accenture india travel 20guide march 202010

8/9/2019 Accenture India Travel 20Guide March 202010

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A Travel Guide to India

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Table of ContentsClick on any category below to go directly to the page.

Welcome........................................................3

Introduction to India..................................4 About Hyderabad Time Zone Accenture Global Delivery Network

General Travel Information.....................9 Required Documents for Entry and Exit Embassy Location American Express Cardholders Vaccinations and Health Considerations Availability of Goods Foreign Currency Telephone Use

Eating out Tipping Guidelines

Local Sightseeing and Attractions.......16 Hyderabad

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This travel guide has been designed for you to help prepare for your upcoming trip to Hyderabad.We have included introductory information to provide an orientation to the city along with generaltravel information to help you plan your trip. We also offer a few ideas for enjoying your free timewhile you are in India.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the content of this guide or the planning of yourupcoming trip. We want to make your travel and stay with us as pleasant as possible. We look forwardto seeing you in India!

Welcome to India!

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Introduction to India

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Introduction to IndiaIndia, the worlds largest democracy, has a verydiverse population, geography and climate. Indiais the worlds second most populous country,and the worlds seventh largest country in area.

Indias earliest known civilization (2500-1700 BC) is the Indus Valley, identied by itsinteresting culture as well as its artifacts. Theorigins of Hinduism and the caste system areattributed to the Vedic culture (about 1500 BC).The history of India was strongly inuencedby the migration, invasion and expansion ofother nations, including the Mongols (under the

direction of Genghis Khan), the Greeks (underAlexander the Great), the Mughals and theBritish. Signicant progress and developmenthas occurred since Indias independence fromBritain was granted in 1947, at which timeIndia adopted a parliamentary system ofgovernment with a union of states proclaimingitself to be a Sovereign Democratic Republic.

Present-day India is one of the top veindustrialized nations in the world withthe third largest reservoir of scientic andtechnological manpower. It produces everyconceivable industrial item and consumer

good, and has achieved signicant success infrontier scientic research, including peacefulapplication of nuclear energy, space andsatellite research, communication technology

and biotechnology. Pioneering scientists such asHomi Bhaba, J. C. Bose, Satyen Bose, and Nobellaureates C. V. Raman, Hargovind Khorana andS. Chandrasekhar have won laurels for Indiaboth at home and abroad.

India forms a natural sub-continent withthe Himalayas to the north. The Arabian Seaand the Bay of Bengal, which are sections ofthe Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east,

respectively. Indias neighbors are China (Tibet),Bhutan and Nepal to the north, Pakistan to thenorthwest and Burma to the northeast. To theeast, almost surrounded by India, is Bangladesh.Near Indias southern tip, across the Palk Strait,is Sri Lanka. India covers an area of 3,287,623square kilometers (1,269,219 square miles).



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There are 28 states (29 if the capital region ofDelhi is included): Andhra Pradesh, ArunachalPradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammuand Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala,Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra,

Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab,Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, UttarPradesh, Uttaranchal and West Bengal.

Each state has constitutionally dened powersof government and varies greatly in size,population and development. State governorsare appointed by the president for ve years;a legislature is elected for ve years; and a

council of ministers headed by a chief minister.Each state has its own legislative, executiveand judicial machinery, corresponding to thatof the Indian Union. In the event of the failureof constitutional government in a state, theUnion can impose Presidents Rule. There alsoare six Union Territories: Andaman and NicobarIslands; Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli;Daman and Diu; Delhi; Lakshadweep; andPondicherry. The six territories and the NationalCapital Territory of Delhi are administered bylieutenant governors or administrators, all ofwhom are appointed by the president. Delhi andPondicherry also have elected chief ministersand state assemblies.

India Fast FactsPopulation: 1.17 billion people

Area: 3.29 million square kilometers(1.27 million square miles); about one-thirdthe size of the United States

Terrain: Varies from the Himalayas to at rivervalleys and deserts in the west

Climate: Alpine to temperate to subtropicalmonsoon Winter December to February Summer March to May Monsoon June to November

Currency: Indian Rupees

Electricity: The electricity voltage is220-240 volts

Unit of Measure: The Metric System is used



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About HyderabadHyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradeshand also its most populous city. Located in thesouthern part of India, the city was foundedin 1590, during the reign of the Qutb Shahi

dynasty. A host of inuences have shaped thecharacter of this city over the last 400 years.

