Aspire Tours & Travels (P) Ltd is one of India’s leading travel organizations providing integrated tour and travel services. We have rich experience in conducting GIT/FIT tours. Our salient features include safe escorting, guiding, providing comfortable mode of transportation and accommodation and assisting for selection of places of visits. We believe in “Atithi Devo Bhava” meaning “Guest is God” and ensure that the interest of the guest is protected at all times. Our team of professionally trained staffs, guides and chauffeurs provide personalized service to the clients and ensure smooth operations of the tour. We provide the following services like package tours, booking hotels throughout India, event management, student package tours, incentive tours, medical tourism, car rentals, guide and visa services. Rely upon our professional and efficient expertise to discover your dream destinations. Customer satisfaction is our utmost goal and we welcome you as a client and send you off as a friend.

India is a unique country in the whole of the world; know for its rich cultural values, traditions, long standing history, languages, music, art, architecture, religions, natural reserves etc. It is the motherland of Philosophy, Yoga and Ayurveda. India has a great history that dates back to even 9000 years. It is the home of Indus Valley Civilization. It is the seventh largest country in the world by geographical area. It is the second most populous nation in the world. The name India is derived from “Indus”, which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sanskrit word sindhu, the local appellation for the Indus River. India has 28 states and 7 union territories. It is the largest democratic country in the world. It has an estimated population of 1.1 billion. About 80.5% of people are Hindus, 13.4% of people are Muslims (3rd largest Muslim population in the World), other religious groups include Sikhs (2%), Christians (2.43%), Buddhists (0.76%), Jains (0.40%) etc. Indian constitution recognizes 23 official languages. Sanskrit and Tamil are the two Classical languages of India. The number of dialects in India is as high as 1,652. India is a peace loving country which never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history. India invented the number system and zero was invented by Aryabhatta. The world’s first University was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. The brain game Chess was invented in India. Sushruta is the father of surgery who conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones even prior to 2600 years. India is also known as the land of festivals. It is known for its unity in diversity. As a tourism destination India has everything from temples to palaces, from heritage sites to fabulous beaches, from natural reserves to game forests etc. make India a complete tourist destination. Passport & Visa : All foreign nationals require visa to enter India. The Indian Embassies/Missions situated outside issue visas.

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency at the time of departure. Cash, Bank Notes and Travelers Cheques up to US$ 10,000 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of Travelers Cheques, Drafts, Bills, Cheques etc. which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money changers and a receipt of changed money be taken. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized moneychangers is an offense. Please note that no Indian Currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee Travelers Cheques. Banks abroad do keep rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee Travelers Cheques to intending tourists.

India is a vast country having different customs which are followed in different parts of the country. You may find the metros more liberal and cosmopolitan as would be the case anywhere in the world and you may come across various unusual customs as you move into the hinterland, which are preserved over thousands of years. You may also find that in general, the attitude to life is vastly different compared to your part of the world. However, Indians are a hospitable people and usually take in their stride your different ways. Nevertheless, there may be certain situations where you not following the accepted norm will be seen as a sign of disrespect. These are the situations you need to know about. • Always remove your shoes before entering a holy place such as a Temple, Gurudwara or mosque, and tomb of Muslim holy men will also require you to cover your head .In general, dress conservatively at a place of worship. • Do not touch any holy object with the feet or your left hand. Also, do not give, take or point at anything with the left hand. If you are required to eat with your fingers at any place use your right hand. • Public show of personal affection is generally disapproved of, particularly in smaller cities and villages. Avoid it. • Avoid wearing clothes that bare your arms and legs especially in smaller cities and villages in particular. Metros are fairly liberal in this respect. • Always follow the rules written on notice boards at holy places. These may include' leather objects not allowed',' cameras not allowed', menstruating woman not allowed', and so on and so forth. • Giving tips is customary but not mandatory. At restaurants, the usual rule of 5-10 percent applies while giving tips. The trick is if you want quicker service you tip. • Bargaining for a lesser price is a fairly common fact of day-to-day life, especially at local bazaars, with rickshaws and with auto rickshaws branded. However, recognized and larger shops, departmental stores will usually charge fixed prices

For purposes of customs, a 'Tourist' is defined as a person not normally resident in India, who enters India for a period upto 6 months in the course of any 12 months period, for legitimate non immigration purposes. Passengers who are covered by this definition, except passengers of Nepali origin arriving from Nepal, will be entitled to concessions under the tourist baggage rules 1978, whether they happen to possess Tourist, Transit or Entry visa or not. Baggage declaration : Visitors are generally required to make oral baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession if it is more than the permitted limit, in which case they will have to obtain a Currency Declaration Form before leaving customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the respective airlines during the course of the flight. Articles allowed free of duty : If you are eligible to avail concessions under the Tourist Baggage Rules 1978, duty free imports of the following items is allowed: Personal Effects : All personal effects like clothing and other articles, which you may reasonably require during your period of stay. These include personal jewelry, 1 camera with 12 plates or 5 rolls of films, 1 miniature cine-camera with 2 reels of film, 1 pair of binoculars, 1 portable typewriter, 1 pram, 1 tent and other camping equipment, sports equipment such as 1 fishing outfit, 1 non-powered bicycle, 1 Canoe or Kayak less than 5.5 meter's, 2 pair of skis, 2 tennis rackets. Articles not allowed free of duty : • Motorcycle, scooter or moped • Cigarettes exceeding 200, or cigars exceeding 50, or tobacco exceeding 250 gms • Alcoholic liquor exceeding 1 liter, Tourist, whether of foreign or Indian origin, are allowed to import duty free: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 Gms of tobacco and alcoholic liquor up to 1 liter. Import of weapons : Import of weapons is prohibited. Inquire at the Indian mission before departure for full details. Prohibited articles : The import of certain articles such as dangerous drugs, live plants, gold coins, gold and silver bullion and silver coins not in current use, is either totally prohibited or restricted. The law provides heavy penalties for infringement of this restriction. Enquire at the Indian mission for further details.

