FAQ and Travel

On this page we have tried to put together some useful information for people considering travelling with Shine Gold Tours India.
Of course, if you think we have missed something or you have more questions, you can always contact us and we will do our best to answer your queries.

BEFORE YOU GO

FOOD & DRINK

CULTURE & SOCIETY

SHOPS, SERVICES & TRANSPORT

BEFORE YOU GO ANSWERS

What vaccinations will I need to have before I travel to India?

You will probably need to have vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Polio – but it is best to make an appointment at you health service travel clinic to see what the professionals recommend. Depending on what part of India you are travelling to you may also require anti-malaria tablets. Make sure you contact your local medical centre a good time before you intend to travel because you may have to have these vaccinations and/or start taking malaria tablets one or two weeks before departure. Again discuss this with your travel clinic nurse. Top

What are the visa requirements for going to India?

All non-Indian national tourists to India require a visa. These are usually issued for 6 months and can be single or multiple entries for that period of time. Your passport needs to have 6 months before expiry at the time of entry and there must to 2 adjacent clear pages – 1 for the visa document and the adjacent page for entry and exit stamps. A reliable site which deals with visas is www.indiavisaheadoffice.co.uk Top

Where are the international airports in India?

There are 4 main international airports: Delhi ( DEL - Indira Gandhi International Airport), Mumbai (Bombay; BOM Chhtrapati Shivaji International Airport), Kolkata (Calcutta; CCU Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport and Chennai (Madras; MAA Anna International Airport. Top

Are there any essentials I should take with me to India?

In addition to sunscreen, travel/health insurance and a guide book for the areas you will be visiting – a torch (electricity supplies are often interrupted even in the major cities) – a 2 pin (round) adaptor for charging your electronic gadgets – some jungle strength mosquito repellent. If you are 'roughing it', a cotton sleeping bag and a mosquito net can come in handy. Top

What are the “must-see” sights in India?

The Taj Mahal in Agra tops most lists
The cities and forts of Rajasthan – with a camel safari to round your visit off
The sights and sounds of Delhi – Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, India Gate……
The possibility of seeing a tiger at Ranthambore, Jim Corbett Park and many more
Mumbai (Bombay)
Kolkata (Calcutta)
The Himalayas from Nainital
The Golden Temple at Amritsar
The Ganges and the burning Ghats at Varanasi
McLeod Ganj and its yogis from Shimla

And that’s just Northern India – what about Goa, Kerala, Hampi………………you’ll need a lifetime! Top

FOOD & DRINK ANSWERS

Is street food safe to eat?

Yes, provided that you make sure that it is cooked. Avoid salads and fruit that cannot be peeled – you can’t be sure that it has been washed in uncontaminated water. If you drink fruit juice at a stall make sure it is freshly pressed and hasn’t been hanging around in a jug. Top

Is water safe to drink?

Probably it is in many of the major cities these days but not really worth the risk. Use bottled water (make sure that the top is sealed) for
drinking and cleaning teeth. Top

Are vegetarians generally catered for?

India is a vegetarian paradise – many religious groups are vegetarian and restaurants will advertise themselves as “Veg” and/or “Non-Veg”. Most menus will have entirely vegetarian sections and in addition there are restaurants that are “Pure Veg” serving only vegetarian dishes – however, this does not mean vegan as milk, butter and curd are included in most dishes. For more information on availability of vegan restaurants go to www.indianvegan.com. Top

Can you buy alcohol in India? And what are the rules on consumption?

Gujarat is the only dry state in India but there may be some local restrictions on the sale of alcohol in other states from time to time. Most major cities have lively bars serving a range of local and imported beers - think Kingfisher – and spirits. Be careful with Arak and Mahua outside reputable bars as illegal spirits may contain methyl alcohol which can blind or even kill. Some restaurants have restrictions on selling alcohol but often have ingenious ways around this often involving teapots and tea cups. Most vegetarian restaurants do not sell alcohol. Top

CULTURE & SOCIETY ANSWERS

What language do they speak in India?

The official languages of India are Hindi and English but there are 18 languages recognised by the constitution and some 1,600 minor languages and dialects. In major cities you will find many English speakers (or at least Hinglish – a mixture of the 2 official languages). Top

Are there any cultural no-no’s a traveller should be aware of?

India is a fairly tolerant society – common sense and courtesy will help you negotiate most cultural issues. The main observation is to dress conservatively – men and women – particularly in religious areas where you will be expected to cover up – in Mosques men may be expected to cover their heads (a cap will be provided), some religious places will not admit women, many will require you to take your shoes off before you enter. The key is to follow what you see going on around you and you won’t go far wrong. If you do try to eat with your hands you should try to use only your right hand. Top

What precautions should female travellers take?

Indian society is not as liberal as we are used to in the west. An unaccompanied female or group of females without male friends can expect some unwanted attention as they are still something of a rarity in India. Best to dress modestly - no sleeveless tops, mini skirts or shorts away from the beach – ankle length skirts are useful - and ignore the stares – a book or an i-pod are useful for deflecting unwanted attention on bus journeys.Essentially use your judgement as you always do at home but err even more on the side of caution.Top

How do I contact the emergency services in India?

