*Car:**: *Bicycle:**:

Bicycles can be rented at the Yusuf Sarai market in South Delhi or near the Minto Bridge off Connaught Place for about Rs 5 or so an hour plus a returnable deposit.

*Change:**:

You can do so at your hotel or at the airport. Your hotel will give you a government rate that is compatible with the rate anywhere else. The Central Bank of India counter at Ashoka Hotel is open 24 hours as is Thomas Cook. It is advisable to bring in currency in American Express or Thomas Cook travellers cheques or to draw against your Visa, Amex or Mastercard. For changing money against cards or cheques, try the following numbers or addresses:

American Express Bank, A block Connaught Place, tel # 011-3324765/66. This office is open 0930 hours to 1830 hours (sometimes extends to 1830), except Sunday and changes American Express cheques and cash. In-bound travellers on American Express organised tours should contact American Express Travel, Wenger House, Connaught Place, A block, New Delhi, tel # 011-3324119 for any information required.
For the 24-hour helpline call tel # 6875929, 6875930.

Thomas Cook, Imperial Hotel, Janpath, tel # 011-3322171/ 3328432. Open 24 hours.

Mastercard: Bank of America, 15, Barakhamba Road; ANZ Grindlays Bank, Sansad Marg.

Visa: Bank of America, 15, Barakhamba Road; ANZ Grindlays Bank, Sansad Marg.

*Bank:**:

Located in all commercial areas. Banks are open for monetary transactions between 1000 hours and 1400 hours and till noon on Saturday. In some areas, banks are open on Sunday.

Business Hours

Government offices are open Monday to Friday, 0930 hours to 1730 hours. Most other offices are open 1000 hours to 1730 hours on all days except the weekend. All offices close for lunch usually between 1300 hours and 1400 hours.

*Visa:**:

Visa extension and registration for long term stays can be done at the Foreigner's Registration office at Hans Bhawan, 1st Floor, Mathura Road, Tilak Bridge, tel # 011-3319489. Open 0930 hours to 1600 hours. (lunch break 1300 hours to 1400 hours) Monday through Friday. A prior phone call is advised to find out what is exactly required.

*Fax:**:

Hotels, by and large, charge a steep surcharge for faxes sent from the hotel room through your own modem. Equivalent, in fact, and not coincidentally, to the service charge levied on faxes sent from hotel business centres.

*Call:**:

When you use your telephone card from your hotel room, be warned that most hotels charge a steep surcharge per call.

*Comp:**:

Many hotels do not supply a separate outlet for plugging your computer in. The voltage in the phone outlet is unusually high, hence you will require a current adaptor. Additionally, you will need a plug adaptor for your modem jack.

*Tax:**:

Shops levy a sales tax, depending on the type of item purchased. However if sales tax is charged, a bill must be issued. The starred hotels levy steep government expenditure taxes on food and drink. International brands of scotch are available in restaurants and bars for which additional taxes are levied.

*Video:**:

India follows the PAL system.

*Elec:**:

220 volts. You will require plug adaptors.

*Camera:**:

There are many shops at Connaught Place which can repair your Nikons and Canons. Do remember to fix the price for the service in advance.

*Taxi:**:

Taxis charge a minimum fare of Rs 7 and autorickshaws Rs 4.40 for the first kilometre. Except for taxis equipped with electronic meters, you must pay by the tariff card. Ask for the card and verify the tariff before making payment. There are no extras, except for luggage for which Rs 5 is charged per piece and a late night charge for travel between 11 pm and 5 am (20 per cent extra for autorickshaws and 25 per cent for taxis).

Tipping is optional, although cabbies and rickshaw drivers seem to expect tips from foreign tourists. Make sure the driver turns down the meter after you get in. If he refuses to do so (cabbies and rickshaw drivers may refuse to do so late at night or early in the morning or if you want to travel a short distance), hail another cab or rickshaw. If you have any problem, call 3319334/3314229 or, better still, hail a blue-and-white-uniform-clad traffic policeman.

*Tip:**:

Ten per cent to waiters. At Roadside cafes, a few rupees should suffice. Hotel bellboys, doormen, and hairdressers should be tipped.

*Tourist:**:

*Book:**:

Every five-star hotel has a bookstore where film, maps, postcards, greeting cards are stocked. There are plenty of good bookstores at Connaught Place, Khan Market and South Extension in South Delhi. *Mag:**:

Business India, Business World and Business Today are all good business magazines. Newsweek and Time are available at most hotel bookstores; also at the Central News Agency at 123/90, Connaught Circus. Most bookshops and railway stations stock magazines.

*News:**:

Delhi's popular dailies are Hindustan Times, and The Times of India. These newspapers will have information of what's on in the city. The Pioneer and The Asian Age provide lively coverage of international news events. The International Herald Tribune is easily found at any of the hotel bookstores.

*Jog:**: Lodhi Gardens and Deer Park are the best choices and also safe.

*Drug:**:

Super Bazar, Connaught Circus, tel # 011-3310163, open 24 hours. All major hospitals have 24-hour chemists located close by.

*Medi:**:

There are numerous nursing homes in every housing colony, which can be reached in an emergency easily.

*Hosp:**: *Cour:**:

All major hotels have courier offices. The centrally located Kanishka Hotel shopping plaza has several such offices. Also, government-run Speed Post counters are situated at most post offices. Or try: *Relig:**: *Guide:**: *Emba:**:

*Domes:**:

*Int:**:

*End:**: