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ADVISE TRAVEL GUIDE

Money, Philippines Currency Philippine Peso (PHP; symbol Php) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations o

Estonia Getting Shopping Amber, ceramics, glassware, leather-bound books and local folk art are good buys, as are tradit

Communications Phones Country code: +33 All French numbers have 10 digits. The first two di

INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE - KEY FACTS

World Travel Guide Asia India Key Facts

Picture choosen by: Mr.M. Kamruzzaman . Key Facts of India

Location

South Asia.

Time

GMT + 5.5.

Area

3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).

Population

1.1 billion (estimate 2007).

Population Density

347 per sq km.

Capital

New Delhi. Population: 16.6 million (estimate 2007).

Geography

India shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to the south the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and territories are all but separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. The Himalayan mountain range to the north and the Indus River (west) and Ganges River (east) form a physical barrier between India and the rest of Asia.

Government

Republic since 1947.

Head of State

President Pratibha Patil since July 2007.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.

Language

The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 40% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide
range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya
and Punjabi, which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telugu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages include Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speaks Urdu.

Religion

About 82% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

Electricity

230-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are of the round two- and three-pin type.

Social Conventions

In mosques, churches and temples it is obligatory to take off your shoes. It may also be customary to take off your footwear while entering into homes, follow other people's lead. It is disrespectful to touch or point at people with your feet. If done accidentally, you will find that Indians will make a quick gesture of apology that involves touching the offended person with the right hand, and then moving the hand to the chest and to the eyes. It is a good idea to emulate that.Books and written material are treated with respect, as they are considered as being concrete/physical forms of the Hindu Goddess of Learning, Saraswati. A book should not be touched with the feet and if it has accidentally touched, the same gesture of apology as is made to people (see above) should be performed.The same goes with currency, or anything associated with wealth (especially gold). They are treated as being physical representations of the Goddess Lakshmi (of Wealth) in human form, and should not be disrespected. Avoid winking, whistling, pointing or beckoning with your fingers, and touching someone's ears. All of these are considered rude. Travellers should be aware of the fact that Indians generally dress conservatively and should do the same. Shorts, short skirts (knee-length or above) and sleeveless shirts are not appropriate off the beach. Cover as much skin as possible. Both men and women should keep their shoulders covered. Women should wear baggy clothes that do not emphasize their contours. However, if you move to metropolitan cities, there is much more liberalism of wearing western outfits and skimpy clothes though still
they may become a centre of stare from men. But they should avoid moving alone at night. Other India Travel Guides Money Shopping Food and Drink Key Facts Things To See Getting Around Public Holidays Climate General Information Things To Do Night Life and Entertainment Getting There Duty Free

RECENTLY SUBMITTED IN India

Money. India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 07 April 2010 05:54:13

Currency Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 paise. Note: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Currency Exch... More

Nightlife & Entertainment in India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 25 March 2010 10:19:12

Unlike most of the western countries, India generally has little nightlife. You may find some bars, nightclubs in some major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. However, you can find some cultural shows, Indian dance and music in some tourist centers. Almost every town will have a cinema ... More

Things to See in India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 25 March 2010 10:16:09

•Explore the two different sides of Delhi. One is a modern city with Lutyens' architecture; another is an old town with several centuries' history, with narrow, winding streets, ancient shrines and rambunctious bazaars. Encounter the well-known Red Fort, the nearby Jama Majid (India's largest mosq... More