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Entry Formalities

FOREIGNERS

All foreign nationals can stay in the islands for 30 days. This can be extended by another 15 days with permission. The required permit can be easily obtained Free of Cost from the Immigration counter at Port Blair Airport or Harbour upon arrival on production of their passports containing a valid Indian Visa.
The places covered by this permit for night halt are: South Andaman Island, Middle Andaman Island and Little Andaman Island (except tribal reserve), Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island, Diglipur, & Baratang.

INDIANS

Indian nationals need no permit to visit Andamans. However, permits are required to visit Nicobar Islands and other tribal areas, which are given in exceptional cases. Application on a prescribed form may be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, Andaman District, Port Blair.

Attire

CLOTHES

Khadi or Cotton – The Best Bet

Dress freely in Khadi (hand-woven cotton garments) or simply cotton garments, which will keep you cool in this hot tropical climate. Avoid synthetic or nylon clothes in this hot climate which will make you uncomfortable. The sun is hot throughout the day throughout the year - there is no winter over here so the best thing to wear is a cotton T-Shirt and cotton shorts.

SHOES

The Right Choice

For trekking, the lighter the boots you wear the greater the pleasure you will experience. Heavy boots tire you out before you reach the base camp. Invest in a generous size that allows a minimum of two pairs of socks to be worn inside. This protection will cut down on the risk of blisters. A comfortable pair of boots is the best investment for a trekker, and even if they only last the duration of one trek, they have paid for themselves in providing the priceless mood of freedom and fleetness of foot. Sleepers are not at all advisable not only because of blisters but also for the common leech bites specially in the rainy season.

Don’t Forget the Thongs

It is advisable to pack a pair of rubber thongs (hawai chappals) for all bathroom excursions and in the stony beaches.

Do's & Don'ts

Banking & Money Exchange

BANKING SERVICES

1. State Bank of India
2. Syndicate Bank  
3. Allahabad Bank
4. United Bank of India
5. Canara Bank
6. Punjab National Bank
7. Uco Bank  
8. Indian Overseas Bank
9. Indian Bank
10. UTI Bank

WHO CAN EXCHANGE MONEY

All money in India is expected to be changed through the official banks or authorized moneychangers. Authorization to exchange money is given by the Reserve Bank of India. Major banks such as SBI, Indian Overseas Bank, and Central Bank of India have their branches in almost all the cities and towns of India. Many of these branches accept travelers' cheques and exchange money. In larger cities and at tourist destinations, apart from banks private dealers also exchange money. Many of travel agencies also provide money exchange facilities to their clients and they can be of great help. One can find small moneychangers even in the remote tourist destinations and changing money is not a problem for tourists in India.

Though Credit Cards are not widely accepted over here - one can bring in their cards for encashing money from the ATM Counters (of State Bank of India, UTI Bank & ICICI Bank) in case of emergency.

Health Precautions

INTRODUCTION

India is located in south-central Asia. Its climate is mostly tropical or sub-tropical and subject to seasonal monsoon winds, especially the southwest rain during summer. India is an economically developing democratic republic and has worked very hard to control diseases. Adequate medical care is available in the major population centers, but is usually limited in the rural areas of the country.

Many developed countries like Britain are utilizing the state-of-the-art medical services available in India. The cost of treatment is much cheaper here in comparison to the same facilities available in advanced countries.

DISEASES & ACCIDENTS

The most important cause of illness of travelers in India is food and waterborne diseases. Diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Infections may cause simple diarrhea and vomiting, fever, or, in extreme cases, liver damage (hepatitis).

Malaria is a preventable infection that can create trouble if left untreated. One can prevent infection by taking prescribed anti-malarial drugs and protecting against mosquito bites. Malaria risk in this region exists in some urban and rural areas, depending on the elevation.

If someone is visiting the mountainous region of the Himalayas, he should ascend gradually to allow time for the body to adjust to the high altitude, which can cause insomnia, headaches, nausea, and altitude sickness. In addition, one should use sunblock rated at least 15 SPF, because the risk of sunburn is greater at high altitudes.

PRECAUTIONS

1. One should learn as much about the health care delivery before venturing out.
2. Make sure that the insurance company covers illnesses and accidents abroad.
3. Immunizations against viral or bacterial disease are very important and should be done properly.
4. Carry all the important prescriptions and OTC medicines. Do not forget to have the brand names as well as the generic names of the medicines one needs to have.
5. As India is a tropical country, it is advised to avoid undue stress and excessive exposure to heat and cold.
6. Drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink tap water. Use only canned water or aerated drinks.
7. General precautionary measures like carrying mosquito repellants, nets, etc., are sufficient for preventing diseases like malaria and dengue.
8. To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
9. Do not eat food purchased from street vendors.
10. Do not drink beverages with ice.
11. Do not eat dairy products unless it is known that they have been pasteurized.
12. Sharing needles with anyone can be dangerous; avoid it like a plague.
13. Do not handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats) to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).
14. Do not swim in freshwater. Salt water is usually safer.

VACCINATION FORMALITIES

Although yellow fever does not occur in India, proof of appropriate vaccination may be required depending on one's itinerary.

