FAQ of North India Tours
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01. |
How to book a tour
to North India ? |
Firstly we
suggest you to visit "North India Tours"
page on
the website, which include various tours of North
India. Then select one of the tour. If you intend
to make any changes like having a day more or less
then in that case you need to inform us so that we
make your itinerary accordingly. You can use our
online tour booking form or send us an e mail at:
info@indovacations.net
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02. |
If I do not want
the tour as mentioned in the website how do I make my
own tour ? |
If you don’t want those tours
which are mentioned on the website then in such a
case you need to fill up the “Enquiry Form”
mentioned on our website. In this form you have to
specify the places you want to visit, date of
arrival and departure, number of people who are
traveling, the hotel category and any other
special choice. After having these details from
your end we will plan a tour for you and contact
you very next day with all the details. |
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03. |
I am visiting
North India for the first time how should I prepare
myself ? |
For the general information
please visit the page “Information
about North India”.
You may also put up your questions to us regarding
any matter if you do not find the answers on our
website. Apart from that we suggest you to do some
background reading before visiting North India, so
that your visit becomes a great experience. During
your tour we will also provide you a tourist Guide
at the different cities in the language of your
choice who will let you know anything you want to
know about North India. |
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04. |
How advance should be my travel
booking ? |
Your travel bookings should be
made 8 months well in advance, especially if you
are traveling between December to June and October
to March (high tourist season). As Travel
infrastructure in North India has its limitation
in comparison to the high season demand therefore
we highly recommend to book your tour in advance.
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05. |
How to experience North India at it's
best ? |
While planning your trip we
suggest you to consider the festivals which would
be taking place in North India during your trip.
Upon receiving the information from you we will
combine your trip with the Festivals in North
India which will make your trip a great
experience. For any further information on
Festivals please visit our "Festivals
of North India" page. On this page you will find the dates of the
festivals taking place in North India. Our guides
will also tell you about the cultural activities
that would be taking place during the festivals.
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06. |
Can I buy an Air Ticket through you
also ? |
Yes, you can buy an Air Ticket
through us but to be fair we advice you to book
your air ticket in your country as air tickets are
normally expensive if booked in North India in
North India to be sent to your country. However
even if Air tickets are cheaper here and you
happen to change you schedule in that case it is
better to have to tickets issued at the port of
departure. After having booked your Air tickets
you can inform us the arrival time and the flight
Number to enable us to pick you up from the
airport to start with the tour. |
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07. |
How will I be picked up from the
Airport or Railway Station in North India ?
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You will be picked up from the
airport or railway station in North India wherever
you arrive by North India Tours representative.
Our representative will be holding a name board
with your name written on it at the arrival hall
of the airport or railway station. If you are
coming as a group then the name of the group will
be mentioned on the name board. On that name board
the arrival date, time, place and flight or train
number will also be mentioned. You are requested
not to leave the airport or railway station until
you meet our representative. If by chance you were
not able to find each other then you would also be
provided the mobile and telephone number of the
representative so that you can find each other at
the particular location at the airport. |
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08. |
Can I book the hotels only with you
and not the complete tour ? |
Yes, North India Tours is
having special rates with many hotels all over the
North India. We are sure that we will be able to
offer you the hotels for your budget in the
destination wanted by you. As far as the hotels
are concerned we have hotels of every category in
North India. Do inform us what kind of hotels you
are looking for. We also make arrangements for big
conferences and incentive spa and Ayurveda
Packages. For more information on the hotels you
can visit the page "North India Hotels" on our
website. This page provides information about
various categories of hotels available in North
India. All the hotels that we use in the tour
itinerary are mentioned there. If you want to book
a particular hotel then a booking form is supplied
with the hotel details. You can fill up that
particular booking form and send to us or email us
at
info@indovacations.net
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09. |
What to you recommend about hotel
reservations. What else should I keep in mind while
staying at the hotels in North India ? |
It is advisable to reserve well
in advance for the hotels in North India. All the
hotels have air-conditioning and private baths and
offer all the modern amenities like phone,
computer, and fax machines. Pay your hotel bill
either in cash (rupees) or with a credit card. If
you are paying in cash, have with you the receipt
of your foreign money into rupees. The hotel clerk
may ask to see this to make sure that you haven’t
changed money on the black market. North India
Tours is specialized in hotel bookings which are
very good value for your money. Contact us with
dates, destinations and wished categories and our
Team would be glad to help you. |
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10. |
If I only want to take the vehicle
during my tour and not the complete tour, then what do
you suggest ? |
If you want to make
arrangements only for the transport then we
provide any type of vehicle you require for your
tour.
