9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

India is the South Asian country most frequently visited by U.S.
citizens. Visas must be obtained before arrival. Persons arriving
without visas must leave on the next plane. If you plan to travel from
India to Nepal or another country and return to India, be sure to
request a multiple entry visa. Tourist visas are issued for a maximum
of 9@ days. Once in India, visitors who wish to extend their stay must
apply to a Foreigners Regional Registration Office. Extensions, if
granted, may not bring the total visit to more than six months.

Customs regulations prohibiting the importation of gold or Indian
currency, and regulating importation of electronics, foreign currency,
and firearms are strictly enforced. Offenders of these regulations may
be jailed, fined and/or charged duty at rates exceeding 300 percent of
the item's value. Laws against drug smuggling carry heavy penalties,
including a ten-year prison term.

Political or communal and inter-caste violence occurs intermittently in
many parts of the country. Major civil disturbances can pose risks to a
traveler's personal safety and can disrupt transportation systems and
city services. In response to communal violence, Indian authorities may
occasionally impose curfews. Foreigners have rarely been the targets of
communal or political violence in India, and are principally at risk of
becoming inadvertent victims only if they stray into demonstrations.
Whether dangerous or not, many areas of India have been declared off-
limits to foreigners by the Indian authorities. Permits are required
for: Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh, Sikkim, parts of Kulu District and Spiti District of Himachal
Pradesh, border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, certain areas of Uttar
Pradesh, the area west of National Highway No. 5 running from Ganganagar
to Sanchar in Rajasthan, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Union
Territory of the Laccadive Islands. Persons of Indian origin can
usually obtain permits to visit relatives in restricted areas. Other
visitors may have to wait a long time for a permit or be unable to
obtain one. Consult the latest Department of State Consular Information
Sheet on which areas are restricted. Once in India, consult the U.S.
Embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate for information on restricted
areas and advice on obtaining permits to visit them. None of the
popular tourist sites in India are in restricted areas.

Republic of Maldives

The islands of the Maldives have long been popular vacation sites.
Diplomatic relations are maintained and consular services are provided
through the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In emergencies, there
is a U.S. consular agent on the capital island of Male (for address, ask
at a resort or hotel) who can help travelers communicate with the U.S.
Embassy in Colombo. A no-fee visa for a tourist visit of up to 3@ days
is issued upon arrival at the airport. Foreign currency may be taken in
or out of the Maldives without restriction. Pork foodstuffs and alcohol
may not be imported.

Nepal

Nepal is a popular adventure tourism destination; over 20,000 Americans
visit Nepal each year. A tourist visa valid for up to 6@ days is issued
at ports of entry upon arrival. Visas can be routinely extended in
Kathmandu and Pokhara for stays of up to four months; a fifth month
requires special approval. Penalties for overstaying a visa may include
fines and imprisonment. Nepalese customs laws, particularly those
forbidding smuggling of drugs, gold, and foreign currency, are strictly
enforced. The penalty for smuggling is a stiff fine and/or a prison
sentence. Travelers should take adequate funds in the form of travelers
checks. It is difficult to obtain additional funds through bank

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

5/9


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

AFGHANISTAN: (see Pakistan)

BANGLADESH (workweek: Sunday-Thursday)
American Embassy

Diplomatic Enclave

Madani Ave., Baridhara

GPO Box 323, Dhaka 1212

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tel: (880-2) 884700-22

Fax: (880-2) 883-744

INDIA

U.S. Embassy

Shanti Path
Chanakyapuri 110021
New Delhi, India

Tel: (91-11) 600651
Fax: (91-11) 687-2028

American Consulate General
Lincoln House

78 Bhulabhai Desai Rd. 400026
Bombay, India

Tel: (91-22) 363-3611

Fax: (91-22) 363-0350

American Consulate General

5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani 700071
Calcutta, India

Tel: (91-33) 242-3611 thru 15
Fax: (91-33) 242-2335

American Consulate General

Mount Rd., 600006

Madras, India

Tel: (91-44) 826-3040 or 827-7542
Fax: (91-44) 826-3407

MALDIVES (See Sri Lanka)

NEPAL

American Embassy

Pani Pokhari

Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: (977-1) 411179, 412718, 410531 or 413836
Fax: (977-1) 419963

PAKISTAN (workweek: Sunday-Thursday)
American Embassy

Diplomatic Enclave

Ramna 5

Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: (92-51) 826-161 thru 79

Fax: (92-51) 214-222

American Consulate General

8 Abdullah Haroon Rd.

Karachi, Pakistan

Tel: (92-21) 568-5170 (afterhours 568-1606)
Fax: (92-21) 568-3089

American Consulate General
5@ Sharah-E-Bib Badees (5@ Empress Rd.)
Simal Hills Lahore K

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

The United States prohibits importation of Asian ivory because Asian
elephants are an endangered species. Most lizardskin and many snakeskin
products cannot be brought into the United States. The penalty for
importing products derived from endangered species is seizure of the
product and a substantial fine.

