PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY
It is advisable to plan your holiday well in advance. Follow these points and start planning.
Decide the month when you want to travel. The best time to travel to India is between October and March when the weather is friendly and inviting. Although it is winters during this time, but Europeans and people from colder countries find the climate very pleasant. Days are short and sunny. Nights can be long and cold.
Think of a per person daily budget that suits your pocket including accommodation, transportation, meals, sightseeing and miscellaneous expenses.
Discuss with friends, colleagues or relatives who have traveled to India OR visit us at www.indialeisuretours.com
Have a very clear picture about the kind of holiday you have in mind. For example a Honeymoon, a beach holiday, a trip to the mountains, a visit to Rajasthan, a rejuvenation holiday, a wild life safari or a mix and match of various destinations.
Start processing the paper work and documentation well in advance, i.e. Passport, Visa, International Ticket, Insurance and Medical certificate to avoid last minute running around.
Make a tentative itinerary OR let us suggest you one.
Choose the category of hotels that you have in mind. We suggest good middle class, safe, affordable, neat and clean hotels in all cities. But that does not mean we cannot provide luxury hotels at affordable prices. We will go out of our way to get the best possible prices prevailing in the market.
Also think of the excursions and sightseeing’s in each city to be included in your tour program. It is best to ask us if any assistance is required.
Choose the type of transport that you would like to use. We offer all kinds of Transportation depending on your needs. For example intercity bus tickets, Domestic Air and Rail Tickets and passes, Air-conditioned and non aircontioned cars, mini vans and large coaches.
Services of a professional guide are recommended but not mandatory. A good professional tourist guide can be the difference between a good and satisfactory holiday and an ordinary holiday. It is the guide who will tell you about the rich culture, traditions, and history while you travel the length and breadth of India.
The guides that we provide are professional, have traveled the length and breadth of India and can speak Japanese, Spanish, Italian, German, French, and English. Guides who speak languages other than these can be provided on request..
Once you have decided on the above parameters the final stage is to get the final tour price. It is our endeavor to give you the most competitive prices with the best possible services. Remember, we wish to deal with you for a lifetime and not just once.
The price decided, you only have to go ahead with the booking procedure, which is as follows:
1. Advising your full names along with the names of your travel companion / family members
2. Mention your age (important for train reservations and domestic air travel)
3. The tour program as finalized by you.
4. A booking advance to be transmitted to our bank account (25% of the Tour cost). 25% two weeks prior to the arrival and the balance 50 % will be collected upon arrival in India. In some cases a non-refundable advance has to be given to the service providers in which case we will advice you of the same. |
On arrival in India, you will be met on arrival and a copy of a welcome letter and a detailed tour program will be handed over to you. This includes hotel and service vouchers, name of contact person and telephone numbers in various cities, emergency contact numbers etc.
We will also monitor your tour as you travel in India through feedbacks from our representative offices. This ensures quality control and A SATISFACTORY, SMILING LIFE LONG CLIENT BASE.
When your tours ends, we would like a tour report from you mentioning details about quality of services, where to improve, our strong and weak points, anything new that you may have discovered while on the tour that we can add to our data bank. All this is to continuously improve on our services and quality in a rapidly changing environment of the International Tourism Industry.
As a happy and a satisfied customer, we will also look forward to your support and well wishes for the future. Go Top |
| TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Apply for your travel documents early as processing takes time, weeks and sometimes even months. Make two photocopies / Xerox Copies each of Passports, Identity Cards, Traveler Checks, credit cards, Air Tickets, Medical Insurance. Leave one set with your family member and keep the other with you safely and apart from the original set. The photocopies will come in handy in case your travel documents are lost. Also carry extra copies of your Photographs for any emergency.
Passport
All foreigners traveling in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka require a valid Passport which must be valid for 06 months from the date of departure from the respective country.
Always keep your passport handy while traveling in India and Nepal. Banks often require proof of identity while changing Travelers Checks and Currency. Also keep a photocopy seperately for any emergency.
In case your passport is lost, you have to register a “FIR” or “First Information Report” at the nearest police station and then go to the nearest consulate or embassy with a copy of the FIR, so that a duplicate passport can be issued. This is the time when your passport photocopies / Xerox copies will come in handy.
Visa For India
Tourist visa is available for three months, six months, or one year and normally allow for multiple entries (important for visiting neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan Tibet etc.). Other options are a one-year visa for students, journalists, business travelers, or a five-year visa for Indian nationals living abroad. Please make sure that your passport is valid for more than six months after the intended date of departure from India.
