The big hotels, shops, restaurants
and various Indian Airlines take major international credit cards.
Travellers cheques are the safest form of money to be carried, and can
be used directly to settle bills. Stick to the well known brands -
American Express, Visa, Thomas Cook, Citibank and Barclays, keep the
photocopies too. The best currencies to take are US dollars and pounds
sterling. More than $10,000 (or equivalent) in cash, must be declared.
There are also 24 hour branches of
the State Bank of India and Thomas Cook in the arrival and departure
areas of the international airport. The Indian currency is the rupee
(Rs), which has 100 paisa. There are coins of 25, 50 paise and also
coins of Rs. 1, 2, 5. There are notes of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
and 500. Check out current Exchange Rates.
You will get encashment certificates from
the Bank for each transaction, which should be kept carefully. In case,
while going back you want the Indian Rupees to be changed back into
foreign currency, the same can be done upto US $ 500 worth of rupees.
Credit cards are widely accepted at mid range and upmarket hotels and
for buying rail and air tickets and also in many shops. On a MasterCard,
Visa Card, or Japanese Credit bureau card, you can now get cash advances
in rupees on the spot in main cities. With American Express you can get
dollar or sterling travellers cheques in Delhi.
COMMUNICATION
POST
There is a small post office in A-Block at Connaught Place, another in
N-Block in Middle Circle, Connaught Place, near the Delhi Tourism
Corporation Office. The main branch is just outside Connaught Place on
Ashoka Marg and one in Chanakyapuri. Rest are scattered all around
Delhi, you can find one in every local market. They are open on
weekdays. The rates are displayed on boards for letters, in India and
abroad and for parcels. Grand Post Office - Phone : +(91)-(11)-2524369 Eastern Court - Phone : +(91)-(11)-3321878 Foreign Post Office - Phone : +(91)-(11)-3313304
TELEPHONE
There are private STD/ISD call booths everywhere with direct local,
interstate and international dialling. A digital meter is attached to
let you know, how much your call is costing and gives you a printout at
the end. The international access code from India is 00, after which you
need to dial your country code followed by area code and then the phone
number. Almost all the hotel rooms have the facility for phones, but
international calls have hefty additional charges levied.
Fax facility are available on most of these STD/ISD call booths and
also in the hotels.
POST
TELEPHONE