Pratical information

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

A trip to India will leave you anything but indifferent. This country fascinates and shakes you up.

It's a constantly renewed cultural shock, a parallel universe where rationality has been left behind and where paradoxes abound. It's a constant challenge to logic. India is inexplicable...

That's why Suryatrips has created a car rental service with a driver in South India.

We have chosen to work directly, on a human scale and fair for all parties involved. Our drivers are all English speakers, and their sole objective is to make your trip unforgettable.

Fanny for European clientele, Vishnu for logistics in India. A team based on communication, respect, and kindness.

Here is a summary of practical information that will help you in organizing your trip.

Tourist visa application for India

Regular Visa Online

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. 

E-Visa Online

The e-visa is available for French, Belgian, Swiss, and Canadian nationals.

Please note that with the e-visa, you cannot arrive anywhere and in any way. It is not possible to enter India by land with the e-visa. For example, if you wish to enter India from Nepal, you must apply for a regular visa. However, there are no issues with leaving the country with an e-visa.

The e-visa is only valid for arrival at the following airports/ports:

Airports: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam

Ports: Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai

The entire procedure, including payment, is done online on the website indianvisaonline.gov.in.

You fill out your application online (in English).

You need to scan the information page of your passport (the double page with the photo, name, etc.) in PDF format, minimum 10 KB, maximum 300 KB, as well as a recent color passport-sized photo in JPG format, with a square format of 350 X 350 pixels, minimum 10 KB, maximum 1,000 KB.

Pay securely using a credit card directly on the website or through PayPal.

A few days later, you will receive an email confirming (or denying) your application. Then you need to return to the website to print your visa.

Upon arrival at the airport, follow the signs to the dedicated e-Tourist Visa counters: present your visa, passport, have your fingerprints taken, and you will receive the stamps that serve as your visa.

For longer stays, or if you require more than 2 entries into the country, or if you plan to visit Sikkim and certain regions that require a special permit, you need to apply for a Regular Visa.

Finally, note that you can only apply for a maximum of 2 e-Tourist Visas per calendar year.

If you find this process too tedious, we can take care of the application for you. Our service fee for handling the visa application is 30 euros per visa.

Health prevention and vaccines

Health precautions and vaccinations

Just like any other trip, it is advisable to have health insurance that covers medical expenses, accidents, and repatriation.

Medications are easily available in India, so there's no need to carry excessive amounts with you.

While there are no administratively mandatory vaccinations, it is important to ensure that you are up to date with universal vaccinations, including:

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A and B
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria 

Malaria: Depending on the region you are visiting and the season, you should consider using a mosquito net and mosquito repellent products. Whether or not to take preventive medication for malaria is a personal choice.

Hot water: In India, it is possible to encounter situations where hot water is not available, especially during the summer. However, this is not a major inconvenience considering the outside temperatures.

Payment methods

With a bank card, you can only withdraw up to 10,000 INR per transaction, but it can be useful upon your arrival at the airport. You can make multiple consecutive withdrawals.

The best solution is to carry cash and ask your driver to take you to a currency exchange office in the city. You will find numerous ATMs if you prefer to use credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, which are accepted.

Before you depart, check with your bank to ensure that the "withdrawal from abroad" option on your card is activated.

Phone calls in India

To make phone calls in India, the easiest option is to obtain an Indian SIM card. We can provide you with one that you can return to your driver at the end of your trip. The internet plans are usually priced around 3 to 6 euros, and with this, you will be able to communicate and browse the internet.

To behave properly in India :

• Avoid displaying signs of wealth.
• Pay attention to your belongings.
• Remove your shoes before entering someone's home or a religious monument.
• Drink mineral water without ice, even when brushing your teeth.
• Indians are modest: avoid low-cut tops, tight pants, short skirts, or bare shoulders. Also, avoid wearing shorts.
• Greet people by saying "Namaste." Indians do not like to be touched.
• Ask for permission before taking photos.
• It can be seen as offensive if you try to help Indians if you are invited.
• Chivalry is not common in India, so there is no need to give up your seat in public transportation.
• Do not eat with your left hand as it is considered impure.
• Tipping is customary, and it is usual to give between 5 and 8 euros per day to your driver.
• Remember that their "yes" may resemble our head nod for "no," which can lead to humorous misunderstandings during your first trip. 

Weather in Southern India

The best season to visit South India is from November to the end of March, except for the Southeast and extreme South regions, due to the late monsoon. However, South India can be visited throughout the year.

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

In June, the monsoon arrives at a (almost) fixed date, upon which the lives of millions of Indians depend. The first clouds arrive from the west, and rain starts falling in the Southwest, around Trivandrum. The monsoon then moves northeastward.

During summer, the heat and humidity can be quite uncomfortable. From June to September, heavy downpours occur across the country, although it is rare for it to rain continuously throughout the day. Typically, there are sporadic heavy showers lasting a few hours. The temperature drops slightly but not significantly.

On the southeast coast, from Chennai to Trivandrum, the peak of the monsoon season occurs around October-November.