USEFUL INDIA INFORMATION

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIA

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American dollar currently worth 39.2 rupees


Changing Your Money
It's relatively straightforward changing money, especially in the larger cities. You are supposed to be given an encashment certificate when you change money at a bank or an official moneychanger; you'll need these encashment certificates to change Indian currency back into foreign currency when leaving India (at the international airport), however for exchanges below INR10000 certificates aren't necessary.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa; MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted. Credit cards can also be used to get cash advances in rupees at some banks. Nowadays, almost all Indian cities have 24-hour ATMs that may accept Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus and Visa. It's wise to check in advance with your home bank whether your card can access banking networks in India and if so, what the charge per transaction is and whether there are schemes to minimize these.



HANDLING BEGGARS
If you are traveling to India, you are bound to come across beggars. Mostly you will find them begging at the red lights. Following are some tips for handling Indian beggars. So, if you want to know some Indian beggar handling tips, read on:
If the beggar is a healthy person, don’t give him any money or anything else. Ignore such people. Just walk past them or pull up the windows if you are in a car.
In case of a physically handicapped person, you can give some money or even something to eat.
If you come across children begging on the street, don’t be surprised. Its better to give the children something to eat. If you give them money, it will most probably go into the pockets of their parents or some other person. They will hardly ever benefit from it.
Always give beggars money at the time of leaving a place, as you get in the car. Otherwise, there is a possibility of your getting mobbed.
Give a tip to beggars between Rs. 2 to Rs. 10. If you give more money than this, you will run the risk of getting mobbed by beggars.



Useful Phrases
When traveling in India, having an idea of common Indian phrases will help you in communicating more effectively with the locals. These frequently used phrases in India are usually very handy when you want to know your surroundings better and mingle with the locals. It also ensures that you are not taken for a ride in an unknown country. You will find help right away if you are stuck in a situation, as you are able to communicate at a more personal level with people around you. Check out this list of common helpful phrases for conversing with people in India.

English to Hindi

Hi or Hello ....Namaste
Please ...... Please
Thank You ....... Shukhriya
Yes....... Haan
No ........ Nahin
Where can I find .......... Kahan milenge
I want water ....... Mujhe paani chahiye
I want a ticket ....... Mujhe ticket chahiye
Where is the toilet ...... Bathroom kahan hai
Is this very far........ Kya ye bahut door hai
How much is this ........ Ye kitne ka hai
This is too expensive ....... Ye bahut mehenga hai
Make this price less ......... Bhaav kam karo
How are you? ....... Aap kaise hain?
Sorry ............ Maaf kijiye
Please ........... Kripaya
Ok ........... Theek hai
What? .......... Kya?
Where? ........ Kahan?
How? ........... Kaise?
When? .......... Kab?
Who? ............ Kaun?
Why? ........ Kyon?
What is the price? ........Iska kya daam hai?
I don't understand ........... Mai samjha nahi
Tell me the way please ........... Kripya raasta bataiye



Customs of India

India is a modern country yet the customs and traditions are religiously followed in urban as well as rural India. These traditions of India are what give India an individual identity and lend a mystical essence to the atmosphere. One finds a unique and harmonious co-existence of many different religions in India. This gives rise to an umpteen number of traditions. India is a secular country and everyone has the right to pursue a religion of his/her own choice. Indian customs and rituals vary from one region to another, yet they are known in a collective form of Indian traditions. Read on further to know about the unique customs, rituals and traditions of India.

Traditional Welcome In India
a guest is considered as equal to God. So welcoming a guest is no less than an event. The guest is given a very warm traditional welcome in which he/she is garlanded and given a welcome drink. Then a "tikka" (vermillion) is applied on the forehead and a small "aarti" is performed. The Indian phrase for this is "Atithi Devo Bhava". This phrase is also used for a campaign launched by the Tourism Ministry of India to highlight the rich culture of India.

Lighting Lamp/Diya
A small lamp, which is known as "diya" is lit before the picture or idol of god. Along with the diya, incense sticks are also lit. It is lit in the early hours of morning or evening or both. It is considered to bring good luck to the house and is also considered sacred.

