INDIA
Capital: New Delhi.
Principal cities: Greater Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune.
Language: official language is Hindu but English is widely spoken throughout the country.
Opening hours: banks from 10am-2pm Monday to Friday; 10am-12.30pm Saturdays. Post offices from 10am-5pm weekdays; plus Saturday mornings. Shops 9.30am-6pm.
Public holidays: Republic Day, January 26; Independence Day, August 15; Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, October 2; Christmas Day.
Tipping: it is usual to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers. Gratuities not included in restaurant bills.
Guides: trained English-speaking guides are available at fixed charges at official tourist centres. Unapproved guides are not permitted to enter protected monuments.
Time: GMT +5hrs 30mins.
Electricity: mostly 220 volts AC.
Passports/visas: British and Irish nationals must be in possession of both a passport and visa. Contact High Commission of India, India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA. Tel. 0891-444 544. Visa information on 0171-836 8484.
Currency: rupee. About 70 to the pound.
Inoculations: vaccinations advised against yellow fever, malaria and cholera.
Climate: generally hot tropical weather with variations in different regions. Coolest temperatures usually from November to mid-March.
Best time to go: in the western Himalayas from March-October; Northern Plains April to mid-June; western India November-February; southwest November-March; southeast, high temperatures and humidity most of the year.
Further details: Government of India Tourist Office. Tel. 0171-437 3677.