Recommend an interesting itinerary in India. India entry rules

Organizing a cheap savage vacation in India is quite simple. You can fly to India from almost any major city in Russia; there are direct flights not only from airports in Moscow, but from other cities. While in Moscow, you can fly to Delhi in about 6 hours. To fly to India cheaper, you should get information about charter flights from travel agencies. If there are no private flight operators, you should try to fly by charter by buying a ticket from a large agency, for example, in Moscow.

How to get an Indian visa

Thinking about how to go to India on your own and organize a vacation as a savage, first of all, you need to get an Indian visa. Citizens of Russia can obtain a visa in two ways: the first is in Moscow or St. Petersburg at the visa center, the second is to independently apply for an electronic visa on the Internet.

It is convenient to make an electronic visa if you are going on a short trip as a savage, calculated for no more than 30 days, and also do not live in Moscow or St. Petersburg. To apply for an e-visa online, just fill out an application form, upload a scanned passport, a photo and make a payment. The visa fee is $60. You need to receive an e-visa by e-mail, and then print it.

Housing and movement around the country

The question that worries first-time savage tourists is how cheap it is to live in India. It is worth looking for accommodation in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe main attractions directly on the spot or make a reservation via the Internet. In most places it is possible to live from 3-5 dollars per day. In the case when you decide to make a reservation in advance, pay attention to the reviews of other tourists, the description of the hotel may not correspond to reality.

To travel by car in India, you need to get an international driving license or hire a car with a driver. A local driver knows the tourist routes and will help make traveling on the roads safer. A car with a driver will cost from $50 per day, the price depends on the class of the car and the number of rental days. It will be convenient for savages to travel many routes on a motorcycle, the average rental price per day is $ 15.

Distances in India are quite large, often, tourist routes are 1.5 - 2 thousand kilometers. Indian airlines allow you to fly cheaply to almost any part of the country, so even in a short period of time you can manage to see quite a lot.

New Delhi

It is from the capital of India that many tourists begin their journey around the country. You can live cheaply in Delhi in the vicinity of the New Delhi railway station. The time when tourists in Delhi are most of all is from November to December. During these months, it is better to make a hotel reservation in advance.

A visit to the main attractions will cost 3 - 4 dollars. Worth seeing in Delhi:

• The Red Fort is the symbol of Delhi.
• Humayun's Tomb is a mausoleum reminiscent of the famous Taj Mahal in its architecture.
• Qutub Minar is an ancient minaret.
• India Gate is a monument dedicated to those who died in the First World War.
• Raj Ghat is the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Lotus Temple is the main Baha'i temple.
• Akshardham is the largest Hindu temple in the world.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan is the palace of the President.

You can also make your holiday in Delhi more interesting by visiting museums. The average price of an entrance ticket for foreigners is 2 - 4 dollars.

India's Golden Triangle

Routes in India are very diverse. Where it is best to go for those who want to see the real India is the cities that are part of the Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The time when a trip here will be most successful is from October to March. The easiest way to get from the capital to Agra is by train, the journey will take about 3 - 4 hours, travel by SL-class (Sleeper Class) 1.5 - 2 dollars. In Agra you can see:

• The Taj Mahal is the most famous building in India, an attraction that has received such high reviews from tourists that it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.
• Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Taj Mahal.
• Tomb of Akbar the Great.
• Pearl Mosque.

When planning a budget trip to Agra, you can live inexpensively in the area located right next to the Taj Mahal. When visiting other attractions of Agra, the bearer of the ticket to the Taj Mahal should be given a small discount, but it is valid only on the day the ticket was purchased.

Jaipur is another peak crowning the "Golden Triangle" of India. You can get here from both Delhi and Agra by train in 5-6 hours. While traveling as a savage, it is worth seeing in Jaipur:

• Hawa Mahal is the palace of the winds.
• Jal Mahal is a palace floating on the surface of the water.
• The city palace is the palace of the Maharaja. The entrance ticket costs 4.5 dollars.
• Sarga Suli is the tallest tower in the city.
• Jantar Mantar is a medieval observatory, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance 1.5 dollars.
• Jaigarah Fort is one of the few medieval military fortresses in India.

On May 18, International Museum Day, many museums can be visited for free. The cheapest way to live in Jaipur is around the Old City.

Route along the west coast of India

When it is worth going to the west coast of India, it is from November to April. Places that will be interesting to visit:

• Jaipur - The Pink City.
• Jodhpur - Blue City.
• Mumbai is home to Indian Bollywood.
• Goa is a place where people go for beaches, surfing and colonial architecture. Many tourists from Russia and the CIS stay in this paradise of India for the whole winter.
• Bangalore - recognized as the best city to live in India, famous for a number of palaces and temples.
• Kerala is one of the best beach resorts in India.

East coast route

When traveling along the east coast is most enjoyable, it is in November and December. Places to visit:

• Calcutta is a city that you must visit for the sake of English colonial architecture. Living in Calcutta is somewhat more expensive than in other cities.
• Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world, the place where people go to see the wild Bengal tiger.
• Bhubaneswar is the religious center of Buddhists and Hindus, famous for its temples of the 8th-12th centuries.
• Puri is a city that offers relaxation on golden beaches and visits to ancient temples.
• Mamallapuram is a place famous for rock carvings and temples carved into the rocks.

