India Question

[essbee]

Sorry - off topic....bad supporter and all that

I had a question for anyone who has visited India.

I'm visiting India in March for a 2-day Conference and then
spending a week or ten days travelling around the country.

Does this come under a Conference visa or Travel Visa? I'm
confused as to which..

Any help grateful. Ta.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Sounds like a Travel Visa would cover all your visa needs. I'd look a bit sharpish about applying tho.

 

[Hockley Blues]

Agreed, a travel visa should do it, but check here to be sure - India Visa Information - UK - Home Page.

Think about applying soon tho - mine took a good few weeks to arrive earlier this month.

 

[ROSM]

I had a 12 month visa a couple of years which I ended up queuing at the Visa office for (you had to send in the forms and then get a slot to go and collect). Not sure what the process is now but I heard it was 4 week turnaround.

Where are you flying to? I consider myself quite travel savvy but I almost got ripped off by 3 different methods at mumbai airport.

1) you get a baggage ticket which says how many bags you have. It gets stamped by passport control and then when you leave baggage reclaim you hand it over. I made the mistake of buying some currency from a change booth and the ticket mysteriously disappeared from my passport which meant I ended up paying about 20gbp to the gun toting security guard to leave baggage reclaim whilst the booth quickly closed and the bureau de change man scarpered

2) I waited to get the bus to the domestic terminal where I was flying on to hyderabad and noticed that despite getting there a good 10 mins before the bus all kinds of people were jumping the queue onto it - yet more rupees were requested to get back up the queue again.

Despite protestations the bus man wouldnt budge so on a point of principle I got a cab instead which was the same cost as the extra rupees wanted for the bus only with added fear factor as whilst swinging round the corner the door flew open with me leaning against it although i managed to stay in the vehicle and then later in the supposedly short journey the cab broke down and the driver ended up trying to repair the two stroke engined car in the middle of the unlit airport perimeter road.

3) on leaving the cab at the domestic terminal I put my bag down to get my boarding card ready and someone tried to take it to wheel into the terminal where he would expect a tip and demanded yet more rupees to hand it back there and then (he didnt get any and gave it back after a swift vincelot to the ribs)

Other than that I really enjoyed my time there and when I went back I was more prepared

 

[Seagull kimchi]

If you are near London you can go to the Agency near Victoria Stn. and fill in the forms and deposit your passport, and then collect about 3-5 working days later. Really easy, but a bit of queuing, costs about £40 for a 3-6 month visa.

If you have a credible sense of your surroundings - you will never be ripped off in India.

 

[Commander]

Travel visa will be fine.

As for being ripped off etc, India is the easiest country in the world to avoid hassle. It's very simple. If someone tries to rip you off, shout at them. Solves things instantly. They are that kind of people, if you are strong and firm, they respect you, if you are weak, they will rip you off. It's one of the safest countries I've visited, it doesn't feel threatening at all, even in the really dodgy parts. You just need to be strong*








*Best you don't try this tactics in most developing countries though, unless you you are happy to never come home again

 

[ROSM]

Travel visa will be fine.

As for being ripped off etc, India is the easiest country in the world to avoid hassle. It's very simple. If someone tries to rip you off, shout at them. Solves things instantly. They are that kind of people, if you are strong and firm, they respect you, if you are weak, they will rip you off. It's one of the safest countries I've visited, it doesn't feel threatening at all, even in the really dodgy parts. You just need to be strong*

I would bear this out with the exception of the guard with the gun. I dont think shouting would have helped one iota in that circumstance.

 

[essbee]

thanks all - very helpful.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

To counterbalance all the posts about shouting and/or being firm/angry, would just like to suggest that you'll have a brilliant time in India. If Goa is anything to go by, the people are overwhelmingly sweet and lovely, and its just a gorgeous gorgeous place. Enjoy!

 

[ROSM]

To counterbalance all the posts about shouting and/or being firm/angry, would just like to suggest that you'll have a brilliant time in India. If Goa is anything to go by, the people are overwhelmingly sweet and lovely, and its just a gorgeous gorgeous place. Enjoy!

Hyderabad was lovely, mumbai itself was fantastic, pune was great. And yes the people were very very friendly. I wouldn't seek to equate those hanging round an airport with those in the general day to day life of the cities. It's like saying that those who do the pickpocketing on the bus from the main station in rome to the vatican are indicative of all people in Italy. Doesnt stop the foreign office giving warnings though of that particular route.

 

[Commander]

I would bear this out with the exception of the guard with the gun. I dont think shouting would have helped one iota in that circumstance.

Didn't read that bit, but yeah, never shout at people with guns. I'd say that is a fairly universal rule.

I am drunk by the way but what I am saying is true. In other parts of Asia if you shout at (or even get reasonably firm with people) you get nowhere and they close up and people do everything they can to do the opposite of helping you. But in India it is different, they seem to respect authority and being strong with people seems to get things done.

If you're anything like me you'll swing from thinking that India is the most incredible country on the face of the planet to being sorry that you ever set foot in such an appalling, dirty, depraved shit-hole, and then back again, all in the space of about 5 minutes. The phrase 'It's an experience' was designed for India.

Oh, and if there is one place you HAVE to visit, then forget Delhi, forget Goa, forget Mumbai, and get yourself to Jaisalmer. Such a cool place, my favourite place in India. And if you do go there then PM me and I'll give you the address of a guy who will take you out into the middle of the deseert on a camel safari, far away from the hordes of tourists. Fantastic place, fantastic people.

 

[Huple]

Their Pale Ale is nice. you can buy it over here.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Delhi was cool, Jaipur was cool, the Taj Mahal mind blowing, but Agra a total flea pit.

 

[Commander]

Oh yeah- the Taj Mahal - the only man made thing I've ever seen that actually lives up to the hype

 

[Mr C Gull]

Tip- For the Visa make sure you have the correct sized photos, for some reason they are larger than standard UK passport photos and they will reject the application for it, if you live in london or nearby drop them in to the place near Victoria. Mine came back in 4 days (after having the photos enlarged at considerable cost in the conveniently located Kodak store opposite the visa centre- £10 a photo!)

India is about as safe and friendly as anywhere i have visited on earth, the people are lovely and their hospitality second to none; that doesnt mean that people wont try to make money out of you given the opportunity- that is life, just tell make it known that you know the score and they will leave you alone.

The major cities can be somewhat hectic/polluted but i guess you have to expect that when there are so many people there.

Personally i would recommend Kerala as a destination, more chilled out than North India (which is still good), but i guess it depends what floats your boat. Agree with the other sentiments that the Taj is something special.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Oh yeah- the Taj Mahal - the only man made thing I've ever seen that actually lives up to the hype

100%. Gobsmackingly beautiful. We were there all day and yet every single time I turned away I found myself wide eyed when I turned back round and saw it there.

Even the view of it across the plains from up at the Red Fort is spellbinding, like something out of Aladdin.

 

[Seagull kimchi]

I get to live there for half of my life - smug, smug smug.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Taj Mahal and Goa aside, India is a f***ing horrible place.