Visa Fees different in different countries. It is best to contact your nearest embassy Or consulate for the exact details and the formalities to be completed for obtaining a visa for travel to India.
Special Permits
Foreign nationals wanting to travel in certain areas are required to obtain a special permission to visit these areas. These are the North East States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Permits must be applied well in advance and can be obtained at Indian Diplomatic missions abroad, Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi. A minimum of four people are required to travel together and must be sponsored by a Government approved Travel Agency / Tour Operator. Permits are granted for 15 days and renewable for another 15 days at the Foreigners Registration Office in the Capital of each state. Cost of each permit is Rs. 400 per person ( Subject To Change without prior Notice).
Apply well in advance for it may take 2 to 50 days to process the application depending on the state to be visited.
Foreign nationals wanting to visit Sikkim require a permit and cannot stay for more than fifteen days per year. In case the permit is to be extended in an emergency, contact the Commissioner’s Office in Gangtok but only for 3 – 5 days and only once. For Traveling to North Sikkim a special permit is required and is only issued through Tour companies to groups of four or more. An accompanying guide is a must and the minimum charge is US $ 30 – 50 per day ( Subject To Change without prior Notice).. This permit is only available in Gangtok.
Darjeeling and certain adjoining areas in West Bengal require a permit which is issued in Delhi or by home department of West Bengal. Permits are granted to individual travelers or group travelers.
Islands of Lakshadweep – The islands of Bangaram, Tikaram and Suheli are open to tourist traveling in groups and only for a week. The permit can be obtained from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands – A permit is required before sailing to The Andaman Island. The permit must be obtained from Ministry of Home Affairs or from Dilplomatic Missions abroad. Non Indians are not allowed to travel to the Nicobar Islands. Go Top |
| THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
However the best time to visit India is from October to March when the weather is moderate in the plains of North India.
South India, being close to the equator, enjoys tropical climate throughout the year.
We give below a list of state and the best times to visit during the year.
State / Union Territory Average Temp.(Cent) Average Monsoon Best Months To Visit
|
State / Union Territory |
Summer |
Winter |
|
High |
Low |
Best time |
High |
Low |
Best time |
| Andaman Islands |
33 |
22 |
May – Oct |
31 |
20 |
Nov – Apr |
| Andhra Pradesh |
41 |
20 |
May - Oct |
32 |
13 |
Nov - Apr |
| Bihar |
47 |
20 |
Jun - Oct |
28 |
4 |
Nov - Mar |
Delhi |
45 |
35 |
Jun – Sep |
20 |
7 |
Oct – Apr |
Goa |
32 |
21 |
Jun – Oct |
32 |
21 |
Oct – May |
Gujrat |
41 |
27 |
Jun – Sep |
29 |
14 |
Oct – May |
Himachal Pradesh |
33 |
14 |
Jul – Sep |
15 |
0 |
Apr - Oct |
Karnataka |
35 |
26 |
Jun - Oct |
25 |
14 |
Nov - Apr |
Kashmir |
30 |
10 |
May - Aug |
0 |
-10 |
Oct - Mar |
Kerala |
35 |
21 |
Jun - Oct |
35 |
21 |
Nov - Apr |
| Madhya Pradesh |
48 |
22 |
Jun - Sep |
23 |
4 |
Oct - Mar |
Maharashtra |
39 |
22 |
Jul - Oct |
34 |
12 |
Sep– Feb |
| North East States |
35 |
18 |
Jul – Sep |
26 |
7 |
Oct – May |
| Orissa |
49 |
27 |
Jul – Oct |
16 |
5 |
Oct – Mar |
| Punjab |
45 |
35 |
Jul – Sep |
14 |
0 |
Oct – Mar |
| Rajasthan |
45 |
17 |
Jul – Sep |
32 |
7 |
Nov – Mar |
| Sikkim |
23 |
22 |
Jun – Sep
Mar – May |
12 |
0 |
Sept – Nov |
| Tamil Nadu |
43 |
18 |
Oct – Dec |
43 |
18 |
Nov – Mar |
| Uttar Pradesh |
45 |
11 |
Jun – Sep
Oct – Mar |
32 |
2 |
May – Jul
(Hill Areas) |
| West Bengal |
40 |
24 |
Jun – Sep |
26 |
17 |
Oct - Mar |
Go Top |
| WHAT TO WEAR
Summers (Mid April to Mid August) can be severly hot in India with maximum temperatures going up to 47 degrees centigrade in some places.
