Citizens of Russia need to apply for a visa to enter India. A tourist visa can be obtained for a period of 3 months. To do this, you must provide the following documents:
– Passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip;
– a visa application form in two copies, filled out in English (the form can be downloaded here).
– one color passport size photograph is pasted on each visa application form;
– round-trip air ticket;
– printout – confirmation of hotel reservation in India or an invitation from the inviting person in India (printouts by e-mail are not accepted).
– a photocopy of the first page of the internal Russian passport and the registration page;
– if the applicant applies for a visa for a period of more than three months, he must present a certificate from an officially registered medical institution on the absence of antibodies to HIV. (Such a certificate is required for any type of visa for Russian citizens applying for a visa longer than three months).
Each applicant is charged a fee for registration in rubles – 1250 rubles. Children included in the parents’ passports will not be charged.
Import and export of previously imported foreign currency is not limited, national – is prohibited. Cash in the amount of more than 10 thousand USD, as well as personal computers and laptops are subject to mandatory declaration. Allowed duty-free importation of cigarettes – up to 200 pcs., or cigars – up to 50 pcs., or tobacco – up to 250 gr., alcoholic beverages – up to 0.95 liters, jewelry, food, household items and items – within the limits of personal needs. Cameras, musical instruments, household audio and video equipment, typewriters and sports equipment are imported in the amount of no more than one item of each item, souvenirs – in the amount of not more than 500 rupees.
It is forbidden to import drugs and narcotic drugs, weapons and ammunition without appropriate permits. The export of tiger skins, wild animals, bird plumage, skins and skin products of rare reptiles, live plants, jewelry worth more than 2,000 rupees, gold and silver bars, antiques and antiquities (more than a hundred years old) is prohibited.
India, Embassy website: http://www.indianembassy.ru
Embassy in India
India, embassy in Moscow
Embassy of India, consular department
st. Vorontsovo Pole, 4
Phones:
917-19-35 (Russian)
917-48-35 (English)
Fax: 916-23-43 Visa
applications are submitted on working days from 10.00 to 12.30, passports with visas can be obtained on days from 17 to 18.
India, embassy website: http://www.indianembassy.ru
India, Russian Embassy in the country:
Russian Embassy in Delhi – (11) 2611-0640, 2611-0641
Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) – (22) 2363-3627, 2363-3628
Consulate in Kolkata – (33) 2479-7006
Consulate in Chenai – (44) 2498-2330
Communication in India
It is most advantageous to make international calls from those places where STD/ISD/PCO or ISD/IDD/STD signs are posted. You can also call from your hotel room, but the call will cost several times more. GSM mobile phones work in large cities. But the cost of calls from them is also several times more expensive than regular international calls. To call from India, you need to dial the international prefix (00), then the country code (Russia – 7), the appropriate area code (discarding the leading zeros) and the required number.
Internet cafes can be found near call centers or in shopping malls on the main streets.
Emergency Phones in India
Police – 100
Fire brigade – 101
Ambulance – 102.
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
In India, there are a lot of holidays, both public and religious. Almost every day is a holiday. The main public holidays in India are:
January 1 – New Year
January 26 – Republic Day (on this day the Constitution of India was adopted)
March 8, as in Russia, Women’s Day is celebrated
August 15 – Independence Day (on this day in 1947 India gained independence from Great Britain)
August 20 – Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday
October 2 is Gandhi Jayanti, Mahatma Gandhi
‘s birthday November 19 – Indira Gandhi’s birthday
Among the main religious holidays, the following can be distinguished.
In March – April, followers of Jainism celebrate the birthday of the founder of this religion, Mahavira. This festival is called Mahavir Jayanti.
In April – May (on the first day of the month Baisak), the followers of Sikhism celebrate their main holiday – Baisak.
Buddha Jayanti – Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in the second half of April – the first half of May.
The main holiday of the Parsis (Indian fire-worshipers) is Khordad Sal – the birthday of the prophet Zarathustra.
In February – March, Hindus celebrate the spring festival Holi.
In April – May, Eid-ul-Azha (Eid-ul-Zuha, Bakr-id) is celebrated. This is the Feast of Sacrifice – one of the two main holidays of Muslims.
In September – October, Dashahra (Dussera, Dussera, Durga Puja), the day of worship of Devi, is celebrated. This is one of the most popular holidays.
Diwali (Deepavali, Bandi Khor Divas) is celebrated in October – November. This is the Diwali Festival of Lights and the Goddess of Prosperity, one of the most popular folk holidays and the last day of the year according to the Hindu calendar.
