Delhi Travel Tips

Visa Requirements Citizens of ALL countries require a valid passport and an appropriate entry, transit or tourist visa. The visa must be obtained abroad from an Indian Mission. Tourist visas are generally valid for 90 days stay in India. If planning to visit a neighbouring country such as Nepal and then re-entering India, a double/multiple entry visa should be obtained, For extending the visa apply for a letter of permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market. Telephone: 4693334, 4612543 or 4617649 . Thereafter the letter is to be presented to the FRRO. The Foreigner's Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is located at Hans Bhavan, Tilak Bridge, New Delhi. Telephone 3319489 or 331-8179 which is open from 9.30 am to 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and national holidays it is closed.

Transfer from the Airport Taxis, buses and auto-rikshaws are available at the airport to take you to town. Bus charges are fixed. A prepaid taxi service facility is available for all passengers. Contact the Pre-Paid Taxi booth at the arrival building.

Health Regulations A valid yellow fever certificate is mandatory for all persons (including infants) who have been in Africa or South America or Papua New Guinea, even in transit, in the last six days. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. India does not require immunisation against smallpox and cholera. Note: A person arriving in India, who is required to possess a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate in accordance with these requirements will, IN THE ABSENCE OF A VALID VACCINATION CERTIFICATE BE QUARANTINED FOR A PERIOD UP TO SIX DAYS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Inoculation centres for Yellow Fever can be found at the Palam (Domestic) Airport (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. ) Telephone 3295507 or at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11 am - 12 p.m. ) telephone 3365525 and the International Inoculations Centre, Town Hall, Sansad Street.

Customs Clearance Visitors who do not have any dutiable goods or high value articles or foreign exchange in excess of US$2500 or unaccompanied baggage, all of which need to be declared, can simply walk through the Green Channel on arrival. Others must go to the Red Channel for clearance. Each traveller can bring in, without duty, goods valued up to Rs.750 (Rs.6000 for persons of Indian origin) for personal use or giving as gifts; these include 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250gm tobacco) and liquor and wines up to 32oz (0.95 litre). Import of other high value articles, are permitted duty free on a written undertaking that they will be taken back on departure. Drugs and narcotics and the import of firearms are prohibited. The duty rate beyond the free baggage allowance is 50 per cent plus 2 per cent special duty. A Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRF) is to be completed on arrival and must be produced along with the entered articles before Customs, for verification at the time of departure. Please obtain a Landing Certificate if you are expecting unaccompanied baggage and for mishandled baggage.

NOTE: Passengers coming from Nepal, Bhutan, Meaner or China is not entitled to any free allowances. The duty free allowance for passengers arriving from Sri Lanka and the Maldives is Rs.6,000 provided their stay abroad is more than three days. If the stay does not exceed three days, the allowance is Rs.3,000.

Currency Regulations You can bring in any amount of foreign currency, traveller's cheques, etc., and take out as much as you brought in. However, if you are carrying more than US$2,500 (or equivalent) you should declare it on arrival, on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), to be attested by the Customs Officer. No Indian currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. When remitting money to India, indicate the bank, branch and full address.

Changing Money In India, the unit of currency is the Rupee (Re) divided into 100 paise (P). Change money with authorised moneychangers only (do not be tempted to use black marketers) at the airport, most banks, hotels and certain large shops and insist on a receipt, as it will help you reconvert unused rupees into the original foreign currency at the time of departure. Avoid any people on the street who offer to change your money at a temptingly high rate of exchange.

Export Regulations The visitor can take back all articles brought in by him. For these items a RBI permit should be obtained in advance and thereafter declared to Customs. There are restrictions on the export of antiquities and art objects more than 100 years old. In case of doubt, consult the Director, Antiquities, and Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath. Telephone 3017220 . It is advisable to obtain a certificate of proof of purchase. Export of most wildlife products is prohibited or strictly regulated; therefore generally avoid buying anything made of ivory, reptile skin, tortoise shell and any part of wild animals. There are DUTY-FREE shops at the airport both in the arrival and departure lounges.

Income-Tax Clearance Certificate You will need this at the time of departure if your stay in India exceeds 120 days. The Foreign Section of the Income-Tax Office (ITO) issues Indraprastha Estate, Telephone 3317826 for more information. Observe the instructions under Currency Regulations and Changing Money (above) to facilitate its issue.

Departure Tax Rs. 300 (Rs. 150 in the case of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) is payable separately at the time of departure.

Banks are open 10 am to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 am to noon on Saturday. Central Bank in Ashok Hotel, telephone 601848 and State Bank of India at the Airport are open round the clock. Banks in residential areas generally observe the weekly holiday of the area.

Credit Cards American Express, Masters Charge Visa and Diners Club Credit Cards are generally accepted by large establishments, including hotels, shops and at airports.

International Student's Identity Card For issue and renewal of the card contact the students Travel Information Centre, Hotel Imperial, Janpath, Telephone: 3327528, 3324789, 3325559, 3327909 or 3766/69 .

Sightseeing You can rent a chauffeur-driven car or join a conducted tour that is probably the best way to see most in the least amount of time. Both facilities are provided by, among other, the ITDC Telephone: 3322336 or Karachi Taxi, telephone: 33203429

Tourist Guides English speaking guides approved by the Govt. of India can be hired at all important places of interest. The Tourist Office 88 Janpath, Telephone 3320005 or 3320342 . They also assist in hiring guides speaking other languages.

