Country Information

Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such as cumin, turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although these vary from region to region. Vegetable dishes are more common than in Europe, particularly in southern India.

Things to know: Bottled water is recommended for visitors but make sure the bottles are properly sealed. Alcohol is mainly served at mid- and upper-range restaurants in the larger towns and cities; in budget eateries, it's usually only found at non-vegetarian restaurants which have a liquor licence.

National specialities:

• Dhal (curried lentils).
• Kulfi (firm Indian-style ice cream).
• Gulab Jamuns (deep-fried dough balls in sweet syrup).
• Jalebi (circular-shaped deep-fried batter in sweet syrup).
• Paan (betel nut, with assorted condiments and spices, wrapped in a paan leaf).

National drinks:

• Chai (tea) is India's favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed with milk and sugar unless ‘tray tea' or ‘separate tea' is specified.
• Coffee has long been popular in the south, but nowadays most large cities and towns have cafés serving cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and more.
• Nimbu Pani (lemon water).
• Lassi (iced yogurt/buttermilk beverage).
• Indian beer (in many varieties, with Kingfisher the most popular brand).

Legal Drinking Age: 18-25 (state variations).

Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants that impose no service fee; optional where service fee is added to bill.

Apart from some of the major cities, such as Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi and Bengaluru (Bangalore), India has generally little nightlife as the term is understood in the West. In those cities with a flourishing nightlife, expect to find swanky bars, nightclubs and a vibrant performing arts scene. In most larger towns and tourist centres there are cultural shows featuring regionally-diverse performances of Indian dance and music.

Each region has its own specialities, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills, often passed down the generations. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork, gems and antiques, India is a shopper's paradise. Bargaining is the norm at most bazaars, and visitors can check for reasonable prices at fixed-price, state-run emporia. India has one of the world's largest carpet industries and exquisite Persian rugs can be found nationally. Other goods include pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, incense, puppets and musical instruments.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat around 0930-1700 in most large stores; variable hours in bazaars.

Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100 years old, ivory, animal horns, endangered shells, animal skins and objects made from skins.