BUSINESS TRIVIA

Foreign Exchange
You have the option of carrying Forex as travelers' cheques, currency or International credit cards. Travelers' cheques are easily exchangeable for cash in major hotels, shopping outlets, moneychangers and banks.

Credit cards are accepted in all major stores and hotels and even major restaurants welcome them. Payments for everyday expenses need to be made only in Indian currency (INR) except at some hotels, which accept foreign exchange.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Visa and Equipment endorsements

Foreign nationals entering India with the intent of staying for more than 180 days would be expected to register themselves within 14 days of their arrival, irrespective of the kind of visa being used by them.

We suggest that you voluntarily ask for endorsement on passport for all the electronic equipment in you possession to avoid any customs related problems on departure from India.

Office hours
Government offices - 9am to 6 pm
Others - 8 am to 5 pm

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BRINGS WORLD CLOSER!

  • Access to Internet - Keeping up with the IT revolution in India, access to Internet is expanding rapidly. Most major cities are dotted with Cyber cafes that provide immediate access to the net. You would be able to access your email using Hotmail, AOL or Yahoo in most Indian cities. In case you wish to access a proprietary email system, using dial up networking, most large hotels would be able to provide you a telephone with data ports in your room. However, international call rates from India are steep and hotels add expensive surcharges to your telephone bill, so we recommend you use a calling card. Please ensure that your card permits calls from India to your home country
  • Mobile communication: You can hire cell phones at the domestic airports in most major cities and tourist destinations in India. India uses the GSM standard for mobile communications, hence we suggest you check out the compatibility of your instrument with GSM, incase you wish to use it in India. Generally, cell phone rentals in India vary between INR 100 and 150 per day

Across Latitudes
India is 51/2 hours ahead of GMT

Go local
Dress code -Semi formals will be acceptable with in most offices

Cuisine, Hygiene and You
Cuisine, Hygiene and You - India offers you an exotic choice of cuisine, known the world over for its variety and flavor. We suggest that you avoid eating at roadside stalls and be particularly careful about the water you drink. Even at restaurants and hotels, please ask for bottled mineral water. Also ensure that the seal is not tampered with, and request for better-known brands like Bisleri,Bailey, Kinley and Aquafina.

Emergencies
In case of a medical emergency, in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, please contact the following hospitals.

Mumbai
Breach Candy Hospital - 3643308/9
JJ Hospital - 3735555
Hinduja Hospital - 4449199 /4451515
Bombay Hospital - 2067676

New Delhi
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital - 26925801
Stephen Hospital - 23966021 / 23966023

Jaipur
SMS Hospitall - 2560291
SDMH Hospital - 2566254, 2566255

Traveljini.com is an informative site to browse if you plan to tour India.

Embassies & Consulates in India

You may also need to contact your country’s consular representative in some situations. Some telephone numbers and addresses are given below.


USA

Lincoln House
78 Bhulabhai Desai Road
Mumbai - 400 026
Tel: 022-2363-3611
Fax: (22) 363 0350
 

Shanthipath
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi - 110 021
Tel: 011-2419-8000
Fax: (11) 419 0015
 

5/1, Ho Chi Minh Sarani
Calcutta - 700 071
Tel: 033-2282-3611
Fax: (33) 242 2335

220, Mount Road,
chennai - 600 006
Tel: 044-2811-2000
Fax: 044-28250240/28112040


United Kingdom

Maker Chambers IV
222 Jamnalal Bajaj Road 
PO Box 11714, Nariman Point
Mumbai - 400 001
Tel: 022 2283 0517/2330/3602
Fax: 022 202 7940
 

Shanthipath
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi - 110 021
Tel: 011 26872161
Fax: 011 687 2882
 

1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani
Calcutta - 700 071 
Tel: 033 2288 5172/5176
Fax: 033 282 3435

