Since
the dawn of time travellers have come to India. They have come in groups like
the Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, the Portugese, the French, the Dutch and
the British. For most of the travellers of olden times, India changed their lives
forever. Today you can marvel at the same sights they saw and be dazzled by the
same warm welcome that's been 5000 years in the making. One of the destinations,
travellers do not want to miss is Bangalore.
Important
Information for foreigners visiting India
Visa
Requirements
Foreign
nationals desirous of visiting India can do so after obtaining a Visa from the
Indian Mission or Consulate in the country of their residence. They should also
possess a valid National Passport.
Usually
a multi entry visa is granted for the purpose of tourism, which would be valid
for a period of 180 days. The visa is valid from the date of issue. Transit visas
can also be obtianed for a maximum period of 15 days. Travellers on tourist visa
for 180 days or less are not required to register themselves with any authority
in India, but can move about freely in the country except for restricted areas
and prohibited places.
The
other visas that are availabe are Business Visa, Student Visa, Conference Visa,
Missionaries Visa, Journalist Visa and Employment Visa.
Currency
Regulations
There
are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or traveller's cheques a
tourist may bring into the country provided they make a declaration in the Currency
Declaration Form given to them on arrival. This would enable them not only to
exchange the currency brought in, but also take back the unspent currency out
of India. Cash, brank drafts and travellers cheques up to US $10,000 or equivalent
need not be declared at the time of entry. Money in other forms which the tourist
wishes to exchange for Indian Rupees should be exchanged only at authorized Money
changers like Thomas Cook Ltd., and banks who will issue an encashment certificate
that is required at the time of reconversion of any unspent currency to foreign
currency. Exchange of foreign currency othen than through banks or authorized
money changers is an offense under the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act (FERA)
1973.
Custom Regulations
& Formalities
Visitors
are generally required to make an oral declarations in respect of baggage and
foreign currency in their possession. They are also required to obtain the Currency
Declaration Form from the Customs, in additions to disembarkation card handed
over to them by the airlines they travelled. There are two channels for Customs
Clearance. Green Channel for passengers not
in possession of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.
Red Channel for passangers with dutiable articles or accompanied baggage
or high value articles to be entered on the Tourist Baggage Re export form.
Gifts
: Duty free concession for used personal effects excluding jewellery, required
for satisfying daily necessities of life. There is no value limit, however the
items should be in reasonable quantities. One watch is included in the personal
effects and allowed free.
Duty free concession for import of new articles
upto a value of Rs. 12000/- (US$ 260.00) if these are carried on the person or
in the accompanied baggage of the passenger. Goods in access of Rs. 12000/- will
attract duty at the rate of 50% ad-valorem plus 10% surcharge on basic duty and
4% Special Additional duty. The total duty works out to 61.2%
No
concession is allowed for new articles if these are not accompanying the passenger
(i.e.unaccompanied baggage).
International
Airport (click here for International
Flight Schedule)
The
Bangalore International Airport started on 24 May 2008. f At present, there are
54 incoming/outgoing to and fro flights per week from Singapore, Sharjah, Dubai,
Muscat, Kualalumpur, Bangkok, Colombo, Kathmandu and Frankfurt. On an average
25 to 30 flights are operated during the pilgrimage season and Haj.
According
to the Airports Authority of India statistics, 4,231 domestic aircraft use the
existing airport each month, carrying around 2.45 lakh passengers.
Another
46,000 passengers fly on 472 international flights both ways.
The
international flights, whose frequency has increased, operate Airbus 320 and 340
and Boeing 747 aircraft, each carrying up to 300 passengers at a time.
Apart
from the passenger flights there are 23 International Cargo flights per week,
being flown by Lufthansa Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Singapore Airlines,
Blue Dart, Sri Lankan Airlines and Air India.
