India

India is a mystical land of seductive images. Hinduism and its religious rites and red-letter days are woven into the fabric of everyday life. It is also India’s vastness that challenges the imagination, being home to one sixth of the world’s population.

Its intoxicatingly rich history can be traced back to at least 2500BC when the first known civilisation settled along the Indus River.  

There was an influx of Moghuls in the 1520s from Central Asia, who maintained effective control of the north until the mid 18th century. At the end of that century, as the Moghul Empire declined, the British took control of the whole subcontinent, and the whole of India was administered by a single alien power.

The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, but made little progress on independence until Mahatma Gandhi began the policy of non-cooperation with the British. But the congress itself was split on the issue of Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, claimed a separate homeland and in August 1947 the independent states of India and Pakistan came into being. Since this time, India has been a democratic republic.

Such a rich history has spawned palaces, temples and monuments. The most frequently visited part of India is the Golden Triangle. The unfairly maligned great cities of Mumbai and Kolkata have a bustling, colourful charm, while the holy city of Varanasi or the awe-inspiring temples of Tamil Nadu are worthy objects of pilgrimage. For those who prefer more sybaritic pleasures, tackle the palm-fringed beaches of Goa. And for solitude, India ripples with mountains and hills, from the towering beauty of the Himalayas to pine forests, lakes and babbling streams.

One of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new; centuries of history rubbing shoulders with the computer age; and Bengaluru’s (Bangalore’s) ‘Silicon Valley’ is as much a part of the world’s largest democracy as its remotest village.

South Asia.

Area

3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).

Population

1.1 billion (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density

347 per sq km.

Capital

New Delhi. Population: 13.8 million (2001).

Government

Republic since 1947.

India shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to the south the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and territories are all but separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. The Himalayan mountain range to the north and the Indus River (west) and Ganges River (east) form a physical barrier between India and the rest of Asia. The country can be divided into five regions: Western, Central, Northern (including Kashmir and Rajasthan), Eastern and Southern.

Language

The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telegu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages are Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speak Urdu.

Religion

About 81% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

Time

GMT + 5.5.

Social Conventions

The Indian Hindu greeting is to fold the hands and tilt the head forward to namaste. Indian women prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. The majority of Indians remove their footwear when entering their houses. Because of strict religious and social customs, visitors must show particular respect when visiting someone’s home. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Small gifts are acceptable as tokens of gratitude for hospitality. Women are expected to dress modestly. Short skirts and tight or revealing clothing should not be worn, even on beaches. Businesspeople are not expected to dress formally except for meetings and social functions. 

English-speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important tourist centres. Guides speaking French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish are available in some cities. Consult the nearest Indiatourism office. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments. Tourists are advised to ask for guides with certificates from the Ministry of Tourism or Indiatourism (see Contact Addresses).

Photography: Formalities mainly concern protected monuments and the wildlife sanctuaries. Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is necessary for the use of tripod and artificial light to photograph monuments. Photography at many places is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee, which varies. Contact the nearest Government of India Tourist Office.

Electricity

Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are of the round two- and three-pin type.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.

Head of State

President Pratibha Patil since July 2007.

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorisation. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to check with Indiatourism for up-to-date information before departure. The following states are subject to some restrictions: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Port Blair, Mizoram, Nagaland and Mundgod.

Types of Visa and Cost

The following prices are for UK nationals only; prices for other nationals vary. Tourist: £30 (six months). Business: £30 (six months); £50 (one year); £90 (two years). Transit:£8 (single/double-entry). Student: £55 (irrespective of duration).

Note: (a) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK need to pay an additional £10 (amounts charged may also vary according to nationality and type of passport held) unless holding proof of at least one-year residence in the UK. (b) A £1 fee may be required for postal applications, depending on consulate.

Validity

Tourist: six months for multiple entry. Transit: for stays of up to 72 hours within 15 days of date of issue. Business: three or six months, or up to two years for multiple entry.

Applications to:

Embassy or high commission (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Personal applications can normally be processed the same day. Postal applications may take up to 15 working days or longer (early September to February). Those requiring an additional fee may need a minimum of seven working days and possibly much longer for their visa application to be processed.

