India Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Asia.

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

Population
1.1 billion (estimate 2007).

Population Density
347 per sq km.

Capital
New Delhi.
Population: 16.6 million (estimate 2007).

Government
Republic since 1947.

Language
The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 40% 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 Telugu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages include Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speaks Urdu.

Religion
About 82% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

Time
GMT + 5.5.

Electricity
230-240 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 Pratibha Patil since July 2007.

Recent History
Pratibha Patil became India's first female president in July 2007 and her supporters hailed her election as a victory for women. She succeeds APJ Abdul Kalam, an esteemed scientist and the architect of the country's missile program. Patil, of the ruling Congress Party, was previously the governor of Rajasthan.

India has seen several women in powerful positions - most notably Indira Gandhi, one of the world's first female prime ministers in 1966 - but activists say that women still face widespread discrimination both within and beyond the political arena.

Indian foreign policy continues to be dominated by relations with Pakistan. The main cause of friction is the status of Kashmir, a disputed territory straddling both nations. Historically, the USA and China had backed Pakistan while India had close relations with the Soviet Union. The demise of the Soviet Union has not, however, damaged India. China has long viewed India as a rival, however relations between these two emerging economic powers have been steadily improving over recent years.

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
E-mail can be accessed from an increasing number of hotels and from Internet cafes across the country, many now with Wi-Fi.

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 two weeks.

Post office hours: Regional variations, but generally Mon-Sat 1000-1300 and 1330-1630 in bigger towns and cities.

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 (Bombay), Delhi and Kolkata (Calcutta)), Radio City (a commercial station in Mumbai, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Delhi and several other cities), and commercial network Red FM, which broadcasts in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
26 Jan** Republic Day. 
23 Feb Mahashivratri.
9 Mar Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
7 Apr Mahavir Jayanthi.
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
9 May Buddha Purnima.
14 Aug Janmashtami.
15 Aug** Independence Day.
20-21 Sep Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
28 Sep Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami).
2 Oct** Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday.
17 Oct Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
2 Nov Guru Nanak's Birthday.
27-28 Nov Idu'l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
26 Jan** Republic Day. 
Feb/Mar* Mahashivratri.
26 Feb Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
2 Apr Good Friday.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
Apr* Mahavir Jayanthi.
28 Apr Buddha Purnima.
15 Aug** Independence Day.
Aug* Janmashtami.
10-11 Sep Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
2 Oct** Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday.
Sep/Oct* Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami).
2 Nov Guru Nanak's Birthday.
5 Nov Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
16-17 Nov Idu'l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
7 Dec Muharram (Islamic New Year).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

* Dates to be confirmed.

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.

Contact Information:

Indian Ministry of Tourism in India
88 Janpath, New Delhi, 110001, India
Tel: (011) 2332 0008.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org

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 0915-1730.

India Tourism in the UK
7 Cork Street, London W1S 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7437 3677.
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.
Website: www.indianembassy.org

India Tourism 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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