Journey to Northern India

When is the best time to go to the north of India - so it is from May to September. In the southern part of the country at this time of the year there is a strong heat, so a trip to the mountains promises a pleasant coolness. Places to visit in North India:

• Dharamsala - the residence of the Dalai Lama and the government of Tibet in exile are located here.
• Shimla is the former summer capital of the British Empire.
• Varanasi is the most sacred city of Hindus, a place of pilgrimage to the Ganges River.
• Darjeeling is a city in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the British elite came to live from Calcutta in the summer.
• Gangtok is a mountainous city, the capital of Sikkim.

To visit the states of Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, a special entry permit is required. Access to certain regions may be closed from time to time.

Safety

Holidays in India will be pleasant and safe if you follow simple rules:

• Before leaving, do not forget to make copies of all documents, this will help to restore them in case of loss.
• Going on vacation to India for the first time, study the latest reviews of tourists about the places you plan to visit. This will help to avoid many troubles and surprises.
• Negotiate prices in advance, do not rush to get change and leave immediately. Be sure to count the money, cases of cheating are very common.
• If you decide to get somewhere by tuk-tuk or taxi, always negotiate the price before the trip or make sure the driver turns on the meter.
• Do not respond to beggars, especially children. It is not enough for them to simply receive money or food from you. It is worth making exceptions for one and you cannot get rid of all the others.
• Do not photograph military or government installations.
• When visiting religious sites, take off your shoes at the entrance, make sure that your clothes cover your knees and shoulders.
• Many women who travel alone in India leave negative reviews about the male half of the country's population. To avoid problems, women are advised to wear closed clothing and take extra care at night.

Airplane is the most real way to get to India from Russia. Most of the state borders of India pass through the sea, the other - through hard-to-reach mountainous areas. In addition, there is political tension on the borders with China and Bangladesh. By sea to get far and long. Plus, it's not safe at all. So flight. On it we will stop in our choice. The largest number of international flights arrive in Delhi and Mumbai, as well as Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. These airports serve the northwest, west coast, northeast, southeast coast, central and southern parts of the country respectively.

The price of air tickets to India depends on the season: the most expensive is from November to March, when the country has a “high season” and the weather is most comfortable. Prices decline moderately from April to May and from August to October. The cheapest flights are in June and July. By the way, in October-November, Indians from all over the world flock to their homeland to spend these days of Diwali with their families. That's why ticket prices go up! Business in general.

Tourists heading to Goa or the coast of Kerala are advised to contact a travel agency, where specialists will offer a ready-made tour package, including a charter flight along with accommodation. This is the best option. But it must be borne in mind that the Indian authorities have set a limit on the stay of tourists who arrived on a charter flight - no more than 28 days. Moreover, the tourist is also obliged to fly by charter.

A flight to India from most cities in Russia is possible only with a transfer, so the average travel time is more than 10 hours. With a direct flight from Moscow, for example, the travel time is reduced by about 2 times, but the cost increases proportionally!

Tourist routes along the "golden triangle" of Delhi - Jaipur - Agra in the north-west of the country begin in Delhi (New Delhi Airport). A round-trip flight from Moscow with a transfer in Astana will cost about 24,000 rubles, the journey will take from 10 to 12 hours. For comparison, Air India performs a direct flight in 6 hours, but the cost of a round-trip ticket is about 36,000 rubles.

Port Blair Airport is located in the Andaman Islands off the east coast of India. From Moscow, you can fly here by Lufthansa together with Air India. With transfers in Frankfurt and Chennai, the flight takes as much as 35 hours, the cost of round-trip air tickets is 45,000 rubles.

Etihad Airways flies to Kolkata, a metropolis in northeastern India. With an intermediate landing in Abu Dhabi, you will spend 18-19 hours in flight, a ticket will cost about 35,000 rubles.

The same Etihad Airways flies to the city of Bangalore in the south of the country. 12-15 hours and you are there. The issue price is 26,000 rubles.

In 2019, Russians can travel to India on an e-visa, which is issued for 365 days. During one trip continuously in the territory of the country can be no more than 90 days. There is no need to stand in queues and visit the embassy or visa center on your own, everything can be done online via the Internet.

We can issue you an electronic visa to India in 1-3 days, so you will not need to fill out forms, collect documents and waste your time.

Phone (as well as Viber and WhatsApp) + 7 985 123 55 59 e-mail: [email protected]

(Experience with India for more than 5 years).
.

Due to the change in the Consular fee and the constant jump in currencies, we have established a new pricing policy:

Registration cost:
2300 1500
+ consular fee

You need:

• a scan or photo of a passport (you can take them on a regular phone - just so that everything is visible and clear all the inscriptions),
• photography on a white background,
• scan or photo of a Russian passport.

Send the documents to us and in 1-3 days you will receive a ready-made visa. Constantly in touch, applications can be left around the clock.

If you intend to spend your next vacation in India, you will need a visa. Under various circumstances, it can be issued as follows:

1. At the Indian consulate of other countries.
2. On the internet online.
3. At the visa center.

The method of receipt depends on how long you decide to go to a country located on the Hindustan peninsula. If you are only interested in tourism and you are going to travel around the Republic of India for no more than 90 days, the best option would be to go online and get your document on hand upon arrival at the airport.

