DRESS
Casual wear is the suitable for travel in India. Light cottons are recommended from spring to autumn. In winter however you will need warm clothing and preferably a wind cheater. Early morning and late evenings are very cold in Rajasthan in winter. People in rural India are conservative. It is advisable for ladies to wear modest clothing.

PACKING
Remember, packing lightly enables you to travel lightly. A general rule to follow is to pack half of what you think you will need. Always pack a carry-on bag that includes medication, toiletries and a day or two of clothing in case your checked luggage gets misrouted. Pack an extra set of eyeglasses or contact lenses, as well as a prescription for a replacement pair. Be sure to check weather conditions and the customary local dress before leaving. Pack and dress conservatively white traveling internationally so that you will not be targeted as a tourist in poorer countries. Avoid an appearance that is too casual or one that marks you as affluent. Leave your valuable jewellery at home, and it is best not to wear jewellery that indicates your religion

PLAN FOR SAFETY & HEALTHY TRIP
Check well in advance with your doctor or government agencies when visiting less developed countries about immunization requirements and recent outbreaks of disease. Some vaccinations must be administered over time, therefore; research and plan immunization 6-8 weeks prior to departure. Ask your doctor for prescriptions for any medicine you may need while traveling, and bring enough medication for the duration of your trip. Be sure to hand carry your medicine in case you are separated from your checked luggage. To avoid possible drug violations, keep medications in their original labeled containers, accompanied with a letter from your doctor stating the need for the medicine. If you are not sure about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country prior to your trip. Research your destination and find out the medical facilities in the area in case of a health emergency. Invest in an inexpensive foreign language guide and learn in advance how to ask for a doctor, the police, or embassy personal in the native language. Carry with you a personal health profile listing any chronic medical conditions, special needs, allergies and blood type. Check your health insurance coverage for medical emergencies away from home. Additional insurance, if desired, can be purchased from your insurance company. Check to see if bottled water is required when traveling to parts of Africa, South America, Asia, the Middle East, as well as parts of the Western World. Where local water is not recommended, drink only carbonated water or beverages from canned and bottled containers. Avoid ice and fresh vegetables, and only eat fruit that you can peel. Remember unsafe drinking water is also unsafe for brushing teeth, rinsing dentures and cleaning contact lenses. Bottled water may be used for these hygienic purposes.

LUGGAGE
When packing for you trip, select inconspicuous luggage with covered plastic tags. Put your name, company / residential address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. If you will be attending a business meeting, it is a good idea to hand carry important documents, sensitive information, proposals and presentation slides. In some countries, business documents may be subject to search, seizure and photocopying

CURRENCY
The decimal system of coinage is used in India, with 1 Rupee = 100 Paise. Bank notes are in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20,10, 5, 2 & 1 rupee. Coins are in 10, 5, 2, 1 rupee and 50, 25, 10 and 5 paise denominations. Value vis a vis US Dollar - 1 USD = Rs. 41.95 (August 22nd ,2005). It is not necessary to purchase local currency prior to your arrival in India. Foreign Exchange counters at the hotels provide the same official rate of exchange as the banks or the airports. It is therefore not necessary or recommended to purchase local currency at the airports. However, it is recommended to purchase small denominations for use as tips or for small purchases. All credit cards are accepted at the city hotels you will be staying at. Smaller hotels and wildlife parks lodging accept cash in local currency only.

RESTRICTIONS
No Indian currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into India. However, if you are carrying more than US$ 10,000.00 or its equivalent, the same must be declared on arrival in the currency declaration form. All visitors are advised to change money through Authorized money changers and to obtain a receipt for all such transactions, because it will help you to reconvert unused Rupees into foreign currency at the time of departure.

CREDIT CARDS
All Major credit cards are normally accepted in most hotels, restaurants and merchant establishments. In small towns, Jungle lodges and villages, you may be asked to pay in cash. Some establishments add a handling surcharge on payment by credit card.

CUISINE
In the city hotels, restaurants serve European as well as Oriental cuisine. In the more remote areas and smaller hotels and palaces the food is basic and mainly Indian. We suggest that in these areas you are requested to have vegetarian food since this tends to reduce the risk of stomach upsets. The hotels that we use are very well aware of the western visitor's reaction to Indian food and it take great care in the area of Hygiene. While health problems can occur, these are usually minor and often result in the change of diet and the time zones.

ENTRY PROCEDURES
Citizens of all countries including Commonwealth Countries require visas to enter India. Multiple Entry Visa will be required for those intending to visit the neighboring countries like Nepal, Srilanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan. A Tourist Visa is valid for 3 months stay in India. It can be extended for a further period of 3 months. A visitor whose stay extend over 90 days must register with the Foreign Registration Office and get an exit endorsement on the Registration Certificate from the same office before departure.

CUSTOMS AND REGULATIONS ON ARRIVAL
Tourists who do not have any dutiable goods or unaccompanied baggage can pass through the green channel, while others must go to the red channel for custom clearance. Import of - 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gms of tobacco : Alcoholic liquor up to 0.95 litres is permitted duty free. Import of personal jewellery, cameras, binoculars, tape recorders, transistor, professional equipment etc. is allowed duty free, provided a TBRE(Tourist Baggage Re-Export) form is completed on arrival.

ON DEPARTURE
The TBRE (Tourist Baggage Re-Export) form and the goods entered therein must be produced before Customs for verification at the port of departure. Export of - animal skin, ivory, antique, gold coins and articles other than jewellery is permitted only if an export licence is acquired from the Joint Controller of Imports & Exports, Government of India.

SPECIAL PERMITS
Even with a visa one cannot travel to certain areas without a Special Permit. These areas include Assam, Meghalaya, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Lakshadweep.