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About Bangalore |
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Bangalore, a bustling metropolis, is the fifth largest city in India and the capital of the state of Karnataka. It is the main center of the Information Technology industry in India; almost every Indian and multi- national IT company has a presence here. Bangalore is home to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), a premier research institute, and many other aerospace and high technology industries including the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). Karnataka is home of many ancient Indian architectural marvels, wildlife sanctuaries, rain forests (the Western Ghats), pristine beaches, and rich and hoary cultural traditions. |
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Travel Checklist |
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VISA |
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All non-Indian-citizens are required to have an Indian visa to enter the country. Allow yourself sufficient time (say 4 weeks) to procure an appropriate visa from your nearest Indian consulate. There are several Indian consulates worldwide. Indian consulates in the continental US are located in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco. All participants traveling from the United States must use this web site to obtain Indian visa. All other participants must contact Indian Embassy/ Consulate General of India in their respective countries for information on obtaining an Indian visa.
If you need an invitation letter from the HiPC organizing committee for visa purposes, use the online visa letter request form to submit the relevent information. |
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Flight Reservations |
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Flights to India tend to fill up well ahead of the December holiday season. We recommend that you make your flight reservations 3-4 months in advance, to be on the safe side. We strongly recommend that you avoid arriving in New Delhi or taking flights that stop in New Delhi en-route to Mumbai (Bombay) or Chennai (Madras) -- winter fog often throws air-traffic off-gear in New Delhi. For more information, see the transportation section of this page. |
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Vaccinations (shots) |
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Many first-time travelers to India prefer to get preventive vaccinations(shots). The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has some more health tips for tourists. |
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Foreign Exchange |
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While international credit cards are widely accepted in commercial establishments in India, several places rely on cash transactions in the local currency (Indian Rupee), especially if the purchase value is not very high. We suggest that you either carry some Indian currency when entering India or purchase Indian currency at the currency exchange agencies at the Indian airports, upon arrival. The current exchange rate is about Rs. 42/- per US dollar. The value of US Dollar has been fluctuating a lot recently. Please check the conversion rate before you travel. Once in India, you can purchase additional Indian currency from local branches of Citibank, Thomas Cook, etc. However, it is typically difficult to convert Indian currency back into foreign currency because of exchange regulations. |
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Hotel Reservations |
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Please make your hotel reservations ahead of time so that you get your choice of accommodation. |
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Time and Weather |
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The Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 1/2 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time(GMT) and is 13 1/2 hours ahead of the U. S. Pacific Standard Time(PST). In December/ January the weather is mildly tropical with temperatures averaging about 28° Celsius (approx. 82° Fahrenheit) during the day and about 15° Celsius (approx. 59° Fahrenheit) during the night.
Sunrise: 6:10 am (approx.)
Sunset: 5:15 pm (approx.) |
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Transportation |
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Flights to Bangalore |
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Flights in to Bangalore will be now arriving at the new Bengaluru International Airport. Airport maps are available here. Overview of arrival process for domestic and international passengers is available here. Use the menu on the right to select domestic or international. |
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Flights to India |
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Most international airlines have direct flights to India from Europe and Singapore/Hong-Kong. From the US, most international airlines fly to India with a single stop-over, either in Europe or in the Far East.
Direct flights to Bangalore are also available in some airlines (ex: Lufthansa). Most international airlines fly into Mumbai (Bombay) or Chennai (Madras). We recommend that you fly into one of these cities, if not directly into Bangalore. Bangalore is well connected by air, road and rail to both these cities. Chennai-Bangalore is a 45 minute flight, and Mumbai-Bangalore is a 90 minute flight.
We recommend that you avoid flights into/via New Delhi if you are on a tight schedule -- winter fog in December often delays flights at New Delhi airport. Some Mumbai-bound flights stopover in New Delhi -- please check with your travel agent.
If you are planning to travel around India after/before the conference, check with your travel agent for attractive local air travel offers that are usually available with your international travel ticket. |
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Airport to Venue Transportation |
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The Bangalore Airport is about 40 kms (approx 25 miles) from Taj Residency.
Airport Shuttle: The airport shuttle service connects various locations in the city with the airport at a frequency of approximately 30 mins. This service provided by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ensures a comfortable travel by an air-conditioned Volvo bus at reasonable rates. In the city map, “MG Road” drop-off point is the closest to the conference venue. The route name is “Route -4: Jeevan Bheema Nagar”. Estimated travel time from/to airport to/from venue is 1hr 30 mins and estimated fare is Rs.135 (about USD 3.5). Please refer to the city map for more details and information on other routes and fares. The bus bay is located on the ground floor of the airport. Refer to the airport maps for exact location.
Taxi: Meru Cabs and Easy Cabs are the two official taxi operators at the Bengaluru International Airport. Airport taxi service can be availed at the airport for travel to Bengaluru city and vice versa. The taxi fare from airport to the venue is about Rs.600 (USD 15). Payment can be made in cash or using a credit card. Please ask for a receipt if the driver does not offer you one. Proceed to the taxi counters on the ground floor, located on your left, after exiting the customs. Refer to the airport maps for exact location. |
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Additional Information for International Participants |
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Travel Tips (PDF) (HTML) |
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Internet Access |
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Wireless internet access is available in the hotel at nominal rates. |
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