Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rebel Violence
India has a number of (sometimes armed) dissident groups championing various causes, who have employed the same
tried and tested techniques of rebel groups everywhere: assassinations and bomb attacks on government infrastructure,
public transport, religious centres, tourist sites and markets.
Curfews and strikes can close the roads (as well as banks, shops etc) for days on end in sensitive regions.
International terrorism is as much of a risk in Europe or the USA, so this is no reason not to go to India, but it makes
sense to check the local security situation carefully before travelling (especially in high-risk areas).
Telephone
»
There are few payphones in South India (apart from in airports), but private STD/ISD/PCO call booths do the same
job, offering inexpensive local, interstate and international calls at lower prices than calls made from hotel rooms.
»
These booths are found around the country. A digital meter displays how much the call is costing and usually provides
a printed receipt when the call is finished.
»
Costs vary depending on the operator and destination but can be from ?1 per minute for local calls and between ?5 and
?10 for international calls.
»
Some booths also offer a 'call-back' service - you ring home, provide the phone number of the booth and wait for
people at home to call you back, for a fee of around ?20 on top of the cost of the preliminary call.
»
Getting a line can be difficult in remote country and mountain areas - an engaged signal may just mean that the ex-
change is overloaded or broken, so keep trying.
»
Useful online resources include the
Yellow Pages
(
www.indiayellowpages.com
)
and
Justdial
(
www.justdial.com
).
Mobile Phones
»
Indian mobile phone numbers usually have 10 digits, mostly beginning with 9 (but sometimes also with 7 or 8).
»
There's roaming coverage for international GSM phones in most cities and large towns.
»
To avoid expensive roaming costs (often highest for incoming calls), get hooked up to the local mobile-phone network
by applying for a local prepaid SIM card.
»
Mobiles bought in some countries may be locked to a particular network; you'll have to get the phone unlocked, or
buy a local phone (available from ?2000) to use an Indian SIM card.
GETTING CONNECTED
»
Getting connected is inexpensive but complicated, owing to security concerns, and involves some amount of paper-
work.
»
Foreigners must supply between one and five passport photos, their passport, and photocopies of their passport iden-
tity and visa pages.
»
You must also supply a residential address, which can be the address of your hotel (ask the management for a letter
confirming this).
»
Some phone companies send representatives to the listed address; others call to verify that you are actually staying
there.
