Visitors should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Penalties for
possession of narcotic substances can be severe. There is a minimum sentence of
six months for possession of small amounts for personal consumption only.
However, a 10 year sentence for possession of other amounts applies. The slow
judicial process means that lengthy pre-trial detention, usually of several
years, is the norm.
India
Capital:
New Delhi
Official Language: Hindi and English
Religions:
83% Hindu, 11% Muslim, 2% Chrisitian, 2% Sikh and 2% Other
Currency:
Rupiah = 100 sen
Placements:
Indian Pepper Farm
Map
Background
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.
Nothing in the country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.
Special Events
India is blessed with a huge number of festivals, some so spectacular that you would be a fool to miss them. They start with the secular Republic Day Festival in Delhi each January, which includes elephants, a procession, and plenty of military might and Indian princely splendour. Holi, in February, is one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals in the north of India. It marks the end of winter and basically involves throwing coloured water and red powder over as many people as you can in one day.
The 10-day Shi'ite Muharram festival commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson. It's marked by a grand parade and dedicated penitents scourge themselves with whips in religious fervour. It's best seen in Lucknow, the principal Indian Shi'ite city; its timing varies with the Islamic calendar. The massive Kumbh Mela festival commemorates an ancient battle between gods and demons for a pitcher (kumbh) containing the nectar of immortality. During the fight for possession, four drops of nectar fell from the pitcher and landed in Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. The mela is held every three years rotating through these four cities.
Don't mistake the great Rath Yatra (Car Festival) for a rally race. This spectacle in Puri in June/July involves the gigantic temple car of Lord Jagannath making its annual journey, pulled by thousands of eager devotees. One of the big events of the year in Kerala is the Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race on the backwaters at Alappuzha (Alleppey), which take place on the second Saturday of August.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in August/September is dedicated to the popular elephant-headed god, Ganesh. It's celebrated widely, but with particular enthusiasm in Mumbai. Shrines are erected, firecrackers let off, clay idols are immersed in rivers or the sea, and everyone tries to avoid looking at the moon.
September/October is the time witness the Dussehra (Durga Puja) Festival, which is at its most spectacular in Kullu, Mysore, West Bengal and Ahmedabad.
November is the time for the huge and colourful Camel Fair at Pushkar in Rajasthan. Diwali (or Deepavaali) is the happiest festival of the Hindu calendar and is celebrated over five days in November. Sweets, oil lamps and firecrackers all play a major part in this celebration in honour of a number of gods.
There are also usually holidays during major festivals. These vary from state to state.
Climate
Climate in India varies greatly, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the cool highlands of Assam, allegedly the wettest place on earth. But basically India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. The heat starts to build up on the northern plains around February and by April it becomes unbearable - expect 35-45°C (95-113°F) days in most places. The first signs of the monsoon appear in May, with high humidity, short rainstorms and violent electrical storms. The monsoon rains begin around 1 June in the extreme south and sweep north to cover the whole country by early July. The monsoon doesn't really cool things off, but it's a great relief - especially to farmers. The main monsoon comes from the southwest, but the southeastern coast is affected by the short and surprisingly wet northeastern monsoon, which brings rain from mid-October to the end of December. The main monsoon ends around October, and India's northern cities become crisp at night in December. In the far south, where it never gets cool, the temperatures are comfortably warm rather than hot.
Travel Info
India's major international airports are Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata
(Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras); there are other international airports at
Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore and Kochi. Delhi is the cheapest place to buy air
tickets in India, followed by Kolkata and Mumbai. International flights to
neighbouring countries can be very cheap, especially between Kolkata and Dhaka
(Bangladesh), Delhi and Karachi (Pakistan) and Tiruchirappalli and Colombo (Sri
Lanka). The departure tax on flights to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and
Nepal is approximately
The most popular overland routes between India and Nepal are Birganj-Raxaul Bazaar, Sunauli-Bhairawa and Kakarbhitta-Siliguri. If you're heading from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Delhi or elsewhere in northwestern India, then Sunauli is the most convenient entry point; to reach Kolkata or most of eastern India, Birganj is the best place to cross the border; and to get to Darjeeling, it's easiest to go via Kakarbhitta. It's fairly easy to travel between Kolkata and Dhaka overland. The only border crossing currently open between India and Pakistan is at Attari between Lahore and Amritsar. This and all other border crossings are by road only.
