India Travel
Visa extensions
It is no longer possible to extend a visa in India, though exceptions may be made in special circumstances. Most people whose standard six-month tourist visas are about to expire head for Colombo, capital of neighbouring Sri Lanka, or the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. Or Bangkok, and apply for a new one. However, in recent years this has been something of a hit-and-miss business, with some tourists having their requests turned down for no apparent reason. The Indian High Commission in Kathmandu is particularly notorious for this; you can telephone them to check their current policy, but don’t expect the story to be the same when you arrive there, Try to find out from other travellers what the visa situation is, and always allow enough time on your current permit to re-enter India and catch a flight out of the country in case your request is refused.
If you do stay more than 180 days, before you leave the country you are supposed to get a tax clearance certificate, available at the foreigners’ section of the income-tax department in every major city. They are free, but you should take bank receipts to show you have changed your money legally. In practice, tax clearance certificates are rarely demanded, but you never know.
For details of other kinds of visas - five-year visas can be obtained by foreigners of Indian origin, business travellers and even students of yoga - contact your nearest Indian embassy.
Related Properties from Gurgaon
Visas and red tape
Gone are the days when Commonwealth nationals could stroll visa-less into India and stay for as long as they pleased: now everybody needs a visa, except citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. If you're going to India on business or to study, you'll need to apply for a special student or business visa, otherwise a standard tourist visa will suffice. These are valid for six months from the date of issue (not of departure from your home country or entry into India), and cost e30/US$60/ CDN$62/A$55/NZ$55. As you're asked to specify whether you need a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa, and the
Dawki in the Northeast
Ninety-six kilometres south from Shillong, DAWKI is the most important of the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border crossings and has excellent views of the Khasi Hills and Bangladesh below. A regular Jeep service from Bara Bazaar serves Dawki. The equivalent border town in Bangladesh is Tamabil, just two and-a-half hours from Sylhet. There is no Bangladesh visa office in Meghalaya, so you will need to possess a valid visa before entering the state - Calcutta has a consulate. There is also a Bangladesh Embassy in Agartala, Tripura and a border crossing into Bangladesh from there. If you are arriving at Dawki from Bangladesh,
Listings of Ramnagar in Eastern UP
Airlines Air India are in Hotel Clarks. Indian Airlines are behind the Hotel de Paris, Cantonment (Mon-Fri 10am-1 pm & 2-5pm), and they also have an airport office, Sahara Airlines are at Mint House: opposite the Taj Hotel. Banks and exchange Most foreign-currency branches of the major banks are located in the Cantonment area. The State Bank of India behind Best Western Hotel, the Mall (Mon-fy 10am -2pm; Sat 10am-noon) will change travellers' cheques but doesn't advance cash on Visa cards. The Allahabad Bank is near Takshal Cinema. Most of the top hotels also have foreign exchange facilities. Down at Dashaswamedh.
Listings form Ramnagar in Varanasi at the Eastern UP
Airlines Air India are in Hotel darks. Indian Airlines are behind the Hotel de Pans, Cantonment (Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 2-5pm), and they also have an airport office. Sahara Airlines are at Mint House, opposite the Taj Hotel. Banks and exchange Most foreign-currency branches of the major banks are located in the Cantonment area. The State Bank of India behind Best Western Hotel, the Mall (Mon-Fri 1 Dam -2pm; Sat 10am-noon] will change travellers' cheques but doesn't advance cash on Visa cards. The Allahabad Bank is near Takshal Cinema. Most of the top hotels also have foreign exchange facilities. Down at Dashaswamedh,
Practicalities in Goa
From Mapusa and Panjim pull in at the small bus stand-cum-market the centre of Calangute. Some continue to Baga, stopping at the roads behind the beach en route. Get of there if you can (as the mam road can sharply to the right); it's closer to most of the hotels. Motorcycle taxis , around opposite the temple in the market area, and around the little sandy are behind GTDC's Tourist Resort, next to the steps that drop down to the heach-front- Ask around here if you want to rent a motorcycle. Rates are standard; the nearest petrol station (or "pump")
Banks and ATMs in Goa
The most efficient places in Panjim to change money are; Thomas Cook, near the Indian Airlines office, at 8 Alcon Chambers, Oevanand Bandodkar Road (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm. Oct-March also Sun 10am-5pm; and the Pheroze Framroze Exchange Bureau on Dr P Shirgaonkar Road (Mon-Sat 9.30am-7pm & Sun 9.30am-1 pm). Unlike most private companies, the latter's rates are competitive and they don't charge commission on either currency or travellers' cheques. The HDFC Bank on 18 June Rd has a handy 24hr ATM, where you can make withdrawals using Visa or Mastercard. Changing money in the regular, government-run banks tends to take a lot
Leaving India in Delhi
Most travellers leave India by plane, while the most likely overland destination from Delhi is Pakistan, and it's not uncommon to head straight for Nepal. Anyone travelling to a country that requires a visa should get the necessary documentation from the embassy concerned. Before going to the embassy, call to check opening hours, how many photos you'll need, and the likely waiting period.