Police 100, Ambulance 102, Fire 101; International operator 186. The international dialling code for India is 0091 if you are using your home mobile.Top

What is crime like in India? And how can I stay safe?

India is a fairly safe and law abiding society – there is petty crime as there is everywhere and there are parts of most cities that it is better not to go into – particularly after dark. Stay on the main streets in cities and try to stay with others. Keep your valuables in an inner pocket – zipped or fastened and if your hotel has a safe it may be better to split your cash or credit cards between the safe and your person. Don’t make a show of your wealth – no matter how poor you think you are, you are fabulously wealthy compared to the majority of Indians.Top

Are there any dangerous animals I should be aware of?

In cities there are hundreds of semi feral dogs – best avoided. Obviously if you are bitten (I’ve never seen this happen) or even licked by a rabid animal then seek immediate medical attention. Rabies exists in India – it can be effectively treated if acted upon quickly. Monkeys can also be something of a problem in some parts of India, particularly where they have been routinely fed by tourists. They will aggressively steal food that people are eating as they walk along.In the countryside there are snakes but they will keep well out of your way and you will be “lucky” to see one. There are scorpions in the desert areas – shake out your shoes in the morning! The bigger, more famous, predators such as leopards and tigers exist in India but again the chances of you seeing one are very small indeed unless you go out of your way to find them.Top

SHOPS, SERVICES & TRANSPORT ANSWERS

What are the normal opening hours for shops in India?

Banks 10am – 2pm Mon – Fri, 10am – 12 noon Sat. Restaurants 8am – 11pm daily. Shops 10am – 6pm daily but many smaller shops will be open much later.Top

What is public transport like in India?

Public transport is well developed in India with rail, air and bus services to all parts of the country. Delhi has a very modern Metro. Train or air is favoured for long distances but buses are the cheapest option and sometimes the only one in mountainous areas. Long distance buses can be noisy – ear plugs are recommended to shut out the deafening music. They are often driven very fast and overnight trips by bus are best avoided if possible as travel by bus at night can increase the risk of accidents.Top

How do I buy train tickets in India?

You can queue at the tourist counter or office at most main city stations. The bureaucracy is very time consuming so a better bet may be to use a trusted travel agent who will charge you a couple of hundred Rupees (£2- 3) on top of the rail fare. DO NOT let a tout at the stations take you to a travel agent you can end up paying many times the real fare. Train travel in India is quite cheap e.g. a single journey from Delhi to Jaipur 3 tier a/c taking 4.5 hours will be under £10.Top

Are there public telephones I can use?

You won’t see many phone boxes on the street but there are many private PCO/STD/ISD call booths often attached to internet cafes of which there are many – often open 24 hours a day. Mobile phone coverage is excellent and if you are going to spend a long time in India it is worth getting a local SIM card.Top

Are there places to use the internet?

Internet cafes are available almost everywhere, particularly in major tourist destinations and main towns and cities. Many tourist class hotels will provide this service for a fee.Top

Where can I get tourist information?

There are networks of both Government and State tourist information offices in towns, cities and popular tourist areas. The Government offices can be found on the Incredible India website www.incredibleindia.org at the Helpdesk tab on the Homepage.Top

What should I do if I need medical assistance?

Call 102 if it is serious – use an hotel or shop. People are generally very helpful. For less serious complaints there is an excellent network of pharmacies where you can buy most things without a prescription.Top

Are there public toilets in India?

There are public toilets in India but not many. Almost all are Indian style i.e. a hole in the floor with foot pads which may take some getting used to. Most restaurants, bars, cafes will have a toilet which usually are western style. Most tourist class hotels will have western style toilets but you may have to ask for toilet paper. Top

Where I can I post mail from India?

The most secure place is the Post Office where you can buy stamps and have the pleasure of applying the adhesive to the back of the stamp using the pot and brush provided!Top

What s the currency in India and where can I get currency exchange?

The currency of India is the Rupee. It is closed currency meaning that you cannot take Rupees out of the country and therefore cannot get your Rupees before you arrive in India. There are exchange desks at all airports and major stations. Banks and independent money exchangers will change cash and travellers cheques. The Rupee is a strengthening currency against the pound, Euro and US Dollar so try to keep in touch with what the current rate of exchange is whilst you are in India. A useful website is www.x-rates.com. Top

Are there ATMs in India?

There are ATMs everywhere. The major banks are the best bets for international withdrawals – Bank of India, ICICI Bank but there are many others. You may be restricted to Rs10 – 12,000 per day but unless you are paying a luxury class hotel bill (and they will take credit cards) you should manage pretty well on that amount. Remember to notify your bank that you will be withdrawing money in India – it’ll save you a phone call from their security division.Top

Will I be able to use my credit card in India?

Credit cards are not accepted as widely in India as they are in Europe or the USA. Most large shops and the larger (more expensive) hotels accept credit cards but smaller establishments will still expect cash. ATMs are widely available.Top

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