Arrival and Departure

Citizens of all countries require a valid passport and an appropriate (entry, transit or tourist) visa. The visa must be obtained abroad from an Indian Mission. Tourist visas are generally valid for 120 days stay in India.

Except Nepal and Bhutan, citizens of all the countries require a national passport, travel documents and visa approved by Indian Missions abroad for entering India. Although Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens do not require any passport or visa but they should possess documents of their identification while visiting India. All tourists must pay a foreign travel tax at the time of their departure.
Currency Regulation
You can bring in any amount of foreign currency, travelers cheques, etc., and take out as much as you brought in. However, if you are carrying more than US$ 2,500 (or equivalent) you should declare it on arrival, to be attested by the Customs Officer. No Indian currency may be brought into or taken out of the country.

A tourist may bring any form or any amount of foreign currency to India as long as he/she declares them in the Currency Declaration Form provided at the time of arrival. This will not only help the visitor in exchanging the brought currency, but it will also help him/her in taking back the unspent currency at the time of departure. Cash, bank notes and travelers' cheques up to US$ 2,500 or equivalent must be declared at the time of entry.
Shopping
India is a shopper's paradise. Delhi markets specialize in carpets, handicrafts, jewelry, readymade garments and leather goods. It's best to buy goods only from the more established shops and official Indian Government outlets.

If you love shopping then Delhi is certainly the right place for you to be in. The city has some of the lively markets of the country. One can easily find the product of their choice in the markets of Delhi. There are several shopping centers in Delhi. Karol bagh, Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension to name a few. You can find everything from traditional Indian dresses to modern branded outfits, from these markets.
Tourist Information
Make sure that luggage is only given to a member of the hotel's bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage. Never leave luggage or other expensive items, unattended at airports or taxi stands.

Tourists are advised to keep their belongings safe with themselves or deposit their belongings to any safe custody. Beware of Pickpockets at crowded places. A small carelessness can result in a major problem so you are advised to be alert all the time.
Hotel Booking
For hotel bookings and other information, check out our Travel & Accommodation section. There is no dearth of hotels in Delhi. There are numerous touts offering hotel services at the airport. If you must consider employing their services, make sure they have a visiting card. Take the card to a nearby policeman or airport authority and ask him if it is a reasonable hotel.

In general seasons, Delhi is never short of hotels to suit different tastes and pocket sizes. But there are few things that we should consider before booking any hotel.

To be on the safer side, always book a hotel which has been recommended by some famous guidebook. There are several hotels in Delhi ranging from Five Star Hotels to Budget Hotels. They offer online as well as counter booking. However, it is advisable that you confirm your bookings before your arrival to avoid any problematic situations.
Doctor / Chemist 24 Hrs
If you need a doctor, your hotel can contact an in-house physician. Delhi has some world-class Private Hospitals such as Apollo Hospital (Sarita Vihar) and Max Hospital (Saket), Escorts Hospital (New Friends Colony) which have their in-house pharmacies which are open 24 hours.

Almost all reputed hotels in Delhi, offer the Doctor-on-Call facility. Any tourist can use this facility in need and the concerned hotel would certainly look into that. Some hotels also appoint their own 24 Hours Doctor.
Custom Clearance
Visitors who do not have any dutiable goods or 'high-valued' articles or foreign exchange in excess of US$ 2500 or unaccompanied baggage, all of which need to be declared, can simply walk through the Green Channel. Others must go to the Red Channel for clearance. If you are on a tourist visa with less baggage, it is very unlikely that customs will hassle you.

Visitors are normally required to give an oral declaration regarding their baggage and foreign currency. They must acquire the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card provided to them during the course of the flight by the airlines. The passengers who do not possess any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage can walk in through Green Channel.
Bargaining
This can help you in saving quite a handsome amount of money as the vendors ask a much higher price than the normal price - especially from the tourists. So, always try to bargain as much as you can. It is better to take a local along while shopping, otherwise there is a strong probability that you would end up buying the products at unrealistic prices. It is not that you need to bargain at all the places, for e.g. Branded Outlets, where prices are fixed and one could enjoy a discount only in case there is a SALE.
Credit Cards
Large establishments generally accept American Express, Master Card ,Visa and Diners Club credit cards.

The plastic money gives the traveler an option to make payments easily without any fuss. In the absence of a card, the traveler would have to carry heavy amount of cash, which could be unsafe in a country like India, where many pickpockets and thieves pose a serious threat in crowded places. In the last few years, there has been a major progress seen in this form of payment in India especially in metropolitan cities like Delhi.
Taxi / Auto Rickshaw
Book your taxi inside the airport. If you take a pre-paid taxi, you would need to pay a stipulated fare at the airport counter after which you need not pay anything to the taxi driver.

Delhi has a well-developed transportation system. Delhi Metro is the recent development in the transportation system of the city. Autos and Taxis are the important part of Delhi transport.

However, it is suggested that the tourists should book their taxis inside the airport. Further while traveling to the various places during the tour, prefer to travel with a turned down meter. If it is not possible, fix the price of your destination before hiring an auto or taxi.
Emergency Lines
In case of emergencies you can always contact to the under noted numbers: Women Help line No: 1091 Police: 100 Fire Station: 101 Ambulance: 102
Etiquettes
By nature, Delhiites are affectionate. They will go all out to make you feel at home. While visiting temples / places of worship one should always leave one's footwear outside.

Always ask a local about the customs and rituals before visiting any holy places like Temples, Mosques and Gurdwaras. This might prevent you from an unforeseen embarrassing situation.
Food & Beverages
Delhi has an amazing variety of non-vegetarian and vegetarian cuisine. Contrary to what you may have heard, all Indian food is not hot and spicy. Most dishes are only richly garnished to provide an exciting flavor. You will find excellent restaurants that serve Indian, Chinese, Continental, Italian, Thai, Japanese and other cuisine in Delhi.

Although liquor consumption is prohibited in public places but one can certainly enjoy them in restaurants and their private hotel rooms. Many international brands like McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and several others are also available for the lovers of junk food.