Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do require a visa for entry into India and you should have a valid passport with at least six months validity from the date of your return to the UK.
The current cost of a single entry visa from the Indian High Commission is £30 valid for up to six months. Please note that World Odyssey offers an express visa service for all destinations. Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their nearest Embassy or High Commission. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health Requirements - A Yellow Fever Certificate is required to enter India if you arrive from or via an infected country. There are no other mandatory vaccinations required although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Meningitis and Hepatitis A are recommended. Malaria does exist in various parts of India and it is therefore essential that you seek qualified medical advice on its prevention.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - GMT + 5.5 hours (+ 4.5 hours during British Summer Time)
Money - The currency is the Indian Rupee. Travellers’ cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at most commercial banks and hotels. The use and acceptance of credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard is widespread in the major cities, although an alternative payment source is sensible, especially when in remote areas.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Mumbai |
Daily |
Direct |
|
|
Heathrow/Delhi |
Daily |
Direct |
|
|
Heathrow/Chennai (Madras) |
Daily except Weds & Thurs |
Direct |
|
|
Heathrow/Calcutta |
Tues/Thurs/Sat |
Direct |
|
Emirates |
Heathrow/Mumbai |
Daily |
Dubai |
|
|
Heathrow,Gatwick/Delhi |
Daily |
Dubai |
|
Virgin |
Heathrow/Delhi |
Daily |
Direct |
Climate - a rough guide
India covers an area so vast that it crosses several climatic zones with significant regional variations, but it is generally governed by two principal seasons, namely the dry and the monsoon, as described below:
THE DRY SEASON (Autumn/Winter): The dry season usually lasts from the end of the monsoon rains in October through to the end of May. The period from October to January is the ideal time to visit India as the monsoon rains have ended, the countryside is green and lush, the skies are crystal clear and the country is at its most stunning. During this time the days tend to be warm with daytime temperatures hovering around 75F. From February the temperatures tend to rise and it becomes drier and dustier as the monsoon rains approach. Evenings can be cool, however, with the need for a light jacket or jumper, as the temperature drops quite substantially at higher altitudes and during mid-winter. Although there can be some rain during these months, the winter tends to be very dry and becomes more so as the season progresses.
THE MONSOON SEASON (Spring/Summer): The second main season is the monsoon that begins when the heavy rains arrive, generally in late May/early June, lasting until September. The rain itself is not continuous, generally on and off throughout the day with sunny periods in between, and the temperature remains constant at around 85F.
The principal exception to all of the above is the Himalayan region which has a totally opposite climate. The best time to visit Ladakh and Spiti is during the south's monsoon period from June to September.
When to go - There are naturally some regional variations, which are important to be aware of, but in general the best time to visit the majority of India is during the dry winter season from October until April. In early spring the daytime temperatures can reach 85F, increasing as the season progresses, and there is usually little or no rain during this period.
The National Parks are at their driest from around February to April which means the bush is thinner and the water sources for the animals are scarcer thus providing better game viewing. The period from April to May is still part of the dry season and is an excellent time to visit the higher altitude areas such as Sikkim as the temperatures rise to extremes on the plains below.
The Himalayan region of India is an exception to the above rule as the climate is totally opposite to the rest of the country. The best time to visit Ladakh and Spiti is during the south's monsoon period from June to September.
|
Delhi |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
71/ |
75/ |
86/ |
98/ |
105/ |
103/ |
95/ |
92/ |
92/ |
92/ |
84/ |
73/ |
|
Rain (in) |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
3.2 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
5.0 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
|
Chennai (Madras) |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
83/ |
87/ |
90/ |
95/ |
100/ |
100/ |
95/ |
93/ |
93/ |
89/ |
84/ |
83/ |
|
Rain (in) |
1.7 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
2.1 |
3.8 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
8.9 |
14.2 |
5.9 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
