Arrivals, Currency, Medical, Travel Visas, Release of Liability
This is the procedure I follow after arriving in New Delhi International Airport.
New Delhi International Airport
Fill out the arrival form on the plane to save time in line. Bring a writing pen with you to fill out forms. The customs and immigration usually do not have working pens. The form will ask you where you are staying in Leh. Give the name of the guesthouse or hotel provided and the phone number. They are usually not so strict about having this information on the form, but it saves time to get through the line and your connecting flight.
After you get through immigration/customs, you will go to the baggage pick-up area to get your bags, exit the main doors and go right for the transfer bus. Or go to the pre-paid Taxi stand and pay for a cab to Domestic Terminal 2. Only go to the pre-paid Taxi stand!
If you are going to spend the night in an airport hotel, they will send a driver to pick you up if you contact them and request this when you make your reservation. Have the hotel phone number with you. If your cell phone does not work internationally, you can always ask a passing Indian national to call for you as it is only a few pennies for them to do so. Do not accept a ride from someone you do not know. Better to take a cab or wait for the hotel driver to show up. I've always seen the hotel drivers waiting with signs. The big Western chain hotels are good about this.
Transfer from International Terminal 3 to Domestic Terminal 2- New Delhi International Airport
You will need to transfer from International Terminal 3 where you are now, to Domestic Terminal 1 or 2. You can take a taxi or take the red airport transfer bus for free. Get a bus voucher by showing your domestic boarding pass at a small kiosk near the bus stand. This may not be so well marked, so ask anyone you see for help finding it. Otherwise, the bus conductor will charge you 35 rupees for the fare. Put your bag or bags near you on the bus, which is sometimes quite crowded but depends on when you land. This is a safe transfer, but good to be mindful of your things. The trip takes about 30 minutes to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 so give yourself at least 3 hours between the time you land on your international flight and the time your domestic flight boarding gate closes.
Once you arrive at the domestic terminal, check in with your carrier. You will have to go through security before you check your bags. After you check your bags and have your boarding pass, there is a Starbucks and other food vendors in the terminal area. Make sure to be at your gate on time. Terminal 1 is relatively small and not a long way to your gates. Here is a YouTube video of how to transfer between Domestic Terminal 1 and International Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi Airport - Delhi (DEL). YouTube Video here on the transfer process. https://youtu.be/LYmpRG7ch2k
Flight to Leh (IXL)
The flight is 90 minutes from Delhi to Leh. Once you land, you will walk down the stairs from the plane and board a small transfer bus. Your bags will eventually come to the belt in the terminal. The first thing I do is get a customs arrival form from the desk next to the exit. You can use your pen to fill it out as you wait for your bags to arrive. The form will ask about your flight, your passport and visa numbers, how long you will be in Ladakh, and your guesthouse's name and phone number. The form is similar to an immigration form in that they will want to know your passport number, flight number, where you are staying, and a local contact phone number. Give them the name and number of the hotel. We will be outside the main door to meet you with a driver to take you to the hotel. If for any reason we are not there, hire a local taxi and have them take you to the hotel.
Travel Insurance is a necessity. If you need medical attention, there are local doctors and a general hospital in Leh. Treatment costs are usually very low, unlike in the West.
Change/Currency Exchange
I like to travel with some $100 bills in my wallet. You can use these for the best exchange rate at a currency changer and avoid the bank fees for ATM withdrawal. It is up to you how much currency you wish to bring. Plan on spending less than $50 per day for food and lodging, depending on where you stay and how much you eat.
As soon as I go through customs and get my bag, I stop off and change a hundred-dollar bill for quick cash. The rate here is a little less than in Leh, it is nice to have some cash for transfer or a taxi to your hotel if you plan to stay a night in Delhi. Optimally you can get $25 or $50 in Indian rupees from your bank in the USA before you travel and then exchange money once you get to Leh. Or you can use an ATM just outside the main airport exit and before you transfer to the domestic terminal. Be aware of high ATM bank fees when traveling internationally.
As I spend time in Leh, I change dollars for Indian rupees because I get a pretty good rate and do not have to pay the withdrawal fees for the ATMs. Note, it is also a good idea to travel with an ATM card and a credit card as backup. There are a few ATMs located in the main market area of Leh, where you can withdraw up to 10,000 Indian rupees (Rs) at a time. You will be charged a fee by the Indian bank and a transaction fee by your bank, usually about $5.00 each. You can use your credit card or ATM in many shops in Leh, such as bookstores, coffee shops, and some restaurants. You can also get cash advances on your credit card, but you will be charged an additional amount for withdrawal by the merchant. Make sure you know the Pin Number of your credit card as an emergency cash advance from a bank ATM if needed.
Travel Insurance
This is a very good idea and highly recommended. It pays for your medical expenses in case of emergency.
I have insurance from World Nomads, which offers good coverage for a reasonable rate.
https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/travel-insurance/
Hospital in Leh
Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital is a modern, well-equipped facility with Western-trained English-speaking staff. It is located in the main part of Leh on the airport highway. Just in case, it is a good resource to have on hand.
Indian Travel Visa
You must have an Indian tourist visa before arriving in New Delhi. India has just lifted all travel restrictions due to Covid-19; however, they do require a negative PCR test before boarding your flight. Some airlines may also have other requirements so check well in advance and be prepared.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
24/7 online info available at: indian-evisa@gov.in
+91 11 243300666
This is the procedure I follow after arriving in New Delhi International Airport.
