Spotlight on South India | Tamilnadu, Kerala & Karnataka

PASSPORT

A valid passport is required for at least six months before Boarding the Flight. We encourage you to check the validity of the passport and we advise you to bring a photocopy of your passport and the page of the visa obtained, or carry multiple copies of ETA, useful in case of loss.

INDIAN CONSULAR VISA

To enter India, an entry visa issued by the Indian Embassy is required. It is categorically necessary that all travellers, whose itinerary includes leaving and returning to the country, have obtained a double or multiple visas. During the flight to India you will be given a disembarkation form to be filled in with your data and to be delivered to passport control. The detachable part completed with the customs declaration will be returned to you, and must then be handed over to the customs upon leaving the airport.

INTERNAL FLIGHTS

Air tickets for flights within India or between India and Nepal, if not included in the intercontinental flight, will be collected by your companion or our representative and will be delivered to you upon arrival. Flights within India and between Nepal are the trickiest part of the journey. We recommend a lot of patience, because it is not uncommon for flights to suffer delays, cancellations or make intermediate stops not foreseen at the time of booking. It is therefore essential to always go to the airport on time (about 2 hours before the flight). In the event of cancellations, however, the companies, according to the new regulations, will refund the cost of the ticket but have no obligation to re-route. The rebooking will then be done by our local office by purchasing a new ticket. Purchasing it on the same day, the same fare as the canceled flight is not always available. In case this exceeds that of the cancelled flight, the difference must be paid directly on the spot. If there are no other flights on the scheduled route, a land transfer by car/bus will be provided in lieu of the ticket.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Since recently (August 2013) both on intercontinental flights and on internal flights, the companies are very strict in calculating the weight of the baggage and each additional kilogram is subjected to an extra payment according to the rules of the company itself. In this regard, we report the scheme concerning the baggage allowance for the economy class granted by each airline for flights within India and between India and Nepal:

Airline

Hand Baggage Weight

Checkin Luggage Weight

Air India

7 kg + Laptop

15 kg

Jet Airways

7 kg + Laptop

15 kg

Indigo & Spice Jet

7 kg + Laptop

15 kg

Go Air

7 kg + Laptop

15 kg

Jet Lite

7 kg + Laptop

15 kg

The company has the right to apply an extra cost for each kilogram exceeding the above, (indicatively from 4 to 8-euro per kg).

LOCAL GUIDES AND ESCORT TOURS

For the entire duration of the group tour, starting from your arrival in India, you will be assisted by a Tour Escort or local Guide (for individual tourists) in each city who will take care of every technical-organizational detail. The tour escort will also act as a local guide in the cities for which he is licensed. In the others he will be accompanied by a local foreign speaking guide or English-speaking guide as per the provisions of the Indian government. In the latter case, he will provide for the translation.

In many cities of India, in fact, there are no local guides speaking foreign languages (especially in southern India, central India and some parts of Rajasthan), or there are few.

THEFT

We remind you that passport, telephone and valuable accessories in general must always be kept by the passenger and never left unattended, as no service facility takes charge of any loss/theft during the tour. It is also good to have all the emergency bank numbers with you in case of need.

TIPS

In India, tipping is a custom rooted in local custom. The amount of tips is at the discretion of the passengers, but as a rule they are in the local custom. In restaurants it is customary to leave 10% of the bill as a tip.

A basic tip:

For half day drive with driver Rs. 300/ full day Rs. 500.

For porters Rs. 70 per bag

For Half Day Local Guide Rs. 500/ Full Day Rs. 800

Per Day Escorts Rs. 1000

(The amount is in total and refers to a group of 2/3 people, it can be increased if you are traveling in a group with more people)

For groups, even small in number but with tour escorts, it is advisable to give the guide a sum at the beginning of the tour (approximately 40/45 euros for 7/9 day tours) and he will distribute them appropriately, thus avoiding boring and continuous collections.

N.B. (This figure does not include a possible tip for the companion)

ROOM AVAILABILITY

The rooms are available until 12.00 on the day of departure. In India there is no day use system, therefore if the rooms want to be kept until departure they will have to be paid for the entire following night.

CHECK-IN ONLINE

We inform you that the check-in procedure can take place via online check-in, which can be implemented from the airlines' websites or via the automatic check-in devices specifically installed at the airport.

CLIMATE

The most pleasant season runs from mid-November to March, with moderate heat and low rainfall. The maximum temperatures vary from 27° to 30°, the minimums from 16° to 22°. In March the temperatures begin to rise with highs reaching 38°. The month of August records the peak of the monsoon season (from June to October) which invests the south-western regions with rainfall that varies in intensity according to the areas, limited in some to severe thunderstorms. In October and in the first half of November the south-eastern part of India is affected by a north-east monsoon.

CLOTHING

Clothing must take into account the period and the regions where you go. In southern India, light clothing can be worn all year round, without forgetting long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect against insects. During visits to the temples, excessively small clothing should be avoided. For those traveling to the northern regions, warmer clothing is needed, as the temperature can approach freezing in winter. In the desert region of Rajasthan the temperature varies a lot between day and night.

