Delegates

PREPARATION INFORMATION

India, the world's largest democratic republic, has a very diverse population, geography and climate.  India is the world's second most populous country, and the world's seventh largest country in area. India will sideswipe you with its size, clamor and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved phenomenal socio-economic progress during the last 59 years of its independence. It has become self sufficient in the agricultural production and is now the tenth industrialized country in the world. With one foot steeped in rich traditions and other fervently striding into the entrepreneurial e-age, India embraces its diversity with unmatched serenity. Spread in the area of 3.28 million sq kms, it comprises of 28 states such as Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Goa, Tamil Nadu etc. and seven union territories with a parliamentary form of government.

Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travelers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.

Chennai, (formerly Madras) the first city of Tamil Nadu, is a comparatively new city. The villages of Mylapore, Triplicane, Ezhambur (Egmore) etc. all now a part of Chennai but have a recorded historical past centuries older than Chennai. Chennai, the present gateway to the South of India, is itself, however, only about 350 years old.

"Madrassis are zealous guardians of Tamil culture which they regard as inherently superior to the hybridized cultures further north. They have, for instance, been among the most vociferous opponents of Hindi being made the national language, and Chennai is the film Center of Tamil Nadu - even the State Chief Minister, Jayalalita*, is an ex-movie star."
- Quoted from Lonely Planet, travel guide to India .

Particularly charming features of Chennai are its allegiance to ancient traditions, no matter how modernized it has become, and its willingness to spread out further rather than develop into a multi-storey concrete jungle. The result is a widespread city still open to skies; a green, airy city with several vestiges of its rural past; a city that adheres to the leisurely tempo of life of a world of yesterday; a city whose values of another day still survive midst of the humdrum bustle of today; a city that still retains the charm, culture and courtesies of the ages.

Visa To India :Indian Missions Abroad are the right place to acquire your Visa to India . You may seek a tourist visa to India , business visa to India , student visa to India , employment visa to India , transit visa to India , or an entry visa to India , from these Indian missions abroad. The Embassies of India, High Commissions of India, and the Consulate Generals of India, will be happy to help you get a Visa to India . Get more information about visa procedure for your country on: www.visatoindia.com

Health preparation: Going away on a gap year can be the most fulfilling time of your life – as long as you take precautions. Without the right preparation to ensure your well-being during the trip, it could turn into a nightmare.

Ideally you should seek health advice about six to eight weeks before travelling. When you’re travelling to developing world countries, we always recommend you take a good first aid kit with basic painkillers, dressings, antiseptic, sunblock and insect repellents.

Wherever you go, it’s best to have really good insurance organised, and have all the emergency telephone numbers handy. Some regions also require a mosquito net and sterile pack of things such as syringes, especially in rural areas where facilities won’t be good. Nowadays, especially with young travellers, it’s a good idea to look into cheap ways that you can use your mobile abroad so you’re never isolated.
 

UPSET TUMMIES: One in five tourists on inclusive package holidays (i.e. including free food and drink) fall ill, most with stomach upsets. Tummy bugs or gastrointestinal illnesses are the most commonly reported travel-associated infections. Tips for avoiding an upset stomach:

Wash your hands thoroughly before eating food.

Always wash your hands with soap and hot water after using the toilet.

Drink water from sealed bottles. (Hot tea and coffee, fizzy drinks, beer and wine should be OK too.)

Be careful with local dairy products, particularly ice cream and cheese. Unpasteurised dairy products are associated with increased risk of traveller’s diarrhoea.

Fish and shellfish may be hazardous even if well cooked. Ask a local what’s safe to eat.

Eat only cooked vegetables and avoid salads (which will probably have been washed in tap water, or not at all).

Peel all fruit.

Avoid food that has flies buzzing round it.

SUNBURN:

Thousands of people will be exposing their skin to dangerous levels of sunlight every yearr. Binge tanning is the quickest way to get skin cancer and these short, intense periods in sunlight while you're on holiday are linked to the most fatal form: malignant melanoma. To stay safe, follow this safe suntanning advice:

Stay in the shade from 11am-3pm.

