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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
South Africans have access to E-visas. Passengers must have a valid passport and a print out of the Visa approval letter sent to their email before departure. For complete India Travel Information, ensure all necessary details are correct when submitting your application.
Important Note: It is extremely important to understand that once an application is initiated or submitted; you must not start or submit another application against the same passport number. Any and all subsequent applications shall be rejected by the Government of India due to redundancy/duplicity. It is strictly advised to finish and complete only one application. You shall not be granted any other visa against the same passport until such time that previous visa is valid even if any details are incorrect in the visa. Read More
Once an application is submitted or visa is granted against a passport, it cannot be cancelled, amended or refunded. Applicants are advised to be very careful about the details submitted in the application and must review before making the payment. It is strictly advised not submit more than one application at the same time and only the same application be completed that was initiated. If there is any query about duplicity/redundancy then you must contact immediately on the 24/7 Customer care number and get it checked before proceeding further to avoid any further complications.
VISA INFORMATION
WEATHER
India’s climate varies significantly due to its vast size, encompassing three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter.
- Winter (November to February): Generally, the most favourable time to visit, with cooler temperatures across most regions.
- Monsoon (June to September): Characterized by heavy rainfall, particularly in the southwestern and northeastern regions.
- Post-Monsoon (October to November): Features the northeast monsoon in southern India.
- Summer (March to May): Hot temperatures, especially in the northern plains and central regions, but cooler in hill areas.
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Country: | Republic of India |
| Capital City: | New Delhi |
| International Airports: | – Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad – Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai – Chennai International Airport, Chennai – Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore |
| Area: | 3,300,000 km² |
| Population: | 1,450,935,791 (2024 est.) |
| Time Zone: | Winter: UTC +05:30 Summer: UTC +04:30 |
| Religion: | Hinduism (includes Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) Islam Christianity |
| Language: | – English: Key for national, political, and commercial communication. – Hindi: Major official language, spoken by 30% of the population. – Other official languages include Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Sanskrit, and Hindustani. – Over 700 dialects spoken. |
| Currency: | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Exchange Rate: | Please consult your local bank as rates fluctuate. |
| Credit Card Payment Availability: | Widely accepted. |
| ATM Accessibility: | Available in major cities. Carrying cash is recommended. |
| Dialling Code: | +91 |
TRAVEL TIPS
| Electricity: | Voltage: 220V AC Adapters recommended as socket sizes vary. |
| Water: | Drink only bottled or distilled water. |
| Business Hours: | Offices: 09:30 – 17:00 (Mon-Fri), 09:30 – 13:00 (Sat) Shops: 09:30 – 18:00 (Mon-Sat) Post Offices: 10:00 – 17:00 (Mon-Fri) and Saturday mornings; hours may vary by city. |
| Banking Hours: | Mon – Fri: 10:00 – 14:00 Sat: 10:00 – 12:00 |
| Photography Restrictions: | Commercial filming requires a permit linked to the entry visa. Photography of military installations and certain civil airports is prohibited. |
| Tipping: | Customary to tip waiters, porters, guides, and drivers. Service charges are not included. |
| Vaccination Requirements: | No mandatory vaccinations; consult a medical professional or travel clinic if unsure. |
| Dress Code Restrictions: | – Avoid footwear, shorts, sleeveless tops, and revealing clothes in places of worship (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain). – Women should cover their heads in Sikh shrines and carry a scarf when visiting temples as part of India travel information. – Keep shoulders and legs covered in temples; women should carry a scarf for head coverage if necessary. – Nude and topless bathing is illegal; even in holiday resorts such as Goa. |
| Peculiar Customs to Observe: | – Remove shoes before entering temples, as feet are considered spiritually unclean according to India travel information. – Avoid pointing the soles of your feet at other people, temples, or deities. Sit in a manner that prevents this from happening. – Wash hands before meals; eating with hands is common. – Avoid eating with the left hand, and do not pass gifts, money, or food with the left hand. |
FESTIVALS
- Pongal: January
- Makar Sankranti: January
- Holi: March
- Maha Shivratri: March
- Bihu: April
- Baisakhi: April
- Eid ul-Fitr: June
- Hemis: July
- Rakshabandhan: August
- Janmashtami: August (Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu)
- Ganesh Chaturthi: September
- Onam: September
- Navratri: September – October
- Diwali: October
- Dussehra: October
- Durga Puja: October
- Gurupurab: November
MAP
“To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.