India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) (21 page)

Ladakh Confluence,
Choglamsar, Ladakh. Ladakh’s new entertainment festival launched in 2009, and promises to be returning annually between June and August (check
www.theconfluence.in
for this year’s dates). It’s all about music, culture, and environment, and seems set to join the ranks of India’s burgeoning party circuit; excellent world music acts, workshops, and slightly offbeat competitions (including a momo-eating event) will form part of this laid-back version of Glastonbury in the Himalayas.

A
UGUST

Nehru Cup Snake Boat Races,
Alleppey. Kerala’s backwaters come alive with these renowned snake boat races. Second Saturday of August.

Independence Day,
countrywide. Indians unite to celebrate independence. August 15.

S
EPTEMBER/
O
CTOBER

Ganesh Chhaturthi,
countrywide. This 10-day celebration of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is popular across India, but Mumbai is arguably the best place to experience this vibrant event, celebrated with huge processions, fireworks, and the construction of special shrines. At the end of the festival, clay images of the god are immersed in the sea.

Kullu Dussehra.
Head for the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, where you can join the crowds when idols of Hindu deities from around the region are brought together in a colorful Festival of the Gods. Similarly ecstatic revelry occurs in Mysore (Karnataka).

O
CTOBER/
N
OVEMBER

Diwali
(
Festival of Lights;
also
Deepavali
), countrywide. This huge celebration among Hindu Indians is best experienced on the lawns of Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, at a wonderful party hosted by the Maharajah (which hotel guests are invited to attend). Note, however, that just as Christmas has been exploited commercially in the West, Diwali has become a time of excessive noise, increased alcohol consumption, and all-night fireworks.

Pushkar
Mela,
Rajasthan. The annual cattle fair in the tiny temple-and-hippie town of Pushkar, is the biggest of its kind in Asia. Traders, pilgrims, and tourists from all over the world transform this budget tourist mecca into a huge tented city, with camel races, cattle auctions, huge bonfires, traditional dances, and the like.

D
ECEMBER/
J
ANUARY

Christmas, New Year,
countrywide. Prepare for increased hotel prices as wealthy Indians celebrate both Christmas and New Year, often by taking the entire family on an extravagant vacation. New Year, in particular, may be marked by compulsory hidden extras such as special entertainment and celebratory meals. Christmas
is celebrated with as much fervor, if not more, as it is in the West. City hotels take great advantage of the situation, while in certain areas, such as Goa, midnight Mass and other traditions are observed.

Sunburn,
Goa. Party till you drop, then pick yourself up and carry on dancing. India’s party capital is full to bursting over the festival period, but fans of the contemporary electronic music scene won’t want to miss this 3 day DJ-mediated extravaganza, reportedly Asia’s biggest music festival (
www.sunburn-festival.com
), Find yourself a small, quiet guesthouse to rest up at between bouts on the dance floor and you’ll come away with a New Year’s celebration well worth remembering. That’s if you can remember anything at all . . .

2 Entry Requirements

PASSPORTS

Anyone entering India will require a passport. For information on how to get one, see chapter 16, “Fast Facts.” The websites listed there provide downloadable passport applications as well as the current fees for processing passport applications. For an up-to-date country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the “International Travel” section of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website at
http://travel.state.gov
.

VISAS

Travelers to India—unless carrying an Indian, Nepalese, or Bhutanese passport—should apply for a tourist visa from their nearest Indian Consulate or High Commission. This is valid for multiple entries for a prestipulated period of time from the date of issue (this will depend on your travel dates and the country in which you are applying). Given the nature of India’s bureaucracy, the rules and fees for application change regularly, so it’s best to check with your travel agent or with the relevant authority for the latest visa information. Accurately completed visa application forms must be accompanied by two passport-size photographs (on a light background) and the appropriate processing fee; apply well in advance to avoid unforeseeable delays. You won’t be admitted to India unless your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your entry, and it should typically also be valid for at least 3 months beyond the period of your intended stay. Check for fee structure and more details at
www.indianembassy.org
, but note that a number of Indian embassies and consulates now outsource the visa procurement process, meaning that you need to go through a third-party that specializes in dealing with entry visas. In the U.S., the Indian Embassy is at 2107 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC 20008 (
202/939-7000
); and there are consulates in Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago—but the visa agency you’ll be dealing with is
Travisa
(
http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com
). In Canada, visa applications can be made through
http://in.vfsglobal.ca
; there are consulate generals in a number of cities across the country. In the U.K., India House is in Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA (
020/7632-3149;
www.hcilondon.net
); for visa fees and procurement in the U.K., visit
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk
. In Australia, the Consulate General in Sydney (Level 27, 25 Bligh St.;
02/9223-9500;
www.indianconsulatesydney.org
) outsources visa applications to
VFS Australia
(
www.vfs-in-au.net
;
1900-960-960
).

If you’re applying for a visa in a country where India does not have a representative, you are advised to make inquiries at the nearest British authority.

A special permit is required for foreigners wishing to visit the Lakshadweep Islands, as well as sensitive border areas including Sikkim, parts of Ladakh, and certain roads in eastern Himachal Pradesh. For Lakshadweep, your permit will be arranged when your accommodations are reserved. Permits for the other restricted regions can be obtained in India, sometimes within a few frustrating hours; specific details are given in the appropriate chapters. Carry a number of passport-size photographs and copies of the personal particulars and Indian visa pages of your passport to apply for these permits.

CUSTOMS

What You Can Bring into India

You can bring as much foreign currency into India as you like; if you have over $10,000 in cash or traveler’s checks, however, you should complete a declaration form. You may not import Indian currency into India. In addition to your personal effects, you are allowed 2 liters of alcohol, and 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars. (Know that foreign liquors and imported cigarettes are very heavily taxed and in some areas difficult to come by.) You may carry a cellphone, camera, and pair of binoculars, but officially you may have only five rolls of film. You must complete a special Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form if you are carrying valuables such as a laptop computer, major video equipment, special camera gear, or high-value jewelry. Although there is a strong possibility that you may encounter difficulties upon leaving if these forms are not completed, you’ll discover a general malaise among Customs officials, who seldom hassle foreign visitors on international flights. Also, much of the bureaucratic heavy-handedness has eased in recent years, and there is less suspicion of foreign travelers. In fact, arrival in India is incredibly straightforward and generally hassle-free.

What You Can Take Home from India

You may not export Indian currency. Exchange all notes at the airport before you depart. Note that airport money-changers frequently run out of certain currencies, so you might want to complete any exchange before you go to the airport. There is a restriction on the exportation of anything over 100 years old, particularly works of art and items of cultural significance. It is illegal to export animal or snake skins, ivory,
shatoosh
wool, or anything that has been produced using these materials. Generally, jewelry valued under Rs 10,000 may be exported, while gold jewelry valued up to Rs 2,000 is allowed.