For more information on the Car Rental you can
visit the page "Car
Rental in North India" on our website. This
page provides information about various types of
vehicles which are available for you to hire in
North India.
With the vehicle you would be provided one
experienced and reliable English speaking driver.
The car would be at your disposal throughout the
tour. The cost of the vehicle includes all the
expenses, fuel, driver’s fees, toll taxes and
parking. |
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11. |
Which Vaccination is required before
visiting North India in North India ? |
Before visiting North India in
North India, the Yellow Fever Vaccination
Certificate is required if a tourist is coming
from the Yellow Fever endemic countries. This
certificate conforms to the International Health
Regulation. The citizens and travelers coming from
the United States, Canada or United Kingdom, do
not require any vaccination certificate or
inoculations. It is highly recommended to get a
precautionary measure vaccination against
Hepatitis B, if you plan to stay longer in North
India. To avoid Malaria and Dengue, carry mosquito
repellents, nets or take a course of anti Malaria
tablets. |
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12. |
How do I get medication in North
India in case of necessity ? |
It is advised that you bring
your own medicines. Most of the medications in
North India are available but you may not find it
under the same brand name as in your own country.
If necessarily of consulting a doctor be assure
that we will assist you in this matter. Private
hospitals with high standard and qualified doctors
are available in North India. |
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13. |
How can I come in contact with local
people during our travel in North India ? |
North Indians are hospitable
and friendly people. Do not consider staring at
you as unfriendly. Most of the North Indians have
not been abroad and therefore foreign tourists are
for them a subject of curiosity. Most of the
people to whom you will talk will be friendly.
Always speak to the people you feel like talking
too. Avoid people who are too eager to help you or
want you to buy something from them. If you want
to enrich your visit to North India by visiting
the Indian Family or want to stay with the family,
ask the team of North India Tours. We will be
happy to make these arrangements for you. |
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14. |
What is the best time to visit North
India ? |
The best time to visit North
India is from October to March. |
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15. |
Are the Visa and passports required
before visiting North India ? |
All foreign nationals,
including children, require a visa and passport
before visiting North India. For visiting North
India, please consult the concerned embassies in
your area. For clarifications, please contact the
Indian High Commission. |
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16. |
Which currency is used in North India
? |
The units of Indian currency
are the Rupee and Paisa (100 Paisa equal 1 Rupee).
Paper money is in denominations of Rupees 1, 2, 5,
10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. Coins are in
denominations of Rupees 1, 2 and 5. There are no
restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or
travelers’ checks that can be brought by the
tourists in North India. However a Declaration
form need to be filled (only for the amount which
is more than USD 10,000) on the arrival at the
North Indian airport. By filling up this form you
can also get your money exchanged back in the
original currency without any problem. The Money
should be exchanged only through authorized money
changers. You may ask our guides and they will
tell you the right center or place to get the
money exchanged. Please note that no North Indian
currency can be imported or exported, except for
travelers checks. Travelers checks can be changed
into rupees at any bank in North India. Be aware
that it can take several hours to cash travelers
checks in small towns. Try to deal with large
banks in large cities. Don’t accept large
denomination notes, because they will be difficult
to change, and don’t accept damaged or torn notes,
because merchants will refuse them, especially in
small towns. Keep a supply of small change. Very
often taxi drivers and vendors will say that they
don’t have change. |
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17. |
Can I pay in Euro, US Dollars or
through credit cards in North India ? |
All the major currencies
including Euro, US Dollars and Pounds are accepted
in North India. All the major credit cards like
Visa, Master Card and American Express are also
accepted in the main hotels, restaurants and
shopping centres in North India. |
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18. |
What are the timings of the post
office and other administrative offices in North India ?
