India General Information

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

Population
1,049,000,000 (official estimate 2003).

Population Density
331 per sq km.

Capital
New Delhi.
Population: 19,817,439 (2001).

Government
Republic since 1947.
Head of State: President APJ Abdul Kalam since 2002.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.

Language
The official language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30 per cent of the population; English is also often used for official or commercial 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 82 per cent Hindu, 11 per cent Muslim with Sikh, Christian, Jain 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.

Communications

Telephone
IDD service is widely available all over India. Otherwise calls must be placed through the international operator. Country code: 91. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 networks. Network operators include Aircel LTD BPL Mobile, CellOne and SPICE. Coverage is limited to major towns.

Fax
24-hour facilities are available in most large hotels and some offices of the Overseas Communication Service in large cities.

Internet
ISPs include Narmada and VSLnet. E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes accross the country.

Telegram
International 24-hour service from large hotels and telegraphic offices in major cities.

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

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, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Navbharat Times, Punjab Kesari, The Statesman and The Times of India.

Radio
BBC World Service and Voice of America can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Public Holidays

Jan 21 2005: Idu’z Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Jan 26: Republic Day.
Feb 10: Muharram (Islamic New Year).
Mar 8: Mahavir Jayanthi.
Mar 25: Holi; Good Friday.
Apr 18: Sri Rama Navami (Birthday of Sri Rama).
May 23: Buddha Purnima.
Aug 15: Independence Day.
Oct 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday.
Oct 12: Vijaya Dasami/Dussera.
Nov 1: Diwali.
Nov 3-5: Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Nov 26: Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
Dec 25: Christmas Day.
Jan 10 2006: Idu’z Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Jan 26: Republic Day.
Jan 31: Muharram (Islamic New Year).
Feb 26: Mahavir Jayanthi.
Mar 15: Holi.
Apr 6: Sri Rama Navami (Birthday of Sri Rama).
Apr 11: Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Apr 14: Good Friday.
May 13: Buddha Purnima.
Aug 15: Independence Day.
Sep 2: Vijaya Dasami/Dussera.
Oct 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday.
Oct 21: Diwali.
Oct 22-24: Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Nov 26: Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
Dec 25: Christmas Day.
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Notes
(a) Public holidays in India tend to be observed on a strictly regional basis. Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are universally observed. 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 section). See also under the heading Special Events in the General Info section. (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.

Special Events
For further information, contact the Government of India Tourist Office (see General Info). The following is a selection of special events occurring in India in 2005:

Jan: Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra Initiation (religious ceremony), Bodh Gaya; Bikaner Camel Festival.
Feb: Goa Carnival; Desert Festival, Jaisalmer.
Mar: Holla Mohalla (ancient Sikh festival), all over the Punjab.
Apr 6: Ramnavami (anniversary of Lord Rama’s birth), nationwide.
May 23: Buddha Purnima (celebration of the birth of Lord Buddha), nationwide.
Jun: Summer Festival, Mount Abu.
Jul: Birthday of the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala.
Aug-Sep: Gogamedi Fair.
Sep: Ganesh Chaturthi (festival of the elephant God Ganesh), nationwide.
Sep-Oct: Navarati (Hindu festival of dancing), Mumbai.
Oct: Dussehra (Hindu festial), nationwide.
Nov 1: Deepvali (Hindu festival of lights), nationwide.
Nov: Pushkar Camel Fair, Ajmer; Ganga Mahotsava (washing in the Ganges River), Varanasi.
Dec 24-Jan 3 2006: Christmas Parties (beach parties), Goa.

Note
Besides the above festivals there are hundreds of festivals and fairs which are of regional significance, celebrated with equal pomp and color. The most authentic of these are the following: the Temple Festivals in southern India, a list of which is often available from Incredible India; festivals at Ladakh in Kashmir and Rajasthan; a visitor will be unlucky to visit Rajasthan at a time when a festival of some kind is not either in progress or about to take place. The visitor may also be lucky enough to witness dancing at a village festival or a private wedding.

Contact Information:

Note
On December 26th 2004 a massive earthquake registering 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the west coast of Indonesia. The quake created a tsunami – a series of huge waves that spread destruction across many parts of Asia and reached as far as the east coast of Africa. The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhara Pradesh in Southern India have been badly affected. Floodwaters washed over some of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands contaminating fresh water sources and ruining large areas of arable land. Travel elsewhere in India is unaffected. Those wishing to travel to affected areas should check with the relevant tour operator, tourist board or embassy for the latest advice prior to travel (see General Info).

Location
South Asia.

Country dialing code
91.