TRAVELGUIDE INDIA www.world-of-toys.org/india Contents Incredible India 3 Flight and transfer 4 Visa matters 5 General information 7 Sightseeing/points of interest 8 Indian etiquette 13 Dictionary 15 This brochure is also available on the internet at www.world-of-toys.org/ india/kids-india. All information has been researched and compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief, but no responsibility is accepted for errors. April 2019 2 Incredible India Incredible facts about India • India was one of the richest countries on earth until the colonisation in the early 17th century. India is still a very rich country though and the World Bank ranks India as the country with the tenth highest gross domestic product (GDP). • Chess was invented in India and during the last few years chess has grown in popularity in India, primary due to the former chess world champion Viswanathan Anand. • India is one of the largest exporters of computer software products. • The biggest and the largest employer in the world is Indian railways employing over a million people. • Indiahasthehighestnumberofpostofficesin the world. • It's illegal to take Indian currency (Rupees) out of India. • There are 17 major languages and 844 dialects in India. • India invented the number system and the Indian scientist Brahmagupta invented the digit zero. • India is the 6th largest country in the world by area, the largest democracy and one of the oldest civilizations. Sources: Auswärtiges Amt 2016 www.10-facts-about.com/India/id/4 3 Flight and transfer Flight – discounted travel with Lufthansa Acommodation LufthansaGermanAirlinesoffersacomprehensive Book your hotel via our partner travel agency global route network linking major cities around the International Travel House: world.Asanairlinepartner,Lufthansaoffersspecial prices and conditions to participants, visitors, exhibitors International Travel House and invited guests as well as employees of the T - 2, Community Centre contracting partner and their travel companions. Sheikh Sarai Phase - 1 New Delhi - 110 017, India Further information at www.kidsindia.de/fair-facts/travel-stay www.kidsindia.de/fair-facts/travel-stay Contact: Mr. Sudip Sinha Airport Business Head - MICE Mobile: +91 9711155780 Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Email : [email protected] / [email protected] The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the second busiest airport in India in terms of overall passengertraffic.Itisbeingmodernisedsince2006. Transfer to & from the airport Theairportoffersup-to-datefacilitiesandservices. Youhavedifferentpossibilitiesifyouwanttogotoand The airport consists of two passenger terminals: from the airport: •Terminal1atSantacruzfordomesticflights •Terminal2atSaharforinternationalflights Car rental with driver You rent a car with a driver through the recommended These terminals use the same facilities but are physically travel agency “International Travel House” or another car separated, requiring a 15–20 minute drive between rental company. The driver will wait with your name on a them. You are required to show your passport / identity sign at the airport and bring you to your desired cardandaprintoutofyourflightticketattheentrance destination.Whenyoureachyourfinaldestinationitis of the airport. Most airports in India do not allow entry usualtoconfirmyourdrivewithyoursignature.Atipfor to those with only a mobile boarding pass, a print out is the driver is voluntary, but not necessary. obligatory in most cases. Pick up service to and from the hotel The airport is situated at a distance of 30 kms from the Nearlyallhotelsofferapickupservicetoandfromthe north of the city and is easily accessible from any part of hotel. Mumbai. In January 2014 the new terminal T2 has been inaugurated. Rates to central Mumbai start at around Public transport and car rental without driver INR 450 with an air-conditioned vehicle and the journey There are not too many options as far as public timeisupwardsofonehour,dependingontraffic. transport is concerned. For safety reasons we do not www.csia.in recommend to drive on your own or to use the public transport. 4 Visa matters All foreign nations need a visa to enter India. We urgently recommend to apply for a business visa instead of a tourist visa. Visa are easily available at Indian embassies worldwide. When to apply for a visa? We recommend to apply for a visa already. Passport photo Upon receipt of the visa application through Indian Visa Two recent 2x2 inch (5x5cm) passport type Application Center or directly, the Indian Embassy/ photographs, in color, front view and with a plain/white Post requires a minimum of three working days to background. Glasses should not be worn in these process the case and issue a visa depending upon the photos; photos should not be stapled to the application. nationality and excluding special cases. Please consider If you are doing an online application, please consider additional time (approximately 10 days) to receive the the following requirements: invitation. If necessary, you can apply for the more expensive express issue of your visa. Online India visa application allows the applicant to upload a digital photograph of himself to complete the online visa application. The digital photograph should be Which documents do you need to uploaded along with the visa application and meet the apply for an Indian business visa? following requirements: Visa application • Format: JPEG You are requested to apply for the Indian visa online: • Size: minimum 10 KB / maximum 300 KB indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ • The height and width of the photo must be equal: The minimum dimensions are 350 pixels (width) x 350 Once the online application form is submitted by the pixels (height); The maximum dimensions are 1000 applicant,furthermodificationsarenotallowed.Hence pixels (width) x 1000 pixels (height) applicants are requested to check and validate the details before submitting the online application form. Letter of invitation from India Applicantsarerequestedtokeepthefilenumber To be able to apply for a business visa, you need an (generated automatically after the submission of online officialinvitation.Wemayprovideyouwithaninvitation form) for further communications. letterfromoursubsidiaryofficeSpielwarenmesseIndia In either case, no hand written application form will Pvt. Ltd. be accepted by any of the Indian Embassy/ Post, whereever online visa facility has been implemented. Which status does my visa application The duly signed physical copy of the application form have? completed in all respect and submitted succesfully, is to The status of visa application can be seen on the link for be submitted at the concerned Indian Visa Application visa enquiry. Center (IVAC) or directly to Indian Embassy/ Post, on the scheduled date of interview along with the requisite supporting documents. What is the fee for the visa application? The applicants are also requested to visit the website of the Indian Embassy concerned for detailed information The visa fee depends upon the type of applied for and about Indian visa. duration of visa. Visa fee is divided into various types depending upon the case viz; basic fee, special fee, Valid passport processing fee by out-sourcing agency. During the You need an original passport (no copies), which does online registration process, at the end of the process not expire until at least 6 months after the end of the the basic fee shall be displayed. However, this fee shall trip. Your passport should also have at least two empty beindicativeonlyandfinalfeeshallbechargedwhile pages available for the visa entry. submitting the application at the respective counters. 5 Visa matters Fee once received are non refundable even if the visa For further information on this, please check with local application is withdrawn, the visa is not granted, or if embassyofficeorIndianVisaApplicationCenterOffice visa issued is of shorter duration of period than applied or websites for information on applicable fee and for or otherwise issued or returned at a time or on terms payment methods. and conditions that may vary from those sought by the applicant. The information given here is of general nature. More general information can be found here: http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ For details, please contact either an Indian consulate in your native country, your local travel agent or your visa agency. If you need an invitation letter, please fill in this form and return it to: Spielwarenmesse eG Ms. Sushila Pharswan Tel: +91 11 6696 1163 Email: [email protected] Please send together with this form a scanned copy of your passport to above mentioned contact. Full name as in the passport: Nationality: Date of birth: Passport number: Place of issue: Date of issue: Date of expiry: Male / female: Company name: Designation: E-mail address: 6 General information Climate Internet access India has a three-season year – the hot, the wet and the Small, independent cafes and restaurants in Mumbai are cool. The months from October to February are some providing free WiFi access. In most places you will need of the best times to visit as the weather is very pleasant to ask for a password to login. with minimal rainfall in most places. The average temperature is about 21-30°C. Mobile phones Currency (exchange) You can use your mobile phone from home if your provider has a roaming agreement with an Indian mobile The currency in India is Rupees (INR). You can company. If you call with your mobile to an Indian change money at the airport