New Delhi International Airport
Fill out the arrival form on the plane to save time in line. Bring a writing pen with you to fill out forms. The customs and immigration usually do not have working pens. The form will ask you where you are staying in Leh. Give the name of the guesthouse or hotel provided and the phone number. They are usually not so strict about having this information on the form, but it saves time to get through the line and your connecting flight.
After you get through immigration/customs, you will go to the baggage pick-up area to get your bags, exit the main doors and go right for the transfer bus. Or go to the pre-paid Taxi stand and pay for a cab to Domestic Terminal 2. Only go to the pre-paid Taxi stand!
If you are going to spend the night in an airport hotel, they will send a driver to pick you up if you contact them and request this when you make your reservation. Have the hotel phone number with you. If your cell phone does not work internationally, you can always ask a passing Indian national to call for you as it is only a few pennies for them to do so. Do not accept a ride from someone you do not know. Better to take a cab or wait for the hotel driver to show up. I've always seen the hotel drivers waiting with signs. The big Western chain hotels are good about this.
Transfer from International Terminal 3 to Domestic Terminal 2- New Delhi International Airport
You will need to transfer from International Terminal 3 where you are now, to Domestic Terminal 1 or 2. You can take a taxi or take the red airport transfer bus for free. Get a bus voucher by showing your domestic boarding pass at a small kiosk near the bus stand. This may not be so well marked, so ask anyone you see for help finding it. Otherwise, the bus conductor will charge you 35 rupees for the fare. Put your bag or bags near you on the bus, which is sometimes quite crowded but depends on when you land. This is a safe transfer, but good to be mindful of your things. The trip takes about 30 minutes to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 so give yourself at least 3 hours between the time you land on your international flight and the time your domestic flight boarding gate closes.
Once you arrive at the domestic terminal, check in with your carrier. You will have to go through security before you check your bags. After you check your bags and have your boarding pass, there is a Starbucks and other food vendors in the terminal area. Make sure to be at your gate on time. Terminal 1 is relatively small and not a long way to your gates. Here is a YouTube video of how to transfer between Domestic Terminal 1 and International Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi Airport - Delhi (DEL). YouTube Video here on the transfer process. https://youtu.be/LYmpRG7ch2k
Flight to Leh (IXL)
The flight is 90 minutes from Delhi to Leh. Once you land, you will walk down the stairs from the plane and board a small transfer bus. Your bags will eventually come to the belt in the terminal. The first thing I do is get a customs arrival form from the desk next to the exit. You can use your pen to fill it out as you wait for your bags to arrive. The form will ask about your flight, your passport and visa numbers, how long you will be in Ladakh, and your guesthouse's name and phone number. The form is similar to an immigration form in that they will want to know your passport number, flight number, where you are staying, and a local contact phone number. Give them the name and number of the hotel. We will be outside the main door to meet you with a driver to take you to the hotel. If for any reason we are not there, hire a local taxi and have them take you to the hotel.
Travel Insurance is a necessity. If you need medical attention, there are local doctors and a general hospital in Leh. Treatment costs are usually very low, unlike in the West.
Change/Currency Exchange
I like to travel with some $100 bills in my wallet. You can use these for the best exchange rate at a currency changer and avoid the bank fees for ATM withdrawal. It is up to you how much currency you wish to bring. Plan on spending less than $50 per day for food and lodging, depending on where you stay and how much you eat.
As soon as I go through customs and get my bag, I stop off and change a hundred-dollar bill for quick cash. The rate here is a little less than in Leh, it is nice to have some cash for transfer or a taxi to your hotel if you plan to stay a night in Delhi. Optimally you can get $25 or $50 in Indian rupees from your bank in the USA before you travel and then exchange money once you get to Leh. Or you can use an ATM just outside the main airport exit and before you transfer to the domestic terminal. Be aware of high ATM bank fees when traveling internationally.
As I spend time in Leh, I change dollars for Indian rupees because I get a pretty good rate and do not have to pay the withdrawal fees for the ATMs. Note, it is also a good idea to travel with an ATM card and a credit card as backup. There are a few ATMs located in the main market area of Leh, where you can withdraw up to 10,000 Indian rupees (Rs) at a time. You will be charged a fee by the Indian bank and a transaction fee by your bank, usually about $5.00 each. You can use your credit card or ATM in many shops in Leh, such as bookstores, coffee shops, and some restaurants. You can also get cash advances on your credit card, but you will be charged an additional amount for withdrawal by the merchant. Make sure you know the Pin Number of your credit card as an emergency cash advance from a bank ATM if needed.
Travel Insurance
This is a very good idea and highly recommended. It pays for your medical expenses in case of emergency.
I have insurance from World Nomads, which offers good coverage for a reasonable rate.
https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/travel-insurance/
Hospital in Leh
Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital is a modern, well-equipped facility with Western-trained English-speaking staff. It is located in the main part of Leh on the airport highway. Just in case, it is a good resource to have on hand.
Indian Travel Visa
You must have an Indian tourist visa before arriving in New Delhi. India has just lifted all travel restrictions due to Covid-19; however, they do require a negative PCR test before boarding your flight. Some airlines may also have other requirements so check well in advance and be prepared.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
24/7 online info available at: indian-evisa@gov.in
+91 11 243300666