This is what an electronic entry permit for India looks like, you will need to present it at the airport in order to get a stamp in your passport

Rules for obtaining an e-visa

The on-line option for obtaining permits is available to citizens of 150 countries of the world. Russia is among them. This type of permit is called Indian e-visa. The conditions under which you can apply to the Indian Migration Services online are as follows:

• Your goal is tourism, business trip or treatment. You will be issued a multivisa for 1 year. If you provide a document from the clinic where you are going for treatment, the authorization period will be the same.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival in the country.
• A foreign passport must have at least two pages for affixing visa stamps.
• You must have enough money to spend your holidays in India.
• You must have a return ticket.

If you meet all of the above, you can apply for an entry permit online.

How to Apply for an e-Visa to India Online (Video)

On this video you can see. The Indian site very often does not work well, especially if you are filling out a questionnaire from Russia.

If you need to get a visa urgently and quickly, please contact us: Phone (as well as Viber and WhatsApp) + 7 985 123 55 59, e-mail: [email protected]

You must apply in advance, no later than four days before your departure. Otherwise, you may not be able to. And this means that you will arrive in India, and your visa will still be in the process of being processed.

Even more likely, without permission to enter India, you simply will not be put on a plane.

It makes sense to apply in advance, because after registration you will have a corridor of 120 days, during which you can fly to India.

Visas online cannot be obtained by citizens with diplomatic passports and children who are inscribed in the passports of their parents.

How to get an e-visa

To get an electronic version of the visa, you need to enter all the required information about yourself on the website, send a copy of your international passport. If the purpose of the trip is treatment, you also need a certificate from the clinic where you will undergo it.

If the copies you sent are of poor quality and difficult to read, your visa will be denied.

To obtain a visa on your own, you need to pay a consular fee. Its size is 100 US dollars (excluding the bank commission, which is additionally about 3-4 dollars). In case of incorrect filling of the questionnaire and refusal, this amount will not be returned to you.

Since March 2019, an electronic permit has been issued for 365 days.

You should be aware that India, like, takes biometric data from its guests. Holders of electronic visas will need to hand them over upon arrival at the airport of the state (28 airports) or sailing to one of the 5 ports of the country (Goa, Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai).

Airports where e-visa is valid:

1. Ahmedabad.
2. Amritsar.
3. Bagdogra.
4. Bengaluru.
5. Calicut.
6. Chennai.
7. Chandigarh.
8. Cochin.
9. coimbatore.
10. Delhi.
11. Gaya.
12. Amausi.
13. Guwahati.
14. Hyderabad.
15. Jaipur.
16. Kolkata.
17. Lucknow.
18. Mangalore.
19. Madurai.
20. Mumbai.
21. Nagpur.
22. Pune.
23. Tiruchirapalli.
24. Trivandrum.
25. Varanasi.
26. Bhubaneswar.
27. Port Blair.

You can apply for an online version of the permit twice a year. You should be aware that the document is not subject to renewal. The date of entry into the country is considered the first day of stay in its territory.

There are also prohibitions: to visit some Indian states, an additional special permit is required. For example, you need it for a trip to the Andaman Islands.

In order for visa applicants to track the status of their electronic application, they need to refer to the pages of the website indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/VisaEnquiry.jsp . When traveling to India, it is very important to have a printed version of the electronic permit on hand.

What documents are needed to obtain an electronic permit

To obtain an e-visa, you will need the following documents:

• Passport plus copy. The entry document must be valid for six months. The countdown starts from the moment you enter the country.
• Photo size 5 x 5 cm. The photo must be in color, of good quality and on a light background.

• You will need to indicate the hotel where you are going to stay.
• You will need to fill in the date of arrival in India.

An electronic photograph in JPG format must be no larger than one megabyte. A copy of the passport in PDF format should not exceed 300 kB.

If you have children going to India with you, you need to send copies of their birth certificates. When accompanied by only one parent, a notarized permission from the second parent or a copy of the certificate certifying the reason for the impossibility of obtaining permission from the second parent (for example, a death certificate) is also sent. If parents and children have different surnames, a certificate of kinship must be attached.

An example of the consent of one of the parents to leave the child abroad

All copies must be clear and of good quality. A copy of your passport will need to be submitted in pdf format.

We can help and do all the work of filling out the application form, as well as converting the passport photo to pdf format, paying the consular fee on the Indian website for you.

Applying for a visa through Visasam

With us, the process of obtaining a visa will be easy and fast.

1. Call our specialist + 7 985 123 55 59 (phone, Viber, Whats Up) and leave a visa application, you can also send an application by e-mail [email protected].
2. Our specialists will contact you in the near future and discuss all the terms of cooperation.
3. Within 24-72 hours after payment, you will receive your e-Visa to India and start your journey.
4. Applications can be submitted around the clock. On weekends and holidays we are also ALWAYS open and in touch.

You will only need a passport photo, which you can take on your phone, and a photograph of your face against a light background.