Country Information
Afghanistan

The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against travel to
Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a developing, Islamic country presently in
the midst of a civil war. Fighting and indiscriminate rocket attacks
aerial bombardments, and other violence can occur without warning. Land
mines are prevalent throughout the countryside. All U.S. personnel at
the U.S. Embassy in Kabul were evacuated on January 31, 1989, and no
other diplomatic mission represents U.S. interest or provides consular
services. The nearest U.S. Embassy is in Islamabad, Pakistan

Because of safety and security concerns arising from the civil war in
Afghanistan, all U.S. airlines and aircraft operators are prohibited by
the Federal Aviation Administration from overflying Afghanistan.

Bangladesh

No visa is required for a tourist stay of up to two weeks if you have an
onward ticket; all business travelers must have visas, however.
Bangladesh is an Islamic country, and visitors should dress modestly --
shorts are considered inappropriate.

Crime is a serious problem in Dhaka. Foreigners have not been
especially targeted, but are often the victims of crime. Travelers
should also be wary of and give a wide berth to politically-based street
agitation, protests, and general strikes. These can flare into random
violence without warning and result in attacks on nearby persons and
property.

Travelers should pay special attention to preventive health measures
because medical facilities, especially in rural areas, are not always
available. River ferries are necessary for travel throughout much of
Bangladesh, but travelers should exercise caution when using them.
Accidents frequently occur from overcrowding and from hazardous
navigation during poor weather. Trekkers may not go to the Chittagong
Hill Tracts, which are off-limits to foreigners.

Kingdom of Bhutan

While Bhutan and the United States do not have formal diplomatic
relations, informal contact is maintained through the U.S. Embassy in
New Delhi, India. Restrictions on tourism to Bhutan have been relaxed
recently. Tourists are no longer limited to traveling in organized
groups; however independent travelers must book through a travel agency.
Visas must be requested in advance and are stamped on arrival in Bhutan.
Entry must be via Bangladesh, India or Nepal. The border with China is
closed. For information, contact Bhutan Travel Inc., 12@ East 56th
Street, Suite 113@, New York, NY 10022 (tel. 212-838-6382).

India

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

4/9


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

transfers and, except at major Kathmandu hotels, credit cards are rarely
accepted.

Trekking is very popular in Nepal. Tourists are cautioned to obtain a
trekking permit from the Central Immigration Office, to avoid trekking
alone, to be alert for signs of altitude sickness, and to obtain a
meningococcal meningitis vaccination if trekking outside the Kathmandu
Valley. Those wishing to climb the high peaks should write for
permission to the Ministry of Tourism to the attention of the
mountaineering division, well in advance of planned expeditions
Travelers should note that there are no forms of international
communication in rural areas. In the event of an emergency, the U.S.
Embassy may assist Americans in contacting family or friends.

Americans planning to travel from Nepal to Tibet should be aware that
Chinese authorities strictly regulate such trips. Additional
information is contained in the Consular Information Sheet on China and
in Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China. Travelers can
also contact the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu for current information on
the status of the border crossing points.

Pakistan

In March 1995, a shuttle carrying employees of the U.S. Consulate
General in Karachi was attacked by unknown assailants. Two American
employees were killed. At the time of publication, the State Department
had no knowledge of any specific credible threats to U.S. citizens.
However, all travelers are urged to exercise prudent security
precautions. Sectarian and factional violence has increased in
Pakistan. Karachi remains the center of politically-motivated killings.
During the Islamic religious observances of Ramadan and Moharram (the
exact date for each holiday varies each year), sectarian rivalry and
violence often increase.

A visa must be obtained before arrival; travelers should specifically
request multiple-entry visas, and must obtain an exit permit if they
stay more than 3@ days. Pakistan is an Islamic country, and visitors
must respect Islamic standards of behavior. Travelers (especially
women) should dress modestly, i.e., wear clothes with high necks and
long sleeves and not wear shorts. Woman are advised not to travel alone
in rural areas. The import, manufacture, and consumption of alcohol or
drugs are strictly forbidden. Major hotels have special rooms where
non-Islamic foreigners may buy and drink alcoholic beverages. In March
1994, legislation was passed which made drug trafficking punishable by
death.

A special permit is required for travel to the tribal areas bordering
Afghanistan, including the Khyber Pass, and to Azad Kashmir. Persons
traveling to restricted areas without a permit are subject to arrest.
Onward overland travel to India is difficult because of border crossing
restrictions (see Consular Information Sheet for India).

