MONEY
Currency
1 Indian rupee = 100 paises. Currency abbreviation: Rs, INR (ISO code). Banknotes are available in denominations of 2000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 rupees; Coins in denominations of 10, 5, 2 and 1 Rs as well as 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 Paise.
Note: 1 and 2 rupee notes and 5 paises coins are no longer produced, but many of them are still in circulation.
Attention: The old 500 and 1000 rupee bills were declared invalid in November 2016. New 500 rupee notes and 2000 rupee notes have now been issued. New 1000, 100 and 50 rupee notes are slated to be put into circulation in the near future.
Credit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide. ATMs are easy to find in large cities and tourist areas, and withdrawals with an EC card can result in high fees. Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Note: At the moment, only a small amount of cash can be withdrawn from ATMs (mostly only up to 2500 rupees, occasionally up to 10,000 rupees).
Bank opening times
- General Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-2 p.m. / 3 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (deviations are possible).
Foreign exchange regulations
For the import of the national currency from a value of 25,000 Rs a declaration is required. The export of the local currency is allowed up to Rs 25,000.
For the import of foreign currencies with a value of more than US $ 5,000 in cash and / or US $ 10,000 in travelers’ checks, a declaration is required (declaration is also recommended for lower amounts). Export up to the declared amount, minus the exchange amounts. When exchanging money, a receipt must be countersigned or a corresponding certificate issued. These documents must be presented upon departure in order to enable the exchange.
Currency Exchange
The exchange may only be made at banks or official exchange offices. When exchanging money, you should be careful not to get damaged banknotes, as u. U. the acceptance is refused. Cash in US dollars, euros or British pounds sterling is the easiest to change. In all major cities and international airports there are exchange offices and / or machines where money can be changed around the clock. Exchange receipts are to be kept.
CULTURE
Religion
80.5% Hindus, 13.4% Muslims (8% Sunnis, 3% Shiites), 2.3% Christians, 1.9% Sikh, 0.9% Buddhists and other beliefs.
Social rules of conduct
Etiquette: According to commit4fitness, in India, on formal occasions, people greet each other with clasped hands and the head bent over and say Namaste. It is improper for Indian women to shake hands in greeting. As a sign of respect, you touch the feet of older people in greeting. When entering holy places one is asked to take off one’s shoes. Most Indians also take off their shoes before entering their homes. In most areas, eating is done by hand, using only the right hand. Strict behavior that has been in effect for a long time still regulates religious and social events in many places. Many Hindus are vegetarians and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. It is important to observe these customs. Small gifts in recognition of hospitality are appropriate. Women should dress discreetly, short or very tight dresses should be avoided, they only arouse unwelcome attention. There are trained English-speaking tour guides in all tourist areas, some also speak German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian or Japanese. The fees are fixed, the regional tourist office will be happy to provide information. Official guides have a Ministry of Tourism ID. Unofficial tourist guides are not allowed to enter certain protected sights.
Photography: There are restrictions to protect some landmarks and national parks. The Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, issues permits for the use of flash and tripod in certain buildings. A fee is charged in nature reserves. Bridges and military facilities are usually not allowed to be photographed, and cameras are officially not welcome at train stations either. Photography in tribal areas is not permitted. More information from the tourist offices.
Smoking: In India, smoking is prohibited in public such as on public transport, in hospitals, in cinemas, restaurants, bars, hotels, in parks, shopping centers, etc.
Tipping: It is customary to tip porters, waiters, housekeeping staff, and tour guides. In hotels and better restaurants, tips are usually included in the bill. A small, additional tip is still expected there. In restaurants where the tip is not already included in the bill, 5-10% is common. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.