Well-known for its strong cultural identity andreligious diversity, the city is remarkable for itswell-preserved monuments and many examplesof ne arts. Hyderabad has a distinctive cultureand cuisine which is an interesting amalgam ofHindu and Muslim traditions. The indigenous

cuisine draws its parentage from multipleculinary traditionsMughal, South Indian andPersian.

Popularly known as the City of Pearls,Hyderabad is one of the leading markets inthe world for diamonds, pearls and traditionalhandlooms.

Hyderabad is also a major sporting destinationand has hosted a number of national andinternational games. It is also the home of theDeccan Chargers, an Indian Premier League team.

Preserving its history and tradition, the cityhas gradually metamorphosed into a hubfor the technology and services industry.

Many information technology companies,software consulting rms and business processoutsourcing (BPO) companies have establishedofces in this city since the 1990s. The multitudeof career opportunities draws job seekers fromacross the country to Hyderabad.

The city is regarded as a blend of traditionalismwith modernity. With a melting pot of religions,cultures and traditions, there is a lot for you todiscover in Hyderabad!

Some facts about Hyderabad

Area: 217 Km2

Altitude: 536 meters

Climate: Tropical Wet and Dry

Summer: Max 40C and Min 22C

Winter: Max 22C and Min 13.8C

Population: Over 6 million (6th largestcity in India)



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Time ZonesThe following lists the difference between Indiaand a few other major locations*:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 4.5 hoursbehind India

Paris, France - 4.5 hours behind India San Francisco, US - 13.5 hours behind India New York, US - 10.5 hours behind India London, UK - 5.5 hours behind India Sydney, Australia - 5.5 hours ahead of India

* Note that time differences vary based on time of year.

Accenture Global DeliveryNetworkAccenture Delivery Center HyderabadHDC 1A/1BAccenture Services Pvt LtdBuilding 1B, Raheja MindspaceMadhapurHyderabad - 500 081Tel: +91 40 66926000Fax: +91 40 66926001

Comprising of more than 50 Delivery Centerlocations in more than 40 cities, the AccentureGlobal Delivery Network (GDN) is one of the

largest and most diversied networks in theworld. The network represents an unmatchedarray of services in systems integration,technology consulting, application outsourcing,infrastructure outsourcing and business processoutsourcing. The GDN provides the exibilityand scale along with 24/7 multilingual supportto meet our clients needs globally. With acombined workforce of more than 35,000talented professionals, the Accenture DeliveryCenters in India, located in Mumbai, Bangalore,Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai provide a widerange of services in systems integration,technology consulting and outsourcing. The IndiaDelivery Centers are a strategic cornerstone ofthe Accenture Global Delivery Network.

In India, Accenture operates with a degree ofstability and nancial strength that is more thanreassuring to our technology and outsourcingclients. This strength translates into tangiblebenets: the ability to attract and retain themost talented technology and business process

professionals in the Indian marketplace; robustsystems integration, technology and outsourcingsolutions; and a highly developed technologyinfrastructure with direct connections to ourglobal network. Accenture is one of very fewcompanies to have achieved the prestigiousPeople Capability Maturity Model (PeopleCMM) Level 5 certication, the highest possiblerating for personnel prociency. Recently

Accenture was recognized as a Hewitt BestEmployer in India for 2009.



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General Travel Information



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Required Documents forEntry and ExitEU citizens require a valid passport and validIndian visa to enter and exit India for anypurpose. Visitors must obtain visas at an

Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad prior toentering the country, as there are no provisionsfor visas upon arrival. Those arriving withouta valid passport and valid visa are subject toimmediate deportation. Each visitor shouldcarry photocopies of the passport and thepage containing the Indian visa in order tofacilitate obtaining an exit visa from the Indiangovernment in the event of theft or loss of thepassport. Replacing a lost visa in order to exitthe country takes up to three business days.

EU citizens wishing to visit India are responsiblefor requesting the correct type of visa fromthe Indian Embassy or Consulate, as theregenerally are no provisions for changing onesimmigration category (e.g., from tourist to workvisa) once admitted. Tourists are generally given6 months of legal stay upon entering India; theGovernment of India rarely grants extensionswithin the country but it is consideredacceptable to depart India to a nearby countryand then return.

