Facts for the Traveller :India

Visas
All foreign visitors to India require a valid visa. A tourist visa, valid for 90 days from the date of entry, can be obtained from any Indian embassy, high commission or consulate. If you intend to leave India and return within a 90-day period, then il is worth applying for a double- or triple-entry visa. An extension for a further 90 days can be given to a tourist visa by the Foreign Regional Registration offices in most large cities. The visa fee varies from nationality to nationality, with British passport holders paying the most. 11 a visa extends beyond 90 days, an Income Tax Clearance Certificate is required at the time of departure (available from main tax offices).

Health
India demands yellow fever certificates from travellers arriving from Africa, Latin America and Papua New Guinea. Other shots, although not legally required, are advisable. Typhoid, polio and tetanus are important. A gamma globulin injection against hepatitis A immediately before departure is also recommended. Many countries demand that travellers from India have an up-to-date cholera vaccination. A vaccination against rabies is now available, but you must visit the nearest hospital following any bite from a dog or monkey for a further course of shots. Malaria is still widespread in many parts of India. Advice as to which pills to take is constantly being revised and it is best to seek advice from your local travel centre or clinic before departure. Courses must be continued for four to six weeks after you leave India. You may want to put together a basic medical kit in advance of departure; this could usefully include something against diarrhoea, antiseptic cream, lip salve, mosquito repellent and soothing cream for bites, suntan lotion, water purification tablets, if bottled water is not available, and elastoplast. If you do have stomach problems soon after arrival, you are advised to drink lots of fluids (water with a little salt and sugar) and keep to a simple diet for a couple of days to give your system time to adjust. If the problem should worsen, however, seek medical advice.

There are a few things not to do which will make your stay more comfortable. Never drink tap water (often hotels provide flasks of filtered water and bottled water is available almost everywhere). Avoid salads, even in hotels, and do not eat the street food until you have tested the strength of your stomach.