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INDIA > FACTS ABOUT THE VISITORS
General Timings to Visit Places
Generally, business hours in India vary from place to place, but in Delhi which
observes several national and religious holidays, most government and private
banks are open weekdays 10 am - 2 pm and on Saturday 10 am - 12 noon, while
closed on government holidays. Around-the-clock money changing facilities are
available at the international airport and some luxury hotels (western-style
hotels will also change money for their guests), while the major offices of
American Express providing the check-cashing facilities also have lengthened
hours.
Post offices are open from Monday to Friday through 10 am - 5 pm, and on Saturdays
from 10 am to 2 pm, and similarly to the government and private banks, they
are closed on government holidays and Sundays. Most museums are closed on Mondays,
while site museums usually closed on Fridays. Museums are also closed on government
holidays.
Courtesy in Religious Sites
No matter what religious places you are visiting, removing shoes before entering
the shrines is a must, though sometimes overshoes are provided for a small charge.
It is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages and speak loudly voice within.
Some parts of the holy places are only for the devotees, none of people who
do not practice the faith would be allowed to enter the sites. Women must dress
properly and cover their head before entering a Sikh gurudwara or a mosque,
while the right footstep should be threaded first while entering a mosque's
courtyard.
Some Hindu and Jain temples forbid all leather products, such as: shoes, belts,
handbags, camera caes, etc within the shrines. Visitors are also expected to
purify themselves by washing their hands and feet under a tank available there
before entering. Visitors in a gurudwara should not keep their feet pointing
towards the Holy Book or step over anyone sitting in prayer or meditation. It
is best to try sitting on the floor of a Hindu or Sikh temple with cross-legged
or feet tucked beneath.
When you are in a Buddhist monastery, always remember to follow a clockwise
direction while spinning a prayer wheel, going around the interiors and exteriors
of the monastery itself, stupa or mani wall. Cushions and chairs and set aside
for 'lamas' (monks). You may sit on the steps outside or on the floor. Once,
you get the opportunity to meet a 'rimpoche' - the head of lama-or a respected
monk, you should not turn your back on him while leaving. It is also suggested
to remove hat and lowering an umbrella within the confines of a monastery. This
manner of courtesy should also be observed in the presence of lama.
Arrival & Departure Formalities
If the visa, for stay in India, is for more than 180 days, a Registration Certificate
and Residential Permit should be obtained from the nearest Foreigners' Registration
Office within 15 days of arrival. Four photographs are also required for registration.
The foreigners registered at Foreigners' Registration Office are required to
report change of their addresses. All persons including Indian nationals are
required to fill in a Disembarkation Card, at the time of arrival.
A Registration Certificate and Residential Permit should be obtained from the
Foreigners' Registration Office for a more than 180 days stay. You can obtain
the legal permission at the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office within 15
days of arrival by attaching you photographs (four pieces).
It is also required for foreigners registered at the Foreigners' Registration
Office to report change of their addresses. Anybody, without exception, including
the Indian nationals are obliged to fill in the Disembarkation Card, at the
time of arrival. Meanwhile, all persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal
are required to fill in the Embarkation Card, at the time of departure, whether
by air, road or rail. Every foreigner tends to depart finally from India must
submit his/her Certificate of Registration either to the Registration Office
where he/ she registered, or to the Immigration Officer at the exit Port/ Checkpost.
Foreign Travel Tax
Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) is charged to passengers embarking on trips to any
destination outside India from a Customs airport/ seaport. The tax of Rs. 500
and Rs. 150 charged on trips to Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal,
Pakistan, Srilanka and Maldives. No tax is payable on trips carried out by ship
from Rameshwaram to Talaimanar and in case of transit passengers provided, they
do not leave the customs barrier. Transit passengers traveling by air forced
to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey
by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also
free from FTT. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for sightseeing, shopping
etc. during the ships' call at any of the Indian ports should not FTT either.
Customs
In general, visitors are obliged to make an oral baggage affirmation regarding
their possession of the baggage and foreign currency. The Currency Declaration
Form from the Customs is also required to be obtained, and the Disembarkation
Card handed over by the airline during the course of flight should also be filled
in.
There are two channels for clearance, i.e. the green and the red channel. Green
Channel is for passengers who are not in possession of any dutiable articles
or unaccompanied baggage. Meanwhile, the Red Channel is for passengers with
dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to be entered
on the tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.
Visitors must enter the dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high-value
article on a Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRE) at the time of departure.