Embassy LocationRoyal Netherlands Embassy6/50 F, ShantipathChanakyapuriNew Delhi - 110021

Tel: +91 11 24197600Fax: +91 11 24197710Web: www.hollandinindia.org

Source: http://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.php

American Express CardholdersIf you are an American Express Cardholder,American Express provides access to theirGlobal Assist Hotline for 24/7 assistance withany medical, legal, nancial or other emergency

assistance while traveling more than 100miles from home. When calling you can bedirected to English-speaking medical and legalprofessionals, provided emergency cash access,helped with lost luggage and passports, andmore. You have the option of visiting morethan 2,200 American Express Travel Serviceslocations worldwide, or calling +1 800 333 2639(from the United States) or from international

locations calling +1 715 343 7977 collect.

http://www.hollandinindia.org/http://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.phphttp://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.phphttp://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.phphttp://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.phphttp://www.hollandinindia.org/


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General Safety TipsIndia is a beautiful country that will leave youmesmerized and mystied. To make your tripeven more memorable and hassle free, we bringyou basic guidelines for safety in India. Like any

other country, there are certain precautions fortraveling in India to keep in mind to fully enjoyyour visit:

Stay in a recognized hotel. India has anumber of 5 star and 4 star hotels to suit yourtaste and budget.

Stick to your original plans. Do not listen toadvice given by strangers about better hotelsand accommodations. Head straight to thehotel you booked.

Never discuss your travel plans with strangers.Also, do not disclose how much money you arecarrying or talk about it in public.

Dont hand over your luggage to anyunknown person except the hotel staff. Ifyou do, chances are you may never see yourbaggage again!

Do not let strangers or suspicious people inyour room. Call the hotel reception in case ofany doubts.

All valuable items (money, checks, passports, jewelry, etc.) should be kept safely in the hotellocker or in a secure suitcase. Never leave yourvaluables lying around in the room unattended.Also, avoid carrying huge sums of money in public.

Always keep your wallet/money in the sidepocket of your trousers or inside a jacketpocket. It is best to buy a money pouch thatcan be strapped onto your body and wornunderneath your clothing. Avoid keeping yourwallet in a back pocket.

Avoid traveling alone at night. Do not travelon roads and narrow lanes that are poorly lit. Ifyou are meeting someone, choose a public placein the city.

Make copies of important documents likepassports, visas and identity proof to be keptwith you in case any of those get lost. Also,keep a copy at home or with a trusted friendwho can fax it if necessary.

If visiting a place of worship, make sure youremove your footwear. Some places might alsorequire you to cover your head.

Most Indians are warm people and ready tohelp whenever necessary. But still, exercisecaution and stay away from overly friendlystrangers. Trust your instinct if you feelsomething is not right while traveling.

Get to know the basic rules, customs andlaws of India before your visit.



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Vaccinations and HealthConsiderationsInformation on vaccinations and other healthprecautions, such as safe food and waterprecautions and insect-bite protection, may

be obtained from your local center of Diseasecontrol.

For information about outbreaks ofinfectious diseases abroad, consult the WorldHealth Organizations (WHO) website athttp://www.who.int/en .

These sites provide information on disease

outbreaks that may arise from time to time,so travelers should check the sites above orconsult a physician before traveling to India.

To make sure you stay healthy:

Wash hands often with soap and water.

Drink only bottled/mineral or boiled water,not water from taps. When buying bottledwater, check to make sure the seal is intact.

Avoid ice.

Use bottled water to brush teeth.

Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits andvegetables.

Keep a small rst aid kit with you containingessential medications along with band-aids,anti-septic ointment and mosquito repellants.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Dont eat food purchased from street vendors,including cut fruits or salads.

During the summer months, take extraprotection as the sun is very strong and it canget mercilessly hot. Carry hats, sunglassesand most importantly sunscreen lotions. Keepdrinking water to prevent dehydration.

Further health information for travelers isavailable at http://www.who.int/ith/en/ .

http://www.who.int/enhttp://www.who.int/ith/en/http://www.who.int/ith/en/http://www.who.int/en


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Availability of Goods You can buy most types of toiletries in Indiasuch as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrushes, disposable razors, shave creams,contact lens solutions and cotton swabs. In

addition to a large range of internationalbrands, youll have a chance to try Ayurvedicshampoo preparations, soaps made withsandalwood oil, toothpaste with neem andother exotic toiletries you wont see athome. Most over the counter medicines andprescription drugs are available. Contact lenses,eyeglasses and good quality dental work areavailable in India at a fraction of the cost in

Western countries.

