How
do I get to India from Ireland?
What travel documents
do I need to enter India?
What health precautions
should I follow before and during a trip to India?
When is the best
time of the year to visit India?
What is the national
currency and can I obtain it before I travel?
Is all the food
hot and spicy?
Will English
to be spoken?
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How do I get to India from Ireland?
To reach one of India’s main cities, it is necessary to take a flight from Ireland into one of the many European hub airports (London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt or Zurich) or to Abu Dhabi and connect with an international flight into Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai. It is also possible to save time on travel within India by taking one of many domestic flights.
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What travel documents do I need to enter India?
- A valid passport issued by your country of birth.
- A visa which can be obtained from the Indian Embassy, 6th lesson park, in Dublin 6. For visa information and application form please refer to Indian Embassy website www.indianembassy.ie
- Some areas of India (mainly in the North East) are restricted areas and require special permits. This will be advised when enquiring about travel to this region.
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What health precautions should I follow before and during a trip to India?
We recommend that you visit your GP for health advice based on your individual health record. In general, a cholera/typhoid inoculation is recommended, as is a course of malaria tablets.
Most hotels have a doctor on call but most minor upsets such as stomach upsets, insect bites and heartstroke can be avoided by taking the following precautions
- Avoid eating foods sold by roadside vendors, undercooked meat, unpeelable fruit or vegetable, drinking tap water or having ice in drinks outside the hotel.
- Carry a kit containing sunscreens and other lotions for protection from the sun, insect repellents and sting relief creams, water sterilising tablets and medicines for possible stomach upsets or indigestion.
- Be careful about mosquitoes when outside in the evenings - use an insect repellent.
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When is the best time of the year to wish India?
It is possible to visit India through the year but the weather will dictate where you can go! As a general rule, the coolest months from mid/late September to end of March are the best to visit India. The monsoons, in the majority of India, occur between the months of June – mid September. During this time heavy rain and soaring temperatures makes India a place for the Indians only!
Average temperatures
Delhi (September - April) - 21°C
Mumbai (September - April) - 23°C
Chennai (September - April) - 25°C
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What is the national currency and can I obtain it before I travel?
The Indian Rupee is the national currency and it can be obtained upon arrival in India. Receipts of all currency must be kept so that any remaining rupees can be reconverted on departure. EURO and US dollars are also widely accepted in major hotels, restaurants and shops. Credit cards (VISA, Master card and AMEX) are also accepted.
Rs. 1 = 100 Paise
Coins are in denominations of 25, 50 Paise and 1,2,and 5 rupees.
Notes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupees.
Exchange Rate (for indicative purposes only)
US $ 1 = Indian Rupees. 49.00 approx.
EUR €1.00 = Indian Rupees. 62.00 approx.
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Is all Indian food hot and spicy?
Indian food is as varied as the country itself, with every region having its own mouth-watering specialities. It therefore, does not always have to be “hot” nor can any one dish be labeled a “curry”. Most dishes with a gravy are normally called curries but are prepared with a different ‘masala’ or combination of spices containing among other things coriander, cumin, garlic, onions ginger, turmeric. Additional seasoning which adds to the flavour and richness of meat dishes is called “garam masala” and is made from different combinations of a variety of spices like cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves cinnamon, bayleaves, saffron, mace and nutmeg.
A traditional meal all over India is usually served in large metal plate called a ‘Thali’ with a number of small bowls used to hold the gravy dishes. The meal is normally accompanied by Indian bread (which varies from region to region) and rice.
All good hotels in India provide continental meals as a matter of course, for those who are looking for a respite from spicy Indian cuisine. Many hotels and restaurants, at least in the major cities, specialise in specific international cuisine like Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese etc.
For an Indian, a drink with a meal usually means water. Imported wines and liquors are now available, though not in great variety. The quality of Indian wine is improving steadily. Indian beer and rum are considered excellent, while gins and vodkas are good and the Indian whisky is an acquired taste!
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Will English to be spoken?
English is widely spoken, though the accents may vary considerably, making it a bit difficult to understand at first. The official language is Hindi but there are totally 15 major languages and 544 dialects spoken in India.
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