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Currency & Costs
The Indian rupee is
available in denominations of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 500.
One rupee is split into a hundred paise, available in denominations of 10p, 25p and 50p.
There are coins for Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5.
The most meagre that your
budget can get is $30 per day of your stay. You’ll struggle with dormitory
accommodation, looking for cheap grub, and trying to figure out bus routes and timings but
you’ll just about survive. A healthy budget in India is about thrice that. $45 a day
will see you sleep in decent clean beds and wake up to an attached bathroom for morning
ablutions. It’ll fetch you three decent meals, a spot of shopping and some
auto-rickshaw rides. This estimate has been made keeping in mind urban India. Rates and
prices vary from region to region. In the south it is easy to find great mid-rung
accommodation at low rung prices even in the cities. Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi are both
quite expensive. Small temple towns will be easy on the pocket; beach bumming and wildlife
moonlighting may work out dirt cheap or highly pricey. So it’s really about how you
chose to do it.
The dollar goes a long way
in India (the pound sterling, longer). The bare minimum is just under $20 a day while a
top end holiday could blow through the roof and cost upwards of US$200. Make sure you
bring enough for souvenirs though. Believe the hype: this is a treasure trove of a city!
Banks & Money Changers
Banking in India has become
quite easy now. The sector has steadily opened up to privatised participation, which has
bolstered the services and performance of state run entities too. Multinational banks have
a sizeable presence in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and offer facilities
like ATMs, so Any Time Money is yours for the asking. Banking hours usually are 10 AM to 2
PM Monday to Friday and 10 AM to 12-noon on Saturdays.
Bank holidays vary from
region to region. Major festivals are holidays though it is unlikely that a bank will be
closed for longer than 2 days in a row.
Major international credit
cards are widely accepted in the cities.
Changing money can be a
tedious process so change substantial amounts at a time. Not all banks accept
travellers’ cheques or currency other than dollars or pound sterling and if you find
one that services your needs take advantage of it. Changing money anywhere but at
accredited bureaux is illegal. Moneychangers are also available at the airport and in the
city hotels. International foreign exchange providers have several branches in the larger
cities and will change most currencies as will major branches of Indian banks. Save up all
exchange receipts (encashment certificates); these are required for visa extensions and
other formalities, and when you want to convert rupees at the end of your trip.
Business Guide
The
major centre of business wheeling and dealing is Hyderabad. Most corporate houses have
their main offices in Andhra Pradesh in this city, as does the Telugu showbiz industry.
The city is fast challenging the status of Bangalore as the cyber capital of India.
Fuelled by administrative ambition and Government patronage, the IT industry is getting a
lot of encouragement here. Capital city, headquarter of the Government of Andhra Pradesh,
the world of busy bureaucrats; Hyderabad is also the place where decisions get
made, deals are sealed and big contracts awarded. Hyderabad is a major trading centre for
pearls and it also manufactures glass, textiles, guns, railway coaches and paper.
With increasing liberalisation at both the economic level and at the societal
level, business protocol has begun to adhere to western standards. In the big cities
expect thorough professionalism when dealing with private companies and high-ranking
bureaucracy. Keep appointments, be punctual (though that’s a value that Indians are
only now picking up), and shake hands if one is offered or greet with hands folded in
‘namaste’. You’ll most likely be asked questions about family and home not
because anybody wants to pry but because many Indians believe that curiosity conveys
concern.
There are many women executives, often top-level management. Most will not take
shaking hands amiss. Some however, are still conservative. So you don’t misstep, be
sensitive to how the lady greets you and respond accordingly. Dress formally for business
meetings. Women would probably be more comfortable in trousers than a skirt. Men should
wear formal cotton shirts with a tie and trousers if the weather is warm. Otherwise a
business suit is appropriate. |