India

Here are some interesting facts for you...

Official Name - The Republic of India
Capital City - New Delhi
Language - Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, English
Religion - Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jains, Zorostrians, Jewish
Currency - Indian Rupee (Rs) INR
Time difference from GMT +5.5 hrs
Electricity & Voltage - 230-240V 50HZ
Weights & Measures - Metric
Country Dialling Code (+91)
Population - 1,000,000,000

Weather in India
It’s very important that you spend time considering the various climatic states when planning a trip to India. At certain times of the year the heat will be unbearable to most European travellers! Much like many sub tropical countries India has three types of seasons, the hot, the wet and the cool.

In November India is at its coolest and many travellers prefer to travel at this time.

Around February to May the heat really starts to build up in the Northern plains and becomes hottest in around June. In the Central areas temperatures of 48ºC and above are not uncommon so be warned! Southern India does not escape the heat and is invariably as hot around this time however towards the end of May the first signs of the monsoon will be visible in some areas and the odd storm may occur.

Around June the wet season will arrive from the south and rainfall will become slowly more constant. By mid July the rain is normally in full swing and electrical storms and humidity will be common. Rainfall will continue into October and sometimes even December.

Come October the monsoons will start to calm down somewhat and the cooler weather will move in. This is the most popular time for tourists as otherwise it’s just too hot! Around mid December to early January some of the northern cities can become bitterly cold and especially in the evenings so extra bedding is recommended. In the south it generally remains much warmer and the cooler evenings are no real concern.

India Passport & Visa Information

To gain entry into India a full passport valid for at least six months must be produced by all nationals of Britain, Australia, Canada, USA and other EU states.

Proof of a return ticket is not required by nationals of Britain, Australia, Canada, USA and other EU states.

A visa is required by all nationals of Britain, Australia, Canada, USA and other EU states.

In some areas of India the government have introduced restricted areas and official authorisation must be sought prior to attempting to gain entry.

Note: For specific instructions relating to all passport and visa issues travellers are advised to contact the High Commission of India in the UK by clicking here