Your Guide to Traveling India

  

 
 
 
General
  • Area: 3.29 million square kilometers (7th largest in world)
  • Population: 1.12 billion (2nd most in world)
  • Cities: New Delhi (capital- 12.8 million people), Mumbai (16.4 million); Kolkata (13.2 million); Chennai (6.4 million)
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Ethnic Groups: Indo-Aryan (72%), Dravidian (25%), Other (3%)
  • Religions: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Other (1.9%)
  • Languages: Hindi, English, 16 Others
  • Government: Federal Republic (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches)
  • Currency: Indian Rupee (RS)- INR (code)
  • Climate: Varies from alpine to temperate to subtropical monsoon
  • Terrain: Ranges from the Himalayas to flat river valleys and deserts
  • Electrical Plugs: 230-240V 50Hz
  • Weights and Measures: Metric
  • Time Zones: GMT/UTC +5.5
  • Dialing Code: +91

Travel Warnings:

  • The Pakistan-India conflict began in 1947 when the Pakistan and India disputed over Kashmir, a region of land separating the two countries. They have had three wars since then. Pakistan and India started a peace program in 2004, and they have remained on track despite the ever-present tension of Kashmir, although there are still bombings and attacks along the Pakistan-India border occasionally.

  • There has been recent ethnic conflict over the western state of Rajasthan. Approximately forty people have been killed in recent attacks between security forces and ethnic Gujjar protesters. Traveling between Delhi and Rajasthan could be dangerous due to the present conflict.

  • Other regions around India have conflict at times due to political hostilities, including Jammu, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, and Manipur.

  • Militant groups have also attacked rural areas such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Orissa.

  • The travel warning severity for India is: High Alert

Entry/ Exit Requirements:

  • US Citizens must have a passport or visa to enter/ exit the country.
  • Foreigners who visit India for any reason (and who are staying over 180 days), must register within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) closest to where they are staying.
  • For the most current information on entry and exit requirements, please contact the Embassy of India at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 939-9806

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