More About India
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Indian doctors are widely recognized as being some of the best the world over. Now with the availability of the latest medical technology many Indian doctors practicing in the West have actually moved back to practice in hospitals India's International Hospitals. Also, world-class medical infrastructure, and the latest medical technology are now available in India, and hospitals currently offer treatments and surgical techniques equal to those carried out at the best hospitals in the West. Fast Facts about India
Weather You will experience a range of variations in the Indian climatic conditions. India has three major seasons - summers, winters and monsoon. The lines below will tell you about Indian weather in detail: Summer The summer season in India lasts from March to June. During summers, temperature can even go above average, causing unbearable heat. Another drawback of summers is the dust-laden air that can hamper views. Many Indians, themselves, head to "hill stations" to get a relief from the extreme heat of the lowlands. Winters The winter season lasts from October to February. It is the best time to visit India. The weather is pleasant throughout the country with minimal rainfall in most places. It is the ideal time to enjoy the beauty of India. The monsoon season lasts from July to September. Rains sweep across the country with heavy downpours. The drawback of this season is a high possibility of flooding in some areas. This makes it difficult to travel around. Duration of monsoons may vary in different regions by several weeks Time + 5 1/2 GMT Clothing Indian summers are too hot. So, if you are planning to come in the period of March to June, carry light clothes. Men can wear loose cotton shirts or T-shirts and baggy Pants. In the big cities and Metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, etc you can wear shorts also. However, women should dress conservatively. Short tops, short skirts / shorts, etc should be avoided. You can wear cotton shirts or T-shirts, with cotton trousers or ankle length skirts. Make sure that the clothes are not too tight or body revealing. These clothes can be easily purchased from the Indian markets at a reasonable price. Winters (October to February) in India are quite cold, especially North India. So, pack some woollen clothes with you. Also, pack some warm innerwear, especially if you are planning to roam around too much. During Monsoon (July to September), there is a high level of humidity in India. So don't wear synthetic stuff. In this case also, cotton clothing is the best. Last but not the least, while visiting places of worship (temples, gurudwara or mausoleum), you should be fully clothed. Also, don't forget to remove your footwear before entering any religious place. Money The Indian rupee (Rs) is divided into 100 paise (p), but paise coins are increasingly rare. Coins come in denominations of 5,10, 20, 25 and 50 paise, and Rs 1, 2 and 5; notes come in Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 (this last bill can be hard to change outside banks). The Indian rupee is linked to a basket of currencies and its value is generally stable. ATMs linked to international networks are common in most towns and cities in India. However, carry cash or travellers cheques as backup in case the power goes down, the ATM is out of order, or you lose or break your plastic. Cash Major currencies such as US dollars, UK pounds and euros are easy to change throughout India, though some bank branches insist on travelers cheques only. A few banks also accept Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, and Swiss francs. Private moneychangers accept a wider range of currencies, but Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi currency can be harder to change away from the border. When travelling off the beaten track, always carry a decent stock of rupees. Whenever changing money, check every note. Banks staple bills together into bricks, which puts a lot of wear on tear on the currency. Do not accept any filthy, ripped or disintegrating notes, as these may not be accepted as payment. If you get lumbered with such notes, change them to new bills at branches of the Reserve Bank of India in major cities. Nobody in India ever seems to have change, so it's a good idea to maintain a stock of smaller currency. Try to stockpile Rs 10, 20 and 50 notes; change bigger bills into these denominations every time you change money. Credit cards Credit cards are accepted at growing numbers of shops, up market restaurants, and midrange and top-end hotels, and you can also use them to pay for flights and train tickets. However, be wary of scams. Cash advances on major credit cards are also possible at some banks without ATMs. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted cards; for details about whether you can access home accounts in India, inquire at your bank before leaving. Moneychangers Private moneychangers are usually open for longer hours than banks, and they are found almost everywhere (many also double as internet cafes and travel agents). Compare rates with those at the bank, and check you are given the correct amount. In a scrape, some up market hotels may also change money, usually at well below the bank rate. Visas Specific Visas are granted for a variety of purposes. Please contact the High Commission of India for further details if you are visiting India for purposes other than tourism. |
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