Take care to never burn.

Always cover up with a T-shirt, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Use factor 15+ sunscreen and re-apply regularly.

Children’s delicate skin needs extra care in the sun. Experts now believe that childhood sunburn can double the chance of developing skin cancer later in life.

MALARIA:

This serious illness can be fatal and is spread by mosquitoes. It’s most common in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, south America, South-East Asia and Far East Asia. If you’re going to one of these destinations, follow these tips:

Be organised and take anti-malarial tablets before you go.

Try not to worry about the possible side effects as having malaria is far worse.

Take bite avoidance measures by using a mosquito net and insect repellent, and cover up bare skin from dusk to dawn.

If you think you’re showing symptoms of malaria, get medical help immediately.

ALCOHOL:

Alcohol is generally cheaper in India, and this can mean it’s tempting to drink more. Alcohol and sun can be a very bad combination because alcohol dehydrates the body. Here are some tips for safe drinking:

It’s essential to stay hydrated: drink lots of water.

Stick to the recommended daily unit limits.

Avoid drinking alcohol in the full glare of the sun.

Remember that most accidents abroad are alcohol-related as well.

Alcohol consuming is prohibitet in ouside. If any wats to consume alkohol make it at privet places like hotel or house.

Drinking below age of 18 is not eligglible.

Hotels and bars wont serve alkohol after 11 p.m.

Accomodation:

Travel: Chennai is connected to all major cities in India by air and its rail and road network make the tiniest village easily accessible by comfortable trains and deluxe buses.

Indian Airlines,

19 Marshall's Road,

Chennai 600 008.
Tel: 8555209 8554285 8554749 8592671

Air India,

19 Marshall's Road,

Chennai 600 008.
Tel: 8554747

(Reservation) 8555013 8552768

Airport pickup and drop: Pre paid taxis are available at airport. Most of the hotels arrange airport pickup and drop.

Money: India 's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. One Rupee is equal to 100 Paise. Coins are in denominations of 10, 25 & 50 Paise & l, 2 & 5 Rupees. Notes are in denominations of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500.
Foreign Currency: It is advisable to carry a mix of cash and travelers cheque to guard against any situation. US Dollars are the easiest currency to change with pounds sterling coming a close second. Other hard currencies such as Yen, French Francs, Deutsche Mark can also be changed in tourist areas and big cities. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers’ cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival by the tourists if they enter the country with US$ 10,000 or its equivalent in any other currency. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure or for tax clearance certificates. Cash, bank notes and travelers’ cheques up to US$2.500 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry.

Any money in the form of travellers’ cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money changers. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money changers is an offence.
Please note that no Indian currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee travellers’ cheques. Banks abroad do keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee traveler’s cheques to intending tourists. There are 24 hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports. Banking hours in India are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) and from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays. One can also wire money into India . These services are offered by foreign banks with branches in India and also with Indian banks with branches abroad such as the State Bank of India , Bank of India and Bank of Baroda
Most branches of State Bank of India and all major nationalized banks have special foreign exchange counters.
All Credit cards (like Master, VISA, Diners, American Express & others ) are widely accepted in India .

Food : India offers you a wide range of Food Choices. India offers you a large number of vegetarian & non-vegetarian meals. Larger & Medium cities offer a wide range of eatables, whereas in smaller cities you are left with a very few choices. In Large & Medium Cities, you can find all kind of Indian as well as Western choices. In smaller cities, the western food may not be very good & up to your expectations & is always advisable to stick to the basic Indian Food in such cases. Vegetarian Food is quite common in India & usually comprises Rice, Bread, Dhal (Pulses), Vegetables, Curd, Pickle & other add ons. So many times it also includes some sweets. Non- vegetarian Indian Food is also very much popular & is easy to get even in smaller cities. However, it is advisable to check the cleanliness of preparation.

Climate : The most pleasant weather is from November to March. Monsoon rains between late October and November. Summer temperatures hot as high as Northern India although humidity is extreme. Cooling breezes on coast, where Chennai is situated.

Language: Local language is Tamil but English can be spoken easily almost everywhere in India .