Currency

Rupee (INR; symbol Rp) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of Rp5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20 and 10 paise. Note: The import of local currency is prohibited. Export of local currency is also prohibited, except for passengers proceeding to Nepal (excluding notes of denominations of Rp100 or higher), Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka (up to Rp20 per person).

Currency Exchange

Currency can be changed at banks, airports or authorised money changers. It is illegal to exchange money through unauthorised money changers. US Dollars and Pounds Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Traveller's Cheques

These are widely accepted and may be changed at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to change certain brands of traveller’s cheques which others exchange quite happily.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 1000-1400, Sat 1000-1200.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Getting Around By Air

The state domestic airline is Indian Airlines (IC) (website: www.indian-airlines.nic.in). The network connects over 70 cities. Other domestic airlines include Alliance Air (3A), a subsidiary of Indian Airlines, Jet Airways (9W) (website: www.jetairways.com)and Air Sahara (S2) (website: www.airsahara.org).

Air Passes

There are various special Indian Airlines fares available to foreign nationals and Indian nationals residing abroad, which may be purchased either abroad or in India, where payment is made in a foreign convertible currency (such as US Dollars or Pounds Sterling). With the exception of the Youth Fare India (see below), discounts of 90% are available for children under two years of age, and of 50% for children aged two to 12. Full details of all the special fares are available from Indiatourism. A summary of each is given below. Group discounts of up to 30% are also available.

Discover India: seven-day, 15-day and 21-day tickets offer unlimited economy-class travel on all domestic Indian Airlines services. No stop may be visited more than once, except for transfer.

Youth Fare India: valid for three months, offering a 25% discount on the normal US Dollar fare. It is available to those aged 12 to 30 at the commencement of travel for journeys on economy/executive class of domestic air services and Indo-Nepal services.

India Wonder Fares (North, South, East and West): valid for seven days, offering unlimited economy-class travel. No town may be visited more than once, except for transfer. Details of the main air centres included in the deal can be obtained from Indian Airlines offices.

Getting Around by Water

There are ships from Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras) to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. Contact Shipping Corporation of India (tel: (033) 248 2354, in Kolkata or (044) 523 1401, in Chennai; website: www.shipindia.com) for details. There are also services from Kochi and Calicut to the Lakshadweep Islands (website: http://lakport.nic.in). Services are often seasonal, and are generally suspended during the monsoon. There is a catamaran service from Mumbai (Bombay) to Goa. One particularly attractive boat journey is the ‘backwaters’ excursion in the vicinity of Kochi in Kerala. Several local tours are available.

Getting Around by Rail

The Indian internal railway system is state-run by Indian Railways (tel: (011) 340 5156 or 334 6804; website: www.indianrail.gov.in). There are six classes of travel: first-class air conditioned, first-class sleeper, second-class air conditioned, second-class sleeper, third-class air conditioned and air conditioned chair car. Major trains carry restaurant cars.

Special trains: The Palace on Wheels is an Edwardian-style luxury steam train with 14 coaches. Modern amenities include air conditioning. Tariff includes cost of travel, full catering and conducted sightseeing tours. Itinerary: Delhi-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Ranthambae-Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi. Royal Orient Express: This luxury train journeys through Gujarat and Rajasthan taking in the sights of Chittargarh, Udaipur, Palitana, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. The trip takes eight days and accommodation is in furnished carriages with lounge, minibar and kitchenette. Multi-cuisine restaurants are also available. Contact Indian Railways for further information. The Fairy Queen is the oldest steam engine in the world. The journey is a two-day round trip from Delhi to Alwar. Guests are taken to Sariska Tiger Reserve for a jeep safari and stay overnight in a hotel.The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway operates from Newjalpaiguri to Darjeeling. It climbs 5,000ft (1,525m). Hill Trains: Narrow-gauge rail lines completed in the 19th century link numerous hill stations. For example, the Kolkata (Calcutta)-Darjeeling route takes eight hours.

