FAQ – India

You must have a passport for at least 6 months of validity from the date you have to leave India. Check availability of air tickets, hotels and transportation on the date you wish to travel. Apply for the Indian visa through Indian embassies or consult Able Journeys for your visa arrangements.

Tourists coming from the Yellow Fever endemic countries need to carry a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, which adhere to International Health Regulations, before visiting India. However citizens from the U.S, Canada or U.K do not require any vaccination certificates or inoculations. You as a traveller are recommended to get a precautionary measure vaccination against Hepatitis B, if you wish to stay longer in India. To prevent you from getting Dengue and Malaria, we advice mosquito repellents, nets or take a course of anti Malaria tablets. All of these can easily be purchased in India if you do not wish to carry it with you.

It is true that India is not a very disabled-friendly country, but Able Journeys has included all the places in the itineraries that can be easily visited by disabled travellers. Travellers have a choice of opting for either fixed disabled-friendly itineraries or opt for tailor made itineraries. We regularly add new destinations to our Facebook page and website.

There is a lot to see and discover in India as the country is rich in culture, but the time required to explore India depends upon the type of holiday you are planning.

You can definitely make arrangements for an extended stay. For this you will need to approach the FRRO of your town where you are staying and submit the required application and fee.

Foreign nationals are not allowed to bring in Indian currency. Therefore, you will need to exchange your money to rupees on arrival.

Since India is a conservative nation, you should avoid wearing shorts, mini skirts, tank tops or anything that exposes too much skin, unless you are on a beach. Women prefer to wear ‘salwar kameez’, which is quite comfortable and light to wear and also creates a friendly understanding with the locals.

There are few Hindi words and phrases that can prove to be beneficial whilst travelling India. A few of the words and phrases include, Namaste [Hello], Shukriya [Thank You], Aap kaise hain? [How are you?], Kripaya [Kindly or Please], Alvida [Farewell], Phir milenge [See you later], Maaf kijiye [Forgive me], Kitna hua? [How much? as in asking the price of something], Theek hai [Alright], Shubh-prabhat[Good morning], Shubh-ratri [Good night], and Aapka swagat hai [You are welcome – as in “You are welcome in this house”].

Mobile phone connections in India can be easily bought through most of the departmental, local shops or even at the International Airport. The private cellular companies offering services in India are affordable and one of the best in the world.

You are advised to drink bottled mineral water which can easily be ordered in hotel rooms and restaurants. Avoid water or juices from roadside vendors.

It is customary but not compulsory to tip waiters. Many tourist restaurants and hotels charge 10% extra in bills so in such cases there is no need to tip.

You are advised to have non-vegetarian food only at reptuable restaurants. India being a Hindu country, accessing different non-vegetarian food variety is not always possible. Mediocre restaurants sometimes have poor quality food which tastes good with heavy spices but is not always hygienic and trustworthy to eat.

India certainly has pubs and clubs, but can only be found in big and metropolitan cities. Most of these pubs and clubs are equipped with quality sound equipment and have professional DJs.

In order to make your India visit memorable and enjoyable, you should read about India to be aware of any essential information. Visit the section on An Introduction to India that covers various aspects of your visit to India.

To experience India at its best, travellers are advised to choose the festival season time for touring. This will provide you with the true color and charm of India and show you the different cultural activities and all the facts and myths about the festivals.

No restrictions are imposed on the amount of foreign currency or traveller’s cheques you may wish to bring into India. Travellers bringing more than $10,000 are required to fill in a declaration form on the arrival at the airport. It is advised to exchange money only through the authorised money exchange. Except for traveller’s cheques, no Indian money can be imported or exported and the traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at any Indian banks.

India accepts payments of all the major countries’ currencies like Pound, U.S Dollars and Euros. Even all the major credit cards such as Master Card, American Express and Visa are accepted across different hotels, restaurants and shopping malls and complexes.

