Moneychangers
» Private moneychangers are usually open for longer hours than banks, and are found almost everywhere (many also double as internet cafes and travel agents). » Upmarket hotels may also change money, but their rates are usually not as competitive.
Tipping, Baksheesh & Bargaining
» In tourist restaurants or hotels, a service fee is usually already added to your bill and tipping is optional. Elsewhere, a tip is appreciated. » Hotel bellboys and train/ airport porters appreciate anything around ₹50; hotel staff should be given similar gratuities for services above and beyond the call of duty. » It’s not mandatory to tip taxi or rickshaw drivers, but it’s good to tip drivers who are honest about the fare. » If you hire a car with driver for more than a couple of days, a tip is recommended for good service – details on p1181. » Baksheesh can loosely be defined as a ‘tip’; it covers everything from alms for beggars to bribes. » Many Indians implore tourists not to hand out sweets, pens or money to children, as it encourages them to beg. To make a lasting difference, donate to a reputable school or charitable organisation (see p39). » Except in fixed-price shops (such as government emporiums and fair-trade cooperatives), bargaining is the norm.
Travellers Cheques
» All major brands are accepted, but some banks may only accept cheques from American Express (Amex) and Thomas Cook.
» Pounds sterling and US dollars are the safest currencies, especially in smaller towns. » Keep a record of the cheques’ serial numbers separate from your cheques, along with the proof-ofpurchase slips, encashment vouchers and photocopied passport details. If you lose your cheques, contact the Amex or Thomas Cook office in Delhi. » To replace lost travellers cheques, you need the proof-of-purchase slip and the numbers of the missing cheques (some places require a photocopy of the police report and a passport photo). If you don’t have the numbers of your missing cheques, the issuing company (eg Amex) will contact the place where you bought them.
bridges, airports, military sites and sensitive border regions. » Photography from the air is officially prohibited, although airlines rarely enforce this. » Many places of worship – such as monasteries, temples and mosques – also prohibit photography. Taking photos inside a shrine, at a funeral, at a religious ceremony or of people publicly bathing (including rivers) can also be offensive – ask first. » Flash photography may be prohibited in certain areas of a shrine, or may not be permitted at all. » Exercise sensitivity when taking photos of people, especially women, who may find it offensive – obtain permission in advance.
Post Photography For useful tips and techniques on travel photography, read Lonely Planet’s guide to Travel Photography.
Digital
» Memory cards for digital cameras are available from photographic shops in most large cities and towns. However, the quality of memory cards is variable – some don’t carry the advertised amount of data. » Expect to pay upwards of ₹500 for a 1GB card. » To be safe, regularly back up your memory card to CD; internet cafes may offer this service for ₹60 to ₹120 per disk. » Some photographic shops make prints from digital photographs for roughly the standard print-and-processing charge.
Restrictions
» India is touchy about anyone taking photographs of military installations – this can include train stations,
India has the biggest postal network on earth, with over 155,500 post offices. Mail and poste-restante services are generally good, although the speed of delivery will depend on the efficiency of any given office. Airmail is faster and more reliable than sea mail, although it’s best to use courier services (such as DHL) to send and receive items of value – expect to pay around ₹3000 per kilogram to Europe, Australia or the USA. Private couriers are often cheaper, but goods may be repacked into large packages to cut costs and things sometimes go missing.
Receiving Mail
» To claim mail you’ll need to show your passport. » Ask senders to address letters to you with your surname in capital letters and underlined, followed by poste restante, GPO (main post office), and the city or town in question. » Many ‘lost’ letters are simply misfiled under given/first
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DIRECTORY A–Z P H OTO G R A P H Y
» To collect cash, bring your passport and the name and reference number of the person who sent the funds.