Other trains: The Rajdhani Express trains are deluxe super-fast trains connecting Delhi with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Bhubhaneswar, Guwahati, Jammu Tawi, Secunderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Ajmer and many others. Shatabdi Express: Super-fast trains connecting major and secondary city centres. Snacks and meals are provided. Konkan Express: This route is Mumbai-Goa-Mangalore.

Rail Passes

Indrail Pass: enables travel on any train within one year. Advance reservation is essential. Indrail passes can be reserved in the UK from SD Enterprises Ltd (tel: (020) 8903 3411; website: www.indiarail.co.uk). The passes can also be purchased in India at all the main railway stations and authorised agents.

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the left. Outside the major cities main roads and other routes are poorly maintained and congested with poor visibility and inadequate warning markers.

Bus: An extensive network of busservices connects all parts of the country, and is particularly useful for the mountainous regions where there are no rail services. However, public transport is often crowded and can be uncomfortable. Details of routes may be obtained from the local tourist office.

Tourist cars: There are a large number of chauffeur-driven tourist cars (some air conditioned) available in the main tourist centres. These unmetered tourist cars run at a slightly higher rate than the ordinary taxis, and are approved by Indiatourism. Travellers should ask drivers to maintain a safe speed and wear a seat belt where available.

Car hire: Self-drive cars are not generally available. Driving around India is not recommended due to the erratic nature of Indian driving standards.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. A green card is required if importing your own car into India.

Note: Travel in rural areas during the monsoon season can be hazardous and care should be taken. Monsoon rains cause flooding and landslides that can cut off some towns and villages for days at a time.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Taxis and auto rickshaws are available in large cities and fares should be charged by the kilometre. They do not always have meters but, where they do, visitors should insist on the meter being flagged in their presence. Fares change from time to time and therefore do not always conform to the reading on the meter, but drivers should always have a copy of the latest fare chart available for inspection. Kolkata (Calcutta) has a 16.5km (10-mile) underground railway. A metro system opened in Delhi in 2004; the remaining sections are due to be completed in 2008.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Delhi to other major cities/towns in India.

Food and Drink

Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such as turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although these vary from region to region. Vegetable dishes are more common than in Europe, particularly in southern India.

Things to know: Bottled water is essential for visitors but make sure the bottles are properly sealed. Most restaurants serve alcohol with meals and most Western-style hotels have licensed bars. Various states impose prohibition and in some big cities certain days are observed as dry days when the sale of liquor is not permitted. Tourists may check with the nearest local tourist office for the prohibition laws/rules prevailing in any given state.

National specialities:
•Dal (crushed lentil soup with various additional vegetables).
• Kulfi (Indian ice cream).
•Gulab Jamuns (flour, yoghurt and ground almonds).
• Jalebi (pancakes in syrup).
• Pan (betel leaf in which are wrapped spices such as aniseed and cardamom).

National drinks:
• Chai (tea) is India’s favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed with milk and sugar unless ‘tray tea’ is specified.
• Coffee is increasingly popular.
•Nimbu Pani (lemon drink).
• Lassi (iced buttermilk)
• Indian beer (in many varieties).

Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants.

Nightlife

India has generally little nightlife as the term is understood in the West, although in major cities a few Western-style shows, clubs and discos are being developed, and Western-style pubs are increasingly common. In most places the main attraction will be cultural shows featuring performances of Indian dance and music. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world, now producing three times as many full-length feature films as the USA. Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) are the country’s two ‘Hollywoods’. Almost every town will have a cinema, and large towns will have many, some of which will show films in English. Music and dancing are an important part of Indian cinema, combining with many other influences to produce a rich variety of film art. Larger cities may have theatres staging productions of English-language plays.

Shopping

Each region has its own specialities, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork and antiques, India is a shopper’s paradise. Bargaining is expected, and the visitor can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia.

Fabrics: One of India’s main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye’ design is usually brilliantly colourful, while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding’ effect after a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful woollens, particularly shawls.

Carpets: India has one of the world’s largest carpet industries. Each region will have its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly coloured Tibetan rugs, available mainly in Darjeeling.

