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Fact-File

Capital: New Delhi

Population: 1,065,070,607

Official Language: Each state has its own official language, however Hindi is most widely spoken. English is the language of national government and law.

Religions: 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other

Local time: GMT + 5Hrs 30 Min.

International Dialing code 0091

Voltage: 230-240 Volts. Sockets are of European two pronged round pin variety. Power cuts are common in more remote regions and occur occasionally in major cities too.

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Preparing to Go

Visas
All nationalities require a visa to enter India. Regulations and costs change frequently and differ according to nationality. For the latest information on your specific visa requirements you should contact your local Indian Embassy or Consulate. Visas are usually valid for either 3 months or 6 months from the date of issue and are valid for multiple entry regardless of whether you intend staying that long or re-entering the country. Tourist visas cannot be extended.

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.

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Money and Budgeting

Currency
The unit of currency is the Indian Rupee. The Rupee is subdivided into 100 paisa.

Exchange rate
Approximate Exchange Rates
1 AUD = 33 INR
1 CAD = 35 INR
1 USD = 43 INR
1 GBP = 79 INR
1 NZD = 31 INR
1 EUR = 52 INR

Check out www.xe.com for current exchange rates.

Money
Traveler's cheques can be changed at banks, exchange bureaus, American Express and Thomas Cook offices and some hotels. Cheques should be in US Dollars. ATMs are available in the large cities and if you have a Visa card, MasterCard or any card compatible with Cirrus or Maestro you should be able to draw cash from here.

Local prices
As a guideline we suggest approximately US $15 per day if buying all three meals. This will vary greatly depending on where you choose to eat. Market stalls are extremely cheap and it is possible to eat very cheaply. Generally breakfast in the restaurant of your hotel will cost approximately US $3 and as a guideline lunch and dinner will cost you approximately US $5-7 in a sit down restaurant. During hot weather you should also make allowance in your budget for drinking water. A one litre bottle of water will cost you approximately US $ 0.5 per bottle.

Airport taxes
There is a plethora of taxes which apply to air travel these days. Many are now added onto the cost of your airline ticket and are effectively paid by you at the time you purchase your flights. However, there still remain some which must be paid on the spot, mainly departure taxes.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs
Banks can be found in most cities and sizable towns where it is possible to exchange cash and travellers cheques. Many hotels also offer currency exchange and may offer a faster service at similar rates. ATM's can be found in most major cities (i.e. Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur,Cohin, Mysore, Madurai, Kolkota,Mumbai). Credit cards are usually only accepted in larger shops and more expensive hotels and restaurants. We recommend that you take either US$ or GB£ currency and travellers cheques, however it is possible to exchange other major currencies. Most major currencies can be changed into rupees in India, but please remember to bring the local payment amount in USD or INR cash. Left over India Rupees can be exchanged before leaving India on production of your original encashment receipt. It is not possible to change back more than is shown on your encashment receipt.

Entrance Fees
Although most trips include entrance fees to all sites specified in your itinerary there are additional sights that you may like to visit. Many sites also levy additional camera fees (these charges vary but are rarely more than US$3 for cameras, US$7 for videos) and these are not included on our tour. The average entrance fee is approx US$3, although a handful of sites cost considerably more than this, these are detailed below. (The most expensive is the Taj Mahal at US$15)

Entrance to various monuments in Delhi, such as the Red Fort, Humayuns Tomb, and Qutab Minar, cost US$5 each

Entrance to the Agra Fort and the abandoned Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri (just outside Agra) cost US$5 each.

Camera fees are payable at both sites. Entrance to Khajaraho is US$5. Please note all prices are subject to overnight change.

Optional Excursions
All of our itineraries include some free time, the amount of which usually depends on the style of tour you are travelling on ( Grassroot Adventurer trips generally have more than Diccovery). If you wish to take optional excursions your Tour Leader will be able to advise you of the possibilities in each area. The cost for these optional activities are not covered in your tour price.