Passengers embarking on journeys to any place outside India from a customs airport / seaport will have to pay a foreign travel tax (FTT) of Rs. 150 on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Rs. 500 to all other countries. Transit passengers traveling by air who have to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTT. Also PSF@Rs.200 for all tickets issued in Indian Rupees and US Dollar 5 is charged for each point of embarkation in India w.e.f. 1 April 2001.

There are Government approved hotels in India rating from Five Star Deluxe, Five Star, Four Star, Three Star, Two Star and One Star. For more details kindly contact us. Heritage hotels : Among tourism's recent gains in India has been the launch of the unique heritage hotels scheme. The country's rich and distinguished cultural past has bequeathed it a number of feudal estates that are in the nature of small forts or palaces, havelis, the mansions of erstwhile aristocratic families. In a heritage hotel, a visitor can expect to be extended a gracious welcome, offered rooms that have their own history, be offered traditional cuisine toned down to the requirements of internationals palates, be entertained by folk artistes, participate in activities that allows a glimpse into the heritage of the region, and bask in an atmosphere that lives and breathes of the past.

Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from November to mid March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days, really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September. Western Himalayas : Srinagar is best from March to October, July to August can be unpleasant, cold and damp in winter. Shimla is higher and therefore colder in winter and places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Manali under several feet of snow (December to March) and temperatures in Ladakh can be extremely cold. The road to Leh is open from June to September. Lightweight to medium weights clothing from March to October and warmer wear for winter is recommended. Northern plains : extreme climate, warm inland from April to mid June falling to almost freezing at night in winter, between November and February summers hot with monsoons between June and September. Lightweight cottons and linens in summer with warmer clothes in winter and on cooler evenings are recommended. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons. Central India : Madhya Pradesh state escapes very worst of hot season but monsoon are heavy between July and September. Temperatures fall at night during winter. Lightweight most of the year with warmer clothes during evenings particularly in winter, waterproofing during monsoon rains is recommended. Western India : November to February is most comfortable, although evenings can be cold. Summers can be extremely hot with monsoon rainfall between Mid June and Mid September. Lightweight cottons and linens most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler winters and waterproofing essential in monsoon are recommended. Southwest : The most pleasant weather is from November to March. Monsoon rains between late April and July. Summer temperatures not as high as northern Indian although humidity is extreme. Cool breeze on coast. Inland, Mysore and Bijapur have pleasant climate with relatively low rainfall. Lightweights all year with warmer clothes for cooler evenings particularly in winter and waterproofing during monsoon are recommended. Southeast : Tamil Nadu experiences northeast monsoon between October and December and temperatures and humidity are high round the year. Hills can be cold in winter. Hyderabad is hot but less humid in summer and much cooler in winter. Lightweight cottons and lines, waterproofing in monsoon, warmer clothes in winter particularly in hills are recommended.

Certain parts of the country need special entry permits before they can be visited. Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland : These Sates/Union Territories have been designated as protected areas and foreigners cannot enter these areas without special permits. These permits are issued by the Under-Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigner Division, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi -110003 at least 4 weeks before the date of the expected visit in some instance by Indian Mission, consulates near your home. Advisable to check before leaving. Sikkim : Certain areas of Sikkim like Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pamayangtse have been excluded from the inner line and declared as Restricted Areas. Individual tourists are permitted to visit Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang. Group tourists are permitted to visit Zongri and Pamayangtse. The duration of stay has been raised from 7 to 15 days. Permits can be issued by all Indian missions abroad, all FRRO-Immigration officers at Airports at Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and New Delhi Chief Secretary, Govt. of Sikkim, Secretary, Hotel Department Govt. of Sikkim, L.G. Police, Govt. of Sikkim, Siliguri, Dy. Director Tourism, Government of Sikkim, New Delhi, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim, New Delhi Calcutta, Dy Commissioner of Darjeeling and Dy Secretary, Home department, Govt. Of West Bengal. Manipur : Manipur has also been opened to foreign tourists, permits can be issued by all missions abroad, all FRRO, Home Commissioner, Manipur, Imphal. The duration of stay has been raised from 3 to 5 days. Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Individual foreign tourists can visit Port Blair municipal area, Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, where a night halt is allowed and Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet, Madhurban where only day visits are allowed. Prior permit is necessary. Individual tourists are permitted 30 days allowed. Lakshadweep Island : Of this only Bangaram, Agatti and Suheli Islands are open to foreign tourists. Permits are required, obtainable from the Lakshadeep Administration, Wellington Island, Harbour Road, Cochin-3. However foreign tourists traveling in organized groups may obtain permits in advance from the administrator at Cochin through a recognized Travel Agent / Tour Operator. Electricity : Voltage in most places is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, although some areas also have DC supplies. Visitors are advised to check the voltage before using any electrical appliances. Socket sizes vary, so it is advisable to take a set of plug adapters, available from most electrical stores near your home.