Travel to India

India: travel information, diplomatic representations

Visit Countryaah for a full list of India embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

The national currency of India is the

Indian rupee (INR) = 100 Paise.

Shop

Shop opening times

There is no uniform regulation, some shops close between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. There is a weekly rest day, which differs from district to district, but in most cases falls on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Apart from these particularities, the following can generally be stated:

  • Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7.30 p.m.

Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs

Silver, gold, precious and semi-precious stones in artful workmanship and bindis (Indian forehead jewelry) can be acquired particularly well. Saris made of silk and cotton, silk blouses, silk scarves, brocade blankets and pillows, carpets made of wool, cashmere and silk are typical goods, as well as tea from Darjeeling and exotic spices as well as individually prepared care creams and decorative cosmetics.

Chairs, tables and side tables made of solid wood with silver fittings (in the style of the Maharajah palaces), everyday objects and decorative pieces made of brass or copper with traditional Indian motifs, Gujarat mirrors, hand-carved items made of ebony or rosewood, ornate miniature carvings and Bengali ceramics are inexpensive too acquire.

North India

carpets, silk fabrics, embroidery, valuable stones, marble and soapstone work, fabrics, leather goods, miniature drawings on silk, paper mache.

East India

Gold and silver goods, Madhubani paintings, Bengali terracotta work, leather goods, silk and cotton fabrics.

West India

fashion from Bombay, mirrors and dyed fabrics from Gujarat, patent leather goods, soft leather.

South India

Silk from Mysore and Kanchipuram, exquisite sandal and rosewood carvings, filigree work in gold, fragrances and spices.

Tourist office

IndiaTourism Frankfurt

Regional Office for Europe, CIS and Israel

Baseler Str. 48

60329 Frankfurt/M

Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 24 29 490

Entry and exit regulations

Formalities, visas

For trips to India, a passport that is still valid for at least six months or a child ID with a photo is required along with a visa, which is issued by the Indian embassy or consulate. Entry of children up to 16 years of age who are entered in their parents’ passport is possible, provided this is noted on the visa. Entry with an identity card or passport without a visa is not possible.

The visa cannot be applied for at the border or at the airport. The application form is available from the Indian representations against return postage. Tourist visas are issued for a period of six months from the date of issue, with multiple entries being possible. Entry must take place within six months of the visa being issued and entitle you to stay in India for the remaining term of the visa. Travelers who do not leave the country within the validity of the visa must expect a prison sentence and a multi-year entry ban.

Import and export of foreign currency

  • Local currencyThe import and export of rupees is prohibited.
  • Foreign currencies Foreigncurrencies from an amount of 5,000 US dollars, in cash or as traveller’s checks, must be declared upon entry.

Import and export of goods

High-quality items must be declared. The import of gold coins and bars as well as weapons, ammunition and explosives is strictly prohibited. The fact that the import and export of drugs is prohibited and punished with high penalties hardly needs to be explained further. In addition, the import and export of animals and plants protected under the Washington Convention on Endangered Species is strictly prohibited. Violation of customs or entry regulations threatens arrest on departure.

Travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings

Infectious Diseases

In India, the following infectious diseases, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:

  • Malaria: There is a risk of malaria infection year round across the country. In the big cities, however, there is only a very low residual risk. Depending on the region, up to 50% of infections are caused by the very dangerous tropic malaria, the rest with tertian malaria. In areas above 2,000 m there is no or only a very low risk of malaria infection
  • HIV or AIDS,around 7 million people are infected with HIV
  • Amoebic dysentery
  • Bacterial agitation
  • Schistosomiasis– practically only in the Ratnagiri district area
  • Chikungunya– a serious but not fatal viral infection for a healthy adult, which is transmitted by the mosquito “Aedes albopictus” (tiger mosquito). The name of the disease comes from the East African Swahili (Kiswahili) language and roughly means: “who walks crookedly”.
  • Cholera– but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
  • dengue fever
  • Intestinal infectionsfrom contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Filariasis– mainly in the southeastern coastal regions and especially in the northeast of the country
  • Fox tapeworm
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Japan encephalitis
  • Kala-Azar– especially in the northwest of the country (Rajasthan)
  • Polio, polio
  • Lambliasis
  • Leishmaniasis– especially in the eastern parts of the country
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Plague– occurs particularly in Maharashtra, Gujarat
  • tetanus
  • Rabies, relatively widespread, especially from infected dogs, but also from monkeys
  • tuberculosis
  • Typhoid– however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
  • Tick bite fever

