Pratical information

What we would have liked to know during our first trip.

A trip in India will not fail to move you. This country fascinates and shakes you up.

It is an endless cultural shock, a parallel universe in which rationality stayed at the door and where paradoxes are picked up by the shovel load. Constant challenge to logic, India cannot be explained... 

That is why Suryatrip has created a chauffeur-driven car rental service in Southern India. 

We have chosen to work without agent, at human scale and in a fair way for all our actors. Our drivers speak English and their only goal is going to make you trip memorable.

Fanny for the European customers, Vishnu for the logistics in India. A team whose fundamentals are communication, respect and kindness.

You will find below some practical information that will help you organize your trip.

Tourist visa application to travel in India

The online regular visa

This is the regular, multiple-entry, tourist visa, valid for 6 months from the date of issue (and not from the date of entry in the Indian Territory). It allows requesting the special permits for the Sikkim. 

Be careful, your stay cannot exceed 90 days.

You must fill out the online application before submitting the application to a VFS center.

 It is strongly recommended to visit the VFS website regularly: the rules and timelines to obtain a visa may change at any time. 

The online e-Tourist Visa

This visa is valid 1 year from the date of entry in the Indian Territory, for a maximum stay of 90 stay in India (180 days for the e-Business visa). This is a multiple-entry visa, available to the French, Belgians, Swiss, and Canadians. The entire process, including the payment, is done online on the website: indianvisaonline.gov.in (be careful, we must only use that official Indian governmental website). 

We recommend submitting the request at least 10 days before the trip (officially, the visa cannot be requested more than 120 days before departure).  You must fill out the request online (in English). You must scan your passport information page (the double page with the photograph, the name, etc.) in PDF format (10 Ko min, 300 Ko max), as well as a recent color ID photograph in JPG format and square format (10 Ko min, 1000 Ko max). Pay attention to the size of the uploaded documents: the request might be denied by the Indian authorities if the uploaded documents are not readable or do not comply with the requirements.

Cost: €105 for consular fees; or US$ 80 for the e-visa.  

(Secured) payment by credit card, directly on the website.

A few days later (in theory 4 days max), you will receive an email that confirms (or declines) the request: to print and present of course on arrival.

Go back on that website a few days before your arrival to check that your visa status is still “Granted” (and print again the page that will now include your scanned ID photograph).

This tourist visa must be used in the 120 days following its issue (entrance into the territory) and it is valid at air and sea entry points (at Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai and Chennai), but not at land entry points (impossible for example with this visa to go from Nepal to India using a land entry point; but it is possible to exit the country by a land entry point... and go from India to Nepal, as long as you come back to India by flight...).

At the arrival airport, follow the arrows that will guide you to the e-Tourist Visa desks: you will have to show you acceptation email and your passport, your fingerprints will be taken, and you will get the stamps that act as a visa.

For longer stays, or that need more than 2 entries in the country, or to visit Sikkin or some regions needing a special permit, you must request the Regular visa.  

Only 2 requests for an e-Tourist Visa are allowed per calendar year. 

Health prevention and vaccines

Like for any travel, subscribe to an insurance that covers sickness, accident and repatriation.

It is easy to find medicine in India, so do not take too many.

There are no administratively mandatory vaccines, but check that your universal vaccines are up to date:

    - Typhoid  

    - Hepatitis A and B 

    - Polio 

    - Tetanus 

    - Diphtheria 

    - Malaria

     - Do not forget to bring a mostiquo net and anti-mostiquo products. Concerning the preventive treatment against malaria, it will depend on the visited area and season. It is your choice! 

Hot water: In India, especially during summer, hot water might not be available. This is not very inconvenient thanks to the ambient temperature.

Paiements methods

With a credit card, you can only get 10 000 INR per withdrawal, but this can be very useful at your arrival at the airport.

The best solution is to bring cash in €100 bills and to ask your driver to bring you to an exchange bureau in town.

You will find many ATMs if you prefer to use your credit card. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted. 

How to behave

- Avoid external signs of wealth 

- Pay attention to your luggage

- Remove your shoes before entering a house or a monument 

- Drink mineral water without ice cubes, use mineral water to wash your teeth 

- Indians are very modest: no cleavage, tight trousers, short skirts, shorts or bare shoulders. 

- To greet, just say Namaste, Indians do not like to be touched 

- Ask permission before taking pictures 

- It is offending for Indians to help them if you are invited 

- Chivalry does not exist in India, no need to give up your seat in public transport 

- Do not eat with your left hand, it is considered as impure. 

- Concerning tipping, it is usual to give about 5 euro per day to your driver.

- Do not forget that their “yes” looks like our nod to say no. This has often lead to hilarious misunderstandings during our first trip

Weather in Southern India

The best time to visit Southern India is from mid-November to late March, except in the South-East and extreme South, because of the late monsoon.

In May, the temperatures range from 30 to 40 °C.

The monsoon arrives in June, almost on a fixed date. Millions of Indians depend on it. The first clouds arrive from the West and the rain starts in the South-West, towards Trivandrum. Then, the monsoon goes to the North-East. 

In summer, heat and humidity can be overwhelming. From June to September, rain is pelting down, even though it rarely rains all day long. It is usually sporadic downpours that last a few hours. The temperature decreases a little bit, but not so much. 

On the South-East Coast, from Chennai - Madras - to Trivandrum, the monsoon peak is around October to November (sometimes until early December in case of late monsoon).