All the banks and post offices remain open from 10.00 to 16.30 from Monday to Friday and from 9.30 to 12.30 on Saturdays. Administrative offices of India remain open 09.30 to 17.00 hours from Monday to Friday and from 09.30 to 12.30 on Saturdays. All the offices are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Travellers visiting religious places like temples and mosques must remember to remove their footwear, and if requested, other objectionable products like leather shoes, bags or belts. At a few religious places the visitors are expected to cover their head and follow the dressing traditions. It is customary to donate a small amount to priests in temples after receiving ‘Prasad’ (holy offerings to the Hindu gods in the form of bite size snacks) which should not be refused.

Generally you are free to capture any moment whilst touring India. At some historical monuments, you may be charged an additional fee to use your camera inside the premises, and then there are some places where you may notice signs of ‘Photography Prohibited’. Seek permission to take pictures at airports, railway stations, bridges and military areas

India is safe to travel in as the crime rate in India is comparatively low compared to other foreign countries. However, to be on the safe side, female tourists must avoid going out alone on the road, especially at night. In any emergency situation, visitors can call the police by dialing 100 and ambulance by dialling 102.

India is a shopper’s paradise. Government approved emporiums are always recommended to visitors for shopping as they can buy genuine products at a fixed rate. In several shopping complexes, visitors are encouraged to take part in bargaining in order to get the best deal, but you can never be never sure if the item is authentic or fake. Do not leave personal items unattended.

India is rich in handicraft and offers a great opportunity for tourists to shop for different hand crafted items such as fabrics, jewellery, paintings, pottery, smith work and woodcarvings.

English is widely spoken and understood in most of the tourists’ places in India, but we would recommend you hire a well experienced and government recognised guide to explore the different places of interest in India. As well as being fluent in English, many guides are also comfortable with French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Italian and Russian.

Tourists or visitors are allowed to drive in India but it is strongly recommended that you do not. An inexperienced person might not find the driving atmosphere conducive and it is recommended that you hire professional Indian drivers for touring.

Indians usually greet each other with ‘Namaste’, which is used as a replacement of good morning, good afternoon or good evening. ‘Namaste’ is said by holding the palms together at chin level and nodding your head once. The younger generation and modern society now uses a handshake or ‘Hello’ to greet each other. The elderly or respected persons are addressed by suffixing their name with ‘Ji’ or ‘Sahib’, which is the replacement of ‘Sir’. People of the same age group can be addressed by their first names. Being a conservative country, hugging the opposite sex is not so common.

On your arrival, you maybe welcomed by flowers and garlands in most of the formal occasions like inauguration, reception and live events. As a guest you should wear the floral garland for a few minutes before taking it off. The flowers and garlands received should never be left behind, except in the temple.

Most public facilities in India are not well maintained or hygienic. Make sure you use the restrooms in your hotel/resort before going out. Carry a roll of toilet paper with you at all times and avoid using restrooms at public places. It is sometimes possible to ask restaurants and hotels to use their facilities while you are out. Both western and Indian style toilets can be found in various locations.

Living conditions in India are quite different from western countries in general. Weather, food, environment, hygiene etc may affect your day-to-day well being if you do not take precautions. It is recommended that you carry your own toiletries and other regular daily use items and also get into the habit of washing your hands every couple of hours. Although basic necessities may be available in various hotels, obtaining toilet paper may be difficult in smaller towns. Tampons are difficult or almost impossible to find in India, women will only be able to buy sanitary protection at pharmacies and general stores. In case of emergencies, please contact your tour operator or ask for a doctor or go to the nearest hospital.

Visitors coming to India are recommended to avoid eating extremely spicy food. The Indian cuisine can be very rich in flavours and spices, so please make sure you mention the level of ‘heat’ you would prefer when ordering food. It is recommended to eat fresh fruits with the skin peeled off for hygienic purposes. Tourists are recommended to drink only bottled mineral water. Ice creams must never be bought from the street vendor as adulterated ingredients can be used in the making of the ice creams.

Trains and the majority of railway stations in India are not disabled-friendly and do not have disabled-friendly toilets. However, train journeys are perfect for showing you the majestic landscapes of India. You can acquaint yourself with the fellow passengers and get to know more about India and its people. Make the reservations well in advance (up to three months earlier) to avoid disappointment at a later stage.