Namaskar/Namaste
People in India greet each other by joining the palms at almost the chest level and saying "namaste". It is used for both "hello" and "goodbye".

Prostrating
The youngsters in India show respect to elders by prostrating before the elders of the family. They kneel down and touch the feet of their parents as a sign of respect and to receive their blessing and good wishes. The elders bless by touching the head of the child.



What to Wear in India
While in India, carry basic clothing with yourself. However don't pack so much that you find it difficult to handle your own baggage. Indian clothing pattern changes according to the seasons. You will find many varieties of clothes to wear in India while traveling and shopping. There is no such definite answer to the question of how to dress up in India because we don't adhere to any dress code as such. However, India still sticks to tradition and some heads turn if you dress up provocatively in public. Also, you might invite unwanted attention from certain men who stare and pass comments at women to amuse themselves. Read on further to know what to wear in India.
First check the season you are traveling in. Is it summer or winter? Both the weather conditions can reach extremes so it is better that you pack according to the season.
If you are traveling in summers, pack light cotton clothes. Do not wear synthetic as you may develop some skin allergy or heat burns.
If you are traveling in winters, pack some warm clothes, as it can get mercilessly chilly in the northern parts of India.
Take your basic jeans and some full-sleeved shirts and tee shirts for comfortable traveling. Full-sleeved clothes are ideal protection against sun tan during the day and mosquito bites at night.
Carry good sturdy shoes with you since your feet will be dusty and dirty while traveling. It is best to avoid dangerously high heels and flat sandals will do just fine.
For women, there are no restrictions on wearing jeans, trousers and long skirts. You would want to avoid shorts, tank tops and exposing vests while in India as it may hurt some Indian sensibilities. Sleeveless shirts, if decent can be worn without any problems. It is advisable to carry a light stole or scarf with you to cover your head in case it gets too hot. Some religious places also require you to cover your head, so it may come handy then.
Look around you and observe how people dress up in India. You can always pick some tips from the trendy yet decent youngsters.
In case you want a different style and dress up in the Indian way, opt for knee length "kurtas" that can be worn with jeans or cotton pants called "pajama". The traditional Indian attire for women that looks like a kurta pajama is called "salwar kameez" and is easily available in many garment stores.


Local Transport in India
There is no dearth of local transport in India. There are many cheap and affordable means of transportation in India that are available almost everywhere and anytime. Most locals depend on these means of transport for commuting from one place to another. The local Indian transport is a highly developed network that connects the busiest places as well as the remotest locales. Read on further about the local transport for commuting within India.

Buses
Buses are the cheapest means of local transport in India. Almost every city in India has a highly developed network of buses that ply from one place to another and cover long distances in a short time. It is best to enquire the routes before boarding a bus. You can ask fellow passengers on the bus stop as to which bus will go to your destination.

Auto Rickshaws
An auto rickshaw is also called auto or a three-wheeler. An auto is a small vehicle, usually in a combination of green and yellow or black and yellow. There are no doors or seatbelts. The right side of the auto is usually bound by iron rods to prevent anyone from falling. There is a single seat in the front for the driver and a wider space at the back for seating minimum 3 people. All autos are provided with a meter for calculating the fare, though most auto drivers don't use the meter. So while hiring an auto, fix an amount and negotiate. T

Taxis/Cabs
You can find many cabs on the roads or you can always hire one from the numerous taxi stands strewn across the major cities. There are pre paid taxis also available at major railway stations and airports. You can also hire luxury vehicles from certain travel agencies.

Cycle Rickshaws
The cycle rickshaw has been on the Indian roads since ancient times. It is like a big tricycle that has a seat in the front for the rickshaw puller and a wide seat at the back to accommodate two people. It is an experience in itself and is the cheapest mode of transport for traveling short distances. The rickshaw pullers charge a nominal amount for their service. If you feel the amount is too much, do not hesitate to bargain.


