|
Travel Guide in India
Visa Formalities Indian visas are available from Indian Consular Offices around the world, on payment of visa fee. Applications for multiple and single entry visas are accepted. Indian visas are necessary for all foreigners visiting India. There are several kinds of visas including Entry Visa, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Long Terms Visa (upto 5 years with multiple entry facilities) etc. are available. Also Collective Landing Permits are available for foreign tourists in groups. Visa Extensions: Tourists visas are available for a maximum period of 180 days. No charge are levied for visa extension within the maximum period of 180 days. Identical passport photographs are required. However, in case of an extension beyond 180 days, which is allowed only in exceptional cases, an extension fee is charged. Tourists from other countries are advised to check current applicable visa fee/visa extension fees with government of India Tourist Offices or Indian Consular Offices located in their respective countries. CUSTOMS FORMALITIES AND REGULATIONS : The usual duty free regulations of one bottle of whisky, i.e. 950 ml or less and 200 cigarettes apply for India. If the tourist brings in more than $ 1000 in cash or in traveler's cheques, it must be declared by completion of currency declaration form. While small items like perfumes, cosmetics etc., are allowed into the country, larger items like video cameras are likely to be entered on a "Tourist Baggage Re-export' form to ensure that the article is taken away on departure. The TBRE form should be re-submitted on departure. Goods brought in excess of this are chargeable to duty as per prevailing law. Currency India's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. One Rupee is equal to 100 Paise. Coins are in denominations of 10, 25 & 50 Paise & l, 2 & 5 Rupees. Notes are in denominations of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500. Foreign Currency : It is advisable to carry a mix of cash and travellers cheques to guard against any situation. US Dollars are the easiest currency to change with pounds sterling coming a close second. Other hard currencies such as Yen, French Francs, Deutsche Mark can also be changed in tourist areas and big cities. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers’ cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival by the tourists if they enter the country with US$10,000 or its equivalent in any other currency. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure or for tax clearance certificates. Cash, bank notes and travelers’ cheques up to US$2.500 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of travellers’ cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorised money changers. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorised persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorised money changers is an offence. Please note that no Indian currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee travellers’ cheques. Banks abroad do keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee traveller's cheques to intending tourists. There are 24 hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports. Banking hours in India are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) and from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays. One can also wire money into India. These services are offered by foreign banks with branches in India and also with Indian banks with branches abroad such as the State Bank of India, Bank of India and Bank of Baroda Most branches of State Bank of India and all major nationalized banks have special foreign exchange counters. All Credit cards (like Master, VISA, Diners, American Express & others ) are widely accepted in India. |
 |