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The post offices and banks are
open from 1000 to 1630 hrs from Monday to Friday
and from 0930 to 1230 hrs on Saturdays. The
administrative offices are open from Monday to
Friday from 0930 to 1700 hrs and 0930 to 1230 hrs
on Saturdays. All the offices and banks are closed
on holidays. |
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19. |
Is there any thing important while
visiting temples and mosques in North India ?
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Do remember to remove your
shoes and sandals while visiting temple, mosques
and churches. Also some temples do not allow
leather shoes, belts or handbags in their
premises. When visiting temples, women should
cover their body with short or long sleeves tops
and a long skirt or pants. Women should not wear
sleeveless dresses or blouses. They need not cover
their face or head. Men should wear long pants and
a short-sleeved shirt. The people go to the temple
to worship, doing offerings on the statues of the
gods and receiving a blessing – sometimes a mark
on the forehead. It is customary to leave a small
amount of money for the priest after receiving a
blessing. Hindu custom dictates that women should
not go into temples if they are menstruating. Also
be alert for signs indicating that non-Hindus may
not visit the inner sanctum of the temple and may
see only its outer precincts. If there is no sign,
ask a priest. If you are visiting a temple and are
offered a portion of sweet or fresh coconut or
banana, it’s prasad or sacred food, offered to the
gods. Since it’s a great honor to be offered,
never refuse it, rather accept it and eat it. If
you don’t want it, take it and give it to someone
else. In Muslim mosques, do remember that men and
women sit in separate areas. You need to cover
your head while visiting the main chamber in the
mosque. It is compulsory for both men and women to
cover their head when visiting Sikh Gurudwaras.
Before photographing the inner chamber of sacred
temples, be sure to get permission. It is not
permitted to have the picture of main deity in
some temples. North India Tours Guides will assist
you more on about the behaviour and general
customs within the temple premises. |
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20. |
What should I wear while on my tour
to North India ? |
As a Westerner, feel free to
wear anything, as long it is not very revealing
like extremely tight jeans, low-cut blouses. It is
extremely important for women to keep their legs
covered as much as possible by wearing long skirts
or pants. Shorts are never acceptable, except at
beach resorts. Be sure to wear a hat. It is
essential protection against the sun. Men should
not, however, wear turbans. Cotton outfits, hats,
sun glasses and sun screen lotion should be
carried while on your tour to North India. |
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21. |
What is Saree and how to wear it ? |
Saree is considered as most
elegant North Indian dress for women. In North
India, most of the women wear a saree. It is a six
feet long piece of material of fine white cotton
edged with golden zari, tucked into a slip,
pleated, and worn over a very short blouse. The
saree tends to pull out of the slip, and the shawl
part tends to fall. This saree lends an
extraordinary elegance to the person wearing it.
Each masterpiece is specially woven on a
traditional handloom. The western women should
feel free to wear saree, but be aware that they
are difficult to put on. If you want to try
wearing a saree, ask for the help of an woman, an
acquaintance, a hotel chambermaid, or even a
shopkeeper. They are usually happy to help for
arranging sarees. |
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22. |
I want to visit the wildlife
sanctuaries and national parks in North India. Give me
some information about them ? |
The various wildlife
sanctuaries and national parks in North India are
the Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National
Park in Madhya Pradesh, Corbett National Park,
dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, etc. The best time to visit the wildlife
sanctuaries and national parks in North India are
from October to March. The best time to watch the
wildlife is in the early morning and evening. For
more information on the wildlife sanctuaries and
national parks in North India, please visit the
"Wildlife
Sanctuaries in North India" page on our website. |
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23. |
Are there any restrictions for the
Photography in North India ? Is there anything I need to
consider while doing photography in North India ? |
North India offers you great
photographing options and it is a great fun while
photographing in North India as you will have
enough sunlight most of the time. We suggest you
to bring enough films with you to catch the
endless beauty of North India. In some of the
monuments and wildlife sanctuaries you have to pay
the fees for the photography. Our guide will
suggest you where it is worth to photograph and
where not. At some of the locations photography is
not allowed. Do not photograph these objects
otherwise your film can be confiscated. Always
take permission before photographing people. Lower
class people are especially sensitive and
suspicious as to why they are being photographed.