Clothes: Clothes are cheap, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops. Cloth includes silks, cottons, himroos, brocades and chiffons.

Jewellery: This is traditionally heavy and elaborate. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl centre.

Handicrafts and leatherwork: Each area has its speciality; the range includes bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), canework and pottery. Woven rugs and papier mâché(some decorated in gold leaf) are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are specialities of Agra. Rajasthan is known for its colourful fabrics and silks. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers.

Woodwork: Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and Chennai (Madras).

Other goods: Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1700 in most large stores.

Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100 years old, animal skins and objects made from skins.

• Encounter the two sides of Delhi: New Delhi is a modern city, offering Lutyens’ architecture; ‘Old’ Delhi is several centuries old, with narrow winding streets, temples and bazaars. See the Red Fort, the nearby Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque) and the Qutab Minar’s soaring tower.

• Gaze at the sacred River Ganges. Along its bank is the wondrous city of Varanasi, India’s holiest Hindu location with its ghats which, at dawn, are thronged with pilgrims and holy men performing ritual ablutions and prayers.

• Discover the ‘Golden Triangle’. Delhiis its centre. In the southeast lies Agra, and the Taj Mahal. To the southwest, in Rajasthan, is Jaipur,the ‘Pink City’. Visit the Amber Palace and the Palace of the Winds.To the east of the triangle lies Khajuraho with its famous friezes.

• Visit the most romantic city in Rajasthan, Udaipur, built around the lovely Lake Pichola and famed for its Lake Palace Hotel, and dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’.

• Enjoy the Hill Stations as a retreat from the heat of the plains. Less than 320km (200 miles) to the north of Delhi is Shimla.The hill station for Kolkata is Darjeeling and the hill station for Chennai is Kodaikanal.

• Wonder at Kashmir’sflower-spangled meadows, icy mountain peaks and clear rivers. Jammu is the railhead for Srinagar, the ancient Mughal capital. Lake Dalhas houseboats where visitors can live surrounded by scenery so beautiful it is known as ‘paradise on earth’.

• Escape Indian stereotypes in Mumbai (Bombay),the capital of Maharashtra, a bustling port and the commercial centre of India, with plate-glass skyscrapers and modern industry that jostles alongside bazaars and a hectic streetlife. The city is also the home of the film industry. Welcome to ’Bollywood’.

• Enjoy India’s beaches. Mumbai has Juhu and Chowpatti. Goa offers some of the finest beaches and the luxury resort of Aguada. Marina Beach in Chennai is the second largest in the world. The state of Kerala includes the famous beach at Kovalam.

• Observe rock-cut temples, such as the Buddhist cave temples at Ajanta, which date back at least 2,000 years. The caves at Ellora depict religious stories and are Hindu, Buddhist and Jain in origin.

• Go south to Chennai (Madras), India’s fourth-largest city and capital of Tamil Nadu. It has few tall buildings and enjoys the ambience of a market town rather than a huge city. See Chennai Lighthouse and the city’s many Christian churches.

• Go east to Kolkata (Calcutta),capital of West Bengal and India’s largest city, with its colonial buildings in Chowringhee.It is a major business centre with many markets and bazaars. Central Kolkata contains the Maidan, the central parkland.

•Orissa state is famous for temples. Bhubaneswarhas 500, including the Lingaraja Temple. Puri, one of the four holiest cities, in July stages Rath Yatra, where icons of gods are drawn on massive wooden chariots. Konarak is known for its ‘Black Pagoda’.

• Thrill to the wildlife in over 70 national parks, 400 wildlife sanctuaries and 24 tiger reserves. The Indian tiger and the Asiatic elephant are still found in most regions. Among the best known reserves are Bharatpur National Park in Rajasthan and Sundarban National Park in West Bengal.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

• Listen to the sounds of Indian music, such as the sitar, sarod and the subtle rhythm of the tabla. See the variety of dance forms, each with its own costumes and elaborate language of gestures.

• Experience India’s desert. Jaisalmer,in Rajasthan, holds the Desert Festival in January/February each year. Pushkar in November hosts the fascinating Camel Fair.