SHOPPING

In India the variety of handicraft production is practically infinite. Indian muslins, canvases, silks and brocades have enjoyed worldwide fame since ancient times and have been appreciated for the quality of the fabric, the beauty and resistance of the colors, the originality of the designs. Even today the brightly colored silk saris, embroidered or woven with gold or silver threads, the brocades of Varanasi as well as the cottons of Rajasthan, the wool or wool and silk carpets of Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh are renowned. The manufacture of fabrics is just one aspect of the varied and rich Indian craftsmanship which ranges from wood carving (teak, sandalwood, rosewood, ebony) spread almost everywhere, especially in Karnataka, to Agra marble inlays or the stone sculptures of Orissa, from ceramics to hand-painted lacquers, from brass and copper pottery to bamboo and leather objects. The skill of the Indians in the cutting and processing of semi-precious and precious stones has been known since ancient times. Haggling in the bazaars is common practice.

Do not buy souvenirs that cost animals their lives or harm nature.

FOOD AND DRINK

It is recommended to drink only bottled or boiled water (found in almost all restaurants and hotels). Carefully avoid tap water and ice in drinks. It is advisable to consume only well-cooked foods and packaged foods, avoiding raw vegetables and fruit that cannot be peeled.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

In India there is a great variety of doctors practicing the most diverse forms of therapy and the only hospital in Europe is located in Delhi. It is advisable to bring from Italy tablets against any gastrointestinal disorders and medicines that are difficult to find locally.

BEHAVIOUR

Before entering the temples, mosques and or gurdwaras it is essential to take off your shoes, generally it is allowed to keep your socks on. To avoid discomfort, do not bring leather articles of any kind with you, because they could arouse some opposition. Inside places of worship, tourists can move as they please and sometimes attend religious rites, for which it is preferable to wear modest clothes, avoiding tops, skirts and shorts. A small donation will be welcome.

The folded hands namaste is the typical Indian greeting and its use will be greatly appreciated. Especially in cities, men will gladly shake hands with tourists; in fact, this gesture is considered particularly cordial. The majority of Indian women, on the other hand, are reluctant to shake hands with a man, both Indian and foreign (a possible refusal should not be considered an offense) and are generally surprised by the informality of relations between the two sexes used in western countries. In private homes you will be welcomed as guests of honor and your lack of familiarity with local customs and traditions will be understood and accepted. If you should be tempted to eat with your fingers, remember to use onlyyour right hand.

GASTRONOMY

Indian cuisine varies according to the regions, with notable differences between the southern and northern regions, but has as a common feature the wise use of spices which are used not only to flavor foods but also to aid digestion. In the north it looks remarkably like that of Middle Eastern or Central Asian countries; there is great use of chili (hot pepper), the staple food is wheat, and various types of unleavened bread are consumed, such as pooris or chappatis. The meats are quite common, naturally not beef. In the south, where the Muslim influence has been less strong, vegetarian diets prevail, and the cuisine revolves around rice, consumed in an infinite variety of ways. The highly savory taste of Indian foods is related to the blend of spices frequently used in food preparation. These mixtures (kari) can accompany various vegetables, chicken or lamb meat, fish or rice. Rogan josh (lamb curry), gishtaba (spiced meatballs with yoghurt), korna (vegetable meat-based stews) are very common in the north. In the south, various vegetable dishes are widespread, including bhujia (a vegetable curry) and along the coasts, fish dishes, the Cochin prawns are delicious. Perhaps the most common dishes throughout India are, however, the simple dhal, essentially a lentil soup, and the thali, the typical vegetarian dish, usually served on a tray with small bowls full of vegetables accompanied by large -of quantity of rice. Among the desserts, kulfi, the typical pistachio ice cream, is very common, while tropical fruit is very abundant. It is a frequent habit to conclude the meal by chewing pal, a mixture of spices, betel nuts and other powders, all wrapped up in an edible leaf. Tea is the most popular drink and some varieties of Indian tea are famous all over the world. Try the rice beer.

LANGUAGE

In India a large number of local languages are spoken, very different from region to region, among which Hindi is the official one. English represents a strong instrument of national cohesion and is very widespread, especially in hotels or in places frequented by Westerners.

RELIGION

Religion forms an integral part of India's complex tradition. Four of the most important faiths in the world meet on this territory: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and among these the first two were born in India. furthermore, this country which welcomed the Jews and the Parsees (followers of Zoroaster), who then integrated into Indian life, gave rise to Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable cults and regional sects of lesser importance and which for centuries have acted and interacted with each other.

AIRPORT FEES

They usually already include exit taxes from the country. However, we recommend checking at the airport, as these are subject to change regulations.

PHONE

The cellular network is active in the country, however Italian cell phones are only active in the main cities and it is therefore advisable to purchase a card locally. To call from India the area code is 0039. To call India dial 0091.

VACCINATIONS

No mandatory vaccination is required for travelers from Italy. Before travelling, it is advisable to consult the competent ASL on the need to carry out vaccinations or appropriate prophylaxis. In general, subject to medical opinion, vaccinations against: diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, polio and tetanus booster are recommended. However, we recommend checking the Viaggiare Sicuri website at the link http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/index.php?india

CURRENCY

The legal tender in India is the Indian Rupee. It is advisable to have currency in US dollars especially for entrances, Euros are also welcome. No Indian currency can be brought into the country or exported, while any amount of foreign currency can be imported. It is very complicated to exchange the Rupee in another currency, so it is advisable to buy in such quantities as to no longer have liquids in local currency at the time of departure. Credit cards, preferably from the VISA circuit, are accepted both in authorized shops and in hotels in large cities, where automated bank branches can also be used.