Never photograph airports, railways, railway
stations, big bridges, or a military area. It’s
good not to photograph Muslim women, women
bathing, cremations, slums, or beggars. |
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24. |
How safe is
traveling in North India ? |
North India is comparatively a
safe state to travel. Crime rate against
foreigners remain low. However specially to our
female guests we recommend not be alone on the
road after late evening just to be on the safer
side. In case you need any help you can call the
police at 100 and Ambulance at 102. |
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25. |
How is shopping
in North India ? Can you provide me some tips for safe
and smart shopping in North India ? |
India is a shoppers paradise.
There are various shopping places in North India.
However, we recommend you to shop from the
government approved emporiums. You can bargain
everywhere except in government craft emporiums,
government textile shops, pharmacies, bookstores,
or Western-style grocery stores. Even if a price
is written on an object, ask the price and bargain
from there. Decide what you are willing to spend
for an item. Make this your last offer in a
bargaining session. If the shop owner is willing
to sell at your price, he will sell you the item
without much argument. It is better to buy large
and expensive items, such as rugs or jewellery,
only from reputable dealers recommended by North
Indian acquaintances, hotels or your guide and
driver. Most of the large stores also ship your
purchase. Although, for convenience and to avoid
postal delays, it is advisable to carry your
purchased items with you or book it as baggage. |
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26. |
What shopping I
can do in North India ?
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Shopping in India is an
experience as India being the one of the most
reasonable market in the south Asia. Import from
India are increasing to all over the world.
Jewellery of India, Carpets of India and Marble
work of Agra in India is getting popularity by the
tourist who are visiting India for travel purpose.
Kashmiri carpet makers of India enjoy their
reputation all over the world. Carpets of Indian
Pure wool and Indian silk are made superbly in
North India. Tibetan rugs, Indian Jewellery,
Indian Gems, Rajasthani silverwork, Indian
diamonds, Indian lapis lazuli, Indian moonstones,
Indian aquamarine and Indian pearls are some of
the stones for which the capital of Rajasthan (Jaipur)
has made its name all over the world as most of
the stones are cut and polished in this city of
India. If you need any help and information about
the products in India we will be happy to provide
you the needed information. For more information on the Shopping in North
India, please visit the "Shopping
in North India" page on our website. |
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27. |
How much should I
give as tipping while traveling in North India ?
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Tipping is expected by most of
the people involved in the tourism in North India.
In big hotels service charges are included in the
bills so tipping is not necessary otherwise 10% of
the amount of the billing is normally provided as
tipping. If you are traveling with a group the
tipping can be reduced to 5% of the total bill.
For the porters in the hotels Rs.20 for a single
baggage and in the case of a group Rs.10 per
baggage is customary. For tour guides and escorts
we recommend 1 to 2 USD per day per person and
same is also for the driver accompanying you
during your North India tour. However the
mentioned amounts are just to give travelers an
idea. There is no “must” or “compulsion” of
tipping in North India. We advice you to measure
the quality of services of particular person or
establishment before thinking of tipping ! |
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28. |
Are there any
restrictions on the export of articles from North India
? |
The Government has put
restrictions on the export of the wild animals
from the country. It has also put ban on the
export of the articles made from the wild animals
like skins, belts, furs, ivory, rhino horns,
trophies, etc. Except peacock feathers and
handicrafts made from them and various items and
shavings of Antler, Cheetals and Sambars are not
banned, subject to conditions. Export of exotic
birds is also not allowed. However, the items made
exclusively out of imported timber are exempted
subject to conditions. Also, export of sandalwood
in any form like logs, timber, roots bark, chip,
powder, dust flakes, pulp and charcoal, excluding
finished handicrafts and machine-finished products
is prohibited. Export of furs of domestic animals,
hides and skins is also prohibited except the Lamb
fur. Antiques which include sculpture, painting or
other works of art and craft, illustrative works
of science and religion and of historical interest
which are more than hundred years old may not be
exported from North India. Manuscripts or other
documents of scientific, historical, literary or
aesthetic older than seventy five years also can
not be exported out of India. Recently Airport
taxes are being collected at the time of issuing
the tickets to India. Please always confirm with
your Airline if the taxes are to paid at the
airport at the time of departure from India.
