Banks: 10:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 12:00, Saturday
Post offices: 10:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 14:00, Saturday
Government offices: 07:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business centres: 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday
Shops: 09:30 to 19:00, daily

As with any big city in the world, New Delhi can pose threats to visitors. It is a fast-paced bustling metropolis that is home to some eight million inhabitants, it is easy to get lost.

Women need to be especially careful about travelling alone. They should not get in taxis or rickshaws by themselves, and need to make sure their hotel room is always properly locked and bolted.. Petty theft is a huge problem and it’s best to take no valuables with you to New Delhi. If you bring anything of value, then lock it up in your hotel’s safe. Carry a money belt instead of a wallet or purse and be especially mindful of your belongings when travelling on public transport or while pushing through large crowds in areas like marketplaces.

Since 2002, it has been an offence to give money to beggars at traffic lights and begging has been illegal since the 1959 Beggars Act. Nevertheless, begging is commonplace and you should not be alarmed if you are approached by children or adults asking for money.

Don’t accept food and drink, or even cigarettes, from strangers. There have been incidences of travellers being poisoned or drugged, and then robbed. Tourists should be aware of scammers. If you’re approached and hassled by people wanting to sell you things or be your guide, just say ‘no’ firmly as many times as it takes. Don’t lose your temper; just be solid in your stance. If you use a credit card , don’t let it out of your sight. Some shops will run off a few copies and then forge your signature.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz; plugs are two round pronged.

Risks include: dengue fever, cholera, hepatitis A and B, malaria, dysentery, meningitis and typhoid. No vaccinations are required to enter the country unless you are coming from a yellow fever affected area. However, it’s advisable to make sure your hepatitis A and B vaccines are updated. You should take care not to get bitten by mosquitoes as they can carry diseases such as dengue fever and malaria. Depending on where in the country you are visiting, you may want to take additional precautions.

Only drink bottled water, and even use it to brush your teeth. Don’t forget that this is the home of the infamous ‘Delhi belly’ and many visitors fall victim to stomach problems while visiting. Even if you are not a vegetarian, it’s advisable to become so temporarily while in India as the quality of meat is often questionable.

If you’re going to be eating with your hands, then make sure you wash them thoroughly or carry around alcohol wipes. If you get a stomach bug, you can purchase Imodium A-D (loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol over the counter, and should make sure to re-hydrate with electrolyte beverages.

The HIV and hepatitis B infection rates, both transmitted through blood, are relatively high here and you should avoid getting tattoos and piercings, and stay away from getting a haircut where they use a razor to shave the back of your neck. Always practice safe sex.

East West Medical Centre: +91 462 3738
Emergency services: 102

There are 18 officially recognised languages in India, and thousands of dialects. The dominant Hindi language is the most commonly spoken in New Delhi and in fact has 250 million speakers throughout the country. In the more tourist-frequented areas, you won’t have trouble finding someone who can speak English.

The Indian rupee (Rs) is India’s currency, and comes in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 banknotes. Coins come in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, as well as 50 and 25 paise. There are 100 paise in a rupee.

You can’t exchange Indian rupees outside of the country; and thus if you’re going to get to your hotel, you’ve got to exchange a little money at the airport exchange bureaux when you arrive. However, exchanging more is not advisable as the rates are among the worst available. If your hotel has an airport transfer service, then arrange for pick-up before you arrive.

Ask for a receipt when exchanging money and hold on to it until you leave the country, in case you want to change rupees back to your currency before leaving. It is illegal to take rupees out of the country.

The best exchange rates are offered by the banks in New Delhi; however, it’s even better to withdraw cash from the ATMs, as they are convenient and give the most competitive rates. You’ll find no shortage of unauthorised moneychangers, but it’s inadvisable to use them. . Don’t accept banknotes that are torn or damaged badly, as others will not accept them from you. It’s a good idea to keep a wad of smaller bills for tips. At small shops, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to change anything larger than an Rs500 note, so try and keep a good supply of Rs100s.

ATMs are widely available in the city and they typically accept Cirrus and PLUS. Most ATMs allow you to withdraw Rs10,000 at a time, which is roughly US$200. Credit cards are accepted in the larger restaurants, hotels and shops, with Visa and MasterCard being the most popular; expect a two per cent service charge. Traveller’s cheques are accepted at banks, hotels and some restaurants.

A Tourist Baggage Re-Export form should be filled out by those bringing a laptop computer, special camera gear or video equipment. This is to protect you, as you may be asked to show the form when you leave India. Bringing in any livestock or pork products, live plants or gold and silver bullion is not permitted.

If you bring more than the equivalent of US$10,000 into India in a foreign currency, then you must fill out a declaration form at the airport. Adults 18 years and over can import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; 2 litres of alcohol; and 60ml of perfume.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon and you should save them for the privacy of your hotel room. You should always use your right hand for handing over objects, eating, or doing anything as the left hand is considered the toilet hand. Feet are the lowest part of the body and you should never point with your feet or touch anything or anyone with them. If you accidentally do so, then apologise immediately.

Getting angry in public is also not a good idea so you should keep your temper in check. If you can’t get the price you want when bargaining, then just walk away. When taking photos of someone, be sure to ask first.

The namaste greeting is used in India and this consists of pressing your palms together and tilting your head forward slightly. You should always remove your shoes when entering a home or temple. You can dress casually but conservatively. Women should always dress modestly in India and should never wear shorts or revealing tops, even on the beaches. Even men don’t wear shorts in India.

Dining Etiquette
It’s normal to share food and drinks, and you’ll find Indian families sharing huge meals may invite you to join them. When dining, the table will be filled with several dishes, and everyone will spoon them onto their own place – so you get to try everything.

Hindus consider the cow to be sacred and Muslims consider the pig to be filthy; thus you will not find much pork or beef offered in Indian restaurants. If you don’t see it on the menu, don’t ask for it. Many restaurants also don’t serve alcohol. Tipping is normal at restaurants and 10 per cent is the norm.

If you go to an Indian’s house for dinner, it’s polite to bring a gift; just remember that most Hindus do not drink alcohol and are vegetarians. Indians usually eat with their hands; although this is not done in upscale restaurants. You should use your right hand only while eating, and in some places you should only use the first two fingers and thumb.

Visitors must apply for a tourist visa at their nearest Indian consulate before travel. Tourist visas are valid for up to 6 months after entry, and are usually issued without trouble to citizens of most countries. You should submit two passport-sized photos with the application and fee. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months past the date of your expected entry.

Foreign tourists in groups of four or more sponsored by recognised Indian Travel Agencies and, with an itinerary, can be granted collective landing permits for a specified period of time (up to 30 days upon written request). US citizens can sometimes be issued with 10-year visas and more information is available at the nearest Indian embassy.

The Government of India Tourist Office in Delhi can be reached at: +91 332 0342, +91 3320005 or +91 3320008. There’s also a Government of India Tourist Information Counter inside the Indira Gandhi International Airport: +91 329 1171. There are numerous government tourist offices and you can reach the main one in Delhi at: +91 460 1500, +91 4623782 or +91 4694859.