Major cities in Pakistan are safe for tourists, but travel to remote
rural areas, especially in Balochistan, Sindh and the Northwest Frontier
Province is not recommended. Security conditions vary; some areas are
only considered safe for daytime travel in groups. Because the security
situation can change with little warning, visitors should check at the
U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or the nearest U.S. consulate for up-to-date
travel information.

Sri Lanka

The insurgency of Tamil separatists against the government in Sri Lanka

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

6/9


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: (92-42) 636-5530 thru 39
Fax: (92-42) 636-5177

American Consulate

11 Hospital Road

Peshawar Cantonment

Peshawar, Pakistan

Tel: (92-521) 279-801 or 803
Fax: (92-521) 276-712

SRI LANKA

American Embassy

210 Galle Rd. (P.O. Box 106)
Colombo 3

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Tel: (94-1) 448007

Fax: (94-1) 437345

Planning Another Trip?

*For general travel information, the following publications may be
ordered for $1 each from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; tel: 202-512-1800.

Your Trip Abroad ($1.25)

A Safe Trip Abroad

Tips for Americans Residing Abroad
Travel Tips for Older Americans

*Copies of the following publications in this series are also available
for $1 each from the U.S. Government Printing Office:

Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean

Tips for Travelers to Central and South America

Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China

Tips for Travelers to Mexico

Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa ($1.50)
Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States
Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa ($1.50)

General visa information for these and other countries is available in
Foreign Entry Requirements. Information on how, when and where to apply
for your U.S passport is available in Passports: Applying for Them the

Easy Way. Both publications may be ordered for 5® cents each from the
Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

*Prices and availability are subject to change without notice. Please
check with the Government Printing Office for more information.

(aH)

To the top of this page

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm! 9/9


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

Retum to: Index of "Travel Information" || Index of "Consular and Travel Information" || Electronic Research Collections Index || ERC

Homepage

This Electronic Research Collection (ERC) web page is an older archived page from
the U.S. Department of State web site. It does not represent the most current or up-to-
date information, and is made available to the public by the U.S. Department of State
and the federal depository library at the University of Illinois at Chicago as part of the
ERC online archive of historic documents. For more current and updated travel
information, please visit the U.S. State Department Consular Bureau main web site.

U.S. Department of State
95/06 Tips for Travelers to South Asia
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Tips for Travelers to South Asia

Table of Contents

General Information.........
Consular Information Program
Weather... .seseeeeeeeeee

beeen eed
errr res

beeen eee ed

Visa and Other Entry Requirements
Currency and Customs Regulations
Shopping for Antiques.......
U.S. Wildlife Regulations...

Country Information
Afganistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan....
India.....
Maldives
Nepal......... eee eee eens
Pakistan
Sri Lanka

Foreign Embassies in the United States.
U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad...

DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 10266
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Revised June 1995

The information in this publication is in the public domain and may be
reproduced without permission. When this material is reproduced, the
Department of State would appreciate receiving a copy at: CA/P/PA,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-4818.

Tips for Travelers to South Asia

https:/web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

19


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

(formerly Ceylon) has caused tension and violence within the country.
For this reason, the Sri Lankan defense regulations restrict travel to
much of the island's northern areas. Areas such as Wilpattu and Galoya
National Parks are considered especially unsafe. There have been
isolated incidents of violence in other parts of Sri Lanka, including
Colombo. Because public transportation has often been targeted by
terrorists, travel on trains and public buses should be avoided. Travel
to the major tourist sites in the southern and western parts of the
island has usually been safe. However, security conditions throughout
the country can change quickly, and travelers should get current
information from the latest travel advisory or from the U.S. Embassy in
Colombo. No visa is required for a tourist stay of up to 9@ days.

Medical facilities in Sri Lanka are limited. Malaria is prevalent in
many areas outside of Colombo.

Foreign Embassies in the United States

Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 234-3770

Embassy of Bangladesh
2201 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-8373

Bhutan Mission to the United Nations
New York, NY 10017
(212) 826-1919

Embassy of India

2536 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008

(202) 939-9839

Republic of Maldives Mission
to the United Nations

82@ Second Avenue, Suite 800C
New York, NY 10017

(212) 599-6195

Embassy of Nepal

2131 Leroy Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 657-4550

Embassy of Pakistan

2315 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008

(202) 939-6200

Embassy of Sri Lanka
2148 Wyoming Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 483-4025

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad
Note: Workweek is Monday-Friday except where noted.

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

7/9


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and
Sri Lanka

General Information

Your trip to South Asia can be a rich and rewarding experience. There
are ancient cultures and artistic traditions to appreciate and a wealth
of natural wonders to see -- all co-existing with modern societies.
However, the customs and local conditions can be as distant from home as
the miles, and travelers should plan their trips carefully.