Metro Rail
The major cities have a well-planned metro rail network. Calcutta has the oldest network of metro in India. Though metro is not available all through India, most cities like Delhi have a pretty good system of metro rail. Mumbai's metro system is under construction and will be ready soon. NCR regions (near Delhi) like Noida and Gurgaon also have extensive metro system plans in the pipeline.



LET'S GO SUGGESTED ITINERARIES:

From scaling the world’s highest mountains to spelunking its ancient caves, from racing on a camel to raving on a beach, you can do it all in India and Nepal.

Holy Places
Visit some of the Subcontinent’s most sacred sites and witness the rituals and traditions that have remained intact for thousands of years. Hinduism’s holiest city, Varanasi, is the chosen home of Lord Shiva himself, and the place where many pious Hindus come to spend their last moments of earthly existence. Trace the footsteps of the 9th-century saint, Shankara, who established India’s four major dhams (divine abodes): Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Rameswaram in the south, and Puri in the east. Take in some of the finest Hindu temple architecture in India at Bhubaneswar, or sing songs of praise to Lord Krishna in his playground, Vrindaban. The holiest city for Sikhs, Amritsar houses the beautiful Golden Temple. Free yourself from all worldly desires in Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, or circumambulate Nepal’s most important stupa in Boudha. Jains head to Mount Abu and its gorgeous Dilwara temples or to the foot of the 17m-high Jain saint Bahubali in Sravanabelagola. Worshippers flock to the Har-ki-Pairi ghat in Haridwar to bathe at sunrise, while followers of the sun god watch the sunset at the Sun Temple in Konark. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai amazes visitors with over 30 million sculptures. Finally, those with iron stomachs can witness animal sacrifices to the goddess Kali at Dakshinkali in Nepal and in Kalighat south of Kolkata.

Oldies but Goodies
It shouldn’t come as much of a shock that one of the world’s oldest civilizations also has some of its most fascinating monuments. Delhi’s Red Fort and Jama Masjid are an impressive introduction to the relics of India’s Mughal rulers. The abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri is an architectural time-machine that will whisk you back to the Mughal era faster than you can say Shah Jahan. The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho allure and enchant, while carvings in the caves at Ellora and Ajanta are equally seductive, if somewhat less racy. Patan’s Durbar Square is full of ancient temples. The skeletons of such holy spaces are all that remain at Hampi’s breathtaking Vijayanagar ruins. The Lake Palace in Udaipur encapsulates the romantic allure of Rajasthan, but it is just one of many famous forts and palaces in India, including Gwalior Fort, Jaipur’s City Palace, the windswept Jaisalmer Fort, Hyderabad’s Golconda Fort, and Mysore’s Maharaja’s Palace. Oh, and don’t forget the Taj Mahal.

WAves‘N’ Raves
For some serious beach action, nothing beats Goa. From the tourist-trafficked shores of Anjuna to the less-crowded strands of Benaulim and Palolem, Goa has more sand than you can shake a coconut at. Party your way north to Dwarka, whose shores are lapped by the waves of the Arabian Sea. Pretend you’re in the south of France on the beaches of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. The white sands of Kovalam and Puri are outdone only by the pristine shores of Varkala and temple-studded Mahabalipuram. The Andaman Islands, 1000km off shore in the Bay of Bengal, have been attracting greater numbers of tourists in recent years, but are still far off the beaten track. If you’ve traversed both coasts and still haven’t gotten enough sun or sand, leave the waves behind and catch the next camel out to Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.

Trekking, Rafting, and Tiger-spotting
Adventure-seekers and trail-blazers already know that the best trekking in the world is in the Himalayas. Journey past Mount Everest, the Annapurna Range, and the Langtang Valley, and watch tiny Nepali villages become even tinier Tibetan hamlets against a backdrop of rock, water, and ice. The Kinnaur-Spiti Road in Himachal Pradesh passes through the most remote regions of India, with some great hikes along the way, particularly near Kalpa and Kaza. Trek through Western Sikkim, wander across the desert plateau of Leh, or marvel at Kashmir’s Nubra Valley. Coast your way down the Himalayas on the white water rapids of the Karnali River or battle Jaws as you zip down Sun Kosi. Get up close and personal with rhinos in Kaziranga National Park or with bears in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Elephants rumble and trumpet their way through Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Tiger enthusiasts can enjoy the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Corbett National Park, and birders will get an eyeful at the world-renowned Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Estuarine crocodiles slink along the muddy shores of Sunderbans National Park.