Doctor/Chemist If you need a doctor, your hotel can contact a house physician. The medical stores in Super Bazar, Connaught Circus and in AIIMS and at some private hospitals such as Batra (Tughlakabad Institutional Area) and Spring Meadows (East of Kailash) are open 24 hours.

Electricity 220 V AC - 50 Hz.

Time Difference The standard time for India is calculated from Allahabad and is common to all cities in the country. Indian Standard time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris, about 10 hours 30 minutes behind New York, 3 hours and 30 minutes behind Tokyo and 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Sydney. Some newspapers give information on this also.

Festivals Some of the festivals you will enjoy in Delhi are the Republic Day Celebrations (26-29 Jan); Holi, the festival of colours (Feb-Mar); Phool Walon Ki Sair (Oct); Diwali, the festival of lights (Oct-Nov).

Food and Beverage India has an amazing variety of non-vegetarian and vegetarian cuisines. Contrary to what you may have heard, all Indian food is not hot and spicy-most dishes are only richly garnished to provide an exciting flavour. You will find excellent restaurants that serve Indian, Chinese, and Continental and other cuisine. Liquor is available freely in wine shops. It is also served in bars and restaurants in all major hotels. The 1st and 7th of each month and specified holidays are dry days when all liquor shops remain closed . Note: Consumption of liquor is prohibited in public places.

Shopping India is a shopper's paradise. Of particular interest are carpets, handicrafts, jewellery, readymade garments and leather goods. It's best to buy goods only from the more established shops and official Indian government outlets. Do visit the local bazaars, however, for interesting bargains. 

Speed Post ensures delivery of time-bound mail including registered letters and parcels within 24 to 72 hours. Round-the-clock speed post service is now available at the Safdarjung Airport sorting and at the Eastern Court Post Office and Indraprastha Post Office up to 1 p.m. During the day 10 am to 5 p.m. on working days: at the speed post booking centres including the two above and the P.O. at Hauz Khas, Indraprastha, Karol Bagh, Lodhi Road, Kalkaji, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, Parliament Street and Vasant Vihar among others. Call 3295499 or 3295587 . Facilities include a money back guarantee in case of delay. The International Speed Post Service offers delivery to UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, and other countries within 48 to 72 hours. International articles are also accepted at the Foreign Post Office. A Speed Post Money Order facility is available in Trans Yamuna Areas, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Nehru Place and South Extension.

Telephone and Telegraph You can direct dial to most cities in India, and too many other countries abroad, for elsewhere book a call through the operator. On the direct dial facility within the country, note that while during the day-6 am to 7 p.m. - the full rate is charged Monday to Saturday, on Sundays and National Holidays there is a concessional charge of 50%. Half rate is also applicable daily 7 am to 8 am and 7 p.m. to 8.3 p.m. daily. The tariff from 6 am to 7 am and from 8.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. is 1/3 the rate, and from 11 p.m. to 6 am it is ? the rate. Contact the International Telegraph Office (Tel. 3362881 or 3362754 ) to send a telegram, telex or fax. The Telecom Center, Arunachal Bldg, Barakhamba Road, and offers all telecommunications facilities including fax, 10 am to 7 p.m. all days except Sundays & public holidays. Bureaufax facilities are available at the main telegraph offices. The Eastern Court PO, Janpath, has a multi-media telecom centre that offers desktop video conferencing, high-speed transfer and other facilities.

Tipping is generally expected at hotels and restaurants. Ten per cent of the bill or around Rs.5 for other services is in order.

Important Telephone Numbers

• Police : 100

• Fire : 101

• Ambulance : 102, 1099

• Government of India Tourist Office, 88, Janpath, New Delhi Telephone: 3320088

Important Hospitals

Specialised Hospitals

Smoking is banned in public places, public transport and government offices, inside cinema halls and theatres located in the state of Delhi. In several other places boards prominently display the ban on smoking. Most hotels and restaurants have separate smoking zones.

Photography is not permitted at the airport, military installations, and other places where such notices are put up.

Buying Liquor Delhi observes dry days on most national and even some local holidays and shops are closed on the 1st and 7th of every month. Various brands of imported liquor are now available in the market also through outlets run by the Delhi Tourism and Delhi Industrial Corporation. All big hotels serve liquor and so do several restaurants. Dry days are not applicable to hotels and restaurants.

Insects & Diseases Mosquitoes are common in summer and malaria and some waterborne diseases can affect those who are not careful with the water they drink. Though the system of keeping mosquito nets is not very prevalent, it is advisable to carry mosquito repellent creams and other such devices that can keep this insect at bay.

Water is a problem in summer, though it is not the case in winter. Water trolleys selling refrigerated water are located at various points in the city especially next to bus stops and the water is normally not clean. It is not advised to drink water from these vendors. Instead purchase mineral water available in bottles which are not very expensive by world standards, from good grocery stores. The ones next to bus stands and railway stations are not reliable.

TOURIST OFFICES
(Note : when calling from outside India prefix 91-11 to all Delhi Tel. Nos.)

Note: The above telephone numbers and opening times are subject to change and are therefore intended as a guide only.