Within India you can easily nd watches,clocks, ashlights, leather goods and batteries,including common watch and camera types,though less common camera battery types maybe difcult. Film and lm processing are readilyavailable. There are bags, wallets and garmentsof all types: jeans, T-shirts, dresses and suits,

as well as traditional Indian fashions. There area large variety of shoes made in India with arange of styles and quality. However, large sizesare hard to nd. American mens size 10-11 isthe common upper limit.

Foreign CurrencyThe currency used in India is the Indian Rupee.The Indian Rupee is divided into 100 paise.Large amounts of rupees are expressed in lakhrupees or crore rupees. A lakh rupee is one

hundred thousand rupees and a crore rupee isten million rupees.

The current exchange rate is1.00 = approximately 62,27 rupees.

It is advised to change your currency once youhave entered India as you will be able to geta higher rate. There are a number of currencyexchange kiosks in each airport regardlessof the time of day. Credit cards are widelyaccepted at all major establishments for alltypes of transactions. Cash is usually used forsmall personal items and for tipping.

Telephone UseNot all mobile phones work in India. It ishighly dependent on the service provided byyour carrier and the type of phone you carry.Check with your carrier ahead of time to bestunderstand your options for phone usage whileyou are in India.

Calls can be made from the hotel using acorporate calling card or regular long distanceservice. International calling cards are notavailable for purchase in India. If needed, pay-as-you-go sim cards can be purchased for usewith your existing mobile phone.



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Some very popular dishes are momos, jhaalmuri, macherjhol (sh curry), thukpa (souppreparation) and anything related to sh. Thedesserts are a must-have if you visit the easternregions of India.

West Indian FoodThe western region of India has a wide range ofdishes to offer. The Rajasthani cuisine has fewervegetables because of the desert-like conditionsbut they have a wide variety of spicy chutneysand pickles. The people in Gujarat add a pinchof sugar to almost every dish. The typicalGujarati thali consists of at least 10 differentvarieties of vegetables alone! The people ofMaharashtra prepare a dish called puran polithat is famous throughout the country. Mostof the items are steamed and roasted, makingthem easily digestible.

Eating OutIndian food has a wide range of varied cuisines.In fact, there are so many types of food inIndia that it becomes difcult to choose fromthe diverse range of traditional food. Just

like the amalgamation of cultures, there isan amalgamation of food styles. Read on forfurther details on traditional regional cuisine.

North Indian FoodThe staple food crop of the northern region ofIndia is wheat. A typical traditional north Indianbalanced diet would consist of Roti (baked wheatpancakes) or Parathas (wheat pancake stuffed

with mashed vegetables) served with dal, whichis a watery preparation of pulses. North Indiaalso uses milk and other dairy products in theirdaily diet. Yogurt, milk, ghee (claried butter),butter and paneer (cottage cheese) are widelyused in most dishes along with spices. The non-vegetarian variety is highly inspired from theMughlai cuisine and is absolutely delicious. Oilis generously used, as many people prefer deepfried curries and other preparations.

South Indian FoodThe southern food is ruled by rice andpreparations made from rice. It is light andeasily digested. A main ingredient used in

most dishes is grated coconut or coconut oil,which adds to the essence of the food andcreates an aroma which is enough to send youscurrying to the nearest food joint. A typicalsouth Indian meal would consist of rice servedwith piping hot sambhar (vegetable gravy with

pulses), rasam (soup like preparation), curdand pickles along with at least two differentvarieties of vegetables prepared in two differentstyles. A light crisp item called pappadam foroccasional crunching in between is also served.South Indian food is less greasy and oily ascompared to north Indian cuisine as most itemsare steamed or shallow fried. Other very popularsouth Indian preparations are dosa (fermented

rice pancakes), idli (steamed rice cakes) and Vada (fried doughnut-like items that are notsweet), to mention a few. South Indians areknown to use generous amounts of homemadespices that make the food really tasty. Mostnon-vegetarian dishes have sh and otherforms of seafood as the main ingredient.

East Indian FoodMost east Indians have an innate bond withanything sweet. The eastern region of India isfamous for some of the most popular sweets.They offer a large variety of sweets that arean absolute delight for anyone with a sweettooth. Rice dominates the main meals andthe oil used in cooking is usually mustard oil.



