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India Profile offers you some useful India travel tips that smoothen your holiday experience in the land of color and heritage.

• Once on Indian soil tourists are required to obtain a Currency Declaration Form and fill up the Disembarkation Card. Foreign nationals are required to make an oral declaration of the baggage they carry.

• There are two main customs clearance channels – the Green Channel and Red Channel, depending upon.

• Tourists with a visa permit for 180 days must acquire a Registration certificate and a residential permit and must submit 4 passport size pictures at the time of registration.

• While leaving the country foreign nationals are required to submit the Certificate of registration that was issued on arrival in the country.

• Foreign nationals are required to have a Yellow fever vaccination certificate while traveling to India. It is advisable to get yourself checked so that you can enjoy your India travel in comfort.

• There are many five star, deluxe and heritage hotels all over India. Each hotel lives up to international standards of hospitality.

• There are a number of budget hotels and guesthouses for budget travelers. The concept of home stay is becoming more and more popular by the day.

• Tourists can also stay at the YWCA and YMCA hostels located in different parts of India.

• It is perfectly safe to travel to India at any time during the year.

• It is advisable to ask your agent to arrange for train and road travel while you’re coursing destinations in India.

• Tourists can book language interpreters and guides though English is a commonly understood language in India.

• Make sure you drink bottled water or packaged mineral water while on India tours.

• Try and avoid spicy food, especially if you’re not used to it.

• Local people in India destinations are fairly friendly and helpful.

• Tourist must procure special tour permits from authorized India Tourist Offices.

• All banks in India function from Monday to Friday from 1000 hours to 1230 hours.

• All post offices in India work from Monday to Friday from 1000 hours to 1630 hours.

• All the government and administrative offices in India operate from 0930 to 1700 hours on weekdays.

Do’s and Don’ts …

• Carry your passport and important travel documents at all times

• Carry attested Photostat copies of travel documents in person and keep the originals safely.

• You mustn’t buy air / rail or travel tickets from unauthorized persons.

• Foreign nationals are required to pay all their bills through credit cards, foreign currency or traveler’s cheques. Indian rupees is accepted only in case of proof of legal currency exchange.

• In case you wish to hire vehicles or cars while on tours to tourist attractions in India then the best thing to do would be to ask your tour operator to do the needful.