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29. |
I want to know
more about North India Tours ! Why should I book the
tour through North India Tours ? |
North India Tours is a
recognized tour operator and holiday planner in
North India. We not only organize tours in North
India, but also in other parts of North India,
Nepal and Bhutan. We not only organize the tours
as they are printed in the itinerary but also work
out any special tailor made itinerary in any area
of the North Indian subcontinent. We also organize
special Ayurveda rejuvenation packages, Yoga
training camps in North India. We also organize
special interest tours for women only. North India
Tours is associated with a team of Tour Escorts
and Guides who are fluent in different languages
having long experience and are highly qualified
and have also spent many years abroad. To know
more about North India Tours and its team please
refer to "About Us" or email us at
info@indovacations.net
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30. |
What is the
guarantee that I would be provided the services which I
asked for during my tour? Or how safe is my tour with
North India Tours ? |
North India Tours provide you a
guarantee in the form of certificate which means
that your traveling is safe with us. The
certificate is attested by the Notary Public. In
that certificate it is specified that North India
Tours undertakes the guarantee that it would
provide all the services as decided according to
the mutual agreement between you and them. |
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31. |
Where is the
office of North India Tours located ? |
The central office of North
India Tours is located in Jaipur, the capital of
Rajasthan. Jaipur is located about 270 kms from
Delhi. The office is located in the Raja Park area
of Jaipur, which is the famous shopping area in
Jaipur. |
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32. |
Does your company
provide any sort of insurance ? |
No, our company does not
provide any sort of medical insurance. It is
advisable that you get the insurance from your
country only. |
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33. |
How do we settle
the payment? Is there an advance deposit required ?
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We need 10% of the total tour
cost as an advance at the time of the confirmation
of the tour. This is to be sure that your booking
is genuine and we can go ahead with the
reservations. The rest of the due amount can be
paid before your arrival in North India. On
special request you can also make the payment
after your arrival. This can be agreed upon as per
the type of tour and the amount we have to pay in
advance to the hotels and our other associate
offices for making the reservations. |
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34. |
How can I make
the payment ? |
There are various payment
options by which you can make payment to North
India Tours. You can make payment by cash, bank
transfer, online credit card payment, Paypal,
Cheque, Travelers checks and demand draft. If you
have booked the tour through our associate offices
then you can make the payment to them and get the
confirmation from us. If you wish to use another
option of payment suitable to you, then we would
assist you. Please send us your queries and
specify the country of your residence. |
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35. |
What type of
information is required in order to confirm the booking
? |
In order to confirm the booking
with us we require some of the information like
A. > Passport no.
B. > Date of passport issue
C. > Validity of passport
D. > Passport issued at
E. > Date of Birth
F. > Your complete name as in the passport
G. > Complete address
H. > Your Nationality
I. > Your Visa Number, if you already have the
visa
J. > Your telephone Number
K. > Your mobile number if any
L. > Your arrival Date, Airline number and time
M. > Your departure date, Airline number and time
You can fill up all these information and send it
to us so that we will confirm your hotel booking.
At the time of check in at the hotel, you need to
please handover a copy of such details at the
hotel reception so that you do not have to fill up
the information forms of the hotel and it also
saves the time. |
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36. |
I want to learn
the languages spoken in North India. What do you advice
? |
The main languages which are
spoken in North India are Hindi, Punjabi. If you
want to learn Hindi and Punjabi which is the
native language of North India then we offer some
special Hindi and Punjabi language courses in
North India with the help of experienced teachers.
