Domestic flight luggage: Most domestic airlines have a weight limit of 15 Kg for checked-in luggage.  Bags weighing more than 15 Kg will attract an additional fee.  This is important to keep in mind as most international weight limit is 23 Kgs. 

Currency and Exchange Rate: The local currency in India is a Rupee abbreviated as INR (also Re. or Rs). The Rupee is further divided into 100 paisa, but since the value of the paisa is so small, it is hardly ever used.  The exchange rates floats and continuously varies. Best go to www.XE.com to check on current exchange rate.

Clothes: If you are planning to wear full length clothes during your walking tours, then make sure that they do not drag on the floor since streets can be dirty and wet. You should not wear clothes that are very loose because they can get caught in protruding stones and surrounding bushes. Bring light rain gear. Consider bringing, as a minimum, one “Tee” shirt, one “heavy” flannel type shirt and one light jacket. This will allow you to wear layered clothing for a variety of ambient temperatures.

Shoes: When you visit places of worship, you will need to take off your shoes prior to entry. You are free to wear your socks, but may find that the floor is wet, thus it may be prudent to take off your socks also. Make sure that you bring comfortable and well supporting walking shoes. You will be walking a lot in the ruins of old temples and forts, and they normally do not have a clean and clear path with upturned stones, and steep narrow and broken steps.

Telephones: Feel free to bring your mobile phone, and load up the WhatsApp app. When you are in a hotel or where wifi is availble, you can use the wifi to make calls. Alteratively, for local, national and International telephone calls use an ever receeding number of manned public booths, marked “STD/ISTD”, and all identified with a bright yellow sign. Amount payable is presented in an electronic form. You would pay cash (any denomination, since it is not a machine) at these locations. Do not make phone calls from your hotel as they have exorbitant phone-call rates. The country code for making calls into India is +91. If you decide to bring your own phone, then read Telephones in India.

Leather-wear: There are some Hindu temples that demand that you do not take any leather goods such as belts, wallets and leather bags inside the temple. Therefore it is customary to take off ones belt and certainly not wear a leather jacket.

Gurudwaras: Both men and women will need to cover their heads prior to entering a Gurudwara (Sikh place of worship). Such covering can be in the form of a large handkerchief for men or a shawl for women. As a mark of respect it is NOT advised to cover ones head with a cap or a hat.

Accessories: Consider bringing your swimming trunks, air brush to clean the dust from your cameras and lens, a telephoto lens if your camera supports one, lots of clean wipes for your face and hands because of the dust. Traditional 35 mm film is available in plentiful, however you are advised to bring your memory cards for your camera, as these might not be freely available.

Document Safety: Prior to start of your journey, send yourself an e-mail with all important passport and other numbers. Thus should you loose any documentation, then you can retrieve your mail and have copies of necessary information.

Batteries: Due to security reasons, you are not allowed to carry batteries in your hand luggage on flights. All batteries that you need should be in your booked luggage, otherwise, security officials will confiscate them and you may or may not get them back.

Electricity: The electrical supply is 220/240V, 50Hz. The connectors are similar to the European (not British) round pin.

Camera Fee: You will have to pay a fee for using a still and/or a video camera in most monuments, national parks and game sanctuaries. This fee, which ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 500, depending on the place and the type of camera used, is payable at the entrance gate. Please ensure you carry sufficient funds with you to cover this charge, as this is NOT included in the tour price.

Special Permits: Even with a visa, foreign nationals are not allowed everywhere in India. Check with us if you are planning to journey on your own.

Time: Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 ½ hours ahead of GMT/UTC, 4 ½ hours behind Australian EST and 10 ½ hours ahead of American EST.

Travelers Cheques & ATMs: While one may get the best rate from a bank, banks have limited opening hours and one will find the process time consuming and laborious. You will find that your hotel will encash your checks and the rate, which is government controlled, is within reasonable norms. Encashing the cheques in shops will yield the most unfavorable rate. There are a plethora of ATMS and it is perhaps best to take your bank card and encash ruppees through ATMs.  However, many ATMs are non-functional, so do not wait till the last moment to encash funds.

Homosexual Travelers: Men holding hands in public is a sign of affection. Generally, Indian society does not accept homosexuality, and Indian homosexuals do not generally declare their orientation. Homosexual relationships are legal in India.

Customs of Meeting People:  It is quite acceptable to shake hands with men.  However, it would be best to fold your hands (as in prayer), give a slight bow and say “Namaste” when meeting women.

