India Travel Wiki

The world's largest democracy and second most populous country emerged as a major power in the 1990s. It is militarily strong, has a big cultural influence and a fast-growing and powerful economy. A nuclear-armed state, it carried out tests in the 1970s and again in the 1990s in defiance of world opinion. However, India is still tackling huge social, economic and environmental problems.

See & Do

There are plenty of choices when it comes to entertainment and travelling in India. You can find the breathtaking Himalayas, vast deserts or tropical beaches all in the same country!. It has also got an amazing amount of historical and spiritual places, fauna and flora for you to explore, too. Travel light and enjoy a trip into this exotic land that is India!.

Food & Drink

Indian cuisine is as diverse as its religions or numerous states. Since it's a 1.2 bill people country that practice many faiths, this has also reflected in its culinary traditions. The most known Indian dishes would be tandoori, tikka, roti, biryani and desserts such as halwa, gulab jamun or jalebi. When it comes to drinks, buttermilk is a typical beverage here which is a must try. It is common knowledge that Indians like their food very spicy but you can always ask for less spicy/oily or you can add some yoghurt afterwards.

India produces a big amount of spices, vegetables, roots, beans and fruits that are not found in the West.

So tuck in and get ready for an explosion of flavours in your mouth!.

Visa Information

Visa Types: Tourist Visa, Visa on Arrival, Research Visa, Business Visa, (X)Entry Visa, Student Visa, Employment Visa, Medical Visa, and Journalist Visa.

Any foreign national with a valid visa whose stay in India exceeds 180 days will have to register with the F.R.R.O(Foreign Regional Registration Office).The registration MUST be done at least within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days.

The following links will help you find your nearest F.R.R.O office, checklists, forms, contact numbers, visa extension and more:

Bureau of Immigration
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/index.htm

Ministry of Home Affairs
http://www.mha.nic.in/

IMPORTANT!-If you are a Tourist Visa holder please note that once you leave the country you CAN NOT re-enter for at least another 2 months.

Bureaucracy

India's bureaucracy can be challenging at times.Government offices run on a much lower pace than they do in Western countries, for instance.Although the government websites are quite up to date, it'd be adviseble for you to go in person(when possible) and ask what all the requirements may be.Gather all the documents and, if you are still unsure or some of your questions were unanswered, please contrast the information that they gave you with another official before submitting your application.No fees are refundable!.

Fortunately, even though there is still much room for improvement, in recent years bureaucracy has been considerably better.

Please refer to the Visa Information section for government links.

Sports

Cricket, cricket and more cricket!.This sport has a similar impact in India as football(soccer) does in Europe or the NFL in U.S.

Once a year, for aprox. 2 months, the I.P.L.(Indian Premier League)takes place in the country.The I.P.L. has become one of the most vibrant cricket tournaments in the world since it first took place back in 2008.

Editors

Kayla Parmar

Kayla Parmar from GO! OverseasI am Kayla Parmar, a white Southern American, that blogs on all things Indian. A little over 3 years ago my life changed drastically when I met a brown eyed, curly haired Indian boy. We fell in love, got married, and are finding the balance between two totally different worlds and cultures. Not so long ago India seemed like a far away place, but over time has become a huge part of my life. I instantly fell in love with the food, colorful clothing, and family dynamics. It can be a tough culture to navigate, but if you just open your mind and heart, you will quickly realize that India will become a part of who you are. Happy travelling!

Follow my blog and life in India at J & K!

Rachel

Rachel from GO! OverseasHi! I'm Rachel and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I've always felt an affinity with India's rich culture and deep spirituality and I've taken every opportunity to learn and experience as much as I can! My first visit to India was for a good part of 2008 and it was jam-packed full of excitement and adventure! I volunteered with the exiled Tibetan community in Dharamsala which is also the home of the Dalai Lama, I travelled Northern India extensively as a backpacker off the beaten track and also lived in metropolitan Delhi for some time. Yep, I pretty much became a local in India. I went to the temples, learnt to cook curry and chappatis and spoke Hindi like the rest of them. Without a doubt, it has been the best, most life changing experience in my life! If you want to read more about my life changing experiences, come see me at my blog. www.indiaalovestory.com

Cris

Cris from GO! Overseas Hello! My name is Cris, a native Spanish who moved to India in 2010. I live in the Southern City of Bangalore (also known as the Garden City), the capital of the state of Karnataka. My most direct connection to this country was initially through my husband, who is an Indian National from Mumbai, though now this connection has gone from being a mere spectator to immerse myself in its culture, day-to-day life, foods, customs, languages and religions. India is a country that will not leave you indifferent! Before coming to Asia we studied and worked in Scotland for several years and these experiences have taught me how to start a new life from scratch in a completely new environment not once, but twice!. Enjoy your own personal overseas adventure!

You can also follow me on my new blog: Namaste India

Edit This Page!

Go Overseas personally selects a handful of qualified editors to contribute their expertise to these country pages. Here you'll find the most up to date information for volunteers, teachers and students planning to travel abroad, filled with everything from popular sports, the best bars, to which side of the road to drive on.

If you think you're savvy enough to become a Go Overseas editor, email Kate.Thomas@GoOverseas.com to get started!

Map of India

Fast Facts

Flag: 
Capital: 
New Delhi
Population: 
1.2 billion (UN, 2009)
Current President/Prime Minister: 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh/President Pratibha Devisingh Patil
Monarchy?: 
No.India is a secular democratic republic
Languages: 
While Hindi and English are the official languages, there are numerous other languages and dialects in India deferring from state to state.Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Rajasthani, etc are widely spoken in their respective states
Religions: 
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, etc
Currency: 
Indian Rupee (INR)
Weather: 
India's climate can't be divided into four seasons.Although the Himalayas(North), Thar desert(Rajasthan) and monsoons(tropical areas) are the main influences, there is also a vast range of micro climates depending on the region.
Drive on the left/right?: 
Left
Time-Zone: 
UTC+5.5
Calling Code: 
+91
Electricity: 
230V/50Hz
Emergency Numbers: 

Police: 100
Fire: 102
Ambulance: 101
Foreigner Assistance: 2461-1322

Embassies

UNITED STATES EMBASSY
Address: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021
Phone: +91-11-2419-8000
Fax: +91-11-2419-0017
Website: http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov

AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY
Address: 1/50 - G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 21, P.O. Box 5210
Phone: +91-11-4139-9900
Fax: +91-11-2687-2228
Website: www.india.embassy.gov.au

UNITED KINGDOM EMBASSY
Address: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Phone: +91-11-2687-2161
Fax: +91-11-2687-2882
Website: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en

CANADIAN EMBASSY
Address: 7/8, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
Phone: +91-11-4178-2000
Fax: +91-11-4178-2020
Website: www.international.gc.ca

NEW ZEALAND EMBASSY
Address: Aashiana, First Floor, 5 Altamount Road, 400 026, Mumbai
Phone +91-22-2352-0022
Fax: +91-22-2353-0031
Website: www.nzembassy.com/home

SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY
Address: B-18, Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi - 110057
Phone +91-11-2614-9411 - 20
Fax: +91-11-2614-3605

IRISH EMBASSY
Address: 230 Jor Bagh, New Dehli-110003
Phone +91-11-2462-6733
Fax: +91-11-2469-7053
Website: http://www.irelandinindia.com

Broken link? If any information here is out of date please email us and we will update our records.