Page 737 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  735

Embassies and
in Delhi. You will be asked to must also fill a currency
show these permits when Consulates declaration form if the
travelling in restricted areas. You Most countries have embassies aggregate value of their
will also need trekking permits in Delhi, as well as consulates foreign exchange including
for the Himalayan regions in Mumbai, Kolkata and currency of more than
bordering Pakistan, Tibet and Chennai. Con sular offices can US$10,000 or equivalent.
China, and for treks in re-issue passports and assist There is a heavy duty charge
Uttarakhand (see pp192–3), in case of emergencies, such if the baggage value limit is
Himachal Pradesh (see pp118–19), as theft, imprisonment and exceeded. Antiques over 100
Ladakh (see p146, p147 & pp156–7) hospitalization. All city telephone years old cannot be exported,
and West Bengal and Sikkim directories and information neither can wildlife products,
(see pp306–7). All visitors to guides carry detailed listings such as animal pelts, shahtoosh
Sikkim require 15-day travel of embassies and consulates, shawls or ivory. Consult the
permits, because of its proximity as does the Indian Ministry Archaeological Survey of
to a sensitive border with China. of Tourism’s website (www. India (ASI) and the Ministry
Among the seven north- tour-india.net). of Environment and Forests
eastern states, no permits are for details of these rules.
required for Assam, Meghalaya Customs Information
and Tripura. However, permits
are required for Arunachal When entering India, visitors Immunization
Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and have a duty-free allowance Only visitors travelling from
Nagaland, and can be acquired of 2 litres of alcohol, liquor certain countries in Africa and
from any of the state tourist or wine, 200 cigarettes, up to Central and South America
offices. In some areas, permits 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco require a valid vaccination
are issued only to groups of and one laptop. Passengers certificate for yellow fever.
four or more – these are best have to declare the contents However, visitors should get
organised by a travel agent. of their baggage in the vaccinated against tetanus,
Foreign nationals require a prescribed Indian Customs typhoid and hepatitis A and B.
permit, valid for 30 days, for Declaration Form. At airports, It is also advisable to start a
the Andaman Islands, but this passengers have the option course of anti-malarial tablets
excludes tribal areas and some of seeking clearance through before leaving for India, after
islands, including Nicobar. the green channel (no dutiable consulting a doctor (see p743).
Permits can be obtained on goods) or red channel
arrival at the immigration counter (dutiable goods). Insurance
at Port Blair airport, or at Kolkata For articles such as jewellery,
and Chennai airports. If travelling video cameras, music systems Take out an insurance policy
by ship, a permit can be obtained or laptop computers, they for medical emergencies as
on arrival at Port Blair, as well as must fill in the tourist baggage well as theft before leaving
from the FRRO offices in the four re-export form, undertaking home. Travel insurance is also
main cities. For permits to travel to take these items back or essential to cover any adventure
to the Lakshadweep Islands, else pay a fairly heavy duty activity or sport that you may
(see pp650–51). on them on departure. They undertake on your trip.

DIRECTORY
FRRO Ministry of US ASI
Home Affairs US Department of State.
∑ boi.gov.in ∑ travel.state.gov 11, Janpath, New Delhi.
Delhi Delhi Tel (011) 2301 5081.
∑ asi.nic.in
North Block, Central
East Block 8, Level 2, Secretariat. Travel Agents
Sector 1, RK Puram. ∑ mha.nic.in/contact Abercrombie & Kent Ministry of
Tel (011) 2671 1443. Tel (011) 4600 1720 (India). Environment &
Mumbai Travel Safety Tel (0044) 01242 547 700 Forests
(UK). ∑ akdmc.com
Special Branch Building, Advice Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO
Badruddin Tayabji Lane. Australia Cox & Kings
Tel (1800) 209 0400 (India). Complex, Lodi Rd, New
Tel (022) 2262 1169. Department of Foreign Tel (0044) 020 7873 5000 Delhi. Tel (011) 2436 1669.
Chennai Affairs and Trade (UK). ∑ coxandkings.
∑ dfat.gov.au
Shastri Bhavan Annexe, com General
26 Haddow Rd. ∑ smartraveller.gov.uk Kuoni Travel India Information
Tel (044) 2825 1721. UK (022) 6661 7500 (India). ∑ outlooktraveller.com
Foreign and
∑ kuoni.in
Kolkata Commonwealth Office Mercury Travels ∑ travel.indiamart.com
237 AJC Bose Rd. ∑ gov.uk/foreign- Tel (011) 4150 2008 (India). ∑ tourindia.com
Tel (033) 2290 0549. travel-advice ∑ mercurytravels.co.in ∑ tripadvisor.in
734-735_EW_India.indd 735 26/04/17 11:56 am