• Play golf on the highest golf course in the world, at Gulmarg. From here there are good views of Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world. In winter, Gulmarg is transformed into a ski resort, complete with modern gondola (website: www.skihimalaya.com).

• Party in Goa. Although smaller and less authentic than in the heady days of the 1960s, there are still some fabulous full moon parties in Anjuna.

• Whilst in Goa, attend the spectacular Carnival, held on the three days leading up to Ash Wednesday. This colourful festival is jam-packed with bustling fun, as crowds throng to watch the lavish floats pass by, and dance to music that continually rents the air.

• Snorkel in the the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, a lushly forested archipelago that has exotic plant life and a wide variety of corals and tropical fish.

• Take the ‘Toy Train’ from Kolkata to Darjeelingthrough jungle, tea gardens and pine forests. Darjeeling commands fine views of Kanchenjunga(8,586m/28,169ft), the third-highest mountain in the world. Sherpa Tenzing was born and died here and, appropriately, it is home to the Indian Mountaineering Institute and is also a world-renowned tea-growing centre.

• Take part in the Durga puja in Kolkata.One of the biggestHindureligious festivals in India, it is full of colour and noise and lasts for a whole month - coinciding with the period of Ramadan. 

• Go mountaineering, or trekking.Itis especially important in Sikkim. Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh, is the base for treks into Kullu Valley. Kumaon is the base for treks in Uttar Pradesh, while Kodaikanal is the base for treks in Tamil Nadu.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Statistics

•GDP: US$797 billion (2005-2006).
•Main exports: Textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals and leather manufactured goods.
•Main imports: Crude oil, machinery, gems, fertiliser and chemicals.
• Main trade partners: USA, United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore and UK.

Economy

Advanced technology initiatives, such as digital communications and space research, contrast with the poverty that persists, particularly in rural areas. The country ranks among the top dozen in the world by gross national product. Roughly three-fifths of the population are involved in agriculture, both subsistence (mainly cereals) and cash crops, including rice, tea, rubber, coffee, cotton. 

India’s energy requirements are met by oil, most of which is imported despite the growth of indigenous production, and hydroelectric schemes. Mining produces iron ore and cut diamonds for export. India’s main industrial development has been in engineering, iron and steel, chemicals, electronics and textiles. Since the 1990s, trade has been liberalised, the sprawling public sector cut back, and some state-owned industries sold off. 

The economy has resumed its healthy growth rate, currently just over 8% per annum, while inflation is just 4%. Further improvements to the national infrastructure and basic services are now seen as the priority for central and regional governments. Foreign investment has reached an all-time peak of over US$4 billion annually and is set to continue rising.

Business Etiquette

English is widely used in commercial circles, so there is little need for translation services. Indian businesspeople welcome visitors and are very hospitable. The coolest months for business visits are October to March, and accommodation should be booked in advance.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700, Sat 0930-1300.

Commercial Information

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
Corporate House,147B Gautam Nagar, Gulmohar Enclave, New Delhi 110 049, India
Tel: (011) 2651 2477/9.
Website: www.assocham.org

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India
Tel: (011) 2373 8760/70.
Website: www.ficci.com

Conferences & Conventions

The main congress and exhibition centres are Bengaluru (Bangalore), Bhubaneswar, Chennai (Madras), Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Mumbai (Bombay). In addition, top-class hotels with convention and conference facilities are found throughout the country. Air India, Indian Airlines and leading hoteliers and travel agents are members of the International Congress and Conference Association (ICCA) and they provide all the services required for an international event.

Telephone

Country code: 91.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns but is increasing all the time. 

Internet

E-mail can be accessed from larger hotels and from Internet cafes across the country, many now having Wi-Fi connection facilities.

Media

The state’s TV monopoly was broken in 1992, resulting in a boom of private channels. News and entertainment shows are especially popular, with news programmes often attracting the larger audiences. A number of 24-hour news channels operate in India. Public TV is run by Doordarshan, while STAR Plus, owned by News Corporation, is one of the most popular private channels. Private radio stations were sanctioned in 2000, but only public All India Radio is allowed to broadcast news. Newspaper circulation has risen, thanks to a growing middle class, as has the number of Internet users.

