Capital: New Delhi.
Language: Most of the Indians can speak and understand basic English. Although English is generally used for official and business purposes also, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by about 30 percent of the population. There are in all 22 officially recognized languages.
Religion: India’s major religion is Hinduism and is practiced by approximately 80% of the population. There are many minor religions practiced in India, including Islam (the largest minority religion – 14%), Christianity (2%), Sikhism (0.7%), Buddhism (0.5%), Jainism (0.4%) and Zoroastrianism.
India Local Time: The standard time for India is calculated from Allahabad and is common to all cities. Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
Electricity: 220 volts & 50Hz – A variety of power outlets are used in India, but most plugs have two or three round pins.
Citizens of all countries need to have a valid passport and an entry, transit or tourist visa obtained from the Indian Mission in their country prior to departure. Regulations and costs change frequently and differ according to nationality. For the latest information on your specific visa requirements, please contact your local Indian Embassy or Consulate. Note: Be wary of applying for your visa too soon as all visas are valid from the date of issue, not the date of entry to India.
Passport – Please check the expiration date of your passport. India requires your passport be valid for at least six months past the date you intend to depart the country.
Visas
American Citizens – a tourist visa is required to enter India. The easiest way to obtain your visa is to apply for an online. Other Nationalities– Please check here to determine if a visa is required.
Official Link for applying Visa – Visa To India
The monetary unit in India is the India Rupee (INR). Approximate local exchange rates (as of Aug 2023) are as follows:
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.
You should bear in mind that India has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote areas. Women, and to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women.
Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Note: Prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double than those specified.
It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in India however bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available throughout the country.
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.
Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:
Chauffer: Consider tipping your chauffer based on quality of service. A good tip is in the range of USD 10 per day. This can be given at the end of the trip
Guide: A good tip is in the range of USD 15 per day.
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.
It is hard to generalize in a country that stretches from the Himalayas to the beaches of the Indian Ocean but broadly speaking October to March tend to be the most pleasant months in India, when it relatively dry and cool.
Cool – North India’s cool season is from October to April and South India’s cool season is from September to March, however cool does not necessarily mean cold. Daytime temperatures are still quite high – the sky is clear but it is not blisteringly hot. Evenings are cool and comfortable. This is the most pleasant time to travel in sub-Himalayan India.
Hot – From April to June the whole country experiences a hot and humid climate by day and night.
Wet – The monsoon falls on North India from July to September and in the South from July to October. During this time the climate is humid and wet by day and night.
Delhi: (approx)
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT | SEP’14 | DEC | |
MAX TEMP (CEL/FAH) | 21/70 | 24/76 | 30/86 | 36/97 | 41/106 | 40/104 | 35/95 | 34/94 | 34/94 | 33/92 | 30/86 | 23/74 |
MIN TEMP (CEL/FAH) | 7/45 | 10/50 | 15/59 | 21/70 | 27/81 | 29/85 | 27/81 | 26/79 | 25/77 | 19/67 | 12/54 | 8/47 |
RAINFALL (cm) | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