Steps to follow when applying for an e-visa

The first thing you have to do is fill out the application form on the site. Complete all fields accurately. The last thing in this process should be uploading a color photo.

Make payment only after filling out the form. Check your email box, you should receive a code, which will be confirmation that you can start packing your bags. This is what you need to print and present at customs in India. In addition, you will need to present all originals and copies of the above documents.

The video shows how to get your passport stamped upon arrival and enter India with an e-Visa.

Types of visas for visiting India

The rules for entry into India allow for the following types of visas:

1. Single Entry: You enter and exit once.
2. Electronic multivisa: you can enter and exit several times a year. It is important that the period of stay in the country for each trip does not exceed 90 days.
3. Multiple: you can run back and forth for an unlimited number of times, as long as they fit within the time limits. A multiple entry permit may be issued for several months. Its maximum term is 5 years. In practice, it is almost impossible for ordinary travelers to obtain such a visa in 2019. 3 and 6 months valid visa obtained at the visa center of the country.

In addition to the deadlines, permitting stamps differ according to the goals pursued by the guest of the state. Visas can be transit, student, business and tourist.

Long-term regular tourist visa for 3 and 6 months

If you are one of those tourists who travel for more than 90 days, you need to take care of getting. You can do it at the consulate or visa center. Cases of refusal to issue a 6-month visa occur much more often than when applying for an electronic permit. More documents need to be submitted.

You also need to take out medical travel insurance.

Before you go to one of the departments, you must. This:

• International passport. As with the e-visa, it must remain valid for at least another six months. You must also attach a copy of the document. It is important that two blank pages for stamps remain in it.
• A questionnaire that simultaneously performs the role of both a statement and a questionnaire.

• A copy of your internal passport.
• Tickets to and from India or booking.
• Either a hotel invitation with full details of the place of residence and the tourist, or an invitation from the Indian side.
• Medical insurance policy.

The Indian authorities in this case do not require the applicant to present bank statements and. For children traveling to India, the same set of documents is required as for obtaining an e-visa.

If you have not yet chosen a time to relax in India, watch the following video.

Other types of visas

Each type of visa has its own requirements for the package of documents presented. In addition to what is required for a tourist visa, prospective Indian students must provide proof of their residency and proof of financial ability to live in India for the duration of their course of study.

Business travelers need invitations from business partners or cover letters from companies sending their employees to seminars, business meetings, etc.

Visa-free transit is prohibited in India, so if you have to transfer in this country, you need to worry about obtaining a transit visa in advance. In addition to the documents relevant for tourists, you need to provide a visa to the country of destination and air tickets from India to a third country.

In practice, such visas are rarely issued in 2019, and even the official consulate or visa center cannot provide reliable information on the rules for issuing them. Therefore, tourists receive the usual electronic permit.

Another, quite rarely issued type of permit is a work visa. To get it, you need to be a high-level specialist. As a rule, such a stamp is placed on those who have entered into a contract with one of the Indian companies.

Deviation from the rules - Goa state

In any travel agency, you will be offered a visit to Goa as an option. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Indian subcontinent. The state is part of India, you need to visit it. Now all travelers to Goa apply for an electronic visa.

There are circumstances under which it is possible to visit the state without having to worry about obtaining an entry permit in advance:

1. Goa is the only purpose of your visit, that is, you will spend your entire vacation exclusively on its territory.
2. You are not going to the state alone or with your family, but are issued by a travel agency as a group, which includes at least four tourists.
3. The whole group will go to India on the same plane and fly away too.
4. And the task of the tourist was to come to the checkpoint in a group, the list of which will be waiting for you at customs.

But in practice, not a single tour operator is doing this now. Since after the introduction of an electronic visa, this procedure has lost all meaning, and this process is not profitable for any tour operator, as it requires a large number of papers and permits.

That is, formally there is such a rule, but in practice it is impossible to enter according to it. Not a single operator provides such conditions to its tourists in the CIS countries, and independent travelers cannot even officially do this.

There is another unpleasant rule regarding the entry of tourists to Goa.

If you arrive in Goa on a charter flight in 2019, then you can only fly out of this state on a charter flight of this company. So, if you arrived on a tour on a charter flight, and want to fly back later, you will need to fly to Russia from another state. So, many of those who stay for the winter in India fly home with a change in Mumbai or Delhi.

Before leaving for the airport

Don't forget to take your passport (PZP), travel documents and voucher. Your passport must contain an entry visa to India. The visa indicates the time corridor during which you are allowed to enter the country and the number of days of residence. We ask you to check in advance the presence of photographs of children entered in the passport, the presence of appropriate stamps on all photographs. Check-in for the flight begins: in Russia - 2 hours before departure, in India - 4 hours before departure. Given that often (especially during peak dates) there is a resale of seats, it is best to arrive at the airport before check-in begins. In the event of a delay in your flight, in accordance with the rules of international transportation, the air carrier is responsible for the flight delay.

