India - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine

India Fast Facts
Official Name: Republic of India • Capital: New Delhi • Population: 1.13 billion
Government: Federal Republic • Year of Independence: 1947
Area: 1.27 million square miles, about one-third the size of the U.S. Comprised
of 28 states and seven union territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim,
Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
Languages: 18 languages including Hindi, the national language and English for national,
political, and commercial communication plus 1,600 dialects.
FOR A SMOOTH TRIP TO INDIA
Accommodations: Incredible India, sponsored by the Government Tourism Ministry
maintains a list of approved bed and breakfast accommodations:
incredibleindia.org/pdf/approved_Incredible_India_B&B_Establishments.pdf
India requires a visa for most tourists. You can handle much of the paperwork
online at: www.indianembassy.org/consular/index.html
Passports: A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required.
Visas are required for India, Nepal - destinations promoted by Ports of India. You will require
a multiple entry visa for India. Apply at Indian Embassies located in USA.
Inoculations: The Indian government does not require any inoculations, except
proof of a yellow fever shot if visitors have traveled in a yellow fever affected area
within the past six months. As a minimum, most tourists must take protection
against Hepatitis A and get booster shots. However one’s personal physician may
recommend some shots for your special needs.
Documents: Airline tickets, itinerary, voucher, telephone/fax numbers of contacts in
India, and any other relevant information about one’s trip should be mailed two
weeks before departure depending upon date of booking.
Weather: The average maximum temperature in most of Northern India is around
85 degree Fahrenheit and in the range 55 to 80 degrees. However, from December
to February the temperatures can drop to 45 to 50 degrees in Northern India
What to Pack: During visits to a temple or a mosque, visitors are advised to dress modestly
and avoid dressing in black or leather. From November to February a sweater and
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
Arabian
Sea
Gulf of
Cambay
Thar
Desert
INDIA
New Delhi
Ahmadabad
Bombay Deccan
Panaji
Srinagar
Delhi
Agra
Godavari
Plateau
Hyderabad
Bangalore
Calicut
Krishna
Gulf of
Manhar
Narmada
Madras
Himalayas
Kanpur
SRI
LANKA
NEPAL
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Nagpur
Vishakhapatnam
Varanasi
Ganges
Calcutta
Bay of
Bengal Andaman
Indian
Ocean
CHINA
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
Mouths of
the Ganges
Adaman
Islands
Brahmaputra
MYANMAR
Nicobar
Islands
Sea
a windbreaker may be necessary
in Northern India.
Money: It is easy to change
money at your hotel cashier's
desk.
Electricity: The voltage in India
is 220 volts AC 50 cycles.
Time Zone: India has one time
zone; 5.5 hours ahead of GMT.
Tipping: Drivers, $10 per day;
Restaurants, 10% of the bill.
Call the India Tourist Office
at 800-953-9399; 212-586-
4901 (East Coast); or 213-
380-8855 ( West Coast) or
visit the ofiicial website at:
www.incredibleindia.com
SEPTEMBER 2008 • JAXFAX INDIA SALES GUIDE SUPPLEMENT 1