INDIA
Capital: New Delhi
Languages: Hindi and English
Currency: Indian rupee. Exchange rate: 1 INR = ± 0.012 EUR
**Tourist Office: **indiatouristoffice.org
Did you know? Cows are sacred to Indians. They roam in the middle of the road and must never be chased away. Doing so could bring you bad luck...
Are you travelling to India? Here are a few useful tips:
Travel documents and customs formalities. For stays of up to 60 days, India has introduced an electronic visa system: https://www.indianvisagov.in/. You must indicate whether you also wish to visit protected areas or areas with restricted access. If so, you will need to obtain a special permit.
Importing more than 10,000 US dollars must be declared to customs at the airport. Travellers aged 17 and over may import alcohol (2 litres of spirits or 2 litres of wine) once a month if their stay lasts more than 24 hours, up to a maximum of 6 months.
The healthcare system in India
Vaccinations against diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, polio and a tetanus booster are generally recommended when travelling to India. If you're travelling during the hottest months (May to September) and staying in rural areas, vaccinations against meningitis and Japanese encephalitis are also recommended.
If you are arriving directly from certain countries in Africa, Latin America, Papua or New Guinea, you must be vaccinated against yellow fever.
Safety in India
The Indian government maintains a national state of alert regarding possible terrorist attacks throughout the country. Stay alert in busy places, such as public transport, bus and train stations, markets and places popular with foreigners. Be especially vigilant in large cities, tourist spots, international hotel chains, shopping centres and airports.
Given the precarious stability of certain regions or rural areas, we strongly recommend that you find out more about the places you wish to visit.
If you choose to go hiking in the Himalayas, be well prepared, hire guides and use appropriate means of transport. During expeditions, follow the hiking trails indicated by the Himachal Tourism Department. Only use recommended campsites to spend the night, and always exercise the greatest caution during your excursions.
Remember that there are no structured rescue operations in India for mountaineering and hiking. The only form of intervention is carried out by the armed forces with military helicopters. They will only step in following a written request from the Belgian embassy if Belgian victims are involved.
It is recommended that you register your trip to India on Travellers Online. This allows the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs to contact you should an emergency arise.
If you decide to visit India during the monsoon, don't forget to find out about the climate and road conditions. Also check health conditions, as flooding encourages the spread of disease.
Before you leave, read the latest travel advice on the website of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs
Which travel insurance should I choose for a trip to India?
At Redion, you can take out either temporary or annual travel insurance.
All travel insurance policies include the following benefits:
- Reimbursement of medical expenses
- Organisation of, and assistance with, your repatriation and that of your travelling companions if necessary
- Early return in the event of hospitalisation or death of a relative in Belgium
- Assistance in case of lost documents
If you only travel abroad once a year, temporary travel insurance may be useful. If you travel several times a year, annual travel insurance will be the more cost-effective option.
Climate and religion
The monsoon season lasts from May to September. It brings heavy rain that can cause flooding and landslides, particularly in rural areas. The climate is mainly tropical and subtropical, with very high summer temperatures, sometimes peaking at 48°C.
India is a country with many religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and other smaller religions.
Indian cuisine
If you're a fan of spicy food, you'll definitely enjoy Indian cuisine. If you're a vegetarian, you'll be spoilt for choice, as most Indian dishes are based on vegetables and beans. Tandoori chicken, also well known in Belgium, is one of the few meat-based dishes. Indian cuisine introduces you to strong, spicy flavours. Be sure to try “thalis”, a typically Indian dish, the ever-present “pakora”, or a tasty “samosa”.
