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Welcome to the majestic land of the Gods, Ghats and the Ganges.
From the soaring moonscape of Ladakh to the shimmering beaches of Kerala,
Incredible India is a living museum of anthropology. |
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TRAVEL
TOOLS
CURRENCY
A foreigner can bring in any amount of foreign currency, travelers
cheques, etc., and take out as much as he brought in. However if carrying
foreign exchange in excess of US$ 5000 or its equivalent in another
currency, US$ 10,000 in the form of travelers cheques, or a combination of
currency and travelers cheques in excess of US$ 10,000 you must declare it
on arrival on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), to be attested by the
Customs Officer.
Indian currency is the Indian Rupee/Rupees
(Re/Rs). It is not possible to purchase these before you leave your country.
If you want cash on arrival it is best to get it at the airport bank. Rupee
notes are printed in the denomination of Rupees 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10
and 5. Coins are minted in denominations of Rupees 5, 2, 1, and paise 50 and
25. Indian currency conversion rules are much more relaxed than a decade
ago. However it is recommended that visitors carry travelers cheques of
reputed companies such as Thomas cook, American Express etc. They have to
almost always be exchanged in banks or hotels, and are not easily accepted
for direct payment unless accompanied by a passport. Credit cards are
increasingly acceptable in the main centers though in smaller cities it is
still rare to pay by credit card. There are several ATMs in several major
towns, but several of these are for local account holders. Here again
reputed companies such as Visa, Master, and Cirrus are becoming increasingly
acceptable. Changing money through unauthorized dealers is illegal. Most
large government banks in India such as State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda
have foreign exchange counters and give cash against Visa/Master cards. Bank
rates and hotel rates do not vary much, but always retain the encashment
certificate when you change money through authorized dealers. Telegraphic
transfers are possible through international banks such as American Express,
HKB, Barclays, ABN AMRO and Standard Chartered bank but transfer fee up to
$30 may be charged.
TRAVEL FOR PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED
India is slowly gearing up for making provisions for
the physically handicapped or wheel chair bound traveler. Access to
buildings, toilets, pavements, kerbs and public transport may not be wheel
chair friendly, however, it makes up with easily available manpower for
lifting and carrying provided there is an able bodied companion to help.
Most international chain hotels in India have designated rooms/toilets for
the physically handicapped.
IMPORT AND
EXPORT RESTRICTIONS
The Duty Free Import Allowance for foreign
tourists includes 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 gms tobacco) and
liquor and wines upto32 oz (1 litre). Articles of personal use including
cameras, a reasonable quantity of jewellery, one pair of binoculars, one
portable musical instrument, one radio set, one tape recorder, one portable
typewriter, laptop computer, one perambulator and professional equipment, on
the undertaking that you will take them back with you when leaving India.
The duty rate beyond the free baggage allowance is 61.4 per cent. High value
items such as notebook computer, video camera, photographic equipment for
use during your stay in India, on arrival should ask for the items to
endorsed on the passport. This endorsement along with the items should be
shown to the Customs Officer at the time of departure, in such cases no duty
would be payable.
The visitor can take back all articles brought in
by him. In addition, he can take out the following purchased in India:
- Souvenirs (including Indian silk, wool, handicrafts, etc.) without
limit.
- Gold jewellery, silverware and jewellery with precious stones for
which if the value is high and quantity large an export certificate
should be obtained from the customs authority in advance of travel.
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There are restrictions on the export of
antiquities and art objects more than 100 years old. Export of wildlife
products is prohibited or strictly regulated; therefore avoid buying
anything made of ivory, reptile skin, fur, musk, tortoise shells, mongoose
hair, and any part of wild life animals.
Nandadevi 
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