Vast, diverse, deeply spiritual and utterly unforgettable, India is unlike anywhere else on earth – a melting pot of ethnicities and religions, a treasure trove of history and culture, and a curious mixture of chaos and serenity. Stretching across more than three million square kilometres, it encompasses a staggering array of landscapes, vistas and environs, and offers unparalled travel experiences – from the beautiful beaches of Goa, to the compelling craziness of Kolkata, the sacred Ganges river banks of Varanasi, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in Kashmir and the ancient, exquisitely crafted temples dotted across the entire country. Not to mention the vibrant, friendly people, and the incredible cuisine.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
EATING – In India, people often eat with the right hand. The left hand is considered unclean and is generally not used to eat or to handle food and money.
FEET – The soles of your feet pointing towards someone is considered offensive, so care should be taken not to do this. In the same vein, feet should not be placed on furniture. If you accidentally touch someone with your foot, it is common practice to apologize. It is also customary to remove your shoes when entering a private home in addition to places of worship and burial.
GARLANDS – If you are given a garland of flowers, remove it after several minutes to demonstrate your humility.
GREETINGS – The Indian greeting is to put your hands together in front of your chin (as for praying) and incline your head forward, saying "Namaste".
LANGUAGE – The official language of India is Hindi in the Devanagri script. The individual states are free to decide their own regional languages for internal administration and education, so there are 18 official languages spoken throughout the country. English is widely spoken in India.
PERSONAL SPACE – India is densely populated and people are accustomed to being crowded. However, except in packed buses, strangers avoid touching each other. Cross-gender touching is especially offensive, although it is not uncommon to see same-sex friends holding hands or hugging.
RELIGIOUS PLACES – Most temples and mosques prohibit shoes inside the building and signs are sometimes posted when this is the case. Some Hindu temples do not permit non-Hindus to enter. A visitor should ask if there is any doubt and observe other visitors for guidance. In Sikh temples, called Gurdwaras, head coverings for both men and women are required (and sometimes provided). Priests in Gurdwaras also offer the visitor blessed food, which should be accepted with both hands to avoid giving offense. The food should either be eaten or given to someone else. It is customary to enter any religious place with the head slightly bowed.
STREET SCENES – Guests will have expectations of poverty before arriving in India, but unless you have previously travelled to a developing country, it is hard to suppress one's shock. You will encounter people, including children, begging in the streets. You will see street scenes which may be unusual, including animals sifting through garbage in the streets. You will also see prosperity and middle class living. Being prepared for these different experiences will better enable you to enjoy your exploration through this colorful, vibrant and hospitable country.
TELEPHONE/COMMUNICATION
Telephone calls to almost all the countries are now direct, with quality service comparable to international standards. Direct dialing is possible between almost all the cities/towns within India. Where a direct dialing facility is not available a call may have to be made through an operator. Fax and Telex facilities are now ubiquitously available. It is also possible to send e-mail messages from a lot of hotels and from cyber cafes at a certain cost. Postal services in India are good and stamps can be bought at hotels.
It is possible to purchase a prepaid sim card(available as normal and micro sim) on arrival at airports. Guests have to produce a copy of their passport and 2 passport sized photographs to obtain the same. After purchase the services are started within 24 hours post verification formalities.
SHOPPING
Extraordinary patience, talent and imagination goes into the making of Indian products, whether dazzling silks, hand knotted carpets, bronze statues of Hindu gods, jewellery, shoes / sandals, handbags, men's and women's clothing, musical instruments or perfumes. The list is inexhaustible and the prices reasonable. Each region of the subcontinent has its own specialties. The bazaars are the places to find the best bargains, but one must be prepared to haggle. It would be prudent to remember that if the shop / emporia undertake to export purchased goods, it invariably takes a much longer time for them to reach than indicated at the time of purchase. It is forbidden to export recognized antiques over 100 years old. It is advisable to keep the sales receipts to convince the Customs Officers.
Distant Frontiers has done an extensive research to find out authorized sellers (and makers) of the handicraft items all over the country. We maintain a list of such shops per city. During or after the sightseeing tours our Guides and Escorts might suggest you to visit such a shop in case any particular souvenir or general shopping interests you. This suggestion is not to be construed upon as an insistence to visit such an enterprise since it is at your discretion to choose to or refuse to visit our designated shop in any city.
