Money
India's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. One Rupee is equal to 100 Paise.
Notes are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Rupees.
Coins are in denominations of 10, 25, and 50 Paise, and l, 2 and 5 Rupees. |
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Foreign Currency:
It is advisable to carry a mix of cash and traveller’s cheques to guard against any situation. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or traveller’s cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival by the tourist if they enter the country with US$10,000 or its equivalent in any other currency. |
Money
India's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. One Rupee is equal to 100 Paise. Notes are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Rupees. Coins are in denominations of 10, 25, and 50 Paise, and l, 2 and 5 Rupees. |
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This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure or for tax clearance certificates. Cash, bank notes and traveller’s cheques up to US$2,500 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of traveller’s cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc., which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorised money changers. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorised persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorised money changers is an offence. |
Please note that no Indian currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee traveller’s cheques. Banks abroad do keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee traveller's cheques to intending tourists.
There are 24-hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports.
One can also wire money into India. These services are offered by foreign banks with branches in India and also with Indian banks with branches abroad.
All credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Diners, American Express and others) are widely accepted in India. |
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Clothing
Travel as light as possible, as clothing and laundry are both quite inexpensive.The best outfit, especially during the hot summers, is a T-shirt worn with loose cotton trousers. You can purchase them anywhere in India at very reasonable rates. Adventurous ladies can try wearing the Indian 'salwar-kameez'. It is comfortable and free sized. |
Social Interaction
If you give the impression of being from a different country, chances are that you might be stared at, especially in smaller towns. Don't be offended—they mean no harm, it is just sheer curiosity. |
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Toilets
In India, public toilet facilities are few and far between. Take every opportunity you can to use a clean toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants.
Beggars
Do not let them hassle you, and do not encourage them by giving them money. |
Food and Drink
Drink only bottled water. Many well-known brands are available. In restaurants, insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Beef is not served in many parts of India. Pork is also not easily available. Eat non-vegetarian food only in good restaurants. The meat in cheaper and smaller places can be of dubious quality. Good quality vegetarian food is easily available. Curd or yoghurt is served with most meals. It is a natural aid to digestion and helps temper spicy food. |
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Shopping
Try to shop only in government handicraft shops. The prices are fixed there and the quality is certified. If that is not an option, check the prices at a few shops before making a choice. Bargaining is standard in most places and is enjoyed by all. Get used to the fact that you will probably be charged more than the locals. If possible, take a local along when you go shopping. |
Tipping
In hotels and restaurants, tips are not normally included in the bill. Some hotels include service charges on their bills. In such cases, tipping is not necessary. The standard tip is 10%. In hotels, porters and room service attendants are normally tipped at the end of the stay, though an early tip is likely to get you better service. Tipping of taxi drivers is not customary. |
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Sightseeing
Dress codes for religious places can include covering your head, being barefoot, etc. Ask, so that you don't unwittingly give offence. Some temples do not permit any leather articles at all on their premises. Also, certain temples are not open to non-Hindus. Please check with the local tourist information office. Most museums in India are closed on Mondays, and Site Museums—those near archaeological monuments—on Fridays. |
The dry summer heat can drain you completely. Drink lots of water and fluids. When the sun is strong, remember to use sunscreen on exposed parts of the body. Wear sunglasses to screen out harmful rays. Photography is not always permitted, and at many places, it is permitted only at a fee. There is usually a higher fee for using a video camera. Smoking is not allowed in public places. All properties of the Indian Railways including trains and railway stations are strictly non-smoking zones with stiff penalties for violations. English is spoken at almost all tourist centres, but you can also request Government-trained and approved guides who also speak German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or Russian. |
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Health Precautions
Always drink bottled water
For the first few days, it might be advisable to clean your teeth with bottled water
Eat fruit you can peel
Always wash fruit well before eating it
Wash your hands before and after eating
Always keep a tube of mosquito repellent with you
Always carry a kit of basic emergency medicines that you might need for diarrhoea, fever, etc., and band aids and an antiseptic ointment
If you do catch a bug, do not panic. It will go away in a few days, but try the following tips to keep it down:
Drink lassi - a local yoghurt drink; it will help tone down the bacteria
Eat plain rice or try a simple khichdi—an easily digestible mixture of rice and lentils
Drink plenty of coconut water. It's cooling and naturally sterilized
Drink plenty of fluids and take some electrolyte salts if the bug persists |
Time
Everything in India takes time—longer than in most places. So always give yourself extra time for whatever you may have to do, even if it is just a visit to the Post Office or changing money. Indians joke about the concept of "Indian Stretchable Time" (IST). Certainly, if you're a super-punctual sort, India can be frustrating. Make allowances for this. |
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Other
Keep extra photocopies of relevant pages of your passport. This will be required for Indian permits. Also, keep extra photographs of yourself. These will be required for permits, filling out forms, etc. Taxi and autorickshaw (3-wheeler) fares keep changing, and therefore do not always conform to readings on meters. Insist on seeing the latest rate card (available with the driver) and pay accordingly. Insist on the taxi/auto meter being flagged down in your presence. As much as possible, especially from the airport or railroad station, insist on using the pre-paid services, which are available at most major places. |
In cities, you can change most major foreign currencies and most traveller’s cheques, but you'll widen your options and save yourself hassles if you stick to US dollars or pounds sterling, and either Thomas Cook or American Express traveller’s cheques.
Most big cities have ATMs that accept VISA and MasterCard as well as American Express. The ATM network is expanding and in some states, you can find them even in some smaller towns. |
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