Recommended vaccinations

when traveling to India are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:

  • Cholera– but among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
  • Diphtheria– a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Polio, polio
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Tetanus– a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Rabies– but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
  • Typhoid– but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling in the country it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons older than one year and coming from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.

Counterfeit drugs

Unfortunately, it has to be pointed out that counterfeit drugs with too little or no active substance are not the exception but almost the rule.

Warning notices

Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens’ Service

Phone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de

India: Transportation

How to get to India

There are direct flights to India from most European countries. There are four major international airports in the country:

Delhi

Bombay

Calcutta

Chennai

The domestic Indian airlines are Indian Airlines, Sahara Airlines, Alliance Air and Jet Air. They offer flights between more than 70 Indian cities.

Travel in the country

Air connections Domestic flights depart from Delhi and Bombay from the domestic domestic airport. Domestic flight connections are served by state airlines such as Indian Airlines, and private airlines such as Jet Air, Sahara Airlines and Alliance Air. More than 70 cities are served. Indian Airlines also offers flights to the neighboring countries Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

Railways

India has the second largest railroad network in the world and the largest in Asia, which also has steam locomotives. Over 7,000 train stations on a network of over 62,300 km are served. Express trains connect the larger cities, and local trains and buses run between the smaller cities. Train travel is relatively inexpensive. With the special trains The Royal Orient and Palace on Wheels you can make an 8-day trip in the style of the Maharajas through Gujarat or Rajasthan from Delhi.

Bus

In India there is a wide network of bus connections that connect all parts of the country with each other. Buses complement the extensive train network to also reach regions that are not connected to the train.

Roads

There is left-hand traffic in India. Since the current road network in no way meets the requirements of a modern and effective transport system, India has launched a large road construction program. 65,000 km of roads are to be modernized by 2020. In addition, the construction of an approximately 5,800 km long motorway has started. The motorway is to lead from New Delhi via Bombay, Madras, Calcutta back to New Delhi, i.e. almost once around the entire country.

With the inauguration of the Nathu La Pass in the Himalayas in June 2006, the first direct crossing between China and India was created. The pass reaches a height of around 4,730 m. However, due to the weather conditions, the pass road is difficult or impossible to pass most of the year.

Taxis and autorikshas are available in major cities. In the tourist centers you can also rent a car with a driver.

Rental

cars Rental cars are not available everywhere. Hertz car rental has rental locations in various cities in India. An international driver’s license is required. A temporary driving license can also be issued by the local authorities on presentation of a valid ID and driver’s license.

Ferry connections

The main passenger ports are Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Madras, Calicut, Panaji (Goa) and Rameshwaram. There are also connections between Calcutta and Madras to Port Blair on the Andaman Islands. The connections are often seasonal and shut down during the monsoons. International shipping lines also call at Indian ports.

Traffic rules

In India there is left-hand traffic. In order to avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, one should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations in force in the country. The valid maximum speeds can of course be reduced or increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD or the traffic clubs in the country concerned. In India, many road users hardly obey the traffic rules, so serious accidents occur again and again.

Maximum speeds

In addition to the generally applicable speed limits, the speed limits indicated by signs must be observed.

  • Urban: in built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h
  • Outside built-up areas: outside built-up areas there is a maximum speed of 60 km/h

Special regulations

An international driving license must be carried.

Blood

alcohol limit In India there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.0 per mille for drivers of motor vehicles.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, The international license plate of India is:

IND

Travel to India