Travel Tips and Info
The information from this
section is excerpted from the guide books, "India"
and
and Braja Mandala / A Practical Guide
by John Howley.
Getting to Vrindavana
Getting Around Vrindavana
Valuables and Security
Money Matters Weather
Shopping Water
Doctors
Cultural and Social Behavior
Temple Etiquette Begging
Monkeys
Changing
Money: The State Bank of India is
usually the best place to change money, but major branches of all Indian banks
can usually change money. US dollars and the British pounds are the easiest
currencies to convert. In
many cases, especially in smaller cities, banks will only accept US dollars,
British pounds or only certain Travelers Cheques (checks). You can also buy
Travelers Cheques in Indian rupees when you get to India. These are more widely
accepted, especially in small towns.
It is a good idea to change a
large amount of money at one time in the bigger cities. Banks usually give a
much better exchange rate than hotels. Usually it is much quicker to change
money at the airport than at a bank.
Good places to change money
are at the American Express or Thomas Cook offices, which usually only take five
minutes. They are efficient and easy to deal with.
Traveler’s cheques are the
safest way to carry your money. On the other hand, it is not a bad idea to also
have some cash on hand. Many banks and stores do not accept Travelers Cheques.
Be sure to keep your proof of purchase receipts in case you do loose your
Travelers Cheques and need to get a refund.
Changing
Money in Vrindavana: You can change
money at the bank on the front side of the Gurukula building, by the front
entrance of the ISKCON Temple. They are open 11 am –2 pm. You may have to give
them a day or two advance notice to change a large sum of money. There is a
State Bank of India branch on the road at the end of Loi Bazaar in Pratap
Bazaar. They can be very inefficient and slow. They are open 10 am – 2 pm and can change
most currencies.
At Shishu Kumar Agarwal, next
to Ganga Prasad and Heera Jewelers, at the beginning of Loi Bazaar you can
exchange money legally. They both can change any currency that the local banks
take. They are both quick and efficient, and are much faster than the bank.
Small
Change: When you exchange money it is a
good idea to ask for a good amount of small bills, such as five and ten rupee
notes. Many times it is very difficult getting change for 50 or 100 rupee notes.
You should also check the notes for large holes and small tears, as damaged
bills are generally not accepted. If your money is badly damaged you have to
bring it to a bank to exchange it.
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