Men can wear light colored cotton clothing, T shirts, Jeans, cotton socks and light shoes. Women can wear cotton skirts, cotton shirts / blouses. Avoid using Nylon or any other material which does not allow air to pass through.
Most hotels have airconditioning in the rooms i.e either centrally airconditioned or room airconditionars.Some smaller and cheaper also offer room coolers as an alternate to airconditionars.
Swimwear is a must for beach goers and sunbathers. It is best to use a sunscreen lotion while sunbathing anywhere in India.
Winters (Mid November To Mid February ) can also be severe where temperatures dipping to – 10 degrees centigrade in hill stations and 0 degrees in the plains during the night. Travelers are advised to carry woolen clothing and windcheaters to keep themselves warm.
Most hotels have a central heating system but those who do not have, provide either room heaters or blowers to keep the room warm. Go Top |
| CREDIT CARDS AND TRAVELER’S CHECKS
Most international credit cards are accepted in India and have offices and associate offices in almost all tourist places. The most popular are Master Card, Visa, Diners International, and American Express.
Traveler’s checks are the easiest, safest and least trouble some means of carrying money. Thomas Cook and American Express are widely recognized and acceptable. Checks can be en cashed at the respective offices and branches OR hotels. Go Top |
| MEDICAL KIT
Carry a medical kit for those emergencies. Keep medicines for Malaria, Dysentery, Diaorrhea, Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis, Dengue Fever. It is also advisable to keep mosquito repellant cream to keep the mosquitoes away.
Medicines are available at all Chemist shops. Depending on the city, a doctors medical prescription may / may not be not be required to buy medicines.
In case of an emergency, go to a Doctor recommended by your hotel / Tour Operator. Most hotels have a Doctor on call for any emergency. Go Top
|
| WATER, FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Water - It is very important to stay healthy while traveling more so in India as water borne diseases can put an end to your holiday. It is best to buy bottled mineral water of a reputed company (Pepsi, Coke, Bisleri, Nestle are some of the popular and safest brands). Most of the tourist places have mineral water on sale at affordable prices. Hotels also offer safe drinking water but it is best to use mineral water.
Campers and hikers may carry water purifying tablets or battery operated pen sized devices to purify water.
Food – Food is cheap and is available in all varieties. All metros and ‘A’ class cities offer international cuisine such as Chinese, Continental, Thai, Mexican, Italian, and Japanese. In Indian cuisine, one can enjoy Mughlai, South Indian, Punjabi and local cuisines of each state while holidaying there.
To make the most of your visit it is advisable to eat breakfast in your hotel and enjoy the rest of the meals in local restaurants.
Beverages – India has all kinds of soft drinks as well as liquor for sale. Soft drinks include Pepsi, Coke, Juices and Soda. Hard liquor includes Beer, Whisky, Rum, Baccardi, Indian Made Vodka, Wines (both Red and White) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor or IMFL.
Hard drinks are sold in hotels, restaurants and licensed pubs but can be expensive than buying your own liquor.
Liquor stores are prevalent in all cities (except in the state of Gujarat which is a dry state and one may require a local permit to buy liquor). Go Top |
| COMMUNICATIONS AND THE INTERNET
During the past decade, India has taken big strides in communication both within the country and Internationally. Almost every nook and corner in most cities have a STD and ISD booth offering direct dial facilities to any country in the world.
During the past five years, India has also emerged as a major player in Computers and Internet Technology. Software development is a major business in India, where certain states inviting Multinationals to set up their infrastructure and providing them world class facilities.
Recently, Internet Cafe’s have sprung up in all big and small cities, where one can surf the Internet on an hourly basis. Although download speeds are not very good but still it is very cheap and economical to surf. Download speeds are expected to go up in the near future.
Hotels also provide the facility of Internet in the rooms, but can be 10 times more expensive. Go Top |
| BEWARE of the following while traveling in the Indian subcontinent:
Airport Touts – There are a large number of Touts who frequent the International and Domestic Airports, and will offer attractive discounts, great deals and will seemingly look very helpful. The bottom line is IGNORE them and look for your Company Representative OR Tour Operator who has come to receive you. There have been case when tourists have been robbed, mugged and taken for a ride by these touts.
Railway Ticket Touts - Found at the railway platforms especially near the ticket windows, they target, foreign tourist who look puzzled and confused. They make promises of getting a confirmed ticket but soon dissapear with your money.
Pickpockets – They are found almost everywhere and especially in crowded places like Railway Stations, Bus Stations, Bazars and Market Places. While in a city, take care of your belongings especially your wallet and camera. Pick Pockets are experts in removing your belongings without you coming to know about it.