At the airport in India

At the Indian airport, upon arrival, an immigration card is filled out. The remaining part of the card after passing through passport control must be kept until the return flight.
During check-in in India (return flight or domestic flights), it is better to keep the amount of hand luggage to a minimum, since the screening of hand luggage at Indian airports is carried out very carefully and at least three times. Items checked in as baggage are checked once (often right at the entrance to the airport building). It should also be taken into account that in hand luggage it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to carry items that are considered potentially dangerous, such as: any aerosols, medicines, matches, lighters, metal combs, nail files, manicure scissors, cosmetics (including perfumes), alcoholic beverages , SPICES, etc. Video and photographic equipment may be subjected to a particularly thorough inspection

airport taxes

When departing from Goa on a charter flight, an airport tax of USD 6 is payable

Customs regulations

Customs fees do not apply to personal items, as well as personal jewelry, 0.95 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

We inform you that from May 13, 2014, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 398 of April 29, 2014 "On the invalidation of clause 7 of Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 31, 2005 No. 866" On labeling alcoholic products with excise stamps "In this regard, the import of any alcoholic beverages into the territory of the Russian Federation from abroad is prohibited. The exception will be alcoholic beverages purchased at airports in Duty Free shops.

The document on the basis of which your accommodation is carried out is a voucher. If your voucher does not specify a specific category of your room (sea/garden/mountain/main building/bungalow view), the hotel will place you in the currently vacant rooms.
If you find any problems in the room - you must contact the administration to eliminate them.
Documents, money and other valuables are recommended to be deposited in a safe. The safe is usually located at the reception desk, in some hotels - directly in the rooms.
When checking into a hotel, inquire about the payment system for additional services. You can find out the status of your account for any day at the hotel reception by asking for a computer printout.
The meal option is indicated on your voucher - it can be breakfast BB, half board HB (breakfast and dinner), full board FB (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or all inclusive system (all inclusive) (this is usually breakfast, lunch, dinner + local drinks). In the hotel restaurants for dinner, drinks are always paid separately (except for all-inclusive hotels). You are not allowed to bring your own drinks into the hotel restaurant. It is not allowed to take food taken from the buffet outside the restaurant.
Some hotels do not allow food purchased outside the hotel to be brought into the premises. If you want to bring fruits to the children or drinks bought from the Duty Free store into the room, do it discreetly.

General information

India is a republic with a legislative assembly and a government headed by a prime minister. The head of state is the president. The capital is Delhi. India is located in South Asia and covers an area of ​​more than 3 million square kilometers, washed in the west by the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the east, and bordering Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Pakistan. The country also owns a number of islands. Two great rivers flow through the country: the Indus and the Ganges.
The nature of India is exotic and diverse. The lush greenery of tropical forests, combined with a colorful variety of flora and fauna, snow-white and golden beaches, the highlands of the Himalayas and river valleys, make a stunning impression on travelers from Europe.
The population is one of the highest in the world - about a billion people, of which 51% are men and 49% are women.

Transport

When using local ground transport (train or bus), you need to be prepared for the fact that there will be people nearby with various skin diseases (not necessarily contagious, but who knows about it). Therefore, this should only be used when absolutely necessary. It is better to order transport from the host company, or call a taxi. Almost every hotel has a taxi rank or you can call one. Taxis are inexpensive: 1 km from 2.3 - 3 rupees in the flat area to 6 rupees in the mountains.

The monetary unit is the Indian rupee (Rs). 1 rupee = 100 paise. Coins: 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 paise and 1, 2 rupees. Banknotes: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupees. Indian rupees cannot be brought into or taken out of the country. The rate of 1 $ = 47 rupees (the real rate at which you can exchange currency is 1 $ = 44-45 rupees). It is better to change currency in banks. Banknotes must be counted immediately, making sure that they are not torn or sealed. Traveler's checks can be cashed at a better rate. Keep receipts confirming the legitimacy of the currency exchange. Many places accept credit cards (Diners, Visa, Master-card/Eurocard, American Express)
!!! When departing from the country in Duty Free, Indian rupees are NOT ACCEPTED. Reverse exchange at the airport is possible, but at a VERY UNFAVORABLE exchange rate.

It is 2.5 hours ahead of Moscow in winter and 1.5 hours in summer.

Due to topographical heterogeneity and the size of the territory, the climate in the country is divided into several natural zones: humid equatorial in the extreme south, continental in the central part of the country and rather cool in the Himalayas. The temperature difference ranges from + 12 + 23% in January-December to + 35 + 45% in June-September, when the summer monsoon prevails, bringing precipitation.

The official languages ​​are Hindi and English. In total, the country has 1652 dialects and languages, of which 18 are state in different states. Portuguese is also widely spoken in Goa.

In India, you can meet representatives of all known religions. Major: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam. Religious influence varies from state to state. For example, Islam is especially strong in the northern part of the country, in Bombay there is a huge Jain community, and in Goa the population is divided into Hindus and Catholics, and only 2-3% of the population worship other cults.

Tipping depends on your satisfaction with the service received. It is customary to leave 10% of the bill - in hotels, restaurants. If the bill (usually in large hotels) shows a 10% service surcharge, tips are not required in this case.

Electricity

The mains voltage is 220 volts, a three-pole socket (an adapter is required).

