Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Photography
For useful tips and techniques on travel photo- graphy, read Lonely Planet's guide to
Travel Photography.
Digital
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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.
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Expect to pay upwards of ?500 for a 4GB card.
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To be safe, regularly back up your memory card to CD; internet cafes may offer this service for ?60 to ?120 per disk.
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Some photographic shops make prints from digital photographs for roughly the standard print-and-processing charge.
Restrictions
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India is touchy about anyone taking photographs of military installations - this can include train stations, bridges, air-
ports, military sites and sensitive border regions.
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Photography from the air is mostly OK, unless you're taking off from (or landing in) airports actively shared by de-
fence forces.
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Many places of worship - such as monasteries, temples and mosques - also prohibit photography. Taking photos in-
side a shrine, at a funeral, at a religious ceremony or of people publicly bathing (including rivers) can also be offensive -
ask first.
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Flash photography may be prohibited in certain areas of shrines or historical monuments, or may not be permitted at
all.
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Exercise sensitivity when taking photos of people, especially women, who may find it offensive - obtain permission
in advance.
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It is not uncommon these days for people in touristy areas to demand a posing fee in return for being photographed.
Exercise your discretion in these situations: if you think the money would make a positive difference in the lives of your
subjects and their families, then go ahead and donate by all means. Alternately, if it looks like a scam to earn a quick
buck, refrain. In any case, ask first to avoid misunderstandings later.
Post
India has the biggest postal network on earth, with over 155,500 post offices. Mail and poste-restante services are gener-
ally 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 and TNT) to send and receive items of
value - expect to pay around ?3000 per kilogram to Europe, Australia or the USA. Smaller private couriers are often
cheaper, but goods may be repacked into large packages to cut costs and things sometimes go missing.
Receiving Mail
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To claim mail you'll need to show your passport.