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Tipping GuidelinesTipping in India is a common practice. There arebasically two types of tips. In the rst case, thetip is paid after the work is completed. In thesecond case, tip is given beforehand to ensure a

good service. In hotels, porters and room serviceattendants are generally tipped at the end ofthe stay. However, the amount of tip variesdepending on the type of services rendered andthe type of establishment.

In restaurants, the tip to waiters is around10-15 percent of the bill. In the restaurantsof famous and prestigious hotels, generally a

10 percent service surcharge is added to thebill. Tipping at such a place is discretionary. Insmaller places, the tip is not a percentage ofthe bill. Rather, a few rupees are given as a tip,depending on the quality of service.

Tipping a taxi or three-wheeler driver is lesscommon and up to your discretion. However, ifyou want to give a tip, 10 percent of the fareor leaving the change is sufcient. If you arehiring a car throughout your stay, then tip thedriver Rs. 50-100 per day, depending on the

distance traveled. At railway stations, pay theporters around Rs. 5-10 per bag. But, makesure to set the rate beforehand. If you stay atsomebodys house, ask your host before givingtips to his/her domestic help.



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Local Sightseeingand Attractions



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Charminar

The elegant structure of the Charminar, afamous landmark of the city, is a uniquearchitecture comprising of granite and lime-mortar. This wonderful monument, with its four

arches leading to roads in all four directions ofthe Charminar, is so proportionately plannedthat when the fort is opened one could catch aglimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city. At eachcorner stands a tall graceful minaret, whichmeasures more than 55 meters. The monumenthas the signature style of Islamic architecture.

Golconda FortThe Golconda fort is another monument thatoozes volumes of splendor and grandeur. Thesheer size of the fort walls will appall you andyou will remain mesmerized by its opulence.This fort is a majestic monument, which lieson the western outskirts of the city. It is oneof the most magnicent fortress complexes inIndia. Seated on a hill on one side and spiralingfort on the other, its location and internaldesign made it one of the strongest forts in theworld. The amazing light and sound show withthe narration of the hair-raising story of theGolconda Fort is sure to leave you awe-struck.

Salar Jung museumThe Salar Jung museum is one of the oldestmuseums in the city and houses the largestone-man collection of antiques in the world.It has the largest collection of over 40,000artifacts dating back to a few centuries andgreatest collection of rare antiques and knick-knacks from all over the world.



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Hussain Sagar LakeExcavated in 1562 by Hussain Shah Wali, thisman-made lake is situated in the heart ofthe city and has a promenade that is a busythoroughfare today. One of the worlds tallestmonolithic statues of the Buddha stands onthe Rock of Gibraltar, in the middle of thelake. In addition to the 33 statues of differentcelebrities which can be seen near the HussainSagar Lake, the towering Buddha statue put upin the glistening water is a breathtaking sight.Boating and water sports are also making it anexciting tourist spot.

Necklace RoadNecklace Road is a popular boulevard, adjoiningthe Hussain Sagar Lake and providing a scenicatmosphere with lush lawns and long rows ofower beds. This has become the-place-to-be for the Hyderabadis in the evenings. It is arecreational spot which is busy throughout theyear with exhibitions, music shows, sports and

games. Eat Street and the Waterfront Caf, tworenowned restaurants, are an absolute delightto all taste buds. Both offer a magnicent viewof the lake along with the city.



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About AccentureAccenture is a global management consulting,technology services and outsourcing company,with more than 176,000 people servingclients in more than 120 countries. Combiningunparalleled experience, comprehensivecapabilities across all industries and businessfunctions, and extensive research on theworlds most successful companies, Accenturecollaborates with clients to help them becomehigh-performance businesses and governments.The company generated net revenues ofUS$21.58 billion for the scal year ended Aug.31, 2009. Its home page is www.accenture.com .

This document is produced by consultantsat Accenture as general guidance. It is notintended to provide specic advice on yourcircumstances. Accenture does not warrant orrepresent the accuracy or completeness of thisdocument. While care and attention has been

exercised in the preparation of this document,all warranties and liability, whether express orimplied by statute, law or otherwise, are herebydisclaimed and excluded.

Copyright 2010 AccentureAll rights reserved.

Accenture, its logo, andHigh Performance Deliveredare trademarks of Accenture.

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