Features of staying in the country

CUSTOMS
Before entering temples, mosques and gudwaras (Sikh temples), you must take off your shoes. In some places, for a small fee, you will be offered special covers for shoes, usually they allow you to pass in socks. Do not take any leather goods with you to the temples, this may be considered an insult. In many cases, photographing inside the temples is prohibited, so ask permission before using your camera. It is also necessary to ask local residents for permission to photograph them. Tourists are usually treated kindly, sometimes they are allowed to attend religious rituals. When visiting sacred places, watch your clothes (do not wear short skirts, tops or shorts). In Sik temples, women must cover their heads and shoulders, and in mosques, women must also wear long skirts (or trousers). Traditionally, put some money in the donation box.
Namaste - folded palms in greeting - is a traditional form of Indian greeting, and if you use it, Indians will appreciate it. However, men, especially in cities, will not hesitate to shake your hand if you are a man. A handshake will even be appreciated as a gesture of exceptional friendliness. For most Indian women, the free morals between men and women, adopted in the West, are unacceptable, so physical contact with women should be avoided. Do not shake hands with a woman (unless she is the first to extend it) and do not put your hand on her shoulder.
In private houses, tourists are treated as honored guests, and your ignorance of Indian customs will be treated with understanding and condescension. If you want to try eating with your hands, then remember to use only the fingers of your right hand.
Try not to have the soles of your shoes facing anyone, which could be seen as a sign of disrespect. Do not point with your index finger, use either outstretched hand or chin gestures. When talking, try to never shout or lose your temper, otherwise they will simply not communicate with you.
HEALTH
1.Special vaccinations are not required. In cities and resort areas, the bites of dangerous insects and animals do not threaten. But, going on an excursion, it is better to take care of repellents in advance. Do not touch anything unnecessarily. It is strictly necessary to follow all the instructions of the guide. A dry knot can turn into a poisonous snake, spider, scorpion, and a beautiful delicate flower can cause severe allergies.
2. The most important thing is the observance of hygiene rules. Remember that this region is the source of most serious gastrointestinal infections. Avoiding these diseases is not difficult, you just need to strictly follow a number of rules:
- never buy food and drinks on the street, and, moreover, do not drink or eat on the street;
- wash hands with disinfectant soap as soon as possible;
- wash fruits thoroughly;
- do not drink tap water, even just rinse your mouth and brush your teeth better with mineral water. This is not due to the fact that tap water contains an infection (water is disinfected in hotels), but because each region has its own mineral composition of water and this can adversely affect the stomach. Therefore, Indians who drink tap water at home, when they go to another place, use bottled water. Even in expensive restaurants, water placed on the table in a carafe can be tap water and cause severe intestinal upset. Drink only from bottles.
3. A serious danger in India is the sun. Severe sunburn can occur even on cloudy days, so a high factor sunscreen is recommended.
MEDICAL SERVICE.
There are qualified doctors who speak English in all major cities. A consultation can also be obtained from a doctor in the hotel. Hospitals meet the necessary requirements. All tourists flying to rest abroad have medical insurance. First of all, CAREFULLY read the rules of insurance. In case of contacting a medical institution or calling a doctor, you must immediately call one of the telephone numbers indicated in the insurance policy and warn the insurance company about the use of medical services. If the disease is an insured event (see insurance policy), the costs will be compensated in accordance with the presented paid invoices. It should also be taken into account that no insurance company covers the costs of treating sexually transmitted diseases and diseases caused by alcohol poisoning.
SAFETY
India is a safe country, but, nevertheless, in crowded places and especially in large cities: Delhi, Bombay, Agra, etc., where petty theft flourishes, it is necessary to be careful.
In good 4 and 5 star hotels, as a rule, there is no theft, but, nevertheless, it is recommended to keep money only in a safe. In most cases, the hotel administration will not be responsible for the loss of things from the room.
Local banknotes have a low denomination, and therefore you often have to carry thick wads of money with you, which is very inconvenient. It is not recommended, however, if possible, to take all the money with you to avoid loss, it is better to keep them in a safe. If a large amount of cash is still necessary, then you should not show it to others. It is better to divide the pack into several, setting aside separately banknotes for current payments: tips, toilet, etc. All of the above applies to cash, the life of plastic card holders is much simpler.
It should not be served to numerous beggars and beggars, who cannot be counted near the exit from the hotel and in crowded places. Giving anything, even a little, becomes a potential victim of the local community of beggars. Not only will it be extremely difficult to get rid of them, but in addition, the "potential victim" will be passed like a baton from one group of beggars to another.
When buying souvenirs on the street or taking pictures with exotic animals, it is better to conduct all negotiations through a guide. So, at least you can count on a reasonable price.
NUTRITION.
You can eat without fear of poisoning in restaurants at hotels, or in restaurants recommended by the host. Also an indicator of the quality of food is the presence of tourists in the hall. You have to be careful with spices. It is better not to ask the locals if this dish is spicy or not, try it yourself. Since the locals question “is this food spicy or not”, they understand how spicy the food is, namely, how many types of spices are present in the dish. Therefore, even if the dish consists of hot pepper, but there are no other types of spices, then this dish (according to the Indians) is not spicy or spicy, but neutral.
BTW: Public toilets, as a rule, are paid and are located in the central part of the city, as well as in large hotels and restaurants, but it should be taken into account that not all restaurants have a public toilet, and toilet paper is also not everywhere.