Requirement

Any person (except infants up to the age of six months) arriving by air or sea without a certificate is detained in isolation for a period up to six days if he or she:

1. arrives within six days of departure from an infected area, or
2. has been in such an area in transit, except the passengers and members of crew who remained within the airport premises in the infected area while transiting and if the Health Officer is ready to give such exemption to the passenger, or
3. has come on a ship which has started from or touched at any port in a yellow fever infected area within 30 days of its arrival in India provided such ship has not been disinfected in accordance with the procedure laid down by WHO, or
4. has come by an aircraft that has been in an infected area and has not been disinfected in accordance with Indian or WHO regulations.

The following countries and areas are regarded by India as infected:

Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Surinam, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire, Zambia.

When a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded by the Government of India as infected with yellow fever and subsequently added to the above list.

No other vaccination certificate is mandatory, though one may like to consult his doctor for inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis A, and meningitis.

OTHER VACCINES

See the doctor at least 4-6 weeks before the trip to allow time for shots to take effect.
These vaccinations can be thought about depending on the previous history of the traveler

1. Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG);
2. Japanese encephalitis, only if planning to visit rural areas for four weeks or more;
3. Rabies, if someone is exposed to wild or domestic animals during recreation.

INFORMATION TIT BITS

Information given above are liable to change from time to time and one should contact the Indian missions of the respective country or the government tourist offices for more information.

For inoculation against communicable diseases, one can contact the Vaccinations and Inoculation Center for Yellow Fever, Domestic Arrivals, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (Ph. 011-5665348) or International Inoculation Center, Mandir Marg (behind St. Thomas School), New Delhi (Ph. 011-3361675). 

ESSENTIALS TO BE CARRIED

It is understood that you won't forget your passport, your visa, and your identity card. But before leaving, doubly make sure that they are in your safe custody. It is essential that you avoid keeping your documents along with your money, cash and other valuables. You understand that you will be required to regularly prove your identities during security checks, so you wouldn't like the onlookers to get attentive towards your cash, while you take out your passport/visa or identity cards.

FIRST-AID KIT

While traveling, do not forget to keep tablets of aspirin, paracetamol, and vitamins like the B-Complex. If you have a history of feeling nauseated while traveling, consult your doctor for any medicines you can use while traveling. Keep a pack of glucose powder handy, as you or your fellow travelers might need it. Bandages and antiseptic creams or lotions are also essential. Do keep a pain-relieving balm or spray along in your first-aid kit.

Change of place, climate and food habits tend to make a throat sore, the cure for which is to gurgle with hot water with salt in it.

A good medicine for abdominal problems is the cheap and easily available Isabgol. It is a tasteless dry seed that can be taken with water, milk or yogurt and perform the miracle of holding one's insides intact while on the move. Foreigners often jeered at this native remedy but now that its properties have been acclaimed by science, you can buy a sugarcoated variety.

Medical kits must be attuned to your personal needs. Don't lug around on a trek medicines you know you will never need.

NEWSPAPERS

Invariably useful for a wide range of purposes is an old newspaper. You can open it under your sleeping bag on a cold pier waiting for the boat, or spread it on top of your sleeping bag as an extra blanket. It can help dry your shoes; folded it carries fruit and vegetables. It can stabilize a rocking table in a restaurant and enable you to survive a windy night by sealing a window that rattles. Newspapers are ideal to hide behind when you don't want to talk or when you can't find your trousers are big enough to preserve your modesty. They swat files, double up as blotting paper, provide crosswords, and will turn into paper airplanes.

TORCH

A small torch is an essential equipment. Lights can go off at any time in India, especially in the summer months with the load on the power grid. A pen-torch of plastic or aluminum body withstands the monsoon mildew.

NAIL CLIPPER/RAZOR

Excellent advice to a trekker who has climbed to his objective is "cut your fingernails". If you don't, the descent can be excruciating and you may lose the whole nail from the bruising journey back down. If you can't dig out the expedition scissors, use a razor blade that you ought to have taped inside your diary. To have such small but lifesaving gadgets close at hand is the greatest art the traveler can learn.

LOCK

It always pays to carry a small lock, but not too small. This should be used to double-lock the door of your tourist bungalow or budget hotel. If it opens to a number combination you must remember to carry a torch when you return at night. When carrying a key chain, tie it on a piece of brightly colored cloth or plastic that will enable its easier location if dropped. In India many doors are hinged at both sides and open at the middle in two panels. Make sure the first panel that closes is firmly bolted top and bottom, otherwise both panels will remain loose and offer a security threat.

STRING

If you are of the scientific mould and feel an urge to measure everything, an easy measuring rod to carry is a length of string with knots to indicate inches. You can use this to measure the size of a temple frieze or gauge the circumference of a Himalayan cedar. Some travelers consider string the most precious aid and use it to secure rattling windows and mend sagging deck chairs. Nowadays, a good substitute is a roll of scotch tape or plastic insulating tape, which can mend, patch, and close many unwanted openings.

UMBRELLA

It is the best protection against the scorching rays of the sun. It is also one of the most valuable pieces of trekking equipment is an umbrella. It acts as a walking stick, can scare off dogs and can also do services as a tent support.

MOISTURIZED TISSUES

Luxurious it may sound, but for answering the call of nature in wildness areas, nothing can beat a can of moisturized scented tissues. These are available at chemists in the bigger towns. Being moist they serve better than toilet paper in extreme situations. 

        For more info & tips rush your queries to info@andamanisland.com

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