India’s currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as ‘Rs’. One Rupee is equal to 100 paise. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees. Notes are usually in the denominations of 10, 20, 50, 200, and 2000.

You are not allowed to take more than Rs 5000 into India. If you are visiting the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan, you can carry Indian currency, as long as the denomination of the notes is less than Rs 200.

The best place to change money is either on arrival at the International airport, at your hotel or any authorised money changer/Banks. ATM’s are largely available across the country. You should retain the receipt you receive from the money changer/ATM machine, so you are able to change any left
over rupees at the airport before departure.

ATM machines are available in most places across the country.

Withdrawals may be limited to £200 per time, and there may be fees from the bank and your card provider.

We recommend that you contact your bank before departure to tell them you are travelling to India and you will be using the ATM machines there.

All hotels, larger shopping establishments, airlines, and the railways, accept credit cards issued by major banks.

A pre-paid cash travel card is the very latest way to carry cash. The card is loaded with a pre-fixed amount and it is a safe and secure way to carry cash. You can draw cash at ATMs or use it as a debit card. The exchange rate is fixed at the time of purchase, so it is not affected by fluctuating rates and the uncertainty of credit/debit card charges on your return. Unused amounts are refunded to you on your return to your home country. You can purchase these prior to travel to India. We have found
this to be one of the best ways to travel in India.

We do not recommend taking travellers cheques, as they can be difficult to exchange in the hotels and banks.

You cannot purchase Indian Rupees outside India (although sometimes in Dubai airport it can be found- but this is not guaranteed).

Hindi is spoken by more than 551 million people, and English by 125 million.
Other languages spoken are; Bangali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu.

It is the second most spoken language in India, mainly by the more educated people, or those who work in the tourist industry. You may find it difficult to find English speakers in the more remote parts of the country.

Indian food is famous across the world for its spices and variety. But you can only experience it while actually travelling in India. It is varied and the spices and cooking is dictated by regional traditions, and the variety available is huge. You will see that most people in India eat with their hands, but cutlery is usually available.
On the whole, the food is good but to be on the safe side it is best to be guided by the rule “if you can peel it, eat it” and “food which is freshly cooked and hot is safe to eat”.
As India is a majority Hindu country, they do not eat beef.

In the larger cities, restaurants offering a range of international cuisines are available, as well as those serving Indian dishes. In the smaller cities, standalone restaurants usually focus on local cuisine, but nearly all hotels have menus offering a choice of international cuisines too.

There are a vast array of dishes without meat, meaning that vegetarians and pescatarians are well catered for.

Do not drink the water directly from the tap in India. Always restrict yourself to bottled water and check the cap is sealed before consuming.

It is customary in India to tip for a service be it waiters, porters, guides and drivers.

No, tips are not included in the price of the tour.

We recommend you tip the following amounts:
Porter / Hotel Concierge = Rs 30 – 50 per member of staff
Room Service / Restaurants = About 10% of the bill total (unless a service charge is included)

In India, voltage is 220 volts AC, though some areas also have DC supplies. Visitors are advised to check the voltage before using electrical appliances.

Socket sizes vary, so it is as well to take a set of plug adapters, available from most electrical stores. Most luxury hotels have converters already installed in the bedrooms or are available at the Reception. The plug point in India are mostly like those found in southern Europe (two-prong) but please note that there are older forms of the electrical plug points also in use in older hotels in India, so converters may still be required. We suggest that you consider a universal plug adapter to ensure you are covered.

Many sites across Asia require a fair level of physical activity. The sheer scale of some attractions means walking is involved.

Our local representatives will do their utmost to accommodate any requests, and where possible, suggest alternative routes.

Please advise us of any special needs in advance, and we will do our utmost to provide support, including wheelchair assistance.

Overall, our destinations are safe, but as always when travelling abroad, please exercise common sense especially at the major tourist sites.

The travel and living conditions in some destinations can differ greatly from the UK, so please travel with an open mind.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), issues advice to all countries, and their advice for India can be found on the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india