The shops

Opening hours from 10:00 to 19:00. On Sundays, state-owned shops are closed. In resorts, shops are usually open until late in the evening and seven days a week. Bargaining is accepted everywhere, except for government stores (Government Emporium) and shops with the inscription "Fixed prices". Traditional purchases and souvenirs: carpets, products made from precious and semi-precious stones, gold and silver jewelry, textiles (clothing, bed linen, scarves, stoles), leather and wood products, objects made of copper, brass, bronze with embossing, inlays , enamel, etc., miniatures on paper and silk, antiques and of course the famous tea and spices. Don't rush shopping. Consult your guide about customs regulations and take care of the necessary information and certificates.

Car rent

Don't forget that in India traffic is LEFT-HAND. Driving in India is quite difficult and is not recommended for novice drivers and people with weak nerves. Most highways are dangerous areas where you need to be prepared for any surprises, because. many drivers ignore the rules of the road. In addition, the streets are full of pedestrians, cyclists, stray dogs, cows, potholes, carts, cars racing at high speed, or vice versa, parked in the middle of the road. Therefore, if you decide to rent a car, we recommend taking a car with a driver. The cost of such a service is about $ 20 per day. The cost of renting without a driver is about 30% less and ranges from 500 rupees per day + a deposit of 1000 rupees in case of car damage. In all cities there are branches of large international companies (Hertz, Budget Rent-a-Car, Eurocar).

Phones

All types of telephone communication in India are paid. You can reach Russia by automatic line code 007 + area code + phone number. A call from a telephone booth will cost you much cheaper (2-3 times) than from a hotel.

Information about the time of departure from the hotel to the airport is given by the representative of the host company. If this information is not provided on time, the time of departure must be clarified directly with the host company or with a representative of this company no later than 1 day before departure. This should be done even if there is prior information obtained when purchasing the tour. If your bus is late, don't worry. He may stay at the previous hotel along the way. If for some unknown reason the transfer was not provided and you risk missing the plane, go to the airport by taxi. At the same time, you should take a check for payment from the taxi driver and make sure that it indicates the date and time of boarding the taxi. The amount spent in accordance with the check will be returned to the agency that sold the tour. On the eve of departure, please pay for additional services: telephone calls, use of the mini-bar, other expenses. Check-out time is usually 12:00 noon. You must vacate your rooms before the specified time. If the time of the return flight was late in the evening, you need to take care of the possible extension of your stay in the room in advance - you can agree on a later check-out for a small fee at the Reception, or you can transfer your luggage to the storage room and spend the rest of the day on the beach, in a restaurant, or walking around the city.

Hello friends!

It's winter outside, right now it's snowing in flakes. The first wintering in -10 for the last 3.5 years. A little unusual, but there is an opportunity to gather yourself together and do things that there was not enough time for on the roads. With this article, I decided to unpack my Indian experience a bit and talk about what is needed in order for an independent trip to India to pass without shock therapy.

writing about India with such pictures is the very thing

I have a total of more than a year behind me, spent within this wonderful country. Here is a small one. Read, there are a lot of cross-references to interesting materials :)

India is a country of victorious chaos. Written and unwritten rules here work in completely different planes, and more often they do not work at all. Everything here is ruled by the Gods and the omnipresent Mad Heart. There is much in common with the Russian mentality. The same faith in one's own exclusivity, ingenuity and the ubiquitous maybe.

Chaos and dirt are the main features of any Indian corner. But it's so cozy

Here it is very easy to "erase your personal history" and become "Nobody" (with a capital letter and in the full sense of the word). Get lost, dissolve and be reborn. Among the ancient filthy streets, cows and crazy ascetics with eyes red from hashish.

As my good friend once said: people go to India and Nepal to treat souls.

How to start preparing for the trip?

With the acceptance of the fact that most likely, all your planning will go to hell. In India, the very concept of time is very vague. And if the planes fly according to a completely familiar schedule, then the trains can be late for a day (I'm not exaggerating !!!).

A delay of 4-5 hours on Indian railways is considered normal. Therefore, always have a margin of time.

In a typical Indian slipper

Travel planning

Despite the quite expected destruction of all the plans built, it is necessary to prepare for the trip. You should start at least with tickets and visas). And let the reviews about traveling in this wonderful country say otherwise)

Visa

It is possible to apply for long-term tourist visas for India, up to 5 years (formally, the law has been adopted, but I have not yet seen real precedents). Most often it is possible to obtain a visa for 3 or 6 months. If you ask hard, they can give you a double. The cost is about $100.

The main thing - in the occupation column (type of activity), do not indicate "photographer" or "journalist". They don’t like them there :) For there is nothing to trample on the holy land with your vision with a bunch of dirt, shit and crippled beggars.

In addition, Russians can obtain an electronic visa for a period of 2 months.

It is forbidden to work on a tourist visa, so if you suddenly want to get a job, this can be fraught with problems.

Tickets

I recommend buying tickets, especially for trains and buses, in advance. 1-1.5 months before the trip. And if at the very least you can get tickets for buses even at the last moment, then for trains it often happens that there are no tickets.

I have good friends who are involved in developing routes and buying tickets for Indian trains and buses. I recommend. Their experience is more than 10 years of traveling around India and their approach to business is very professional. They will select tickets, connections and the best route.