Special permits
In addition to a visa, special permits may be required for travel to certain areas of the country - notably Sikkim, parts of Ladakh,the Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep, the far west of the Thar desert beyond Jaisalmer, and some northeastern hill states. There are two types of permits: those for restricted areas such as Sikkim, and the Inner Line Permit required by both foreigners and Indians intending to visit politically sensitive border areas of Ladakh, parts of the northeast, and north and east Sikkim. Inner Line Permits are usually issued by the District Magistrate (see chapters for more detail). Some areas (parts
Practicalities to the Mussoorie in Uttaranchal
As Mussoorie's two-kilometre-long Mall is closed to motor vehicles during the tourist season, its two ends - the Library area at the west end, and the Kulri area in the east - serve as distinct transport hubs. Buses and shared taxis from Dehra Dun (about Rs50), the plains and the rest of Garhwal arrive either at the Library Bus Stand at Gandhi Chowkh, or the Kulri or Masonic Lodge Bus Stand. At the smaller Tehri Bus Stand, east of Landour 5km from the Mall, buses pull in from Tehri, Chamba and points east. Shared taxis and cars are available at
Listings of McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh
Banks and exchange The State Bank of India in McLeod Ganj has ceased foreign exchange transactions. There's another branch in lower Dharamsala (Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 10am-noon). The Bank of Baroda. in the lower town, issues money to Visa card holders, with one or two days' delay. There are several authorized private foreign exchange agencies in McLeod Ganj. Bookshops The Tibetan Bookshop and Information Office is a good place to browse for books on Tibetan Buddhism, as is the friendly and informative Charitable Trust Shop, both on Jogibara Road in the main bazaar. Bookworm, opposite the Tourist Office, South End, is small
Practicalities in Goa
Buses from Mapusa and Panjim drop passengers at various points along the tarmac road across the top of the village, which turns right towards Chapora at the main Starco's crossroads. If you're looking for a room, get off here as it's close to most of the guesthouses. The crossroads has a couple of small stores. a motorcycle taxi rank, and functions as a de facto village square and bus stand. The Manali Guesthouse and Oxford Stores change money (at poor rates). The Bank of Baroda on the Mapusa road will make encashments against Visa cards, but doesn't do foreign exchange, nor
Arrival and information in The Andaman Islands
Port Blair has two jetties: boats from the mainland moor at Haddo Jetty, nearly 2km northwest of Phoenix Jetty, arrival point for inter-island ferries. The Director of Shipping Services at Phoenix Jetty has the latest information on boats and ferries, but you can also check the shipping news column of the local newspaper, the Daily Telegrams, for details of forthcoming departures. Advice on booking ferry tickets appears in the box. The smart new airport terminal is 4km south of town at Lamba Line. Entry permits are issued to foreigners from the immigration counters as you enter the arrivals hall. Taxis are
Kottayam and around Practicalities in Kerala
Kottayam's KSRTC bus stand, 500m south of the centre on TB Road (not to be confused with the private stand for local buses on KK Road, aka Shastri Road), is an important stop on routes to and from major towns in south India. Four of the frequent buses to Kumily/Penyar (3-4hr) each day go on to Madurai, in Tamil Nadu (7hr), and there are regular services to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Ernakulam. The railway station (2km north of the centre) sees a constant flow of traffic between Thiruvananthapuram and points north. Ferries from Alappuzha and elsewhere dock at the weed-clogged jetty,
Manali Arrival and information in Himachal Pradesh
Buses pull in to Manali's bus stand in the middle of the Mall, a short walk from the helpful tourist office (Mon-Sat 10am-lpm & 1.30—5pm; 01902/52175).You can make reservations for the town's state-run hotels at the HPTDC offices next door. If you need to change money, the State Bank of India (Mon-Fri 10am—2pm, Sat 10am—noon) is on the main road 250m south of the Mall. There are also a handful of authorized private agencies open longer hours but these usually offer lower
