ORIENTATION :-
India is a large, triangular-shaped country in southern Asia, buttressed by the long sweep of the Himalayas in the north and protruding into the Indian Ocean in the south. Pakistan borders it on the northwest, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. Sri Lanka is the teardrop-shaped island hanging off its southern tip. India covers a land area of some 3,287,000 sq. km (1,281,930sq mi.).

It is the seventh largest country in the world. Northern India contains the snow-bound peaks and deep valleys of the Himalayas and the vast Gangetic Plain, which separates the Himalayan region from the southern peninsula and stretches from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. South of the plains, the land rises up into a triangular-shaped plateau known as the Deccan. The plateau is bordered by the Eastern and Western ghats, ranges of hills which run parallel to India's eastern and western coasts and separate the fertile coastal strips from the interior.

CLIMATE :-
Climate varies greatly, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the cool highlands of Assam, allegedly 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 September. The monsoon rains begin around June and end August. India's northern cities start getting cool by October and become crisp at night in December. In the far south, it never gets very cold, the temperatures are comfortably warm rather than hot.
Time Zone -: 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.

HEALTH INFORMATION :-
We urge you to read the health requirements and/or recommendations given here carefully and to discuss health precautions for your exact travel itinerary with a qualified health professional at least six (6) weeks before you depart.

No vaccinations are currently required for entry into either India or Nepal when arrival is directly from North America or an Asian or European country. However, please read the following information on the conditional requirement for yellow fever vaccination.

Immunization against polio, tetanus and typhoid is recommended. Visitors arriving from yellow fever area require valid vaccination certificates. Malaria is endemic in certain parts of India; consult a doctor for anti-malaria prescription. Additionally carry any anti-mosquito cream or lotion for local application. Modern hospitals exist in all major cites of India but visitors are advised to travel with sufficient quantities of prescription drugs.

PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION :-
Each traveler must be in possession of a valid, signed passport that will remain valid for six (6) months beyond the completion of his/her trip.

Visas : All foreign nationals require visas for India.

NOTE: You must obtain a MULTIPLE-ENTRY visa for India if you are entering the country more than once on your itinerary.

If entering India more than once during a tour a double or multiple entry visas must be obtained. Indian visas cannot be issued on arrival.

Nepal All foreign national require visas for Nepal.

Citizens of countries other than the United States should check with their booking agents for requirements pertaining to their citizenship, as entry requirements can vary.

In compliance with current requirements, passenger names on airline reservations must exactly match the names on their passports. To ensure accuracy, Dream Voyages requires a copy of the informational pages of your passport if your travel itinerary includes air flights booked through our office. (This includes "internal" flights.) Passport copies can be mailed in or faxed to us at 91-11-6461911. Attention: AIR DEPARTMENT.

It is imperative that every traveler arrive on tour with the proper documentation. While Dream Voyages will advise you of our most current information concerning passports, visas, and other entry requirements, please be aware that it is the traveler's responsibility to obtain all documents that are necessary for admittance to the countries visited on his/her itinerary.

PASPORT & VISA :-
Citizens of all the country need to have a valid passport and an entry , transit or tourist visa obtained from the Indian Mission in their country. Tourist Visa is normally valid for 120 days. Visa extensions can be got by applying to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, (Ph: 24693334 ,24612543 and 24617649) The letter should be handed over at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office at Hans Bhavan, Tilak Bridge, near ITO. (Ph: 23319489/8179). It is open from 0930 hrs to 1330 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs. (It is closed on weekends and national Holidays) Those wishing to visit a neighbouring country like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and then coming back to India, should obtain a double/multiple entry Visa.

REGISTRATION :-
All foreigners are required to get themselves registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office(FRRO) which is situated in Hans Bhavan, Tilak Road, near the Income Tax Office(ITO). The building is very close to India Gate

TOURIST BAGGAGE FORM :-
On arrival, a TBRE (tourist baggage re_export form) is to be shown with the entered articles to Customs for verification at the time of departure .

LANDING CERTIFICATE :-
It is required if you are expecting unacompained baggage as also for mishandled baggage.

BRINGING IN CURRENCY :-
Any amount in the form of currency, travellers cheques and the like can be brought in and the same amount can be taken back. In case the amount exceeds US $10,000 in the form of currency notes, travellers cheques or bank notes / or currency notes alone of more than US $2,500, they have to be declared on arrival on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), duly attested by the Custom Officer.

INDIAN CURRENCY :-
No Indian currency can be brought in or taken out, and while remitting money to India the full address of the bank should be given.
 

MONEY CHANGING  :-
The unit of currency is the rupee and all money should be changed with authorised money changers available at various places. You should insist on a receipt which will help in reconverting the money whenever you desire so. It is better to avoid touts who may offer higher sums than the prevailing value.

CREDIT CARDS INFORMATION :-
American Express, Master Card, Visa  are generally accepted by large establishments including hotels, shops, and airlines.

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE :-
Those without any dutiable goods or high value articles or foreign exchange more than US $2,500 or unaccompained baggage which need to be declared, can walk through Green Channel. All others need to pass through the Red Channe. Goods upto Rs 750 (Rs. 12,000 for persons of Indian origin) for personal use or as gifts are exempt from duty. Beyond the free baggage limit, the duty rate is 52% plus 2% special duty.

DOCUMENT :- (IMMIGRATION - REQUIRMENTS)
 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS :- 
All tourists must carry a valid visa for India. Disembarkation cards must be completed and presented at the Immigration Counter on arrival at airport. Embarkation cards must be presented at the respective exit point counter on departure.
Visa & Special Permits is granted by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices located in Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai & Chennai. In State Capitals and District Headquarters application should be submitted to the Home department in the State Capital, or to the Police Commissioners office .
SPECIAL PERMITS :-
Restricted and Protected Area Permits may be submitted to the Foreigners Registration Office or the Chief Immigration Officer at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai.
PROTECTED MONUMENTS :-  
Permission for photography at protected monuments may be obtained from The Director (Mouments), Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi.

EXPORT CURBS :-
All articles brought in can be taken back. from India one can take back souveniors worth Rs 1,00,000 in value and more than that after getting permission from the Reserve Bank of India. Jewellery or precious stones of high value need an advance RBI permit as also appraisal by the Customs Appraiser at the airport in advance. 

ANTIQUITIES & ART OBJECT :-
Restrictions exist on art objects more than 100 years old. Any doubts should be got cleared from Director Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, Ph: 23017220. Export of wildlife items is prohibited and in some cases regulated.

FOREIGN TRAVLER TAX :-
Rs 500 and only Rs 150 for citizens of Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal and sri Lanka.