NIGHTLIFE
India's nightlife ranges from traditional bars, coffee shops, grunge or alternative lifestyle bars and restaurants, to futuristic looking discos, clubs and lounges. Most clubs prefer their guests to arrive in pairs.
a) Closing time – In most cities in India, nightlife is early to start and early to end because of the closing times in place. While Mumbai may have the largest selection of nightlife venues, come 1.30 a.m. they're all starting to close for the night. With a few exceptions, the scene is similar in Delhi and even worse in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad which have 11-11.30 p.m. closing times. Dancing is officially banned in Bangalore but most of the night spots have Dj’s performing to recorded music. There are special performances on Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday. Surprisingly, the nightlife in Kolkata offers the most for late night party people, since there is no curfew in place like the other cities, enabling bars and clubs to stay open until the early hours of the morning.
b) Legal drinking age – The age for the legal consumption of alcohol varies across the different states in India. In Delhi, it remains at 25 years, despite on-going discussions about lowering it. India's coastal town of Goa has the lowest legal drinking age of 18, along with Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Elsewhere it's generally 21 years. Gujarat is known as a "dry state", where alcohol is illegal without a permit.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Visitors to India find varied subjects for photography however these formalities in respect of photography need to be adhered to: Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod and artificial light on monuments. Special permission is required for any photography for the purpose of publicity and commercial use. Photography is prohibited in tribal areas. Taking photographs of airports, railway stations, bridges, military installations and from the air is prohibited. Costs incurred for photography are at your expense. Your guide will advise you of all known camera related fees and rules for each city travelled.
VISITING PLACES OF WORSHIP
Removing one's shoes before entering temples, mosques or Gurdwaras (Sikh Temple) is essential. Avoid taking leather goods of any kind (bag, belt etc) and cigarettes into places of worship, as these are often not permitted. Do not wear shorts or sleeveless tops in places of public worship.
Maldives overview
Time: GMT + 5, Most Island Resorts are on Island time which is GMT +6. This can appear confusing when you are advised about your departure time from the island
Area 298 sq km , Population 369,680 (2016), Capital Malé
Climate
The Maldives boasts a hot tropical climate. There are two monsoons, the southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Generally the southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July. The temperature rarely falls below 25°C (77°F).
Health care
There are two hospitals on Malé, the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the ADK private hospital. First aid facilities are available on all resort islands. A decompression chamber is accessible in Malé in case of diving emergencies. Medical treatment in the Maldives can be very expensive and comprehensive health insurance is essential.
Language
The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are also widely used within tourist areas.
Passport and visa Passports
Valid passports are required for all nationals.
Tourist visas for 30 days will be issued on arrival only and are free of charge to all visitors in possession of valid travel documents. If port health is satisfied that you have not been through any countries with serious contagion, you are can enter. After luggage retrieval, do note that there is no Green Channel. All passengers’ luggage is screened, normally electronically. Keep the keys to any luggage locks handy in case a manual inspection is called for. The import of any alcohol is strictly prohibited. You may be asked whether you have any movies or CDs. Answer all questions in a straightforward manner. After Immigration and Customs proceed to arrivals.
(a) Foreign visitors who enter the Maldives must be in possession of return or onward tickets and a minimum of USD 100 and USD 50 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation for the intended period of stay in the Maldives.
(b) Tourist visas can be extended by 90 days (including the initial 30 days granted on arrival) by applying to the immigration department.
Religion
The indigenous population is entirely Sunni Muslim and the group practice of other religions is illegal. Please note do NOT bring any Religous icons into the country such as Buddha statues which you may have purchased elesewhere on your holiday - they may be impounded at the airport.
Social Conventions
The majority of the indigenous population does not mix with the tourist visitors, with the exception of those involved with tourism in the resorts and Malé. Dress is informal, but locals who are Muslim will be offended by nudity or immodest clothing in public places, and the government rigidly enforces these standards. Bikinis and other scanty beachwear are not acceptable in Malé or on any other inhabited island; they should be restricted to resort islands only. When entering a mosque, the legs and the body, but not the neck and the face, should be covered. Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. The indigenous population not involved in the tourist trade lives in isolated island communities maintaining almost total privacy. A large number of locals smoke, but smoking and eating during Ramadan is discouraged.
