All travelers to India except nationals of Nepal & Bhutan must possess a valid passport. It is advisable to carry your passport with you while you are in India for possible identification requirements. Always place a photocopy of your passport in each and every checked-in baggage that you give at the airport. This helps in case you lose your luggage.

All foreign tourists to India except nationals of Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh, must possess a valid visa. You are not issued a visa on your arrival in India. The cost of a visa is US$ 30 for up to six months, US $ 50 for up to one year and US $ 100 for more than one year and up to five years. Contact the Indian embassy or Indian consulate in your country for issuing of Visas. A tourist visa is valid for three to six months. Tourists visas allow multiple entry to simplify visits to neighboring countries. You will be required to fill in a disembarkation card on your arrival in India which will have to be submitted at the Immigration counters at the airport.

Transit visas are granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum period of 15 days.

Foreigners coming to India on tourist visa for 180 days or a shorter period are not required to register themselves with any authority. They can move about freely in the country, except to restricted / protected areas and prohibited places. Nationals of Bangladesh are exempt from registration for up to six months. If their stay exceeds six months, they have to register themselves. Family passports issued by other governments are recognized with discrimination.

As a rule, no extension of stay is granted on a tourist visa. Tourist visa are available for a maximum period of 180 days. No charges are levied for visa extension within the maximum period of 180 days. Identical passport photographs are required. However in case of an extension beyond 180 days, which is allowed only in exceptional cases, an extension fee which varies from country to country is charged. In case a foreign tourist has obtained extension beyond three months of stay in India, he will have to surrender his certificate of Registration and Residential Permit before leaving India.

This can be obtained from the Indian Embassy on the production of proof of admission and means of sustenance while in India. The Visa is valid for one year but can be extended in India for the duration of the course. The visa will be valid for the duration of the course or five years, whichever is less.

A foreigner can obtain one from the Indian embassy abroad. A multiple entry business visa is valid for five years, provided one wants to come for business. Foreigners of Indian origin can obtain a five year multiple entry visa for business, to meet their relatives, etc.

Some areas in India - usually border districts - are out of bounds for normal travelers due to political and security reasons. However, some of these are extremely beautiful and fascinating places, their remoteness lending them a special quality, and special permits may be procured if you wish to visit them. Permits are usually provided to groups and for a limited number of days. There is no extra charge for acquiring the permits and they may be obtained from the Indian missions abroad or governmental agencies within India.

There are two customs clearance channels. The green channel is for travelers carrying non-dutiable items while the red channel is for travelers carrying dutiable items.

Electricity 220 AC. Socket sizes vary widely: take a universal adaptor.

Popular languages are Hindi and English, plus 15 main languages and over 700 dialects are spoken in India.

If you are taking photographs of local people, always ask their permission before hand. Your driver / guide will assist you in this. Do not take photographs of any official buildings, such as military installations, airports, railway stations, border posts or road blocks. It is advisable to carry your camera in dust-proof bags especially in the dry season. Film rolls are available in most hotels and lodges but it is advisable to stock up in major cities.

There are several different sets of baggage allowance regulations in effect for international and regional flights. Baggage allowances can vary depending on which airline(s), class of service, and routing is used. Please be advised that baggage limits are adhered to very strictly on both international and domestic flights. Most domestic carriers have more restrictive baggage limitations than international carriers. On domestic flights, the baggage allowance is 30 kilograms (66 lbs.) per person for those traveling in economy class and 40 kilograms (88 lbs.) per person for those traveling in business class.

In case of a small plane being used for travel within India or Nepal, the maximum baggage allowance varies between 15 to 20 kilograms (33 lbs.) per person.

Any baggage in excess of airline limitations may be subject to substantial freight charges by the airline. These charges are the entire responsibility of the traveler. (Please be advised that some domestic airlines categorically refuse excess baggage. Also, payment of excess baggage charges on domestic flights within India and Nepal may not guarantee that the baggage is transported.)

Every piece of checked baggage should be locked and contain identification inside (as well as outside) stating your home address and phone number. In addition, do not pack valuable items (such as your camera and jewelry) in checked baggage

Climate varies greatly, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the cool highlands of Kashmir & to Assam, the wettest place on earth. But basically India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. The heat starts to build up on the northern plains around April and cools off by October. The monsoon rains begin around June and end by September. India's northern cities start getting cool by October and become very crisp at night in December. In the far south, it never gets very cold, the temperatures are comfortably warm rather than hot.

India is 5 hrs 30 minutes ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). In the winter months India is 4 hrs 30 minutes ahead of GMT.