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 About India |
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Quick Facts
Full country name: Republic of India
Area: 3.28 million sq km
Population: 1.04 billion
Capital City: New Delhi
People: 72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian, 3% other
Language: Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri
Religion: 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other
Government: federal republic
Head of State: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Head of Government: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
GDP: US$2.2 trillion
GDP per capita: US$2,200
Annual Growth: 5.4%
Inflation: 5.4%
Major Industries: Textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
Major Trading Partners: US, Hong Kong, UK, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia
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Passports & Visas |
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All foreign nationals require a visa to enter India. Tourist visas are typically granted for a period between one month and five years, depending on your country of citizenship. Please consult your nearest Indian consulate to find out the exact visa requirements. Tourist visas can be extended by three months at the foreigner's registration office in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai, or with the Superintendent of Police at any District Headquarters.
Special permits may also be required to visit certain areas of the country. Areas such as parts of Sikkim and the Northeast frontier states, northeast of Himachal Pradesh near the Tibetan border, are out of bounds for foreign nationals.
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Religion |
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India has an impressive religious diversity. It’s the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, and it’s among the few places to have a resident Zoroastrian population. The Syrian Christian Church is well established in Kerala; the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, old churches in Calcutta and Delhi, synagogues in Kerala, temples from the tiny to the tremendous, ‘stupas’, ‘gompas’ and the Bodhi tree, the Ajmer Sharif and Kaliya Sharif in Bombay, all reflect the amazing multiplicity of religious practice in India. |
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Language |
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The national language of India is Hindi, which in one form or another is spoken all over the north. In the Deccan (south India), the languages are completely different. The states were formed on the basis of language so each has its own. On the whole though, dialects, accents, idioms and linguistic flourishes change every few miles. There are 18 official languages but over a thousand recognised dialects. English is widely spoken. |
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Health |
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The most common cause of illness of travelers in India is food and waterborne diseases. Viruses, bacteria, or parasites can cause diarrhea. Infections may cause simple diarrhea and vomiting, fever, or in extreme cases, liver damage (hepatitis).
Malaria is a preventable infection that can create trouble if left untreated. One can prevent infection by taking prescribed anti-malarial drugs and protecting against mosquito bites. Malaria risk in this region exists in some urban and rural areas, depending on the elevation.
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Weather |
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India has a hot tropical weather which varies from region to region. The cool weather period typically lasts from November to mid-March, with chilly, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. The really hot weather, which is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September. |
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Money and Costs |
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Currency: Indian Rupee
Tourists are not allowed to bring Indian currency into the country, or take it with you when you leave. In cities you can change most major foreign currencies and brands of travellers' cheques.. When changing money at a bank, you are supposed to be given an encashment certificate when you change money at a bank or an official moneychanger. Some hotels insist you show an encashment certificate before accepting payment in Indian rupees. If you stay in India more than four months, you'll need to keep a handful of these certificates to get income tax clearance.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. Credit cards can also be used to get cash advances in rupees.
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Weights & Measures |
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The official system in India is the Metric system, measuring weight and mass in Kilos and grams, and distance and length in kilometers, and centimeters. |
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Electricity |
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The electricity used in the India is a 240-v AC (50-60HZ), so you will need a converter when traveling from the US. |
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