Arrival and information of Mount Abu in Rajasthan
Mount Abu is accessible only by road. Aim to spend as little time as possible in the grim bazaar town of Abu Road, the nearest railhead, where travellers pick up buses for the forty-five-minute ascent from the plains. Entering Mount Abu itself, you have to pay a Rs5 fee. Passengers arriving at the main bus stand in the southeast of Mount Abu are swamped by hotel touts and would-be luggage porters pushing pram-like trolleys. Turn right to get to the more expensive hotels, such as the Mount Regency; left for the large central polo ground, the main bazaar, budget hotels and
Alappuzha Practicalities in Kerala
The shambolic KSRTC bus stand, on the east of town, is served by half-hourly buses to Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakukm; less frequent buses run to Kottayam, Thrissur and Palakkad. The boat jetty is just one minute's walk west from the bus stand. As the backwaters prevent trains from continuing south beyond Alappuzha, only a few major daily services and a handful of passenger trains depart from the railway station, 3km southwest of the jetty. Among these are the Bokaro/Tata Express #8690 at 6am, the Trivandrum-Mumbai CST Express #6332 at 7.20am and the-Alleppey-Chennai Express #6042 at 3pm; all three stop at
Listings in Delhi
Airport enquiries International; domestic. Airlines, domestic Indian Airlines main office: Safdarjang Airport, open 24hr; general enquiries, prerecorded information,departures; booking offices: PTI Building, Sansad Marg (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm: Malhotra Building, Janpath (daily except Sat 10am-5pm;; Kanchenjunga Building, Barakhamba Road (Mon-Sat !0am-5pm:. Archana Airways. 41A Friends Colony East, Mathura Road. Jagson Airlines. 12E Vandhana. 11 Tolstoy Marg. Jet Airways.main office: Jetair House. 13 Community Centre, Yusuf Sarai: booking offices: N-40 Outer Circle, Connaught Place. Sahara Indian Airlines, Ambadeep Building. Kasturba Gandhi Marg. UP Air, A2 Defence Colony. Airlines, international Aeroflot. Tolstoy House. 15-17 Tolstoy Marg; Air Canada, 1st floor. ALPs Building, 56 Janpath;
Practicalities in Goa
Buses leave Margao (from outside die Kauiat Hotel on Praca Jorge Barreto) every thirty minutes tor Colva, dropping passengers at the main beach-front, and at various points along the main road. Auto-rickshaws charge Rs100 from the railway station. To rent a motorcycle, ask around the taxi rank, or in front of Vincy's Hotel, where l00 Yamahas are on offer at the usual rates. Petrol is sold by the Umiiari bottle from a little house behind the Menino Jesus College,just east of 's Resort. This is the only petrol stop m Colva, but the stuff sold may well be adulterated. 'Meeting Pome Travel
Reaching Nepal from Bihar
Travelers heading from Patna towards Nepal have to cross the border at Raxaul, six hours away by bus. If you want to break the journey at Muzaffarpur you'll find limited accommodation near the bus stand and in the town centre near the railway station. You can then continue to Raxaul by bus or train. RAXAUL itself is an unattractive, grubby town with limited amenities, infested with mosquitoes and flies, so you're better off staying at Birganj across the Nepal border. If you have to stay, the clean retiring rooms are the best bet, but guests have to have a rail ticket
Banks and currency in Calcutta
Banks and currency exchange Calcutta Airport has a 24hr branch of the State Bank of India, as well as Thomas Cook at the international terminal. Major banks, concentrated either in the vicinity of BBD Bagh or scattered around Cfiowringnee Road, include Bank of America, 8 India Exchange Place; Bank of Tokyo, 2 Brabourne Rd; Banque Nationale de Pans. 4a BBD Bagh East: Citibank. 43 Chowringhee Rd; Hong Kong & Shanghai. 8 Netaji Subhas Rd; Standard Chartered. 4 Netaji Subhas Rd; State Bank of India, Middleton Street and Calcutta airport: and Standard Chartered Grindlays, 41 Chowringhee Rd and 19 Netaji Subhas