Post

Airmail service to Western Europe takes up to one week. Stamps are often sold at hotels.

Post office hours: Vary from place to place.

Press

• There are numerous local dailies published in several languages.
• Many newspapers are in English; the most important include The Economic Times, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Navbharat Times, Punjab Kesari, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, Pioneer and The Times of India.

Radio

• Stations include All India Radio, All India Radio External Service (offering broadcasts in local and regional languages, Arabic and English), Radio Mirchi (a commercial network in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities), Radio City (a commercial station in Mumbai and other cities), and commercial network Red FM.

Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from December to February, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between March and May. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.

Western Himalayas: Srinagar is best from March to October; July to August can be unpleasant; cold and damp in winter. Shimla is higher and therefore colder in winter. Places like Gulmarg, Manali and Pahalgam are usually under several feet of snow (December to March) and temperatures in Ladakh can be extremely cold. The road to Leh is open from June to October.

Required clothing: Light- to mediumweights are advised from March to October, with warmer wear for winter. Weather can change rapidly in the mountains and therefore it is important to be suitably equipped. Waterproofing is advisable.

Northern Plains: Extreme climate, warm inland from April to mid-June, falling to almost freezing at night in winter between November and February. Summers are hot with monsoons between June and September.

Required clothing: Lightweights in summer with warmer clothes in winter and on cooler evenings. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons.

Central India: Madhya Pradesh State escapes the very worst of the hot season, but monsoons are heavy between July and September. Temperatures fall at night in winter.

Required clothing: Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer clothes during evenings, particularly in winter. Waterproofed clothing is advised during monsoon rains.

Western India: November to February is most comfortable, although evenings can be fairly cold. Summers can be extremely hot with monsoon rainfall between mid June and mid September.

Required clothing: Lightweights are worn most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler winters, and waterproofing is essential during the monsoon.

Southwest: The most pleasant weather is from November to March. Monsoon rains between late April and July. Summer temperatures not as high as Northern India although humidity is extreme. Cooling breezes on coast. Inland, Mysore and Bijapur have pleasant climates with relatively low rainfall.

Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.

Southeast: Tamil Nadu experiences a northeast monsoon between October and December and temperatures and humidity are high all year. Hills can be cold in winter.

Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is necessary during the monsoon. Warmer clothes are worn in the winter, particularly in the hills.

Northeast: March to June and September to November are the driest and most pleasant periods. The rest of the year has extremely heavy monsoon rainfall and it is recommended that the area is avoided.

Required clothing: Lightweights. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year and essential in monsoons, usually from mid June to mid October. Warmer clothes are useful for cooler evenings.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan Idu’l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
20 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year).
26 Jan** Republic Day.
16 Feb Mahashivratri.
31 Mar Mahavir Jayanthi.
1 Apr Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
2 May Buddha Purnima.
15 Aug** Independence Day.
4 Sep Janmashtami.
2 Oct** Mahatma Ghandi’s Birthday.
13 Oct Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
21 Oct Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami).
9 Nov Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
24 Nov Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2008
Dec/Jan* Idu’l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice). 
10 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year).
26 Jan** Republic Day. 
Feb* Mahashivratri.
Feb/Mar* Mahavir Jayanthi.
Mar/Apr* Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
Apr/May* Buddha Purnima.
15 Aug** Independence Day.
Sep* Janmashtami.
Sep/Oct* Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami).
2 Oct** Mahatma Ghandi’s Birthday.
2 Oct Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Nov* Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
Nov* Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
29 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).

* Dates to be confirmed.

Note

(a) ** Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are universally observed. Public holidays in India tend to be observed on a strictly regional basis. The above dates are Government of India holidays, when government offices will be closed nationwide. In addition, there are numerous festivals and fairs which are also observed in some States as holidays, the dates of which change from year to year. For more details, contact Incredible India (see Contact Addresses). (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. (c) Although not government official holidays, Christmas Day (25 Dec) and New Year’s Day (1 Jan) are widely observed nationally.