The courses are of different time duration that
can be designed as per your interest and
availability of the teacher. The offered Language
lessons are given by private teachers thus making
the course an individual course for you. Our
teachers have experiences in teaching foreign
students whose native language is not Hindi. If
you want to learn Hindi or any other languages and
want to have any further more information then
please visit the page "Languages
in North India" on our website or email us at
info@indovacations.net
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37. |
Do people
understand English and other foreign languages in North
India ? |
English is widely spoken and
understood at almost all tourist centers. But we
highly recommend you to take qualified and
government recognized guides during your
sightseeing in North India. We are associated with
Guides in North India who also speak German,
French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or Russian.
Tour guides will help you not only in your
sightseeing, but also help you understand North
India better and give you useful tips for your
Journey to North India ! |
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38. |
Can I drive in
North India ? |
Though it is permissible to
drive in North India but we strongly recommend you
not to drive as the condition of roads and traffic
rules do not match with Western countries. Driving
here is on the left, as in Japan, Hong Kong, and
Britain. There are cyclists, buses, trucks,
rickshaws, camels, cows, goats, pigs, countless
pedestrians on roads. Chances are more to meet
with an accident if you drive on your own. It is
always advisable to hire a driver as they are
trained and familiar with local traffic sense. For
more information on hiring a driver contact our
team of North India Tours. |
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39. |
What are the
different greetings used in North India ? |
North India is a land of
diversity thus you will notice that different
people use different greetings. Like, Hindus say
“Namasthe”, Muslims say, “Salaam al-eikum”
(Sah-lahm ah-lay-kuhm) and the Sikhs say “Sat Sri
Akal” (Saht shree ah-kahl). |
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40. |
What are the
general do’s and don’ts for greeting in North India ? |
The general greeting is
“Namasthe” (nah-mahs-tay)”. You can
do this for “Good morning”, “Good afternoon” or
“Good evening”. While saying Namasthe hold your palms together at chin level
and nod (never bow) your head. In major cities,
men usually shake hands, while women use the more
traditional greeting. In general, you can shake
hands with men and can say Namaste to women. Ji is
used following a name as a sign of respect, e.g.,
Gandhi-ji. Note that a Hindu may greet a man by
adding “sahib” (“sir” or “master”) to the name (Mr.Jones-sahib)
and woman by adding “ji” (Miss Jones-ji) as a sign
of respect. Don’t use first names unless you know
someone very well. Use “Mr.”, “Mrs.,” or “Miss".
Use titles such as “Professor” and “Doctor,” and
use “Sir” or “Madam” with a superior/elders. Only
people of the same sex can hug one another. |
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41. |
How do North Indians welcome their
guests ? |
North Indians follow very
traditional style to welcome their honored guests.
The garlands of flowers are used in formal
occasions, such as in the inauguration of building
or company, in the receptions of a distinguished
visitor, or at the end of a concert. The garlands
are draped around the neck of the honored person.
If you are a receiver of a garland, wear the
flowers for a few minutes, then remove the garland
and give it to someone else or else hold on to it.
