About India
One of the oldest civilizations in the world, India is a mosaic of multicultural experiences. With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered heights of the Himalayas to the tropical rainforests of the south. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Fringed by the Great Himalayas in the North, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the East and the Arabian Sea on the West.
From the backwaters and jungles of Kerala to the vast deserts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, this enormous nation covers an astonishing variety of terrain, so there’s always somewhere worth visiting, no matter the weather. India has a myriad of landscapes, ancient heritage and culture, and varied flora & fauna. The country is a preferred tourist destination for travelers all across the world for its picturesque landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, and the natural habitat of the country’s largest tiger reserve, alongside being home to the warmest people on earth.
Climate
Goa enjoys a tropical monsoon climate with pleasant weather, hovering between 24°C to 30°C all year round.The period of April & May falls under the warmer, summer season – perfect for leisurely days spent at Goa’s balmy beaches. Come sundown, sea breezes further cool the temperature. This period sees weather that is neither so warm as to burn the skin nor rainy enough to ruin any beach plans.
Time Zone
The Republic of India uses only one time zone across the entire nation and all its territories. IST (Indian Standard Time) referred to as Asia/Kolkata equates to UTC+05:30, i.e. five and a half hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). India does not currently observe daylight saving time (DST or summer time).
Electricity
For India, there are three associated plug types, types C, D, and M. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins, plug type D is the plug that has three round pins in a triangular pattern, and plug type M is the plug that also has three round pins. India operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Language
There is no national language of India as per the constitution. As per Article 343 of the Indian constitution the official language of the country shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. Initially, after the independence of India, 14 languages were included in the constitution of India.
Hindi and English both are widely spoken across the country.
The majority of hotels, airline offices, service institutions, shops, and key tourist destinations have multi-lingual staff.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
The Indian Rupee (₹ / INR) is the official currency of the country.
All major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, shops, and restaurants. It is advised to check with the vendor before making a transaction/purchase.
Travelers’ Cheques
Traveler’s cheques in dollars are the safest and most convenient way to carry money. They are widely accepted and can be cashed at banks or foreign exchange brokers. Identification may be required when cashing travelers’ cheques.
Currency Exchange
In India, Banks and RBI-approved money chargers are the best options for your currency exchange requirements.
While you can carry out the currency conversion process at airports as well, we would not advise you to do so as you could end up paying 10-15% in additional fees on what you would have paid if you had done it via banks or any online forex platforms.
Banking
Regular banking hours in India are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Visitors who wish to en cash cheques are advised to check the times of operation with the respective institutions. Most banks are equipped to exchange foreign currency as well.
ATM (automatic teller machines) can be accessed 24 hours a day, using bank or credit cards on major international banking networks.
Buying an Indian SIM card
Using your own mobile to send texts, and make/receive calls could result in huge costs. Instead, you can buy an Indian SIM card from Jio/Airtel/Vodafone at the airport, or even at a local tele store. All you need is to present a couple of passport photographs and fill in a form providing a local address and the contact details of somebody who could vouch for you.
Travel Health Precautions
Covid-19 vaccine is, of course, a must while traveling to India. Contact a health professional at least eight weeks before you travel to make sure your jabs are up to date.
Immigration
Foreigners visiting or returning to India will get the India Arrival Card. If you have dutiable goods to declare, then you will need a customs declaration form. You will need to get the forms completed and ready since you will need them for immigration clearance as soon as you alight from the airplane. Before leaving the immigration counter, ensure that your passport is stamped with the correct date.
If you are carrying bulk cash greater than $10000, you will require supporting documents. You will need a photo ID, proof of address, documented evidence indicating the reason for which you are carrying the money, and a withdrawal receipt.