Shopping Touts – These can be seen in the Market places of any Tourist destination. They offer all kinds of stories and huge discounts but you end up buying fakes and poor quality material at phenominal prices.
Prostitutes - Any male willing to take a chance can do so at his risk. These girls usually work in a gang. They usually befriend a loner or a single traveler making tall promises. Once the deal is struck and the meeting place finalised, the gang members are informed and they come rmed with knifes and small weapons to take away the booty. Go Top |
| A COUNTRY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET
While travel to most countries is expensive, it is reverse in India.
“Come to India and live like life king size”. This is true as India’s currency against the US Dollar OR GB Pound is low. Train, bus and airfares are extremely cheap when converted into US Dollars / Pound Sterlings. Travelers can explore the whole of the country on a limited budget OR live like a King and experience luxuries you cannot afford at home.
Accommodation can range from USD 25 per person per night in a budget class neat and clean hotel to USD 80 per person per night in a 4 star centrally located hotel. These prices often include breakfast and taxes.
Meals can range from USD 3 per person to USD 50 depending on what category restaurant you are dining in.
A car with a driver can cost as low as USD 20 per day in a city.
Airtravel is not very expensive with variuos schemes for the youth ( below 30 ) and Discover India Passes available.
There is a Rail Pass available to those wanting to explore the country by Rail.
For those looking for a bargain, India offers shopping at affordable prices. There are bazaars or market places where one can buy handicrafts, silk, carpets, marble, precious and semi precious stones, leather, cotton, brass etc.
For more information on shopping in India, please contact our office for details. We make sure you get best quality goods at most value for money prices. Go Top |
| INDIA - A SHOPPERS PARADISE
For those who are shopaholics, India offers a whole range of products to take home or gift to the near and dear ones. Our handicrafts industry has hand made Cashmere Carpets, Wood Carvings, Stone Carvings, Marble Inlay Work, Artificial And Real Jewellery, Precious & Semi Precious Stones, Silks, Wollen Shawls and a whole range of International Designer Wear Clothes.
Our hand made carpets are some of the best in the world.
All shopping Malls and Shops accept International Credit Cards, Cash and Travelers Checks and the price usually include Freight and Shipping to your doorstep. Go Top |
| TRAVEL COUNSELING
Travel counseling is available to all those accessing our website. A little input and help from a Professional Travel Counselor goes a long way in organizing a fun filled satisfactory holiday.
All queries or questions will be answered either the same day or within 24 hours to enable minimum loss of time to our visitors.
The query that requires more than 24 hours will be given an intermediary answer and will be answered as soon as we have the required information. Go Top |
| ONE COUNTRY MANY FLAVOURS
You cannot experience India in one tour. Those who visit India once usually fall in love with it and want to visit again and again. There have been visitors who have repeatedly visited India over the years and can’t seem to have enough of it. The vibrant colors, the smell of spices hanging in the air, the bazaars, the crazy traffic, the various festivals, the wild life, the mountains, the oceans, the beaches, the history, the culture, the food, the traditions, all add magic to your each visit to this amazing country.
It can be the beaches one year, the mountains next year, the desert of Rajasthan the other and so on.
People have come to India as visitors or as employees of Multinational Companies and have stayed back to become an integral part of one of the most diverse countries of the world.
Visitors come again and again and bring along colleagues, friends and relatives. Go Top |
| PLACES OPEN FOR TOURISTS IN RESTRICTED AREAS
Under the Government of India's new policy many areas are Open for Tourists that were under Restricted Zones. Given below is guide giving comprehensive information.
MANIPUR
Loktak Lake, Imphal, Moirang INA Memorial, Keibul Deer Sanctuary and Waithe Lake.
Authority that can grant permit:
All Indian Missions abroad.
All FRROs & MHA
State Government of Manipur (Home Commissioner, Manipur)
Remarks:
Calcutta to Imphal by air only.
*Individual tourists not permitted, 6 days allowed.
MIZORAM
Vairangte, Thingdawl and Aizawl
Authority that can grant permit:
Home Commissioner, Government of Mizoram, Aizawl, All FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta,
Chief Immigration Officer, Madras and all Indian Missions abroad.
Remarks:
Tourist groups may travel on the identified tour circuits only
*Individual tourists not permitted, 10 days allowed.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Itanagar, Ziro, Along, Pasighat, Miao, Namdapha and Sujesa (Puki) Bhalukpong
Authority that can grant permit:
Home Commissioner, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, all FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta,
Chief Immigration Officer, Madras.
