India is a country with an interesting culture. Almost all major Indian cities have an interesting history. In addition to the rich cultural and historical heritage, India is popular as a country with excellent conditions for a beach holiday. Goa is by far the most popular tourist destination.

Geography of India

According to itypemba, India occupies a large area in the southern part of Asia, occupying the Indian subcontinent. India borders Burma and Bangladesh to the east, China, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and Pakistan to the west. The relief and climate of the country are very diverse. Seven mountain ranges run through the entire territory of India, among which the Himalayas are the largest. The coast is characterized by a flat relief.

Capital

New Delhi

Area

The area of India is 3,287,263 km. sq., occupies the 7th place in the world by area.

Population

1,210,193,422.

Currency

The national currency is the Indian rupee (INR).

Language

The official language is English, Hindi.

Visa to India

Citizens of Russia must obtain a visa to visit India, however, in some cases, you can get a visa upon arrival in Goa, but it is better to apply for a visa in advance, as quite often the immigration services do not make concessions. The visa application form is filled out online on the official website of the embassy or visa center. All fields of the questionnaire must be completed in English only. Applications submitted by citizens of Russia are considered within 3-4 working days, for residents of other countries this period can be up to 10 days. From April 1, 2011, the procedure for obtaining a visa quickly came into effect at the Embassy of India, in this case an additional consular fee of 6,000 rubles is charged, and a visa is issued the next day after the submission of documents. The validity period of a regular single-entry tourist visa is from 30 to 56 days, and multiple is issued for 180 days. If you plan to stay in India for more than 180 days, then within 14 days of arrival in the country, you must register with the Alien Registration Office or the police.

Weather in India

Most of the country has a tropical climate, only in the south the climate is subequatorial. The dissected relief of the country has led to the fact that the weather conditions are very diverse and, depending on the location, up to six seasons are distinguished. In the plains, the average January temperature ranges from +15 C in the north to +27 C in the south, and in May from +28 C to +25 C. The northern part of India is characterized by a rather cool winter of -2 C, and in the mountains the temperature can drop to -20 C. In contrast to Northern India, such differences are not observed in the south. The amount of precipitation is not evenly distributed. In the Thar Desert, in the western part of India, up to 100 mm of precipitation will fall per year, and up to 12,000 mm on the Shillong Plateau (this place is the wettest place on earth). Traditionally, the tourist season in India starts in October and lasts until March.

Currency exchange in India

As of October 2011, the national currency rate is 1 USD = 49 INR. The national currency is the Indian rupee. Indian banks are open from 10.00 to 14.00, and on Saturdays until 12.00. There are a huge number of exchange offices in the country, which can be located in shops, hotels, etc., but it is recommended to change the currency only through a bank, as there are often cases of shortchanges in exchange offices. When exchanging money in banks, you must provide a passport, and after the exchange you will be given a receipt, according to which you can exchange money back upon departure, but the amount should not exceed 25% of the exchange amount. Traveler’s checks are cashed only in large banks, and credit cards are not very common, so you can use them only in the capital and significant resort centers of the country.

Electricity

230V/50Hz (European sockets).

Religion

India has freedom of choice of religion. The basis of the believing population is represented by Hindus – 82%, also a significant number of Muslims live in the country – 11%, Christians – 2% and Sikhs – 2%.

Security

In India, pickpocketing and theft of personal belongings are very common, so you should take only the minimum amount of money with you, and leave the rest of the money and documents in the hotel safe. If you are traveling around the country by bus or train, then at the station it is advisable to buy a special metal chain that hooks luggage to the seat leg.

Health

To enter the country, you do not need to undergo special vaccination, but doctors recommend making preventive vaccinations against typhoid fever, malaria and hepatitis A, since the risk of contracting these diseases is high in the country. Most major cities are polluted, so people with respiratory problems should take precautionary measures. It is undesirable to eat in street shops, since many of them do not adhere to sanitary standards at all, and for Europeans such food can be very dangerous.