India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) - Keith Bain [619]
TAXES The tax on hotel accommodations varies from state to state, and sometimes by city; it may be anywhere between 5% and 12.5%, and may differ within the same hotel according to the level of luxury and comfort you’re experiencing. On the other hand, in regions like Ladakh, there is no taxation. Additional taxes on restaurant food and alcohol also vary from state to state. Imported liquors attract a similarly disagreeable sin tax, making local brands far more attractive than their quality might suggest. In Tamil Nadu, for example, a whopping 73.5% tax is levied on imported liquor. Restaurant bills often include additional charges (such as a service tax) that usually account for between 10% and 15% of the total cost of your meal.
TELEPHONES Phone numbers in India change at the drop of a hat, and businesses are slow in updating contact information, including websites.
To call India:
1. Dial the international access code: 011 (from the U.S. and Canada); 00 (from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand); or 0011 (from Australia).
2. Dial the country code: 91.
3. Dial the city code (these are provided in the relevant chapters), omitting the first zero.
4. Dial the telephone number.
Note: To call a cellphone number in India, follow up to step 2 above and then dial the 10-digit cellphone number, which should begin with “9.”
Making calls within India: Hotel telephone costs are exorbitant, even when you make a domestic long-distance call. All over India, you’ll see yellow ISD/STD signs indicating a privately operated “International Subscriber Dialing” and “Standard Trunk Dialing” facility; these are very reasonably priced. To call a mobile phone number that is not in the city in which you are based, dial “0” before the 10-digit number. Note that the Indian toll-free numbers (1/800) cannot be dialed from cellphones and land lines that don’t belong to the MTNL or BSNL networks.
Making calls from cellphones: When making calls from cellphones, you’ll need to punch in the full area code of the city and telephone number irrespective of where you are calling from (even for local calls). To call a cellphone number within a city, just dial the 10-digit cellphone number; to call a cellphone outside your city, add a “0” before the number.
To make international calls: Dial 00 and then the country code (U.S. or Canada 1, U.K. 44, Ireland 353, Australia 61, New Zealand 64). Next, dial the area code and number. For example, if you want to call the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., dial 00-1-202-588-7800.
For directory assistance: Dial 197 if you’re looking for a local number within India, and dial 183 for long-distance numbers within India. Don’t hold your breath for accurate or up-to-date assistance, and speak slowly and clearly.
For operator assistance: If the phone you’re using is not an International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) facility, you’ll need operator assistance and must dial 186. Using an ISD facility without the need for an operator will save you a great deal of time. Toll-free numbers: To call a 1-800 number in the U.S. from India, first contact the international operator through the Direct Access service. For a call to the U.S., call 000-117 (AT&T Direct Access), which gives you an AT&T operator, through whom you can make your toll-free or collect call. Note, however, that these Direct Access calls cannot be made from everywhere; to ensure you won’t be charged for the call, check with your hotel before dialing.
TIME Despite India’s vastness, the entire country operates according to the same time zone, 51⁄2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. That’s 91⁄2 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York) or 101⁄2 when daylight saving time comes into effect in the U.S. Note: You may find your sense of time threatened while you’re in India; the rule of thumb is don’t panic. Remember that there’s no point in getting worked up about delayed trains and such. In fact, when you arrive on time or ahead of schedule, be thankful. Use “wasted