Visas
You need to arrange for a entry visa before arriving in India. Six month multiple-entry visas are now issued to most nationals regardless of whether you intend staying that long or re-entering the country. Only six-month tourist visas are extendable. Most Indian embassies and consulates won't issue a visa to enter India unless you hold an onward ticket. Be careful to check whether your visa is valid from the date of entry or the date of issue.
Safety
Terrorism/Security
In some areas there are terrorist incidents virtually on a daily basis. The areas most affected are Jammu and Kashmir (excluding Ladakh) and the north east. Violent left-wing extremist groups are active in the rural areas of Bihar, Jharkland, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa. See below under “Local Travel (Regional)” for details.
On 7 March 2006, there were three bomb explosions in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh. 20 people were killed and over 100 were injured. It is not yet clear
who is behind these attacks.
Three bombs exploded in market places in Delhi on 29 October 2005. Over 60
people were killed.
There have been bomb attacks in the past in Delhi, Mumbai and elsewhere.
Since February 2006, Maoist rebels have carried out several attacks in
Chhattisgarh resulting in fatalities. These attacks, which are becoming more
frequent, are believed to be connected to the forthcoming local election
scheduled to take place between 17 April and 8 May 2006. On 28 February 2006, a
number of fatalities were reported following an attack on two trucks by Maoist
rebels in Chhattisgarh. On 22 January 2006, there were a number of bombings in
Assam, including three in the state capital, Guwahati. There were also bomb
attacks in Guwahati on 28 February and 18 March 2006. On 12 October 2005, a
suspected suicide bomb exploded in the city Police Commissioner’s task force
office in Hyderabad killing two people You should be aware of the threat and
exercise particular caution when in the vicinity of key government installations
and tourist sites, attending public events (including religious events) around
India, and in all public places including hotels, airports, shopping malls, and
on public transport.
An Indian national was shot dead and between four and six people are also
reported to have been injured in an attack at an international conference at the
Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore on the evening of Wednesday 28 December
2005. The authorities have yet to identify who was responsible.
You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks,
which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by
foreigners.
Crime
Beware of the risk of street crime and take personal security measures
including:
- Taking particular care to safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards, particularly when travelling by bus and train. There has been an increase in handbag snatching in Delhi.
- A Photocopy of your passport, Indian visa and flight ticket should be kept separately from the originals when travelling.
- Be aware of what you are eating and drinking. There have been reports of travellers being drugged and robbed on trains.
- Being wary of confidence tricksters, particularly in Agra and Jaipur. They promise a substantial cash reward for delivery of jewellery abroad but only in return for an initial deposit. The jewellery is invariably worthless and the deposit, often amounting to thousands of pounds, is lost.
- Avoid walking alone in isolated spots in the popular tourist areas after dark. There have been incidents of sexual assaults against women in Delhi and Goa. Female travellers are advised to observe and respect local dress and customs and to take particular care.
Local Travel (General)
Travel in the 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. It is best to check access routes before setting off on a journey.
Local Travel (Regional)
Jammu & Kashmir
We advise against all travel to or through rural parts of Jammu and Kashmir
(except Ladakh.). We advise against all but essential travel to Srinagar. If
travel to Srinagar is essential, it should be by air. There continues to be a
high level of conflict and terrorist violence in Kashmir, including car bombs,
grenade attacks, bombs on roads and shootings. There have been a number of car
bombings in Srinagar (see below). Jammu City and its immediate environs are
somewhat safer but attacks still occur, including in public places.
