Page 738 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

736  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Tourist Information denomination, it is advisable to tourist department accreditation.
Tourist information offices run dress conservatively, check if French-, Italian-, Spanish-,
by the Government of India footwear is allowed and ask if German-, Russian- and Japanese-
Ministry of Tourism (see p757) you may enter (see pp738–9). speaking guides are also available
can be found across the country at many popular destinations.
and abroad. Each state also has Holidays and
its own tourism department,
providing reliable and detailed Opening Hours Backpackers
advice and practical information Each year, the government For students and young
on sightseeing, travel issues a new holiday list travellers, most of the larger
and where to stay (see p39) that includes all cities have branches of the
stay. Tourist brochures major religious Youth Hostels Asso ciation of
and maps are readily festivals, whose India (YHAI) (see p693). Though
available. A number of exact dates may it is not necessary to be a
travel sites on the change from year member of the association to
Internet also provide to year. Some are stay, members do get priority
up-to-date information. known as “restricted and lower rates. YMCA hostels in
There are information holidays”, which means larger cities also provide cheap
counters in the arrival that though the office lodgings for backpackers. Apart
halls of international and may be open, the staff from these, plenty of other cheap
domestic airports, as may be on leave. Banks, options are available across the
well as information Tourist brochures offices and most country, including the smaller
booths at railway and markets remain closed towns. It is a good idea to
bus stations. on the three national holidays: exercise caution and carry
Republic Day (26 January), luggage with locks when staying
Independence Day (15 August) in low-cost accommodations.
Admission Charges and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday Many of these places are not air
A common entry ticket (₹500 (2 October). Monuments and conditioned, nor do they have
for foreign visitors; ₹30 for museums are normally open mosquito nets – the latter are
domestic ones) allows access to 10am–6pm with an hour’s lunch essential, and available locally.
several of India’s UNESCO World break, and generally closed on Do not leave money and
Heritage sites. The Taj Mahal is Mondays and government important documents in your
not included in this deal. Another holidays. Markets and shops hotel; keep them with you at
common entry ticket covers stay open until at least 8pm in all times. Be wary of conmen
the monuments run by the most places. Most government enticing you with the promise
Archaeological Survey of India offices work from Monday to of cheap accommodation and
(ASI). Tickets can be purchased Friday, from 9:30am to 6pm bargain shopping.
from ASI offices and monuments with, supposedly, a half-hour
and from branches of the India lunch break.
Tourism Development Facilities for Travellers
with Special Needs
Corporation (ITDC).
There are often additional Guides Facilities for travellers with
fees for cameras and video All tourist offices, travel agents special needs are still relatively
cam eras (but not for phone and hotels can arrange a basic across the country, but
cameras), and for special shows certified guide for fixed hourly a growing number of places
such as Son et Lumière. Most rates. At popular monuments, are now introducing ramps
places of worship do not have amateur guides can be a nuisance. or rails. However, airports and
admission fees, but often Look instead for English-speaking all main railway stations do
have a donation box. If you guides, who wear a metal have wheelchairs and ramps,
are of a different religious badge certifying government and porters are always available
to carry luggage. Pavements
are difficult to negotiate in a
wheelchair, as they are often
uneven. Few hotels are
equipped for the needs of a
traveller with special needs.
The staff, however, will go
out of their way to help.

Facilities for Children
Although some luxury hotels do
have baby-sitting facilities, these
Visitors on a guided tour of the lake at Ranganathittoo Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka services are not commonly

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