All Indian Missions abroad.
Remarks:
Tourist groups may travel on identified tour circuits only.
*Individual tourists not permitted, 10 days allowed.
(1) Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang, Pemayangtse Khecheperi and Tashiging
Authority that can grant permit
MHA, all FRROs
All Indian Missions abroad, and Immigration Officers at airports at
Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras and New Delhi.
Chief Secretary/Home Secretary/Secretary (Tourism)
Government of Sikkim, Gangtok
Inspector General Of Police, Government of Sikkim, Siliguri,
Deputy Directors (Tourism), Sikkim Government , New Delhi,
Assistant Resident Commissioner; Government of Sikkim, Calcutta,
Tourism Officer, Rangpo,
Deputy Commissioner, Darjeeling
Deputy Secretary/Under Secretary
Home Department, Government of West Bengal, Calcutta
Remarks
PAP Areas: * Individual Tourists permitted, 15 days allowed.
(2) Zongri (West Sikkim)
Authority that can grant permit:
MHA and all issuing authorities of Government of Sikkim and its
representatives at Calcutta, Siliguri & Rangpo.
Remarks:
Groups allowed for 15 days trekking and are to be accompanied
by a liaison officer. Individual tourists not permitted, 16 days allowed.
(3) Tsangu (Chhangu Lake in East Sikkim)
Authority that can grant permit:
Home Secretary, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok
*Individual tourists not permitted. Day visit only.
(4) Mangan, Tong, Singhik, Chungthang, Lachung and Yumthang
Authority that can grant permit
Home Secy., Govt. of Sikkim,
Secretary (Tourism), Government of Sikkim
Individual tourists not permitted, 5 days allowed.
KASHMIR
(1) Khaltse Sub-Division (Drokahpa Area)
Khaltse-Dunkhar-Sroduchan
Hanudo-Biana-Dha
(2) Nubra Sub Division:
(a) Leh-Khardung La-Khalsar-Tirit up to Panasik
(b) Leh-Khardung La-Khalsar up to Hunder
(c) Leh-Sabo-Digar La-Digar-Labab-Khungru Gampa-Tangar
(Only for trekking conducted by approved tour operators and accompanied by State Police personnel)
(3) Nyona Sub Division:
(a) Leh-Upshi-Chusathang-Mahe-Puga-Tso-Moari Lake/Kozok
(b) Leh-Upshi-Debring-Puga-Tso-Moari Lake/Korzok
(c) Leh-Karu-Chang La-Durbuk-Tangtse-Lukung-Spanksik.
(d) Pangong Lake up to Spanksik
Authority that can grant permit:
MHA / District Magistrates concerned.
Remarks:
Tourist groups are to travel on the identified tour circuits only.
*Individual tourists not permitted, 7 days allowed.
Note:
Groups should consist of 4 to 20 numbers and should be accompanied
by a liaison officer. For more information, contact Indian Missions abroad
or the Ministry of Tourism, Delhi, India.
ANDAMAN NICOBAR ISLANDS
(1) Municipal Area, Port Blair,
(2) Havelock Island,
(3) Long,
(4) Neil Island
(5) Jolly Buoy
(6) South and North Cinque
(7) Red Skin
(8) Mayabunder
(9) Diglipur
(10) Rangat
(11) Mount Harriet
(12) Madhuban.
Authority that can grant permit:
MHA & All FRROs
All Indian Missions abroad, Immigration Officer, (7) & (8) Port Blair
Remarks:
Places for (1) day & night visit allowed.
Places for (2) only day.
(7) & (8) visit allowed.
Places for (8) to (12) only day visit allowed
HIMACHAL PRADESH
(1) Poo-Khab-Sumdho-Dhankar-Tabo-Gompa-Kaza
(2) Morang-Dabling
Authority that can grant permit:
MHA /Government of H.P./DM/SDM concerned/lTBP
Special. Commissioner (Tourism)
Resident Commissioner, Govt. of H.P., New Delhi
Director General of Police, H.P. Shimla.
Remarks:
For Trekking only. Individual tourists not permitted.
UTTAR PRADESH
(1) Nanda Devi Sanctuary, Niti Ghati and Kalindi Khal in Chamoli, Uttar Kashi Districts
(2) Adjoining areas of Milam Glacier
Authority that can grant permit:
(1) MHA/Government of U.P. DM/SDM concerned ATBP
(2) MHA/Govt. of U.P./DM/SDM concerned/lTBP
Remarks:
Individual tourists not permitted. Go Top
|
|