Consular Information Program

For travel information on any country, see the Department of State's
Consular Information Sheet for the country. Consular Information Sheets
cover such matters as health conditions, unusual currency and entry
regulations, crime and security conditions, drug penalties, and areas of
instability. In addition, the State Department issues Travel Warnings
when we recommend Americans defer travel to a country because of unsafe
conditions. Regulations may also prohibit the use of U.S. passports to
visit certain countries. This prohibition will be included in the
Travel Warnings issued for affected countries. Travel Warnings are
under continuous review by the Department of State. Before you depart
for a country that has a Travel Warning, make certain that you have the
most recent revision of the Warning. The Department of State also
issues Public Announcements. Public Announcements are issued as a means
to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other
relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions which would pose
significant risks to the security of American travelers.

There are several ways to access Consular Information Sheets, Travel
Warnings and Public Announcements. You can listen to them 24-hours a
day by calling 202-647-5225 from a touchtone phone. You can receive
copies of them by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Overseas
Citizens Services, Room 4800, Department of State, Washington, DC
20520-4818. (Write the name of the requested country or countries on
the outside of the envelope.) You can also find Consular Information
Sheets and Travel Warnings at the 13 regional passport agencies and at
U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. They can also be accessed through
an airline or travel agent's computer reservation system, the Bureau of
Consular Affairs' 24- hour automated fax system at 202/647-3000, or
through many computer bulletin boards, including the Consular Affairs
Bulletin Board (CABB). You may call the CABB on modem number 202-647-
9225. Set your communications software to: no parity, 8 bits, one stop
bit (N-8-1).

Travelers to areas where conditions are unsettled or communication is
poor are encouraged to register at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
(see list at end of book). All travelers are encouraged to leave a
detailed itinerary and their passport numbers at home in case of an
emergency.

Weather

If you have a choice, winter is the best time to visit most areas of
South Asia. South of the Himalayas, South Asian weather is warm to very
hot. Hot, humid regions like Bangladesh and central, eastern, and
southern India are somewhat more comfortable in December through
February. Hot, dry regions like Pakistan and northern India have
pleasant weather from October to March, with the winter months cool
enough for light woolens. The worst weather in the dry regions, when
heat and dust can make sight-seeing or other outdoor activity a chore,
is during the pre-monsoon period from approximately April through mid-

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

219


9/18/2018 9506 Travel Information: Tips for Travelers to South Asia
July.

Health

In the United States, local health departments, the Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention (CDC), private doctors, and travel clinics can
provide information on health precautions for travelers to South Asia.
Depending on your destination, immunization is recommended against
cholera, diphtheria/tetanus, hepatitis, Japanese B encephalitis,
meningitis, polio, and typhoid. Drug prophylaxis against malaria may
also be necessary. General guidance may also be found in the booklet,
Health Information for International Travel, which is available for $7
from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, or from
local, or state health departments. The CDC has an international
travelers hotline that can be reached at 404-332-4559.

Travelers should be careful to drink only boiled water (bottled water is
not always safe) or bottled drinks, to avoid ice cubes in beverages and
unpeeled fruits and vegetables, to take precautions against mosquitoes,
and to guard against overexertion at high altitudes. Trekkers and
mountain climbers, in particular, should take precautions to avoid
frostbite, hypothermia, and altitude sickness. The latter two can be
fatal if not detected in time. Modern health facilities are not always
available, particularly in rural areas. Prospective travelers should
review their health insurance policies to see if they provide coverage
while overseas, including medical evacuation service.

Visas and Other Entry Requirements

A U.S. passport is required for travel to all countries in the region
Most South Asian countries also require entry visas. Travel to certain
areas of many South Asian countries is restricted and special permits
may be required for these areas in addition to the entry visa.
Prospective travelers should contact the embassy or consulate of the
country they plan to visit for specific information (see list of foreign
embassies at end of book).

All South Asian countries require travelers who have been in yellow-
fever infected areas within the last six days to show valid yellow-fever
immunization certificates. Yellow fever is found in some African and
some Latin American countries. If you plan to travel from Africa or
Latin America directly to South Asia, check with the embassy of the
South Asian country where you are going to see if a yellow-fever
certificate is required. If the certificate is required and you do not
have it, you will be refused entry unless you are inoculated and kept in
quarantine for up to six days.

Currency and Customs Regulations

Most South Asian countries require that foreign currency and valuables
be declared upon entry as a means of enforcing restrictions on the
importation of items such as gold, electronic equipment, firearms, and
prescription drugs. Failure to make an accurate declaration or other
violations of these restrictions can lead to high fines and/or
imprisonment.

Shopping for Antiques

Most South Asian countries have strict regulations against the
unlicensed export of antiquities. Items that are antique, or even
appear to be, may be confiscated by customs officials unless the
traveler has proof of authorization from the appropriate government
office to export the antique, or proof that the item is not an antique.

U.S. Wildlife Regulations

https://web.archive.org/web/19991216113250/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ER C/travel/travelinfo/9506travelinfo2.htm!

Ki)