Never leave it behind, except at the foot of a
statue in a temple. |
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42. |
How can I
identify people from various religions ? |
North India has people from
varied religions it is sometimes difficult to tell
Hindus from Muslims from Sikhs - with so many
people in Western dress. You can identify them by
their names like; Muslims have as part of their
name “Muham-med”, “Ali”, “Khan” or “Hussein” Muslim
women have “Jan” or “Begum” at the end of their
name. Common Hindu names are “Krishna”, “Gopal”,
“Vijay”, “Rajendra” and “Prakash”. Religious Sikhs
can be identified by the turbans that they wear
and their first name is usually followed by
“Singh” if man and “Kaur” if woman. |
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43. |
What about the
public facilities in North India ? |
The public facilities are
rarely good, including all the major cities. You
will find Western style toilets in all the
standard hotels and restaurants. Be prepared to
find them not so clean as you are used to in your
country. North Indian trains usually have both
North Indian and Western-style toilets. You will
find public bathrooms and toilets in hotels,
restaurants, railway stations, bus stations and
some shops in big cities. There is usually a
picture on the door to indicate which bathroom is
for which sex. In some places, there may be a row
of stalls with North Indian-style “squat” toilets
and one that is Western – style. But in small
cities or towns where the tourist flow is less
facilities are rather poor. Keep toilet paper or
tissues, paper soaps or liquid soaps with you for
convenience. |
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44. |
What caution
should one tourist take – when it comes to legal matter
and safety ? |
Don’t
bring guns or pornography into North India. Be
prepared to declare radios, cameras, and other
electronic equipment on a special form. Customs
will check to make sure that you take those items
out with you when you leave the country. Be aware
that the police can be very arbitrary. In case of
a small theft, it’s better to forget it than to go
to the police. Report any significant theft to the
police so that you can have a statement for your
insurance company. It’s very unlikely that you
will recover the stolen goods. To minimize the
possible loss of money, never carry a large amount
in cash wish you. ATM's, are meanwhile available
in all big and small cities at the bank premises. |
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45. |
What precautions should I take
regarding my health while in North India? |
Always take some toilet paper
rolls with you since toilet paper may be difficult
to obtain outside large cities. Soap, toothpaste,
and toiletries are readily available. Tampons are
more difficult to find than sanitary napkins, so
women who use tampons should bring a supply. Wash
you hand as often as you can, avoid eating
uncooked and cold food, especially from the street
vendors, drink only mineral water. One should take
care that the bottles are sealed. Never buy ice
cream from a street vendor as stomach may not like
the water or milk used in making the ice cream. At
the initial start of your tour for first few days
avoid spicy food. You can always tell the waiters
at the restaurants that you would like to have
less spicy food. Avoid mild made drinks unless for
first few days at least ! In case of any emergency
ask your guide or driver to take you to a doctor.
North Indian doctors are well experienced and
medicines are easily available. |
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46. |
What is the
general meal plan in North India ? What kind of food is
served in the restaurants in North India ? |
The general meal plan in North
India consist of three main meals in a day with
one or two added tea-coffee breaks. The main meals
are breakfast, lunch and dinner. All standard
restaurants and hotels in North India offer a
variety of cuisines including Continental,
Chinese, and typical North Indian cuisine. Though
the meal pattern is same, the food served in the
meals varies in different regions of North India.
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47. |
What are the
special dishes one should try on the trip to North India
? |
A typical North Indian meal
consists of Chappatis, parantha or pooris
(unleavened flat breads), dals, curries that are
mild and made in ghee, vegetables seasoned with
yogurt or pomegranate powder, green vegetables
like spinach and green mustard cooked with paneer,
north Indian pickles, fresh tomato, mint, cilantro
chutneys and yogurt raitas. North Indian desserts
and sweets are made of milk, paneer, lentil flour
and wheat flour combined with dried nuts and
garnished with a thin sheet of pure silver. Nimbu
Pani (lemon drink), Lassi (iced buttermilk) are
popular drinks of the North. Hot and sweet
cardamom milk is very common before going to bed.
