Tips for tourists
Banks: are open 10 am to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 am to noon on Saturday. Central Bank in Ashok Hotel and State Bank of India at the Airport are open round the clock. Banks in residential areas generally observe the weekly holiday of the area.
Credit Cards: American Express, Masters Charge Visa and Diners Club Credit Cards are generally accepted by large establishments, including hotels, shops and at lines.
International Student’s Identity Card: For issue and renewal of the card contact students Travel Information Center, Hotel Imperial, Janpath,
Sightseeing: You can rent a chauffeur-driven car or join a conducted tour that is probably the best way to see most in the least amount of time. Both facilities are provided by, among other, the ITDC (Tel. 332-2336) Karachi Taxi (Tel. 332-03429).
Tourist Guides: English speaking guides approved by the Govt. of India can be hired at all important places of interest. The Tourist Office (88 Janpath,) assists in hiring guides speaking other languages.
Taxi/Scooter: Both are metered. Ensure that the driver flags down the meter before he starts. Minimum fares are Rs. 8.00 (taxi) and Rs. 5.00 (auto). The old meter readings will be Rs. 5.00 and Rs. 3.00 respectively, to which approximately 70 per cent of the reading are added. Revised meter reading fare charts are available with all public transport drivers. Extra charges are payable for halting, baggage and vehicles engaged between 11 am and 5 p.m. (20 per cent extra for autos and 25 per cent for taxis). To complain about overcharging or misbehaviour call 331-9334 (during office hours) or 301-4896.
Ring Railway: A number of trains, clockwise and some anti-clockwise are run by Northern Railway originating and terminating at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.
INLAND TRAVEL
India offers many facilities for tourists’ travel with the country. However, special permits are required for visiting certain border areas as specified from time to time. These can be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs Office at Lok Nayak Bhawan, opposite. Khan Market. from Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 p.m. Port Blair does not require a permit for stay upto 15 days.
Indian Airlines offers foreigners packages for travel anywhere in India. ‘Discover India’: 21 days unlimited travel, at a fixed package rate; India Wonder Fares (limited region wise) 7 days and Youth Fares - 25% off for those under 30. For enquiries call 329-5121.
Northern Railway Reservation and Enquiry: Computerised Reservation Office and Enquiry at IRCA building. Tel. 334-8787 (for enquiries about II class sleeping berths and seats) and Tel. 334-8686 (for enquiries about Ist class Ac, AC 2-tier sleeper, Ist class and AC chair car)/. Recorded information on trains due within the next two hours of calling is available on Tels: 1331 (from North), 1332 (from East), 1333 (from West) and 1334 (from South). Call 131 or 1335 (Hindi (, 1330 (English) for information on arrivals and departures, and 1330 for reservation enquiries as well, For recorded information on departure timings of trains call Tel. 1336 (for North), 1337 (for East), 1338 (for West) and 1339 (for South).
Apart from of important trains may be checked out on Doordarshan Channel II (Metro).
Foreign tourists and NRIs only: Call the International Tourist Bureau (1st Floor, New Delhi Railway Station, and Paharganj side. Tel. 373-1-4164,334-6804 Fax. 334-3050) Between 7.30 am and 5 p.m. for advice and bookings. You can also enjoy unlimited travel on Indian Railways from 7 to 90 days with an Indrail ‘Pass’. Fares range from US 135 upwards according to the class of accommodation and period of validity. Also check out the Circular Journey Tickets.
Palace on Wheels: A unique experience in holiday travel is the Place on Wheels, a luxury train that journeys through Rajasthan between October and March. Bookings can be made at Rajasthan Tourism Development. Corporation, Bikaner House, near India Gate, Tel. 338-1884. For reservation on the Royal Orient call Gujarat Tourism.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Doctor/Chemist: If you need a doctor, your hotel can contact a house physician. The medical stores in Super Bazar, Connaught Circus and in AIIMS and at some private hospitals such as Batra (Tughlakabad Institutional Area) and Spring Meadows (East of Kailash) are open 24 hours.
Electricity: 220 V AC - 50 Hz.
Festivals: Some of the festivals you will enjoy in Delhi are the Republic Day Celebrations (26-29 Jan); Holi, the festival of colours (Feb-Mar); Phool Walon Ki Sair (Oct); Diwali, the festival of lights (Oct-Nov).
Food and Beverage: India has an amazing variety of non-vegetarian and vegetarian cuisines. Contrary to what you may have heard, all Indian food is not hot and spicy-most dishes are only richly garnished to provide an exciting flavour. You will find excellent restaurants that serve Indian, Chinese, and Continental and other cuisine. Liquor is available freely in wine shops. It is also served in bars and restaurants in all major hotels. The 1st and 7th of each month and specified holidays are dry days when all liquor shops remain closed. CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR IS PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC PLACES.
Shopping: India is a shopper’s paradise. Of particular interest are carpets, handicrafts, jewellery, readymade garments and leather goods. It’s best to buy goods only from the more established shops and official Indian government outlets. Refer to the Shopping and Services section for select establishments. Do visit the local bazaars, however, for interesting bargains.
Postage Rates: Foreign air mail rates: Letter Rs. 11, Aeorgramme Rs. 6.50, Card Rs. 7, Post Card Rs. 6. Inland postal rates: Letter Rs. 2, Aerogramme Rs. 1, Post Card containing printed communication Rs.1.50, Letter Postcards Rs. 0.75, Standard Yellow Postcard Rs. 0.25.
Speed Post: ensures delivery of time-bound mail including registered letters and parcels within 24 to 72 hours. Round-the-clock speed post service is now available at the Safdarjung Airport Sorting and at the Eastern Court Post Office and Indraprastha Post Office up to 1 p.m. During the day 10 am to 5 p.m. on working days: at the speed post booking centers including the two above and the P.O. at Hauz Khas, Indraprastha, Karol Bagh, Lodhi Road, Kalkaji, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, Parliament Street and Vasant Vihar among others. Call 329-5499 & 329-5587. Facilities include a money back guarantee in case of delay. The International Speed Post Service offers delivery to UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Hongkong, and other countries within 48 to 72 hours. International articles are also accepted at the Foreign Post Office. A Speed Post Money Order facility is available in Trans Yamuna Areas, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Nehru Place and South Extension.
Telephone and Telegraph: You can direct dial to most cities in India, and too many other countries abroad, for elsewhere book a call through the operator. On the direct dial facility within the country, note that while during the day-6 am to 7 p.m. - the full rate is charged Monday to Saturday, on Sundays and National Holidays there is a concessional charge of 50%. Half rate is also applicable daily 7 am to 8 am and 7 p.m. to 8.3 p.m. daily. The tariff from 6 am to 7 am and from 8.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. is 1/3 the rate, and from 11 p.m. to 6 am it is ¼ the rate. Contact the International Telegraph Office (Tel. 336-2881 or 336-2754) to send a telegram, telex or fax. The Telecom Center, Arunachal Bldg, Barakhamba Road, and offers all telecommunications facilities including fax, 10 am to 7 p.m. all days except Sundays & public holidays. Bureaufax facilities are available at the main telegraph offices. The Eastern Court PO, Janpath, has a multi-media telecom centre that offers desktop video conferencing, high-speed transfer and other facilities.
Time Difference: Indian Standard Time (IST) is the same throughout the country and is 4 ½ hours ahead of Paris, 5 ½ hours ahead of London, 3 ½ hours behind Tokyo and 4 ½ hours behind Sydney.
Tipping: is generally expected at hotels and restaurants. Ten per cent of the bill or around Rs. 5 for other services is in order.