Page 739 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  737

available. However, Indians are calendar is used for all official DIRECTORY
generally tolerant of children, work as this avoids the confusion
who are warmly welcomed in of traditional calendars, State Government
most places. If you are travelling which vary between religions Tourist Offices in India
with young infants, it is and regions.
advisable to bring your own Delhi
supplies of baby food and 18-A, D.D.A. SCO Complex,
formula milk. Disposable Measurements and Defence Colony.
Conversion Chart
nappies are widely available. Tel (011) 2464 7005.
The metric system is most ∑ delhitourism.gov.in
commonly used all over
Language Goa
the country.
Though Hindi is the official Paryatan Bhavan, 3rd floor, Patto,
language of India, there are Imperial to Metric Panaji. Tel (0832) 243 7132.
several regional languages as 1 inch = 2.5 centimetres ∑ goa-tourism.com
well. Bengali is spoken in 1 foot = 30 centimetres
Kolkata and West Bengal, 1 mile = 1.6 kilometres Himachal Pradesh
Marathi in Mumbai and 1 ounce = 28 grams The Mall, Shimla.
Maharashtra, Tamil in Tamil 1 pound = 454 grams Tel (0190) 225 2175.
Nadu, Telugu in Andhra 1 pint = 0.6 litres ∑ himachaltourism.gov.in
Pradesh and Malayalam in 1 gallon = 4.5 litres
Kerala. English has become the Kerala
Park View Building,
most convenient link language Metric to Imperial
and is widely spoken in most 1 centimetre = 0.4 inches Thiruvananthapuram.
Indian cities. It is also the 1 metre = 3 feet 3 inches Tel (0471) 232 1132.
language of commerce, and 1 kilometre = 0.6 miles ∑ keralatourism.org
most people who deal with 1 gram = 0.04 ounces Madhya Pradesh
tourists, such as taxi drivers, 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds Paryatan Bhavan, Bhadbhada Rd,
guides, hotel staff, shop 1 litre = 1.8 pints Bhopal. Tel (0755) 402 7100.
assistants and officials, speak ∑ mptourism.com
English. Road signs and
numbers are usually in English Maharashtra
as well as in the regional Opposite LIC Building,
language of the particular state. Madame Cama Rd, Mumbai.
Tel (022) 2284 5678.
Electricity ∑ maharashtratourism.gov.in
The electrical current in India Rajasthan
is 220–240 volts, 50 Hz. The Paryatan Bhawan, MI Rd, Jaipur.
power supply can be very Tel (0141) 511 0598.
erratic during the summer ∑ rajasthantourism.gov.in
months, with low voltage,
fluctuations and fairly long Tamil Nadu
power cuts. A range of plugs TN Tourism Complex, No. 2,
Triple round-pin sockets Wallajah Rd, Triplicane, Chennai.
are the norm, but adaptors Photography Tel (044) 2533 3444.
and transformers are easily ∑ tamilnadutourism.org
available at the larger stores. Sophisticated digital, film and
It is advisable to carry a colour-processing facilities are Uttar Pradesh
power surge cable to protect available, even in smaller towns. C-13, Vipin Khand, Gomti Nagar,
laptop computers against Larger photo shops have excel- Lucknow. Tel (0522) 230 7037.
voltage fluctuations. lent developing and printing ∑ up-tourism.com
facilities and offer quick services.
Taking pictures of women, Uttarakhand
Indian Standard Time tribal communities, and places Countrywide Tours and Travels,
and Calendar
of worship can be sensitive issues, 5, Kailash Gate, Rishikesh.
In spite of its size, India has and it is best to ask before using Tel (09412) 991 555.
only one standard time. India your camera. Photographing ∑ uttaranchaltourism.in
is 5.5 hours ahead of Greenwich security-sensitive areas, such as
Mean Time (GMT) 4.5 hours railway stations, dams, airports West Bengal
behind Australian Eastern and military installations, is 3/2 BBD Bag (East), Kolkata.
Standard Time, and 10.5 hours prohibited. Notice boards Tel (033) 2243 6440.
ahead of US Eastern Standard indicate where photography ∑ wbtourism.gov.in
Time. The Western Gregorian is not allowed.

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