There is such an abundance of things to see and do in India that it would take many lifetimes to experience everything. Therefore, numerous things have to be taken care off before embarking on a trip to India- be it a business trip or a leisure trip. Here is a brief list of things that can be taken into consideration while planning one's journey

Passport & Visa
Citizens of all countries require a valid national passport or valid travel documents and valid visa granted by Indian Missions abroad for entering India. Except Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens who when proceeding from their respective countries need no passport or visa but should possess suitable documents for their identification.

The Consular Passport and Visa division is responsible for issuance of passport and visa to persons of Indian Origin. You can download a form as well as browse for information on at http://passport.nic.in/.

For visitors to the country, visas are available from the Indian missions in each country. Six month multiple-entry visas are now issued to most nationals regardless of the intended duration of stay.

Generally a tourist visa is given for 6 months while a business visa can be issued for one or more year with multiple entries.

Transit visas are issued for a maximum period of 15-days with single/double entry facilities to bonafide transit passengers only.

Conference visas are issued for attending conferences, seminars, or meetings in India. A letter of invitation from the organiser of the conference needs to be submitted along with the visa application.

The fee structure depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. It ranges from USD 5 to USD 50 for a visa with a one-year validity.

Customs formalities and regulations

Take printouts of customs rules and regulations for ready reference.

Visitors are generally required to make oral baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession. Visitors in possession of more than USD 1,000 or equivalent thereof in the shape of travellers cheques, bank notes, currency notes are required to obtain a Currency Declaration Form before leaving Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airlines during the course of the flight.

There are two channels for Custom clearance:

Green Channel - For passengers not having any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.

Red Channel - For passengers having dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to be entered on Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers cheques a tourist may bring into India provided he makes a declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given to him on arrival. This will enable him not only to exchange the currency brought in but also to take the unspent currency out of India on departure.

Any money in the form of traveler's' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc, in convertible currencies which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money changers and banks who will issue an encashment certificate.

This certificate is required at the time of re-conversion of any unspent money into foreign currency. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but an offence under Foreign Exchanges Regulation Act 1973 but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency.

Arrival Formalities
If the visa for stay in India is more than 180 days, Registration Certificate and Residential Permit should be attained from the nearest Foreigners Registration office within 7 days of arrival. Personal appearance is absolutely necessary at the time of registration, extension or exit as required by the Law of the Land. Four photos/pictures are also required for registration. The foreigners registered at Foreigners' Registration Office are required to report change of their addresses.

PIO Card
A special People of Indian Origin card is available only to people of Indian descent (excluding those in Pakistan and Bangladesh) who hold a non-Indian passport and live abroad (Maximum fourth generation). This card costs A$570 and offers multiple entry for 15 years. People of Indian origin can also apply for a five-year multiple entry visa which costs A$240. Both are valid from the date of issue.

Restricted Area Permits
Even with a visa you're not permitted everywhere in India. Certain places require special additional permits.

Andaman Islands: Foreigners need a permit to visit the Andaman Islands. The Nicobar Islands are off limits to all except Indian nationals engaged in research, government business or trade.

Himachal Pradesh & Uttaranchal: Permits are required to enter some regions close to the India-Tibe border in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. For the crossing from Kinnaur to Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, tourists must obtain an inner-line permit, which is free.
The Milam glacier in northern Kumaon in Uttaranchal, which also falls under Indo-Tibetan Border Authority jurisdiction, is currently open to visitors at the discretion of the local police. Other areas around Nanda Devi are officially off limits, but groups may succeed in getting the relevant inner-line permits from the district magistrate in Pithoragarh.

Karnataka: All foreigners are legally required to obtain a Protected Area Permit before visiting the Tibetan settlements between Hunsur and Madikeri. These can be obtained through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ladakh: You need a permit for going up Khardung La, as well as for crossing down into the Nubra Valley. Permits are also required for visiting Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and the Dha-Hanu valley.

Lakshadweep: A special permit is required in order to visit Lakshadweep. Both foreigners and Indians can stay on Bangaram, Agatti and Kadmat. Indian citizens can make day visits to Kalpeni, Minicoy and Kavaratti.

Arunachal Pradesh: Permit is required to enter Arunachal (USD 50 per entry).Note that states officially require visitors to be in a group of four

Rajasthan: Special permission is required from the Collector's office in Jaisalmer to travel to most of Rajasthan west of National Highway No 15, due to its proximity to the Pakistan border. Permission is only issued in exceptional circumstances. The only places exempted are Amar Sagar, Bada Bagh, Lodhruva, Kuldhara, Aka Sam, Ramkund, Khuri and Mool Sagar.

Sikkim: To enter Sikkim one needs a 15-day permit.

West Bengal: Permit for the Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary is required. These are issued on the spot on presentation of your passport.

Miscellaneous
Concessional tickets like Indrail Pass, Youth fares, Discover India Fares and Air Fares are to be paid for in foreign exchange only.

Do not purchase air/ rail/ bus tickets through strangers or unauthorized travel agents/ tour operators.

Do not hire any type of transportation from unlicensed or unapproved operators. Self- drive cars are available for hire from recognized International firms like Hertz etc.

Be careful of touts and brokers while shopping, sightseeing or going to and from transportation terminals. Consult proper authorities if you feel you are being fleeced or harassed by unscrupulous shopkeepers.

Taxi and auto-rickshaws fares keep changing, therefore, they do not always conform to readings on meters. To avoid confusion, insist on seeing the latest fare chart available with taxi/ auto-rickshaw drivers and pay accordingly. Taxis and auto-rickshaws do not have meters in all cities, but where they do, insist on the meter being flagged in your presence. Incase the driver refuses to cooperate, seek the assistance of a policeman. Where there are no meters, ask assistance at your hotel and agree on the taxi fare in advance.

Wash your hands before and after eating.

Always keep a tube of mosquito repellent with you.

Keep extra photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport. This will be required for Indian permits.

Do not encourage beggars by giving them tips

Always carry out your own rubbish while touring or trekking.

Never bury rubbish as digging encourages erosion and buried rubbish may be dug by animals and consumed.

Take reusable containers along. Avoid plastic bags and bottles.

Don't use detergents or toothpaste in or near watercourses, even if these products are biodegradable.

Respect local cultural practices when interacting with communities.

Refrain from feeding wildlife.

Travel Insurance: It's wise to have a travel-insurance policy to cover potential theft, loss and medical problems.

Encashment Certificates: By law, all foreign currency must be changed at official moneychangers of banks, which will give you an encashment certificate. Make sure you get them, as they are the only way you can re-exchange excess rupees for foreign currency when you are departing India. Encashment certificates are also required for tax clearance certificates.

Departure From India

All persons except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan leaving by road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure. All tourist visitors holding Registration certificates endorsed by the appropriate registrations authorities before departure. Registration Certificates and Residential Permits are to be surrendered at the Registration Office.

Exit Formalities
All visitors holding Registration Certificate have to obtain, before departure, exit endorsements from the Registration officer of the district in which they were registered.