24 Anderson Road
Chennai - 600 006
Tel: 044 52192151
Fax: 044 826 9004


Japan

No.1, ML Dhanukar Marg
Cumbala hills
Mumbai - 400 026
Tel: 022-5632-5000
Fax: 022-493 2146
 

50G Shanthipath
Chankyapuri, 
New Delhi 110 021
Tel: 011-2687-6581, 2687-6564
Fax: 011-2688 5587
 

12 Pretoria Street
Calcutta - 700 071 
Tel: 033-2421-1970
Fax: 033-282 0954

60, Spur Tank Road,
Chetput
Chennai - 600 031
Tel: 044-2432-3860, 2432-3861, 2432-3862, 2432-3863
Fax: 044-2827 8853


Germany

193, Hoechst House, 1 floor Backbay Reclaimation
Nariman Point
Mumbai - 400 021
Tel: 022-2283 24 22 oder 2283 15 17 oder 2283 26 61
Fax: (22) 202 5493
 

No.6, Block 50-G, Shanthipath Chanakyapuri 
New Delhi - 110 021
Tel: 011-2687 18 31 - 37
Fax: 011-687 3117
 

1 Hastings Park Road
Calcutta - 700 027
Tel: 033 2479 11 41/42
Fax: 033 2479 3028

22 Ethiraj Road
PO Box 6801
Chennai - 600 105
Tel: 044-2827 17 47 oder 2827 35 93 or 2827 76 37
Fax: 044-2827 3542


Canada

41/42, Makers Chambers VI Nariman Point
Mumbai - 400 021
Tel: 022-287-6027/28/29/30 and 282-8751/52
Fax: 022-287 5514
 

7/8, Shanthipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110 021
Tel: 011-6876500
Fax: 011-687 6579
 


France

Datta Prasad Building, 2nd Floor
10 Nowroji Gamadia Cross Road
Mumbai - 400 026
Tel: 022-222495 09 18 - 18 70 - 22 89498 12 17
Fax: 022-2495 0312
 

2/50-E, Shanthipath
Chankyapuri
New Delhi - 110 021 
Tel: 011-2611 8790
Fax: 011-687 2305
 

202 Prestige Point
16 Haddows Rd
Chennai - 600 006

 


Australia

Maker Tower E, 4th Floor
Cuffe Parade, Colaba 
Mumbai - 400 005
Tel: 022-218 1071, 218 1072, 218 6865
Fax: 022-216 2649
 

1/50G Shanthipath
Chankyapuri, 
New Delhi - 110 021
Tel: 011-6888223, 6885556, 6885637, 6882035
Fax: 011-688 7536
 


 

Jaipur

SAWAI JAI SINGH
The sovereign of Amber, built Jaipur in the eighteenth century. It was also around that time that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had died and the decline of the Mughal Empire had set in. Jai Singh had started distancing himself from the affair of the Mughal Court and he began concentrating on building of Amber. His search for a safe place for the increasing population of Amber resulted in Jaipur, This was India's first planned city and a brilliant architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya from Bengal was commissioned to plan the city. He designed it in accordance with ancient Hindu treatise on architecture, the Shilpa Shastra (Vaastu).

Jaipur was planned in a gird system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of the main roads, all arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (chokdis). The city is surrounded by a wall having seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and wild animals that lurked just outside in the jungles that surrounded the city. But Jai Singh's planned city has withstood all the pressures and the changes.

ROMANCE OF PINK - Jaipur needed a fresh coat of paint to welcome its distinguished guest the Prince of Wales in 1905-6. The contractor inability to supply any other color in the required quantity compelled the choice of pink shade for its walls. A contractor’s compulsion famed Jaipur to Pinkcity. Since then the PINK color is associated with hospitality in Rajput culture.

Jaipur has a timeless appeal in its colorful bazaars that delights for its Rajasthani handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are worth admiration, not to mention the ambling camels and cheerful people in multi hued costumes that make Jaipur a tourist's paradise.