USEFUL THINGS
In India, it is customary to take off your shoes at the entrance to the temple, office, clinic and when visiting, so it is better to stock up on inexpensive cotton socks.
When buying goods, be sure to bargain, the real price is 2-3 times lower than what is asked.
There may be problems when using a taxi. The passenger is taken, allegedly by mistake, not to the place he asked for, and they demand additional money in order to bring him to the right place. In this case, you don’t have to get lost. Having written down the number of the car, the passenger must warn that he is going to contact the police. It is also unsafe to allow a taxi driver to pick up random fellow travelers on the road.
A fairly common phenomenon is pickpocketing and theft of luggage, so it is better to store your passport, airline tickets, insurance policy and cash in a hotel safe, taking only the most necessary minimum with you. If you forgot something somewhere, you are unlikely to get it back.
When ordering services, it is very necessary to clearly discuss the order, otherwise you will have to pay extra.
Any excursion will cost about 2 times cheaper if you yourself hire a taxi and a guide on the spot, although he will be English-speaking. The country is safe to travel.
It is recommended to eat only in those places where tourists eat, and drink water only from plastic bottles.
We must beware of eating loose ice cream, and if fruits cannot be peeled, wash them thoroughly.
SHOPPING
According to ehuzhou, India is a shopping paradise. The prices here are low, besides it is customary to bargain. Silverware, sandalwood, bronze, Kashmir carpets, silk shawls, Indian tea are very popular. When buying jewelry, you must require a quality certificate, only if you have such a document, you can return or exchange the purchased goods.
When buying souvenirs on the street or taking pictures with exotic animals, it is better to conduct all negotiations through a guide. So, at least you can count on a reasonable price.
In Delhi, thousands of outlets and traditional oriental markets are located in the area of Baba Kharak Singh, Chandni Chowk, Konyat Place, Hari Baoli, south of the university, near the Lahore gate, in the Urdu Bazaar area, etc. Here you can buy almost everything, and the famous atmosphere of the oriental bazaar gives such purchases a special charm.
When visiting Bombay, it is worth strolling through the narrow, winding quarters of the Kalbadevi district north of Crawford Market, where one after the other the colorful markets of Zaveri Bazaar, Mangaldas Market, Dabu and Khor Bazaar (“thieves’ market”) follow one another.
Tipping
Tipping in hotels and restaurants is usually around 10%. In hotels, they are usually included in the bill, but usually they leave an additional 2-3 rupees for the maids, from 2 to 5 rupees for the porter and porter. Tipping in India is seen not only as gratitude for the service rendered, but also as a gentle transition from the sphere of buyer-seller relations to a more friendly attitude.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Hindus are very hospitable and friendly people due to their character and religion. The attitude towards Russians in this country is especially good due to the long-standing and close relations between our states.
Sikh temples can only be entered with a covered head; a woman can enter a mosque only with a covered head and shoulders and in long clothes. In general, a woman’s legs should always be covered with clothing, but not tight. In India, it is customary to donate money to the temple. Photographs can only be taken with the permission of the attendant. In addition, no leather goods should be brought into the temple. Caution should be taken when photographing Hindus, because representatives of some castes are forbidden to be photographed.
In India, public kisses and hugs are not accepted, but Indians greet each other by folding their palms in a welcoming gesture.
At the entrance to the temple, before burials, in offices, medical institutions or at a party, it is customary to take off your shoes.
All buildings, especially religious buildings, should be bypassed on the left side.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH
When visiting the country, vaccinations are not officially required, but it is recommended to get vaccinated against malaria, meningitis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A. There is a high risk of contracting hepatitis A, cholera, dysentery, malaria and typhoid.
If you have insurance that provides for the provision of medical care abroad, payment for treatment is made by the insurance company. Insurance pays for emergencies. Chronic diseases cannot be treated under insurance. In the absence of insurance, medical institutions will require you to pay for services in cash. Medicine in India is paid, but it is inexpensive, and its quality is at a fairly high level, express tests are done in some places within an hour, the medicines are very effective. However, the farther from civilization, the worse the medical care.
Pharmacies have a good range of both Western and Eastern medicines. If for some reason the sick person did not go to the doctor, then you can consult a pharmacist about your condition, describing to him the exact symptoms. As a rule, pharmacy owners are required to have a minimum pharmacological education.
Raw water should not be used for drinking, but only mineral water in plastic bottles should be used. It is also recommended to use this water for brushing your teeth. Be sure to wash all vegetables and fruits well, and for reliability it is recommended to rinse them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