Medical Preparation: We suggest you contact your personal care physician who will assess your personal history and advise what you need to take with regard to preventative medication accordingly.

Disabled Travelers: Very few special arrangements exist for people with disabilities not just in monuments, but also airports, railway stations or hotels. However, people are very helpful, and if you don’t mind receiving their help, then this will ease your travel difficulties.

Food and Drink: Street food should NOT be consumed. Do not eat any cold (unprepared) food or which has been prepared previously, such as salads, cut fruit, cut vegetables. Also do not eat any yogurts or cold milk products unless they are from an established and good quality restaurant. Feel free to eat fruit and vegetables which you peel yourself. Do not drink water from any source unless it is from a sealed water bottle purchased from a reputable shop (and NOT from a street vendor). It is common for street vendors to re-fill discarded water bottles with normal water. Do not consume any ice.

Tipping and Gratuities: Tipping is an important part of travel in India. Unless specifically stated, your tour does not include tipping as we feel that such a personalized reward is benefactor to you, the traveler. First the easy part: You do not need to tip regular taxi drivers. However, you will have a number of other opportunities of tipping: To your waiters in restaurants, to your car driver, to your guide and to the bell-hops at the hotels.

For the following services, consider the tip amount in INR:

Tea coffee & cookies: 300 / occasion
Hotel Check in pr Check-out: 300 / occasion
Dinner: 300 / occasion
Lunch: 300 / occasion

Local Guide:
Half day city sightseeing (1 – 5 pax): 500 – 700 / occasion
Half day city sightseeing (6 – 14 pax): 700 – 900 / occasion
Half day city sightseeing (15 – 40 pax): 900 – 1200 / occasion
Full day city sightseeing (1 – 5 pax): 700 – 900 / occasion
Full day city sightseeing (6 – 14 pax): 900 – 1200 / occasion
Full day city sightseeing (15 – 40 pax): 1200 – 1500 / occasion
Same day excursion (within 100 kms): Additional 300 / occasion

Driver (Medium / Large Car)
Airport/Railway station/Any city address: 300 – 500 / occasion
Half day city sightseeing (4 hrs – 40 km): 500 – 900 / occasion
Full day sightseeing (8 hrs – 80 km) / Intercity transfer / full day excursion: 900 – 1200 / occasion

Driver (Small / Mini / Large Coach)
Airport/Railway station transfer only: 500 – 700 / occasion
Half day city sightseeing (4 hrs – 40 km): 700 – 1200 / occasion
Full day sightseeing (8 hrs – 80 km) / Intercity transfer / full day excursion: 1200 – 1500 / occasion

Helper for tour (Tempo / Mini / Large Coach): 400 – 500 per day

Arrival/Departure at airport for SJI Representative: 300 per transfer

Jungle Safaries Naturalist: 700 per safari
Jungle Driver: 300 – 500 per safari

Arrival/Departure @ railway station for SJI Representative: 250 – 300 per transfer
Luggage carry/Porter at railway station, airport to hotel: 70 per bag (Negotiable)
Housekeepers: 300 – 500 / night
Temple (Shoes): 100 / occasion
Toilet Stop: 100 / occasion

Train Journeys: Your itinerary may include either a day or an overnight train journey. As you enter the railroad station, you will be faced (literally!) with the masses of the Indian populace which will reflect the entire social status, from the very poor to the very rich. Study, appreciate and memorialize this experience, as this is true India, and not what you encounter at expensive hotels. Your day journey will be in a class titled “Sitting Chair, AC” which are upright chairs, where depending on duration of the journey, you might be served food. Your overnight journey will be in a class titled: “Two-Tier AC”, which means that you will have reserved accommodation of your seat within an air-conditioned bogie (rolling stock). Our representative will show you to your seat. The arrangement of your Two-Tier AC compartment will be such that there will be four seats, and these, together with a second tier mattress, will convert to four beds at night. Keep your valuables in your largest case and then keep this case such that it is difficult to remove without waking you up. Do not show high value equipment to your fellow passengers. Under no circumstances, accept any food or drink from your fellow passengers and equally do not offer your food to any other. This is normal practice, and no offence will be taken if you decide to eat or drink without offering to others. Use of a clean pillow, pillow cover, two sheets and a blanket for each of you for your overnight journey is included in your ticket. Use these, and leave them when you disembark. Feel free to drink water which you buy in sealed bottles from the on-board train staff. Eat hot food only.