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Local Food & Drink

Food
From spicy bananan leaf thalis in south india to creamy curry Mugali dishes of North, each region has its own speciality giving India a huge variety of Food. While dishes vary from mind to spicy they are rerely chilly hot unless requested. India is a vegitarian haven! however meat dishes are also wildly available. In most restaurants food is prepared fresh may have to wait 30 minutes or more in order to be served. Common meat dishes (meat will be either mutton, chicken or fish - never beef) include rogan josh (stew with onions and tomatoes), tandoori (meat marinated in yoghurt and spices and cooked in a clay oven) and biriyani (flavoured rice with chicken or mutton). Common vegetarian dishes include palak paneer (spinach and cottage cheese), aloo gobi (potato and cauliflower), Chana masala (chickpeas in a spice mix), raita (yoghurt mixed with vegetables) and Kofta ( stuffed dumplings soaked in curry). You will also find several different kinds of bread such as whole wheat roti or chapatti, tandoor baked nan bread and puri, a leavened deep-fried bread.

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

Simple snack - US$1-2
Light meal - US$2-5
Fancy restaurant - US$10-20

Drinks
Tea – known as Chai – is available everywhere. It consists more of milk and sugar than tea, and often contains spices such as cardamom or ginger. Coffee is more common in South India. All tap water should be considerd as undrinkable , However package drinking water and other wide range of soft drinks such as Pepsi, Coca Cola, Sprite and Fanta or Mirinda and canned fruit juices are available throughout India. A local drink found on every menu is Lassi, this is yoghurt based and can be salted, sweetened or flavoured with a variety of fruits.
A variety of surprisingly good and strong local beers are available, all of a light, lager type. Local spirits are also available and some of them are very good. Imported wines are available in the larger cities but can be expensive.

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Transport

Travel in India is not always easy. Buses and trains are often late and at times they can be overcrowded. A good deal of patience is required to get the most out of your journey. Travelling by road and rail is an excellent opportunity to meet the locals and can be a rewarding experience.

Train
The best way to see India is at ground level on the Indian Railway System. In fact no visit to India would be complete without the experience of travelling on a train and negotiating the busy railway station. Generally, on our tours overnight train travel is in air-conditioned sleeper class which offers three tier sleeping berths and bedding is supplied. For day journeys we use air-conditioned Chair car or second class seats. There are no restaurant or buffet cars on Indian Railways, but most long distance trains stops at stations en route where food is also available and on some trains many vendors board the train selling chai, cold drinks and crisps, biscuits and some time food and local snacks. Toilet facilities on Indian trains are also quite basic. Bring your own toilet paper and hand wash soap or liquid.

Roads
Travelling on the roads in India is also quite an experience. Road rules are not always followed traffic rules are it would appear are arbitrary, speeding, do not stay in their lanes, overtake in seemingly dangerous situations, spare use of lights are commonplace and traffic in some of the larger cities has to be experienced to be believed. Travel time can be long in comparison to Western countries, short distances taking a lot longer than at home.Particular care should be taken when crossing roads.

Local Transport
Getting from A to B in India usually involves a taxi, auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw sometimes walking . Taxis are the most comfortable method of local transport, and recommended for longer journeys but are more expensive than rickshaws. Auto rickshaws usually take 2-3 people (although the driver will tell you that your party of 6 can all fit in!) and are great for shorter journeys and nipping through the traffic within a city. Cycle rickshaws (a three wheeled cycle with an uncovered seat at the back) usually take 1-2 people (depending on how heavy you are!) and are ideal for shorter journeys and tours as the slower pace allows you to take in everything around you. Both auto and cycle rickshaws are happy to wait for you .In India, taxi and auto rickshaw meters are for show only and you will find yourself engaging in a bit of haggling with the driver to agree upon the fare you will pay.

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On Tour

Safety
Most people find that India is a very friendly and hospitable country and feel quite comfortable wandering around alone during the day. However, as with any country you are not familiar with (and in particular in large cities such as Delhi), it is recommended that you exercise more caution at night and generally take taxis rather than walk especially if you are a lone female.

