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India
Golden Temple Amritsar, India iStock photo / Think stock

Golden Temple Amritsar, India iStock photo / Think stock

Practical Info
India
Electricity

230-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are
of the round two- and three-pin type.

Social Conventions

The traditional Hindu greeting is to fold the hands, tilt the head forward
and say namaste. Indian women generally prefer not to shake hands.
All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of
religious worship. Most Indians also remove their footwear when
entering their homes; visitors should follow suit. Many Hindus are
vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Most
Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Women are expected to dress modestly
and men should also dress respectfully. Women should not wear short
skirts and tight or revealing clothing, although there is a more casual
approach to clothing in Goa.

Language

Hindi is the official language of India and, used by about 40% of the
population, India's most widely spoken. English is also enshrined in the
constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 18
regional languages are recognised by the constitution. These include
Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi, which are used in respective
regions, and Tamil and Telugu, which are common in the south. Other
regional languages include Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim
population largely speaks Urdu.
Shopping Eating
Opening Hours Regional Specialities

Shopping hours are Mon-Sat around 0930-1900 in Dhal (curried lentils).

most large stores; variable hours in bazaars. Kulfi (firm Indian-style ice cream).
Gulab Jamuns (deep-fried dough balls in
sweet syrup).
Credit Cards Jalebi (circular-shaped deep-fried batter
in sweet syrup).
In major cities, the full cadre of banks cards are Dosa (fermented crepe stuffed with
generally accepted including debit cards, vegetables, meat and sauces, originally
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and from the south).
Visa. However, in smaller towns and villages,
choice is generally narrowed to cash or
MasterCard and Visa. Tipping

10 to 15% is usual in restaurants that

Travellers Cheques impose no service fee; optional where
service fee is added to bill.
These are widely accepted and may be changed
at banks and larger hotels. The most widely
accepted currencies include US Dollars and Drinking Age
Pounds Sterling. Some banks may refuse to
change certain brands of traveller's cheques 18-25 (state variations). Enforcement
whilst others may exchange quite happily. seems sporadic. Delhi's legal age to
consume alcohol is 25 while in Goa, Uttar
Pradesh and Karnataka it is 18. Alcoholic
Exchange Rates beverages are prohibited in the states of
Gujarat and Mizoram.
AUD 1 = INR 41.62

EUR 1 = INR 84.45 Food Drink

GBP 1 = INR 100.41
Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making
USD 1 = INR 63.44 ice should first be boiled or otherwise
Rates c orrec t as of 1 0 D ec 2 0 1 3 sterilised. Milk is often unpasteurised and
should be boiled. Avoid dairy products likely
to have been made from non-boiled milk.
Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Do not
eat salads, vegetables should be cooked
and peel your own fruit. Don't eat street
vendor food unless it is piping hot. Tap
water is not safe to drink, rely on bottled
water which is widely available. However,
do check the seal on bottled water.

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