North Indian Cuisine can be further divided into
different categories according to states and
tastes. These categories are Kashmiri, Punjabi,
Rajasthani, Garhwal, Pahari, Uttar Pradesh, Awadh
and Lucknow. For more information on the North
India Cuisine, please visit the page "Cuisine
of North India" on the website. |
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48. |
What is advisable
to eat and drink in North India ? |
We advice our guests to drink
bottled water, bottled drinks. The water in the
hotels can be used for cleaning the tooth and body
but avoid drinking this water. The mineral water
is available in sealed bottles which is purified
and quite safe to drink. It is not advisable to
drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or
dams. Avoid eating spicy food. It is suggested to
stick to only cooked foods and to eat fresh fruits
after removing their skin. After taking the above
precautions you will realize that North India has
a wonderful cuisine and rarely any other place
meet such varieties. |
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49. |
Give me general
information about local transport available in North
India ? |
Various means of local
transport in North India ranges from
cycle-rickshaws to auto-rickshaws, taxis and
buses. Local buses are usually over crowded and
should be avoided. Auto-rickshaw and taxis are
easily available and can be used if necessary. You
can ask at information desks at the airport or in
hotels to get an idea of the fare. At major
airports, there are prepaid booths, where you can
pay and then you will be given a receipt to be
given to the driver. In small towns, you can look
for a cycle-rickshaw, a three-wheel bicycle with
seats for two passengers behind the driver. On a
pleasant evening, traverse the scenic mud roads of
North India at the unhurried pace of a bullock
cart. The tinkling bells and
roll-over-from-side-to-side motion of the cart
will place you into a lazy environment. |
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50. |
Can you tell me
something about train journey in North India ? As a
foreign traveler what should I do to make my rail
journey in North India safe and comfortable ? |
A train journey is considered
as an interesting way if you want to explore the
natural beauty and village life in North India.
From trains you can watch the landscape unfold
like pages of a colourful picture book, or
acquaint yourself with your fellow travelers who
make interesting profiles. Rail journey in North
India can be a memorable experience for you if you
reserve your seat well in advance, to avoid any
inconvenience later on. Reservations can be made
up to six months in advance. Before getting in
line to arrange for your sleeper, fill out a
sleeper reservation form, which you will find in
the counters around the reservation hall. Your
ticket will indicate your compartment and berth
seat number. Allow plenty of time before departing
to find your seat. Sleeper and seat numbers are
displayed on lists posted on the platform and
outside each carriage, along with passenger's
name. For further Information and booking contact
the Team of North India Tours. |
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51. |
I want to spent
my honeymoon in North India ? What are the various
options ? |
India with its vast land and
diverse culture, heritage, language and people is
also showered with the natural beauty. The
Himalayas, the world's largest mountain chain,
stretches for about 2560 kms. in an arc across the
top of the Indian subcontinent. It is in these
ranges that some of the most popular hill stations
of North India like Almora, Mussoorie, Nainital
are located. Some of the famous hill stations in
North India are Almora, Mussoorie, Nainital,
Dhanaulti, Pachmarhi. For more information on the North India Hill
Stations, please visit the page "Hill
Stations of North India" on the website. |
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52. |
I want to learn
the dances of North India. What are the different dances
of North India ? |
The classical dance is
performed by the dancers as the highest form of
worship. They dedicated themselves to Shiva, the
dancing Nataraja and the supreme symbol of cosmic
energy. There is also a myth that when Lord Shiva
shook his hand drum, the world heard its first
rhythm. As he moved his body with its beat, the
universe came into being. Dance forms an intrinsic
part of worship in the temples where the dancers
offer the God the dance and music, being the most
beautiful expression of the human spirit. The
Indian classical dance subscribes to a rigorous
code and depends upon the convenience of the body.
But the origin of Indian dance has been lost in
times. The major Indian Classical dance is Kathak.
For more information on Dances in North India,
please visit the "Dances
of North India" page on the
website. |
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53. |
I am an
enthusiastic adventurous tourist ? What are the various
options for me in North India ? |
North India provides a
fascinating and unforgettable experience that
attracts lots of tourists throughout the year. In
the recent years, North India has been changing
its image from purely a cultural destination to a
composite destination for various outdoor
activities. North India is rapidly emerging as the
adventure tourism destination of the world; and
scuba diving and other water sports have now
become an integral part of it. There are various
opportunities for any adventurous sports person in
North India. A diverse varied terrain, snow
covered mountains, green Alpine meadows,
mountains, lakes and rapids and beaches provides
an exciting environment for any sports man. Some
of the adventurous sports are river rafting or
river running, mountain climbing, skiing,
hang-gliding, ballooning, motor crossing, heli-skiing,
scuba diving and camel safari. For more
information on Adventure Sports in North India,
please visit the "Adventure
Sports in North India" page
on the website. |
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