Much of the violence is between militants and the security forces in the
countryside and around the Line of Control, although there have also been
attacks in towns. Whilst such incidents are not normally directed against
tourists, a hotel (in Pahalgam) was the target of an attack in June 2004.
Recent significant incidents include:
- On 2 November 2005, a car bomb on the outskirts of Srinagar, which killed six and injured 16 people.
- On 30 September 2005, a grenade attack outside a market in central Srinagar left over 20 people injured.
- On 20 July 2005, a suicide car bomb in central Srinagar, which killed at least four soldiers, a passer-by and injured 15 people.
- On 24 June 2005, a large bomb close to NishatGardens (one of Srinagar’s prime tourist sites) killed nine soldiers and wounded 20 people, including some civilians.
- On 13 June 2005, a large truck bomb was detonated in Pulwama, killing at least 13 people and injuring over 100.
- On 12 May 2005, a grenade was thrown outside a school on the main market in Srinagar.
- On 6 and 7 April 2005, terrorists attempted to attack passengers due to travel on the inaugural service of the re-introduced Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus. Further attacks are possible.
There is a danger of landmines in some border areas. There is also a risk
of kidnapping. Militants took five foreign nationals hostage, including two
Britons, in July 1995: one is known to have been murdered and the others are
believed dead.
On 8 October 2005, a large earthquake hit north westIndia, northern
Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the epicentre near Muzaffarabad
(Pakistani-administered Kashmir). The earthquake caused widespread damage and
extensive disruption to transport services in the region. The main areas
affected in Indian-administered Kashmir are Uri and Kupwara.
You should beware of travel agents who will try to convince you that it is
safe to travel to Jammu or Kashmir. Despite increased official promotion of
Kashmir as a tourist centre and improved relations between India and Pakistan,
tensions remain high in Kashmir.
Other Northern States
We advise against all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with
Pakistan other than travel across the international border at Wagah. The border
between India and Pakistan in Gujarat and Rajasthan is unmarked in some areas
(primarily because of the local geography). Approaching the border away from an
official crossing point could be dangerous, and where it is unmarked it could
lead to a visitor straying into the other country illegally.
On 7 March 2006, there were three bomb explosions in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh. 20 people were killed and over 100 injured. It is not yet clear who is
behind these attacks.
Trekking: In 2000, there were several attacks, including murder, in the
mountain areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. We recommend that trekkers travel
in groups and engage local guides.
East and North East India
We advise against all but essential travel to Imphal (by air) and against
all travel in the rest of Manipur and Tripura. There is a risk from insurgent
groups, mainly in rural areas of these and other states in the east and north
east, (particularly Manipur and Tripura). Although foreigners have not been the
deliberate targets of violence, attacks can be indiscriminate. Kidnapping,
banditry and insurgency are rife.
In February 2006, Maoist rebels carried out several attacks in Chhattisgarh
resulting in fatalities.
A series of bomb attacks in the north eastern states of Assam and Nagaland
over the weekend of 2/3 October 2004, marked an increase in the severity of
terrorist incidents. Attacks were carried out in public places including railway
stations and local shops. In August 2004, an Independence Day function in Assam
was bombed killing 22 people, mainly children. Further bombings, including in
the capital area of Guwahati, took place on 9 March 2005. There have also been
three bomb attacks in Guwahati in recent months (22 January, 28 February and 18
March 2006), and security is likely to be tightened in advance of local
elections in the area on 3 and 10 April 2006.
Most visits to eastern India are trouble-free but you should be aware of
the risk of violent crime in the rural areas of Bihar and Jharkhand. There have
also been occasional skirmishes on the India/Bangladesh border and civilians
have been killed in the crossfire. Travellers to the north east should check for
updates to Travel Advice and keep themselves up to date on developments in the
region.
Indian Government permits are required for travel to Sikkim, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Applications for travel should be made well in advance. In India, they should be
made at the liaison offices of the state requiring permits or Foreigners
Regional Registration Offices. Permits for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can
be issued on arrival in Port Blair but this is not the case for other
states.