Tour Leaders & Guides
Tour Leaders role is to ensure all aspects of the trip run smoothly. He/she will share their local knowledge, advise on how to fill your free time and co-ordinate the day to day running of the tour – although occasionally he/she may need your understanding if things do not go according to plan. If you have any problems on the tour, please let your Tour Leader know so that steps can be taken to put it right.
We also use the services of specialist guides at selected sights of particular historical interest (such as the Taj Mahal, Varanasi and Jaipur). In most cities the Guide Association operates a rota system to ensure work is shared equally amongst its members.

Accommodation
Our main criterion for choosing hotels is cleanliness and location . On Escape Voyages our accommodation can best be described as comfortable "simple hotels" or "rest houses". Most hotels have twin share rooms with private bathrooms, however there are some locations where we are forced to use 'dormitory' style multi share rooms and/or shared bathroom facilities. Hotels on Discover tours are generally "medium range" and can vary from a business class hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. On many tours we spend a few nights in Heritage hotels such as old havelis, Maharajah's residences or ancient forts. These hotels are full of character, and staying at them invariably proves to be a highlight of the tour. Travellers should however be cautioned against expecting princely comfort! Please bear in mind that all levels of hotels can sometimes suffer from minor problems and technical difficulties. On rare occasions we may have to use triple share rooms, and whilst this is certainly not common we do ask that travellers be prepared for such circumstances. Please note that whilst many hotels have air-conditioning to help cope with the heat in summers, very few hotels have heating to cope with the cold in winters, and may also suffer from a shortage of hot water at this time. If you are travelling between December and February in North India (including Rajasthan) please be prepared for cold rooms, and possibly cold showers.

Note: Single supplements are only applicable to single travellers who wish to have their own room. Single supplements are also only available on Discovery tours and are not applicable on overnight boats, trains and while camping. On rare occasions a single room may not be available.

Laundry
An inexpensive laundry service is available in most of the hotels we are use (especially in cities and sizable towns). It is advisible to bring some travel wash clothes.

Communications

Email
Internet cafes can now be found in most cities and sizable towns. Finding a café is not usually a problem, but speed can be. Connection times are often painfully slow although this does vary from city to city. The average cost for an hour is approx. US$ 1.5.

Phone
The Indian phone system is fairly good. Look out for shops/booths labelled with a yellow "PCO-STD-ISD" sign which can be found almost everywhere (except in remote areas). A 3 minute call (to the UK) will cost approx. US$10 from a hotel and approx. US$5 from a shop/booth. There is no such thing as international or pre paid phonecards in India.

Post
The postal service is fairly good and stamps are available everywhere. An overseas stamp will cost approx. US$0.20. or INR 8

Cameras Availability of Film Camera fees are levied at almost every notable site in India. These changes do vary (and are usually more for video cameras) however you will rarely have to pay more than US$2 for cameras and US$7 for videos, except in some wildlife parks. Please note camera fees are not included in the tour cost.

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General Information

Weather Info
Due to its size and varied topography, India experiences great extremes of climate. Most of the country experiences three seasons:

Cool – North India's cool season is from October to April and South India's cool season is from November 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 cooler, and nights can be surprisingly cold. Warm clothing is recommended during this period. 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.

The main exception to the above is far North India (Himachal Pradesh and Punjab). From October to April the nights are VERY COLD and from Dec to Feb daytime temperatures can also fall considerably – don’t forget to pack for this!

The following shows average daytime temperatures (in degrees celcius):

City / Temp   Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Mumbai          28     28   30    32     33     32    29    29     29    32   32     31
Delhi               21     24   31    36     41     39    36    34     34    34   29     23
Chennai         29     31   33    35     38     38    36    35     34    32   29     29
Shimla             8        9   14     18    22     23    21    19     19     17   14    11

Holidays

Religious Holidays
All of the worlds’ major religions are represented in India. Here are some of the more important holidays:

Holi (Hindu spring festival) - Feb/ March
Diwali (Hindu New Year) - Oct/ Nov
Eid (Muslim end of Ramadan) - Dec
Christmas Holiday - Dec

National Holidays

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Republic Day - 26 Jan
Independence Day - 15 Aug
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday - 2 Oct
Christmas Day - 25 Dec

Tourist festivals

Pushkar Camel Fair - Nov 6-14 ,2008