Housing

Despite the huge number of accommodations in popular booking systems, you can get burned badly. In India, the concept of "quality of service" is very lame. Even in 3* hotels you may encounter dirty sheets and pubic hair in the pillows. Therefore, it is better to search on the spot, or to agree on some already verified other places.

cobra caster

first aid kit

The stomach and immunity of a Russian person is poorly adapted to the conditions of a tropical climate. In India, the phrase "Don't let yourself get sick" should sound like a mantra.

Therefore, the must-have items on your trip should be:

1. Activated carbon
2. Ointment for insect bites (I recommend "Rescuer". It helps very well to relieve itching after any infamy)
3. Pancreatin. Spicy food can hit the pancreas hard. And she, according to doctors, practically does not recover.
4. Furozolidone. A wonderful and cheap remedy for all kinds of intestinal infections.
5. Sun cream.

It is useless to take any sprays and ointments from mosquitoes from home. They have absolutely no effect on the Indian fauna. In India, there are many grocers where you can easily buy such things.

It would be nice to have travel insurance. Only, as elsewhere in Asia, it does not cover possible injuries from riding scooters and motorcycles. Be vigilant and careful.

It happens that they ask about vaccinations before the trip. I have never done them, but if you are very afraid of malaria or dengue fever, it is better to play it safe. There are a lot of mosquitoes here. I once had a case of a mosquito bite, after which I had a fever for a long time.

Money

If you plan to travel with cash, take dollars or euros. Exchange for rupees can be found in almost any tourist place: from to Kanyakumari.

There are many "ascetic merchants" here

I prefer to travel wild with bank cards. ATMs can be found even in remote villages, where such technical innovations against the backdrop of hand mills seem completely surreal.

It is best to withdraw money from SBI (State Bank of India) and Canara bank ATMs. They don't charge cash out fees.

Traditions you need to know to be safe

The whole of India is conservative and traditional. Therefore, in order not to suddenly find yourself in an uncomfortable (and even dangerous) position, you need to be vigilant and know some traditions.

For women

I will single out this point especially, because spermotoxicosis in men in a society with repressed sexuality reaches very dangerous forms.

1. Be modest with local men. Polite, but without ingratiating smiles. Otherwise, it may be taken as an availability signal.
2. Close your charms. Tight clothes and flashy makeup also send a “signal”.
3. It is better to respond to attempts to shake your hand with a “nameste” bow with arms folded at the chest.
4. Large gatherings of people are best avoided.
5. A selfie with an Indian ladies' man often results in your photo being posted on Facebook with the caption "me and my girlfriend." This happens with enviable constancy, regardless of the state. Even more often, 1 selfie turns into a whole selfie session with everyone.

Of course, you should not fall into paranoia, but being on the alert is useful.

More calm in this regard are the Buddhist regions of India: Sikkim.

For everyone else

In India, aggression is perceived as something very out of the ordinary. That is why our not the most prosperous compatriots love to flaunt their "Indian victories" so much. Hindus simply fall into a stupor, which can sometimes lead to very deplorable situations.

Don't let yourself be fooled

India is the land of the victorious heart. Here, since ancient times, they have learned to sweeten the outstretched ears of novice simpletons with eloquence. (here they are called “fresh chicken”: literally “fresh chicken”). Therefore, attempts to deceive here will be constantly. The good news is that 99% of such attempts are childishly naive and harmless.

It is better to relax immediately and even if a deception is discovered, maintain a cheerful mood. Consider that this is a game whose price is 50-100 rubles. Agree, not a high fee for a new interesting experience).

Hindus, when you catch them cheating, most often break into a smile, shake their heads and say “okay”. They say, "it didn't work, okay." You can't even take offense at them.

Indian Divorce in Varanasi

However, vigilance must not be lost! Persistence is possible and even necessary. Only, without aggression. The latter is completely out of favor here. She is offensive and destructive.

The most common divorces are as follows:

1. Taxi in Delhi. "Are you in India for the first time?" If you answer in the affirmative, there will be a performance: “oh, your hotel burned down. But I know one very, very good place.” In general, they will bring you to a place where a taxi driver will rely on a small magarych. The price will be called 2-3 times higher than the market price.
2. "The roads are blocked and there are no places." Another old as the world razvodka, found mainly in Delhi. Usually the same taxi drivers to whom you inform that you are going somewhere to the north answer this way, like.
3. Ear cleaners. Divorce is older than the Mahabharata. Sometimes these comrades can, as if by chance, "absolutely free" pull a horse and half a chicken eaten in the morning out of your ear. When I saw the cleaner working in the ear of a cute white girl, I realized that this divorce would live on for a very long time.
4. Pressure for pity. “I have 5 children, and today I know the business ... please, give me tips.” In general, a classic story of service personnel: from rickshaw drivers to waiters in a cafe.
5. Well, and another +100 all sorts of small divorces.

Determining a divorce is quite simple: if someone offers you their services “just like that”, most likely it is not free. This is very common in tourist places such as Goa. On the road and in the villages, I have not seen this. On the contrary, there is only a sincere desire to help, which I was repeatedly convinced of during ours and after, along the way.