The British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata offers a full passport
service (via New Delhi) and passports will take approximately three weeks to be
issued. Emergency travel documents valid for direct travel to the UK are
available.
South India
There have been bomb or land mine explosions in Andhra Pradesh, mainly
directed at local government officials. Travellers should remain vigilant.
Western Region
Since troubles in February 2002, there continues to be some intercommunal
tension in Gujarat, which can lead to isolated incidents of violence.
Between December 2002 and August 2003, there was a series of bomb blasts in
Mumbai. On 19 February 2006, there was an explosion at a railway station in the
city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, injuring at least 14 people. Whilst attacks have not
been directed against tourists, there is still the risk that you could be in the
wrong place at the wrong time. You should be cautious if travelling by public
transport as buses, trains and railway stations have been targeted.
In Mumbai, there is a risk of armed robbers holding up taxis travelling
along the main highway from the airport to the city in the early hours of the
morning (0200–0600) when there is little traffic on the roads. If you are using
the route during these times, you should, where possible, arrange to travel by
coach or seek advice at the airport on arrival.
Passengers who have cleared customs and immigration at Mumbai airport
should be wary of approaches by thieves posing as Government officials.
Goa
Whilst Goa is generally a trouble-free destination for tourists there have
been incidents of sexual assaults against women. Female travellers are advised
to observe and respect local dress and customs and not to walk alone on the
beaches or village lanes at night.
The penalties for trafficking, dealing and using drugs and for paedophile
offences are severe.
Road safety
Driving on Indian roads can be hazardous, particularly at night in rural
areas. Inadequately lit buses and lorries, poor driving and badly maintained
vehicles are the main causes of accidents.
Sea safety
Several drownings have highlighted the lack of warning signs or flags and
life-saving equipment on most of India's beaches. Strong undercurrents are a
particular hazard. Tourist boats and other small crafts very rarely carry life
saving equipment. The poor infrastructure can make the provision of consular
assistance difficult, particularly in remote areas.
Piracy/armed robbery against ships has occurred in and around India’s
waters. Mariners are advised to be vigilant.
Rail safety
Do not accept food from strangers. There have been reports of travellers
being drugged and robbed on trains. Take particular care of your passport and
valuables when boarding and whilst on the train.
Avoid individuals at railway stations offering tickets and tours, mainly to
Kashmir and Rajasthan.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Health
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
On 29 March 2006, the Government of India announced that the H5N1 avian
influenza virus was found in domestic poultry in Ichhapur village in the
Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. This is close to the Jalgoan region of
Maharastra where the first outbreak of flu in India (in Navapur, 400 kms from
Mumbai) was reported on 18 February 2006. On 25 February 2006, tests confirmed
that the virus was present in domestic poultry in Surat, Gujarat, a few
kilometres away from Navapur. No human infections or deaths have been
confirmed.
The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a
precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and
other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild
birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical
insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your
policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
There are many endemic diseases in India. You should ensure that
immunisations against common infections are up to date before travelling. You
should take care with your water and food hygiene.
Local medical facilities are not comparable to those in the UK, especially
in more remote areas. However, in the major cities private medical care is
available, but is expensive. In the case of psychiatric illness, specialised
treatment may not be available outside major cities. The treatment of such
illnesses may require long-term hospitalisation, which may incur large
expenditure and in many of these cases, insurance companies are reluctant to
cover the cost.
Dengue fever is one of the infectious diseases endemic to India. A vaccine
is not available. It occurs each year in most parts (other than the mountain
states) with a rise during and after the monsoon. Mosquitoes carry the disease
so it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites and seek medical help
in case of fever.
Injections required
Immunisations advised
Diptheria/Tetanus,
Poliomyelitis,
Hepatitis A,
Typhoid,
Yellow fever
Immunisations that maybe required
Tuberculosis,
Hepatitis B,
Rabies,
Japanese B encephalitis
Malaria Yes
Reciprocal Health Care None
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