Below you can get practical information when traveling to India – for example about visas, vaccinations, travel insurance.
Language: Hindi and English
Capital: New Delhi
Population: 1, 25 billion
Religion: Hinduism
Currency: Rupee
Surface: 3,287,263 billion km2
Worth knowing
On board the flight to India
Food and drink are served on the flight. Before landing, flight crews hand out an entry form, which must be submitted to the Indian authorities. The entry form consists of the following parts:
A) Entry-Permit Card
B) Custom Card – (customs declaration card)
All passengers must fill in A and B. The arrival card must be handed in at the passport control, and the customs declaration card must be handed in at the exit, after you have picked up your luggage.
Transportation in India
Bus
The buses in India do not meet the same standard as we are used to in Europe. Of course, we have chosen the best category, with air conditioning where possible.
Trains
On train journeys we travel in the best possible class. There is a big difference between different departures, but we strive to use the best connections. It is not always the same standard as in Europe, but train travel is always an experience!
Flights
On our round trips in India, we often fly longer distances with domestic flights. Prior to such flights, the tour guide informs about the time of departure and what applies at check-in at the airport.
Luggage and luggage transport
We recommend that you bring a suitcase for regular luggage (maximum 20 kg), as well as a small backpack as hand luggage and possible change of clothes.
On the days when we change hotels, we will return the bags for storage for a longer period of time. This is partly because we use means of transport such as buses, planes and trains, where you can not have your bag nearby, and partly because the handling of luggage takes time. For air and train travel, we often leave our luggage the day / evening before departure, and a special luggage bus transports it to our destination.
Time difference
The time difference between Sweden and India can vary depending on whether it is summer or winter time in Sweden:
Summer time: + 3½ hours
Winter time: + 4½ hours
Money
The money lasts a very long time in India. When it comes to pocket money, we know from experience that you usually manage on 60-70 kronor a day. If you want drinks etc. in addition to that, SEK 120-180 extra per day is enough per person. Such a sum is enough for drinks, postcards, stamps and other small expenses. If the trip does not include full board, you should add about 70-100 kronor for one meal per person.
In many places, there are smaller fees (SEK 10-30) for camera and video camera at the sights. The money goes to the preservation of the place. You will have many opportunities to take pictures during your trip in India. You are then expected to leave a small amount to take pictures. Visit computerdo for South Asia Tourism.
In addition, of course, there are personal necessities, as well as shopping money and tips.
Tip
On our travels, you come into contact with everyday life in India, including conditions that may not appeal to you, or that you are not used to. Take for example the system of tips. In many countries, tips are a more organized phenomenon than we Swedes are used to, and you are expected to leave some tips to local guides and drivers during the trip. We enter an amount in our travel program so that you can count on this when you make up your travel budget at home. The price of the trip does not include the cost of tips as you decide how much you want to give during the trip. The tip system is part of the culture you visit and something you should therefore follow and respect.
In practice, it is possible to arrange for the tour guide to collect money for the entire trip before departure and ensure that the right people get what they need. An envelope will then be sent around the bus so that those who want can leave tips. Expect about SEK 30-45 per travel participant per day.
In many hotels, restaurants, cafés and the like, a service fee of 10-15% is often added to the stated prices. This is stated in the bill. If the service fee is included, you do not need to give additional tips.
We want to emphasize that it is of course voluntary to tip.
For trips that include accommodation on a boat (cruises), other rules apply, see the specific program for your trip.
Electricity
India, like Sweden, uses 220 volts AC. There are many types of sockets and for safety you should therefore bring an adapter kit with several types of connectors.
Telephone and internet
The international country code for India is +91. It can be expensive to call home from India from your Swedish mobile. Check with your mobile operator for coverage and rates for calls from India. Internet cafes are now found in most places in India, but the connection is not always as fast there as at home. We also know from experience that it can be difficult to keep up with visits to internet cafés, with the exception of on days off or after the end of the day’s program. There are hotels that have internet service, but expect a slower connection compared to home. Some hotels charge extra for this.