Out of Sight
The best way to avoid the crowds is to travel off-season, but some fascinating places see surprisingly little traffic regardless of the season. Kausani in Uttaranchal, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Bikane in Rajasthan, Mandvi and Bhuj in Gujarat, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, and Kirtipur, Manakamana, and Tansen in Nepal, stay serene no matter the time of year. If political volatility and the occasional bomb aren’t enough to get you ruffled, nothing beats a night on a houseboat in Kashmir or watching the closing of the Indo-Pakistani border at Wagah. If safety is what you crave, breath easy in the eucalyptus- and kurinji blossom-scented air of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.

Out of Mind
Whether you seek New Age enlightenment at Osho and Auroville, or centuries-old secrets in Boudha and Bodh Gaya, count on getting earloads of advice about the lastest path to enlightenment from your fellow travelers. Swap travel yarns, drink tea, and make arrangements for the next leg of your journey alongside them at the backpacker meccas of Manali and Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, Pushkar in Rajasthan, Anjuna in Goa, Kovalam in Kerala, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, Puri in Orissa, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Pokhara in Nepal’s Western Hills, and Kathmandu’s Thamel district, to just name a select few. After a couple of days, you’ll know all the newest yoga positions, herbal remedies, and enough meditations to be your own travel guru.



Inside Let's Go India Top Choices

BEST PLACE FOR PACKRATS:
If you’ve ever thought twice about tossing your elephant-shaped foot scrubbers, a visit to the Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune or the Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior will remind you that you’re not alone. Better still, slurp up the sacred spit of the thousands of holy rats that pack the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, Rajasthan.

BEST MOUNTAIN HIGH:
Grass and hippies grow wild in the Himachal hilltop town of Manali, at the base of the Himalayas. For a milder buzz, head to the Happy Valley Tea Estate in the hill station retreat of Darjeeling, and watch workers pluck those world-famous leaves before your eyes.

BEST REASONS TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
Rise at dawn to have buckets of holy water dumped over your head at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, a once-in-a-lifetime experience sure to clear your head and absolve you of the sins of the night before. Keep dry and watch the sun crawl above Mt. Everest from the Nepalese town of Nagarkot, or trace its ascent over the ancient ghats of Varanasi, with the chime of temple bells providing the mood music

.BEST CHANCE FOR GETTING BITTEN:Prowl close to endangered (though still extremely ferocious) tigers at the Chitwan National Park in Nepal or the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. If they don’t get you, head to Kashmir, where lha-ba healers will open wide and suck evil spirits out of your soul.

BEST KEPT SECRET:
Artists and pretty people commune in the calm glow of candlelight at the Villa River Cat in the secluded beach town of Mandrem in Goa. Be sure to find it before it gets found out.

BEST PARTIES IN TOWN:
The largest event of its kind in the world, the International Kite Festival kicks off the month of January in Ahmedabad. Pack it in at Pushkar in November, when 50,000 hump-backs and 200,000 humans squeeze into one square kilometer for the Pushkar Camel Festival.

BEST BENDERS:
Freak out at the full-moon raves on Anjuna beach, Goa, an experience sure to turn your mind inside out. Or be like the Beatles and join thousands of other body benders for the world-renowned International Yoga Festival along the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh. Twist and wind through vibrant valleys, dry, sandstone plateaux, and breathtaking Himalayan peaks along the Manali-Leh Road, one of the highest highways in the world.

BEST PLACE TO FLAUNT YOUR MOUSTACHE
Compete for the crown of Mr. Desert in Jaisalmer if you’re the man who best embodies Rajasthani masculinity with your full-bodied bristles.