Many of the major international airlines fly to both cities.

On arrival:
On arrival in India the first delay travelers will experience is the immigration queue. You may have to wait up to wait up to an hour for you're for your checked luggage while it undergoes x-ray scrutiny. However, customs inspections are usually quick and painless.
Outside the arrival halls there are various counters offering car rental, transfer buses and prepaid taxis. Taxi rate are fixed and a receipt is issued detailing the destination zone and any baggage. Give the driver the receipt when you reach your destination.

Getting around:
Apart from the extensive domestic air and railway networks, India has a vast but overworked road network. Car with drivers can be hire quite easily through travel agent and hotel. Self-drive car hire is rather limited; however, a valid international or Indian driving license is required long with a photocopy of your passport (for identification) and passport size photograph. Some cities have well-developed public transport networks. The best bus services in Bombay, run by electrical supply and Transport Company, have good service to most areas. Kolkata has an excellent underground railway service linking tollygunge in the south with the city centre. Bombay, Delhi and few other cities have metered taxis and auto-rickshaws. In some town bicycles can be hired. They are an ideal way of exploring such places as Srinagar, Mysore and khajuraho.

Domestic flights:
In Mumbai and New Delhi the domestic and international are located at opposite ends of the same runway system and the international airport are further from the city centre then the domestic terminal. A small feeder service, vayudoot, is now a subsidiary of Indian airlines and flies small passenger planes on feeder routes.
Indian airlines offer a number of promotional fares which are a cost effective way of seeing a large part of the country in a short period of time. There is also a 25 percent youth discount flights and those between India and Nepal.

Indian railways:
Traveling by train in India is more than a nostalgic return to the great days of steam. Indian railways are an important system linking the entire country. There are 62,000 kilometers of track and 7,000 trains carrying over 11 million passengers daily.There are three gauges: broad, meter and narrow. Most of the major trunk routes are broad-gauge and the trains are generally fast and comfortable.

Time zones:
Despite its breadth, India has a single time zone. it is two and a half hours behind Hong Kong and Singapore, five and a half hours ahead of London (GMT; four and a half hours ahead of British summer time) , ten and a half hours ahead of new York and thirteen and half hours ahead of san Francisco.

Immunization and health:
Yellow fevered certificates must be shown by travelers arriving from Africa, Latin America and Papua New Guinea. Other shots, although not officially required are advisable. Typhoid, polio and tetanus are important. A gamma globulin injection for hepatitis immediately before departure is also advisable. Malaria is still widespread in many part of India .Advice as to which pills to take is constantly being revised but at present one suggested regime is nivaquine twice a week and one or two paludrine daily . Both courses must be continued for four to six weeks after leaving an affected area. There are few thing to be careful abut in India health-wise. Drink plenty of fluids but never drink tap water. The flask in hotel rooms contains filtered water and bottled water is now available almost everywhere. Avoid fresh salads, even in hotel and do not eat street food until you know much you can abuse your body for the sake of your palate.

Money:
The currency of India is the rupee (Rs), divided into 100 paisa (p). There are coins of Rs 5 and Rs 1 as well as 50p, 25p. The banknotes are in denominations of Rs1000, Rs 500, Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20, Rs 10, Rs 5 and Rs 2.

Approximate exchange rates in 2006 were:
US $1 = Rs 45


Communications:
Most hotels in the main cities have in room direct -dial facilities for both local
And international calls. In smaller hotel and towns it is easier to have the hotel operator connect both local and distance calls. Most large hotels have telex facilities and fax lines. The postal service varies but is generally secure and reliable. Sending registered parcel can be a lengthy procedure. Most parcels have to be stitched into cotton cloth and then sealed. Two customs forms also need to be completed. Once the parcel has been weighted and the stamped affixed, make sure they are franked in front of you get receipt of registration. Most major international courier companies operate in India, offering both domestic and international services.