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What cultural considerations should one take care of while touring in India?

India has a very traditional and religious society. Its cultures and customs are very different to western cultural ideas. We ask you as guests in this amazing country to respond to these sometimes-bizarre differences with sensitivity and respect.

We do request you to dress conservatively - both men and women should wear clothing that covers knees and shoulders (when visiting mosques and temples). Nudity is totally taboo, when swimming please do wear a swimsuit.

Try to avoid any public display of affection. When entering mosques, temples and places of religious worship or private homes - please remove your shoes. Many Hindu temples are not open to non-Hindus. Always ask permission before entering. Mosques may have limited visiting times for non-Muslims.

Some detailed information about passport & visa:

Passport :

You must be in possession of a valid passport, which will not expire for at least six months after your journey is due to end. It should have to clear pages for entry and exit stamps as well as your visa. A wise precaution is to carry a photocopy of your passport kept separately, extremely useful in the event of loss or theft.

Visa :

All visitors to India require a visa that must be obtained from an Indian High Commission or Consulate. You would need to use two addresses in India and do let us know for the same as it is normal to give our company’s and our director’s address on the same.

For postal applications passports should be sent by registered post and include a registered post paid return addressed envelope. Applications should be on the official visa form available from a local travel agent. Alternatively in some countries the form can be downloaded from the Embassies’ official WEBSITE. All applications should include 3 passport-sized photographs. Your local travel agent or nearest Embassy will be able to inform you of the latest application fee.

Where to shop and how to be sure of the product & the price? Should we be confident of going with the guide?

India can be described as a shopper’s paradise with products such as hand-woven rugs, inlaid marble, semi-precious stone jewelry, silk fabrics, brassware, etc. India’s diversity is expressed though the creation of master craftspeople. Each state has a unique handicraft to proudly reflect the inherited and improved skills to near perfection. Souvenir shops and art & craft emporiums are to be found everywhere.

Consult your guidebook or the local guides and people. Usually the “pavement markets” do not guarantee the products and they do not accept credit / debit cards. Genuine products can only be guaranteed at a government showroom or branded showroom, i.e. Cottage Industries, etc.

Shopping can be one of the ways to interact with a local. For people who like to bargain, shopping is a true pleasure. For others, fixed priced stores are a relief. Whatever transaction you prefer, we hope your purchase that was made in India, will remind you of your trip.

Yes, the guides do take you to shops and showrooms, while you are on tour. You can say “no” when you don’t want to visit the shops or not interested in shopping with a guide. But when you do visit the store with the guide, you do not necessarily pay a higher price for a substandard product. As this is a worldwide phenomenon, we accept it too with its “blues”. What we have done for our travelers who want to shop with the guides and at the same time want to be sure of the price and quality of the product, we have selected a few stores both privately owned & government owned (but in both cases Government recognized) at important destinations, where we are sure of three things;

As for price, some are fixed price & some are bargain shops. So go ahead and have FUN!!! For lists of authorized shops do let us know.

Are the monument entrance fees included in the tour cost?

The monument entrance fees are usually not included in the tour cost. It is not a problem when the same is included but when it is not, you need to keep small change for the same. Usually you need to take the tickets yourself but can request the guide who would be happy to oblige. We also have detailed lists of monuments with the entrance fees and camera charges. Do request us for the same if you want to have a good idea when the same is not included in your tour cost. At times we do not include the same as this might lead to misunderstandings when the tour is too tight on time.

General Information:

Insurance :

While traveling in India it is important that you obtain good personal travel insurance from an insurance agent in your country. A suitable policy will include an unlimited amount for medical, hospital and additional health associated costs.

Most policies cover loss of baggage, personal money (usually limited) delay and curtailment. Do make sure your policy covers you for unexpected cancellation of your trip in this unlikely event you will then be covered for financial cost.

You should carry your insurance policy with you at all time, preferably in your relevant details in a separate place, with your passport photocopy.

Tipping :

Tipping is an inherent part of life in India. It is one of the most effective ways to communicate how you felt about the service provided. It is common practice to tip porters, drivers, wait staff, toilet attendants and guides. It is not necessary to tip rickshaw drivers. Please note that you are not obliged to tip and it is entirely to your discretion. Please let us know if you want some guidelines on the same but usually it is “what you feel is appropriate”.

A general idea would be as follows:
Bellboys: Rs. 10 - 20 (1/4th US$) per bag
Drivers: Rs. 200 (5 US$) per day & Rs.100 (2 US$) per half day
Day Guides: Rs. 250 to 400 (6 - 8 US$)
Restaurants: 5% of the bill amount could be left.
Room boys / Maid: It is not recommended

We Care :

In India roads could appear to be pot-holed and traffic chaotic and hence our guests very frequently get very worried. We suggest that you catch up on some sleep or read a book or even better put on your in-flight eye shades and doze off. The drivers are well trained and they are used to these roads. Very seldom (I must hasten to add that almost none) are any accidents involving tourist vehicles. The cars that we use are safe, insured for and routinely checked. Trains however are much more comfortable ride-wise but could appear dirty and filthy. Do carry your dry hand wash and tissue always while taking train journeys. The flights are pleasant and service good.

Travelers Cheques :

Thomas Cook or American Express in American Dollars, Euro or British Sterling are the only ones that are widely accepted.

Cash :

US dollars, Euro and British Sterling are the best currency to take. The notes need to be clean, undamaged and if possible the latest issue.

Credit Card :

In major cities Visa, Master and American Express cards can be used. Please do not rely on your credit card as a source of finance in small cities though most of the tourist cities have a large number of ATMs.

Currency :

Please see www.oanda.com for updated currency exchange rate. Indian National Rupees i.e. INR

Climate :

With such a large landmass, India has a wide range of climates with effects of the altitude and the sea being very string in certain areas.

North India :

April – June: Hot, dry and dusty with temperature 35-42 DEG C

July – August: Hot, Humid and rainy

Sep – Mar: Pleasant days and could get cooler in the night

South India :

April/May & Aug/Sep: Hot and Humid with average temperature 38 DEG C

June/July/Oct/Nov: Hot and Heavy rains

Dec – Mar: Hot but less humid

Clothing :

For the most of areas, cotton casual clothing that is light and loose fitting is recommended for daywear. For trips during Nov-Jan do carry warm clothes as it is cold during early mornings and evenings. (Only in Northern India) Carry a hat during sightseeing to keep off the mid-day sun and for the evenings a couple of elegant dresses would be nice to be worn for dinner at the lovely hotels. You could also wear trousers and jeans during the day. There is no problem. Carry a stole or a scarf to cover your head or feet while at the religious places.

There could be a lot of other questions that you might have, once you are already in the process of booking the tour. For instance; payment methods, cancellation conditions, meet and assist at the airport, company bank details, previous reference, etc. and you are welcome to ask them. It would be our pleasure.