India Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Asia.

Area
3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).

Population
1.1 billion (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
347 per sq km.

Capital
New Delhi.
Population: 13.8 million (2001).

Government
Republic since 1947.

Language
The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognized by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telegu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages are Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speak Urdu.

Religion
About 81% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

Time
GMT + 5.5.

Electricity
Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are of the round two- and three-pin type.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.

Head of State
President APJ Abdul Kalam since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 91.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns but is increasing all the time. 

Internet
Email can be accessed from larger hotels and from Internet cafes across the country, many now having Wi-Fi connection facilities.

Media
The state’s TV monopoly was broken in 1992, resulting in a boom of private channels. News and entertainment shows are especially popular, with news programs often attracting the larger audiences. A number of 24-hour news channels operate in India. Public TV is run by Doordarshan, while STAR Plus, owned by News Corporation, is one of the most popular private channels. Private radio stations were sanctioned in 2000, but only public All India Radio is allowed to broadcast news. Newspaper circulation has risen, thanks to a growing middle class, as has the number of Internet users.

Post
Airmail service to Western Europe takes up to one week. Stamps are often sold at hotels.

Post office hours: Vary from place to place.

Press
• There are numerous local dailies published in several languages.
• Many newspapers are in English; the most important include The Economic Times, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Navbharat Times, Punjab Kesari, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, Pioneer and The Times of India.

Radio
• Stations include All India Radio, All India Radio External Service (offering broadcasts in local and regional languages, Arabic and English), Radio Mirchi (a commercial network in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities), Radio City (a commercial station in Mumbai and other cities), and commercial network Red FM.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan Idu’l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
20 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year).
26 Jan* Republic Day.
16 Feb Mahashivratri.
31 Mar Mahavir Jayanthi.
1 Apr Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
2 May Buddha Purnima.
15 Aug* Independence Day.
4 Sep Janmashtami.
2 Oct* Mahatma Ghandi’s Birthday.
13 Oct Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
21 Oct Dussehra (Vijaya Fashami).
9 Nov Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
24 Nov Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2008
Dec/Jan** Idu’l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice). 
10 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year).
26 Jan* Republic Day. 
Feb** Mahashivratri.
Feb/Mar** Mahavir Jayanthi.
Mar/Apr** Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
Apr/May** Buddha Purnima.
15 Aug* Independence Day.
Sep** Janmashtami.
Sep/Oct** Dussehra (Vijaya Fashami).
2 Oct* Mahatma Ghandi’s Birthday.
2 Oct Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Nov** Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
Nov** Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
29 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).

Note
(a) *Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are universally observed. Public holidays in India tend to be observed on a strictly regional basis. The above dates are Government of India holidays, when government offices will be closed nationwide. In addition, there are numerous festivals and fairs which are also observed in some States as holidays, the dates of which change from year to year. For more details, contact Incredible India (see General Info). (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. (c) Although not government official holidays, Christmas Day (25 Dec) and New Year’s Day (1 Jan) are widely observed nationally.
** To be confirmed.

Contact Information:

High Commission of India in the UK
India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 8484 or 7632 3149/52/53 (visa enquiries).
Website: www.hcilondon.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 (visa enquiries); 0915-1730 (visa applications and collections; telephone enquiries).

Indiatourism in the UK
7 Cork Street, London W1S 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7437 3677 or 0870 010 2183 (brochure request line).
Website: www.incredibleindia.org

Embassy of India in the USA
Chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Consulate: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 7000 or 9806 (consular section).
Website: www.indianembassy.org

Indiatourism in the USA
Suite 1808, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, USA
Tel: (212) 586 4901.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org


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