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hotels, a concession made principally for foreigners and out-of-state businesspeople. In most other non-Muslim areas, alcohol is freely available and exceedingly popular. In top hotels, you’ll find a full range of imported liquor, available to those who can afford the extravagance. In most cities you will encounter “country liquor” bars and insalubrious liquor “dens”; and somewhere on your travels you may be offered local bootlegged stuff—all of which you’re advised to stay clear of. In a few of the southern states, notably Kerala and Tamil Nadu, stringent alcohol laws are in place: Liquor is found in many hotels and restaurants (but not all, since liquor licenses can be difficult to obtain), but outside these licensed premises, alcohol may only be sold by government-owned outlets (where you’ll often see queues forming from early in the morning)—part of an attempt to prevent the sale of dangerous illicit concoctions that have in the past caused death and blindness.

The legal drinking age differs from state to state, and ranges from 18 to 25; in Mumbai, for example, wine and beer may be consumed from the age of 21, but you must be 25 to drink spirits. Foreigners are unlikely to be questioned about their age in the context of alcohol consumption. Laws concerning alcohol use change regularly, often in response to serious concerns around abuse. It’s best to drink modestly and restrict drinking to places where it is obviously permitted. Certain religious sites place restrictions on intoxication or even alcohol use, so best to be on your toes if you don’t mean to cause offence.

DRIVING RULES See “Getting There and Getting Around.”

ELECTRICITY 220–240 volts AC.

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES Embassies of major English-speaking countries are listed in the “Fast Facts” section for Delhi; see chapter 10. For quick reference, here are some embassy numbers: Australia 011/4139-9900; Canada 011/4178-2000; New Zealand 011/2688-3170; and the U.K. 011/2419-2100. The U.S. State Department encourages American citizens visiting India to register at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi (Shantipath, Chanakyapuri; 011/2419-8000; fax 011/2419-0017; http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov) or at one of the U.S. consulates in India. The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Rd., 400 026 ( 022/2363-3611; fax 022/2363-0350; http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov). The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700 071 ( 033/3984-2400; fax 033/2282-2335; http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov). The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600 006 ( 044/2857-4000; fax 044/2811-2020; http://chennai.usconsulate.gov).

EMERGENCIES Refer to “Fast Facts” sections in individual chapters for police, ambulance, and emergency contact numbers.

HOLIDAYS Expect to find a different schedule of public holidays for each state. There are, additionally, just four national public holidays: January 26 is Republic Day, August 15 is Independence Day, October 2 is Gandhi’s Birthday, and December 25 is Christmas Day. Expect a host of religious holidays and festivals (see the “Calendar of Events” in the Planning Chapter) which may or may not cause businesses or other places of interest to close for the day (or perhaps for a few hours).

INSURANCE While the cost of quality medical care in India is nowhere near as expensive as it is in the West, you’re advised to get yourself covered for any major medical emergency. A basic consultation with a specialist doctor costs between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000, so that’s not your real insurance concern. Should you need hospitalization, major medical assistance, or medical evacuation, travel medical insurance will help ease the process and cover all expenses. Note: Try to get “cash-free” insurance for major medical expenses, and carry a list of facilities where this is possible; otherwise you will have to pay first and get reimbursed later—which is the norm in most of India. For travel overseas, most U.S. health plans (including Medicare and Medicaid) do not provide coverage, and the ones