Tours to India Directory

1. What precautions one should take on their tour?

Book your room in a hotel before coming to India. Besides the originals, a copy of your passport, travel visas, airline tickets and travel documents. A list of any charge or credit cards you are carrying. Remember to keep the copies separate from the originals. Avoid drinking water from an unknown source. When in doubt ask for "Bisleri, Kinley, Aqua Fina, Himalaya, etc" mineral water(check the seal). As a further precaution bring water purifying tablets As in any location, there are those who steal from others, so follow the same rules of safety that you follow traveling anywhere else with respect to using hotel lock boxes, and keeping travel documents safe. When in public places, keep them in your hotel, or with you all the time when moving about. Men: Don't carry a traditional wallet with you, the kind you put in your pocket (front or back). Women: Avoid keeping valuables in a purse, which can be easily snatched off your shoulder.

2. Are there any tour operators and Travel agents who provides us customized services?
Yes ! India has number of tour operator and travel agent that will make your tour to India an experience of lifetime. These tour operator/ travel agent provides customized itineraries to various travel destination. In fact some of them offer you to schedule your own travel plan, according to your own needs and desire.

3. How should I plan my itinerary?
Pre-packaged tours are significantly more costly than itineraries generated while on your tour to India. In every city there are a plethora of travel agents. Ask around for the best agents. Best plan, which worked for me: Plan an itinerary for the first few days in India, including tours and guides. Plan itineraries for the next three or four days, or when moving from one town or city to the next. Learn the ropes, get street smart, and do it yourself.

4. What are the accommodation facilities in India?
Good quality Hotels and Resorts in various categories like 5 star, 4 star, 3star , Heritage etc., both from individual ownership to renowned Hotel Chains. Some of the cities have tourist apartments also. Please note that the usual check in & check out time for the hotels is 12:00 Noon. A room can accommodate a maximum of 3 Adults OR 2 Adults and 2 Children (Double Occupancy Rooms).

5. What travel books should I bring along?
Lonely Planet and The Rough Guide are some good books that you can carry with you on your tour to India.. India also nurture certain travel magazine that might prove of extreme importance on your tour.

6. Are Internet Cafe available in India?
Net is a growing sector in India. Fortunately, a tourist will not be deprived of Internet facilities in India. With the help of companies like SATYAM, Cafe's are easily available in every corner of India. You will be able to exchange mails, research on various issues with a click of a mouse. You might have to pay a rent of Rs 10, 25, 50 for 1 hr access of internet. ( Time and money may vary from place to place) Like interiors of Rajasthan or U.P may have one or no cafe at all.

7. Some important telephone numbers a tourist should have?

Police - 100

Airport Telephone Number

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi
Contacts:
Terminal 1 (Domestic): +91 11 25675126 or 25696351. Terminal 2 (International) + 91 11 25652021 or 25652011. 24-hour operatore: +91 11 25696107

Sahar International Airport in Mumbai
Contacts:
836-6767 / 836-6700

8. When should I visit India?
Since India is a vast country with diverse topography, each zone has different best time to visit.

Northern India:
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh -
The Hot Season when the weather is reasonably warm and rainfall is minimal - although waterproofs are useful. Warmer clothes are essential for the evenings.

Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh :
Post monsoons seasons are the best time to visit this sector of India.

The Northeast India
The northeast experiences high rainfall/humidity during both the Monsoon Season and the tail end of the Hot Season. Views of the lush hillside, famous for its tea plantations, can be hampered during these wet periods. Waterproofs are an absolute necessity and a few warm layers are useful too.Although it can be cold (especially during the evenings), days tend to be clear, fresh and dry in the Cool Season.

Western India
During the Hot Season in western India, temperatures can rise above the average, although it does not tend to get as hot as in central India. Humidity is high and lightweight clothes are necessary.The hot, humid climate makes this rather an unpleasant time to be travelling in the west and the wearing of waterproofs extremely uncomfortable.Showers dry up during the Cool Season, making these months a far more agreeable time to visit.

South India
The climate in southern India experiences only slight seasonal variations. Temperatures and humidity remain relatively high all year round. Rainfall is common at any time of the year and the Monsoon Season has only marginally more precipitation than at any other time.The Cool Season and the beginning of the Hot Season are the best times to visit when rainfall is marginally lower.

9. What are the modes of Transportation in India?
Busses : These are the cheapest mode of travelling within city . There are interstate busses that connects one state to another. Although travelling through busses can be easily avoided by foreign tourist unless you are prone to take risks.
Trains: India boast largest rail network in the world. The network connects every small sector of India.
Taxis: Taxis are easily available on hire. Taxis are easily available on near airport and railway station.Taxis (cabs)/Auto Rickshaw (3 wheeler) are available from all hotels, and you negotiate the rate before commencing your journey. Use only authorised, properly identified taxis. Avoid taxis that pick up additional passengers. Don't accept an offer to share a taxi to your hotel unless you know the individual.
Airways: India boast many domestic airport and international airport within the major cities/states of India.

10. Are there Cinema halls for English movies?
With the development of multiplexes in major cities, English movies are no longer a luxury item. Now you can watch any kind of movie at the same complex at different time. If not halls then CD's are available on rent and with the advent of Cable, recent movies could be watched on television.

¤ Cinema halls in Delhi

PVR Naraina
Naraina
New Delhi
Tel: 25891269-73

PVR Priya
Basant Lok
Vasant Vihar
New Delhi
Tel: 26140048,26147696

PVR Saket
Saket
Community Centre
New Delhi
Tel: 26865999

PVR Vikaspuri
Vikaspuri
New Delhi
Tel: 25553187

3C'S
Lajpat Nagar III
New Delhi
Tel: 26927846/7

¤ Cinema halls in Kolkata

INOX CITY CENTRE
INOX CITY CENTRE MULTIPLEX
Salt Lake City
Tel : 2358-4499

INOX
INOX Elgin Road Multiplex
Central Calcutta
Tel : 2358-4499

PRIYA
Deshapriya Park
South Calcutta
Tel : 2464-1313

¤ Cinema halls in Mumbai

CineMagic
Andheri-Kurla Road
Andheri (East)
400093
Tel.No:6848323

CineStar
Opp. Kandivali Station
Kandivali (West)
400067
Tel.No:8647164

Eros Building
42 M.Karve Road
Churchgate
400020
Tel.No:2822335

Satyam Cinema
216-A Annie Besant Road
Worli
400025
Tel.No:4935005

11. Can I hire Car for a fixed duration of time?
Yes! in fact there are few travel agents who lent out their cars (AC/NON AC/with driver/without driver) on rent for a fixed duration of time. The deal depends upon the transaction between the customer and travel agents. For example for a duration of eight hr, you might have to pay a rent of Rs 500. The distance travelled during the time period should not exceed 100 km and with each extra 1 km some extra rent might have to be payed.

12. Which are the Public Festivals of India worth attending, for this year?
The Indian is synonym to festivals. If you are at right place at the right time, it is possible to become a part of different festival each day. The snake-boat races in Kerala, Ellora festival in Mumbai, the harvest festivals of the south, the immersion of Ganesh in Pune, the car Festival of Puri, , Republic Day in Delhi... every region, every religion has something to celebrate. There is a very famous , in which you would be able to watch dance performances, musical performances and catch the true taste of India. Enquire at local Government of India Tourist Offices or check our Fair & Festivals page for same.