Welcome to India

What is the India of your daydreams? Is it searching for Bengal tigers in thick, exotic jungle of Panna National Park? Is it the colors of Holi or the lights of Diwali? Is it sun rise over the Taj Mahal? Is it the scent of spices and curries, samosas and kebabs?

Whatever your Indian fantasy, it’s easy to fulfill it in this massive, culturally rich country. Live like a royal in a former palace in Udaipur or Jaipur. Take a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola. Observe a priest conducting a traditional ceremony on the banks of the Holy Ganges. Feel the diverse culture and traditions of Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism – in Khajuraho alone, there are 85 Hindu and Jain temples to see.

Outdoor adventures take the form of Himalayan trekking, wildlife safaris and paddling through serene waters. Larger than life, and everything you ever dreamed, India is a bounty for your senses.

Unique Facts

• Varanasi is one of the oldest inhabited places on Earth. It’s at least 3,000 years old, but according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva founded the city 5,000 years ago.
• Did you know the following objects and concepts were started in India? Shampooing, buttons, the number pi, diamond mining and algebra.
• The town of Meghalaya has the highest average annual rainfall in the world. The winter months are spent preparing for the six-month monsoon season that follows.
• Cricket-loving India contains the highest cricket ground in the world – it’s in Chail, Himachal Pradesh and it sits at 7,034 feet above sea level.
• India is the highest milk-producing country in the world.

Language

India’s official languages are Hindi and English.

When To Go

The best time to go to India is between October and March. You’ll have warmer, sunnier and drier weather than other months of the year. During December and January, you’ll have clearer mountain views in the north, but cooler temperatures.

Airports

Indhira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai
Chennai International Airport, Chennai

Passport Validity

Must be valid for six months beyond date of visa application to obtain a visa.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

Yes

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting India: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B, Cholera, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies and Yellow Fever vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: types C, D and M. Standard voltage: 230V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: Rupee

Getting Around

Use extreme caution if driving in India. Use caution when crossing streets, even in marked pedestrian areas. Buses and trucks often run red lights. Roads are poorly maintained and congested both inside and outside of major cities.

Bus service is widely available and convenient. Be aware that the bus drivers generally drive fast, recklessly and without regard for traffic rules.

Train travel throughout India is generally safe.

Driver’s License

International driving permit is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Embassy New Delhi
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
India
Telephone: +(91) (11) 2419-8000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(91) (11) 2419-8000
Fax: +(91) (11) 2419-0017
acsnd@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

India Tourist Office
83, Virar, Jamnagar
586402
Tel: +91 821 6153768
office@indiatouristoffice.org

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

General Emergency: 112

Safety and Security

Petty crime, especially theft of personal belongings, is common on trains and buses, at airports and in major tourist areas.

Exercise caution when swimming in open waters along the Indian Coast, especially during monsoon season. Heed warnings posted at beaches. Lifeguards are rare. There have been reports of crocodile attacks in the Andaman Islands.

If you are on a wildlife safari, keep a safe distance from animals at all times, remaining in the vehicle or a protected enclosure.

If trekking in India, use only routes identified by local authorities and camp only at designated places.