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travel essentials
All the essential information you need to consider when travelling...
passport and visa
All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and obtain your own visa in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. Further country specific information is available at Indian Missions Abroad.
vaccinations and health
Recommended vaccinations are Typhoid, TB, Polio, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. India is a malarial area and you should take appropriate precautions. We are not medical experts and suggest you consult your Doctor or Vaccination centre for up to date information.
travel insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers on a Grass Routes journey. For well priced adequate cover we can recommend World Nomads travel insurance.
flights
Grass Routes operations are firmly grounded on land! We prefer to leave flight bookings to air ticketing experts and advise our travellers to make their own flight arrangements. The closest International Airports to Orissa are in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal and Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh. The capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar has a Domestic Airport.
domestic connections
Orissa is well connected to the rest of India by plane and train. The Domestic Airport at Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa is only a 2 hour drive from Puri where many of our journeys start and finish. Domestic air travel has gathered momentum in recent years and its now easy to cross the country. MakeMyTrip and ClearTrip are both useful resources for booking online flights or choose from any of the domestic airlines below:
Alternatively consult the world’s largest rail network, Indian Railways.
airport transfers
Airport Transfers by private airconditioned vehicles are available on request. Please provide flight arrival details at the time of booking or at least 2 weeks prior to departure.
additional accommodation
Additional Accommodation before or after your Grass Routes journey is available on request. We associate with premier properties to suit all budgets. Notify us your requirements at the time of booking and we’ll get back to you with a quote.
extra expenses
Small expenses you can expect along the way include camera fees, tipping and shopping. Please note not all meals are included in order to give you maximum flexibility; refer to the specific journey information for details.
currency
The currency in India is Rupees. 1 Indian Rupee = 63 Euro.
Current Exchange Rate can be seen here»
ATM machines (both Visa and Mastercard) are the most convenient way to access money during your journey. For travellers cheques, the easiest to change are Thomas Cook or American Express in Euro, US Dollars or British Pounds. The same currencies are advised for exchanging cash. You will have access to these facilities in the capital cities of Kolkata, Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Bhubaneshwar and also the town of Puri.
best time to go
Orissa typically basks in a tropical climate. The open coastal plains remain warm, while cooler temperatures are found in the forested interior highlands. Grass Routes conduct their Group Departures during the most comfortable and colourful seasons to visit: from the end of Monsoon (October) through Winter and Spring to the beginning of Summer (April). For a rough guideline, check out the weather forecast in Orissa’s capital city Bhubaneshwar.
packing essentials
You will be on the move a good deal, so pack as lightly as possible (try to stay under 10 kg /22lb). Be aware that dress standards in India are conservative. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool. We recommend long sleeves to mitigate the use of chemical sunscreens and mosquito repellents polluting our waterways. Singlets, tank tops and shorts are not suitable. Warm clothes are necessary for cool evenings in the highlands.
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