A failure to re-export anything listed on the TBRE becomes a payable duty levied
for each missing item. Some stuffs are considered as the permissible duty-free
possessions, among others: clothes and jewelry, cameras and up to five rolls
of film; binoculars, a portable musical instrument, a radio or portable tape
recorder, a tent and camping equipment, fishing rod, a pair of skis, two tennis
rackets, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 95 litres of liquor, and gifts not exceeding
a value of Rs. 600 (about $20). A portable computer sometimes does not obliged
to be entered to TBRE form, but it is completely depend on the consideration
of the customs' official.
Currency Allowed In India
There is no particular restriction on the amount of foreign currency or travellers'
cheque a visitor allowed to bring into India. A declaration should be made within
the Currency Declaration Form given on arrival that will enable visitor to exchange
the currency brought in, as well as taking the unspent currency out of India
on departure. However, visitors to India should not have to declare the cash,
bank notes and travellers' cheques up US$ 1,000 or equivalent, at the time of
arrival
Banks and the authorized money changers are the only places recommended for
exchanging any money in the form of travellers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques,
etc. in convertible currencies. They will issue an encashment certificate that
is required at the time of re-conversion of any unspent money into foreign currency.
The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1973 stated that the exchanging of foreign
currency other than banks or authorized money changers is an offense against
law.
Leaving India
It is forbidden to bring rupees out of India. You have to exchange them into
other currency before departing from India. There are banking facilities where
you can converse the rupees into foreign currency, which usually locate in the
same airport hall as the check-in counters. It is best to contact them before
immigration, since they are not available thereafter.
Meanwhile, the Wildlife Act, 1972 states that all animal products, souvenirs
and trophies are subject to the protection. Exporting skins made from the protected
wildlife is illegal. You have to avoid such souvenirs that possibly made of
protected animal skins, except the crocodile-leather. Beside that, exporting
the items aged more than 100 years old must be by the legal permission from
the Archeological Survey office in Delhi. Yet, you should not worry whatsoever
since the reputable shops will provide you the required permit or help you to
obtain it. The Indian Customs will detain items without permit should they suspected
to be over than 100 years old.
Embassy Information
The United States Embassy
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri
tel. 011-6889033
Opens weekdays 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM for consular services
The Canadian High Commission
7/8 Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri
tel. 011-6876500
Opens Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM -12:45 PM and 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM and Friday 8:30
AM - 1:00 PM for consular services.
The British High Commission
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri
tel. 011-6872161
Opens weekdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM -4:00 PM for consular services.
For lost passports or in the state of emergencies, each embassy alerts the
24 hours duty officer daily.
Time: GMT/UTC plus five hours 30 minutes
Electricity: 230-240V, 50 HZ
Weights & measures: Metric (see conversion table)
Tourism: 2 million visitors per year
Airports
The Indian metro-cities' international airports extend services to ensure that
the travelers on business can go on with their works while waiting to board
an international connection, or when transferring between international flights.
Some facilities like restaurants, the well-equipped business centers, rest rooms
and telephone booths are included within. Duty free & handicrafts shopping,
snack bars, nursery and baby care rooms and art galleries are also commonly
existed in the airports.
Safety Precautions And Emergency Information
Leaving an unlocked suitcase in a hotel room or leaving suitcases unattended
on airports/ train stations remain risky. For women traveling alone, please
never get into a taxi or rickshaw with a second man accompanying the driver.
Also chain lock the door while staying in the hotel room, and be alert of pickpockets
in the crowd of people. Best to wear a money belt. And please be careful in
using your credit cards.
Hospital Emergency Rooms
East West Medical Center
38 Golf Links, New Delhi 110003
Tel. : 11/462-3738, 11/469-9229, 11/469-0955, 11/469-8865
Fax : 11/469-0428 or 11/463-2382
So far, East West is the only 24 hours clinic in India recognized by most international
insurance companies. It can provide you with a referral list of doctors, dentists,
opticians, chemists and lawyers throughout India. Yet, patients can arrange
for payment through S.O.S East West or may pay for services and refunded by
their own company. All major credit cards are accepted. The 24 hours emergency
medical services (including medivac) is provided anywhere in all over India.
Meanwhile, most hotels completed with chemists that open daily until about 9
pm. The chemist in Super Bazaar in Connaught Place is open 24 hours.
Communications
Both local and long distance communication services are available throughout
India, in which this field has been welcomed the private sector. The international
direct dialing code for India is 91.You can purchase a mobile phone including
its connecting card from most departmental stores or even in a small roadside
stores. You should not worry about the quality of the services, since they are
equal with the best in the world. The around-the-clock international services
of fax, telex and telegram are usually provided in big hotels and telegraph
offices in foremost cities
More facts about India
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India, in which Budhayana was
the first one who calculated the value of "pi" and explained the concept
that now called as Pythagorean theorem in the sixth century, long earlier before
the European mathematicians. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the
11th century The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas
Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53 (10 to the power of 53) with specific names
as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Up till now, the largest used
number is Tera 10**12 (10 to the power of 12).
Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world, while it has
been proven that the pioneer of wireless communication was the Indian's Prof.
Jagdish Bose not Italian's Marconi. The Indian's Saurashtra was the place where
the first reservoir and dam for irrigation were built. A beautiful lake called
'Sudarshana' set on the hills of Raivataka during Chandragupta Maurya's time
based on the record of Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 CE
Other Indian's awesome discovery was Chess which also known as Shataranja or
AshtaPada. Sushruta is the father of surgery whose 2600 years ago conducted
complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures,
urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. The usage of anesthesia
was popular in ancient India, while profound knowledge of anatomy, physiology,
etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also written
in many scripts.
Old India showed its modernization earlier. The Harappan culture in Sindhu
Valley was established over 5000 years ago, when many cultures were only nomadic
forest dwellers.
Other interesting facts: around 25% of the world's population follow the four
religions born in India, i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, while
Islam which also born India is the world's second largest religion. Since 200
B.C.E and 52 A.D, Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India.The Vishnu
Temple situated in Tirupathi city which was constructed in the 10th century,
is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination, larger than either
Rome or Mecca, with an average of 30,000 visitors every day giving donations
to the temple of $6 million (U.S.) daily.
The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC,
while the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Vinod Khosla, is Indian. In computer
development world, the head of the team that developed the Pentium co-processor,
Vinod Dham, is Indian. The founder and creator of Hotmail, the world's best-known
web-based email program, Sabeer Bhatia, is Indian, while The testing Director
of Windows 2000, Sanjay Tejwrika, is Indian.
Quotes on India
Albert Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count,
without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.
French scholar Romain Rolland said: If there is one place on the face of earth
where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest
days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.
Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA said: India conquered and dominated
China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier
across her border.
Mark Twain said: India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of
human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and The great
grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials
in the history of man are treasured up in India only.
Interesting Facts about India and Indians!
38% of Doctors in America are Indians.
12% of Scientists in America are Indians.
36% of NASA employees are Indians.
34% of MICROSOFT employees are Indians
28% of IBM employees are Indians
17% of INTEL employees are Indians
13% of XEROX employees are Indians
These facts were recently published in a German Magazine which deals with WORLD
HISTORY
More interesting Facts
India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous society. Varanasi, which also
called as Benares, was "the ancient city" visited by Lord Buddha in
500 B.C.E. The city also considered as the oldest, continuously inhabited city
in the world today
India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta, while the
world's first university was established in Takshashila in 700 BC, in which
more than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects.
The University of Nalanda established in the 4th century BC was considered as
one of the greatest accomplishments of ancient India in the field of education.
Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Forbes magazine in its
report on July 1987 stated that Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer
software. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans, which
was consolidated about 2500 years ago by Charaka, the father of medicine.
India was actually the richest country in the world until British invaded it
early of 17th century, despite of it recent images of poverty and lack of development.
One of world's greatest route-finders, Christopher Columbus was said attracted
by India's wealth. The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years
ago in which the word Navigation itself was derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH.
The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'. India's Bhaskaracharya calculated
the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer
Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.
Passport & Visa
The passport and visa for persons of Indian origin are issued by The Consular
passport and Visa division. The form of passport and visa application can be
download at http://passport.nic.in, while more information also can be browsed
within. Visitors to India can obtain from the Indian missions in each country.
Six-month multiple-entry visas are now issued to most nationals regardless of
the intended duration of stay. A tourist visa is generally given for 6 months
while a business visa can be issued for one or more year with multiple entries.
Transit visas are issued for a maximum period of 15-days with single/double
entry facilities to bonafide transit passengers only.
Visas for conference are specially issued for attending conferences, seminars,
or meetings in India. A letter of invitation from the organizer of the conference
is required to be submitted along with the visa application. The fee structure
depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa
applied.
Languages
In total there are 24 different languages, each spoken by a million or more
persons; as well as millions of other languages and dialects. Hindi is India's
official language. It is the primary tongue of 30% of the people and is written
in Devanagri script. Yet, there are 18 official languages spoken throughout
India, regarding to the freedom for the states to choose their own regional
languages for internal administration and education. Bengali,
Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi,
Assamese, Kashmiri and Sindhi, are among the official languages which are also
widely spoken. Sanskrit is rarely used except in rituals and ceremonies, even
it is one of the official languages. Meanwhile, English is widely spoken as
it is a very important language for national, political and commercial communication. |
