• Passport and Visa requirements
• Currency
• Visa and Mastercard
• Insurance and Liability
• Language
• Health
• International Direct Dialing
• Internet
• Cell Phones
• Electricity
• Personal Property
• Local Time
• Smoking Policy
• Tips
• Tourism websites

Passport and Visa requirements

You are advised to contact the Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate in your country in order to obtain a visa of entry. It is best to ask them how much in advance you need to apply. Normally a month in advance should be enough however for a few countries it may take longer. Please apply for your visa in advance. Your travel agent may also be able to help you. Nodal ministries have been notified of the conference.

Foreign visitors entering India must have a passport valid for at least 6 months after their date of entry in India, except in the case of nationals of Bhutan and Nepal who need only carry suitable means of identification.

The list of Indian diplomatic missions abroad can be found at
www.embassyworld.com/embassy/india.htm

Visa forms may be downloaded from www.india-visa.com

Custom Regulations

• Declaration of Goods: Goods over the duty free allowance, prohibited or restricted goods and commercial goods should be declared at the red channel counter. All visitors to India can bring in, free of duty, used personal effects such as laptop, palm computer and personal jewellery if they take them out again when they depart.
• Foreign Currency Declaration: Travelers should declare foreign currency in the currency declaration form if they are carrying bank notes or traveler’s cheques with a value of more than US $ 10,000 or its equivalent in other currency, they should also declare currency notes with the value of more than US$ 5,000 or its equivalent in other currency.
• Lost or mishandled baggage: The owner of lost or mishandled baggage should obtain a customs endorsement of the unused duty free allowance, and contact a custom officer at the baggage reclaim area incase of any difficulty or complaints.
• Prohibited Articles and Restricted goods: The export or import of narcotic drugs, wildlife and its products, and arms and explosives is prohibited. Anyone attempting to export or import these goods may be arrested and penalized.

Currency

The currency in India is the Rupee, which comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Please use authorised money changers and banks to change currency. They will issue a certificate of exchange which is required at the time of re-conversion of any unused currency. Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, it is an offence to exchange foreign currency other than through authorised money changers or banks. One dollar is roughly equivalent to INR 50 – subject to fluctuations.

There are 24-hour ATMs all over the city

Normal commercial banking hours are from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday and 10 am to 1pm on Saturdays. Banks are closed on weekends and on public holidays.

Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted at most commercial establishments.

Insurance and Liability

The Organizers do not take responsibility for any individual, medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are advised to secure their own insurance policies as necessary.

While every attempt is made to ensure efficient, trouble-free hospitality, including hotel accommodation, sightseeing and tours, participants are advised that no liability accrues to the organizers in case of any necessary modifications such as change in itineraries for tours due to delays or cancellations of flights/other exigencies beyond the organizers´ control.

Language

A host of languages are spoken in Hyderabad and the rest of the country. English is widely spoken or understood except in rural areas.

Health

• Vaccinations: Vaccination against yellow fever is required for visitors who arrive from or transit through yellow fever endemic zones within 6 days before arrival. A yellow fever vaccination certificate conforming to international health regulations is required. No other vaccinations are required.
• Medical Facilities: A doctor and nurse will be available at the conference venue. Ambulances will transfer emergency cases to a hospital. All the conference hotels have a doctor on call.
• Hospitals
  1. Apollo Hospitals Jubilee Hills Hyderabad 500 033 Tel: 040 2360 7777
  2. Care Hospitals Road No. 1 Banjara Hills Hyderabad 500 034 Tel: 040 3041 8888
  3. Image Hospitals Madhapur Hyderabad 500 081 Tel: 2311 6666 / 2311 6000
  4. Vikram Hospitals Hitech City Road Madhapur Hyderabad 500 033 Tel: 2311 1123

There are a few questions in the FAQ section related to health issues. Please click here to visit our FAQ page.

International Direct Dialing

The Country Code for India is ‘91′ followed by the Hyderabad City Code ‘40′, followed by the telephone number, e.g. 91 40 XXXX XXXX. The international access code when dialing out of India is “00″.

Internet

WiFi facility will be available at the Conference venue, in addition to the internet café.

Cell Phones

Cell phone and SIM rental counters at the venue will provide any assistance necessary

Electricity

The voltage in India is 220 volts. Should you wish to use appliances of 110 volts, the Conference Hotels will provide adaptors on request.

Personal Property

Please take good care of your personal property. The Conference Organizers and staff at the venues are not responsible for any loss or damage to personal property.

Local Time

Indian Standard Time (IST) is GMT + 5.30.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted in the conference premises.

Tips

There is no compulsion to tip anyone for any service rendered. If you choose to do so, the traditional tip is in the region of 10%.

Tourism websites

• For information on India – www.incredibleindia.org
• For information on the State of Andhra Pradesh – www.aptourism.in
• For information on the City of Hyderabad – www.aptourism.in/hplaces.html

For any queries regarding ICM2010 please contact R. Tandon at rajattanicm@gmail.com