TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit and International Driving Permit required |
| Currency |
(INR)
Indian Rupee |
| Electrical |
230 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 91, City Code New Delhi 11, Calcutta 33, Bombay 22, Bangalore
80 |
Climate
and clothing: Summer clothing is suitable year round in the south.
In the north, lightweight woolens are necessary from mid- December
to mid-February.
Customs and currency: U.S. citizens must have a valid visa sufficient
for the number of entries and the length of stay desired. Foreign
currency (including travelers checks) must be declared to customs
on arrival if more than $10,000. Import and export of Indian currency
are prohibited.
Health: Tapwater is unsafe throughout India. In hotels and restaurants,
drink only bottled or carbonated water and avoid ice cubes. Typhoid,
tetanus, hepatitis, and diphtheria shots are recommended. Health
requirements change; check with your local public health service.
Telecommunications: Telephone service within India and to international
points can be irregular and slow. Telegraph service tends to be
unreliable. India is 101/2 hours ahead of eastern standard time.
Transportation: Many international air carriers provide service
to New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. Indian Airlines has
flights to many Indian cities. The railway system provides service
throughout the country. The 1,450-km. (900-mi.) trip from Delhi
to Calcutta or Bombay takes from 16 to 24 hours. The 2,470-km.
(1,535-mi.) trip from Delhi to Madras takes about 40 hours. It
is possible to travel nearly everywhere by road during the dry
season; however, outside urban areas, the roads are narrow and
sometimes impassable during monsoons. Local transportation includes
buses, taxis, three-wheeled scooters, cycle rickshaws, and horsedrawn
tongas. Buses are overcrowded and service is irregular. Taxis
are plentiful in the larger cities.
