An idea was born that international tourists need separate personnel to look after their needs and safety, as well as manage tourist inquires and complaints, all while ensuring that the language barrier doesn’t hamper individual’s enjoyment or security while in India. Although still a novel concept in many parts of India, travelers can find dedicated Tourist Police officers stationed at many of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Officers are dressed in uniform with ID cards and badges which clearly distinguish themselves from other police officers.

What Do They Do?

1. Avoid harassment to the tourist by touts.
2. Help tourist in getting transport and lodging at appropriate rate and without much hassle at Railway Station, Airports Bus Terminals, important tourist places, malls etc.
3. Provide safety and security against cheats and bag lifters etc. at these places.
4. Contain crime like pick pocketing, eve-teasing (harassment), drugging etc.
5. Provide information related to the city or region and other adjoining tourist places.

What Can They Help Tourists With?

1. Guide the tourist about the location of tourist places, distance and available transport to reach desired destination.
2. Help tourist in procuring tickets for museums, resorts, transports, movies and also to protect them from touts and black marketers.
3. Ensure that no peddlers, jewelers, shopkeepers, touts, cheats and beggars etc. harass them.
4. Help tourists in general problem solving regarding their stay in the city.
5. Guide tourists about local of Art and Culture, Shops, Banks, Phones etc.
6. Guide tourists on local conditions of law and order, security and hazards and places of medical help.
7. Guide tourists on matters relating to passport, visas, exchange of currency, and immigration issues.
8. Help sorting out matters like sickness, loss of theft of belonging, assault or involvement in criminal cases.
9. Guide with local custom and tradition.

Where Can I Find Tourist Police?

Know of other Tourist Police locations? Drop me a line at scchopp@fullstopindia.com.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

1. Taj Mahal
2. Agra Fort

Bangalore, Karnataka (Green Police)

Locations vary

Chandigarh

1. Sukhna Lake
2. Rock Garden
3. Rose Garden
4. Shopping Plaza-17
5. Railway Station
6. Airport
7. ISBT-17
8. ISBT-43

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Delhi

1. Airport- Indira Gandhi International T1, T2, T3
2. New Delhi Railway Station
3. Hazarat Nizammuddin Railway Station
4. Raj Ghat
5. Red Fort
6. Qutub Minar
7. Palika Bazar
8. Janpath
9. India Gate
10. Pahar Ganj (Railway Station Side)

Deoghar, Jharkhand

1. Baidyanath Dham Temple
2. Nandan Pahar
3. Satsang Ashram
4. Naulakha Mandir
5. Rama Krishna Mission
6. Trikut Parvat
7. Rikhia Ashram

Goa

1. Calangute
2. Miramar
3. Vagator

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Locations vary

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Locations vary

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Kochi, Kerala

1. Vasco da Gama Square
2. Kamala Kadav
3. Prince street
4. Fort Kochi beach
5. St.Francis Church
6. Jewish Synagogue
7. Dutch Palace
8. Jews Street
9. Mattanchery Boat Jetty
10. Marine Drive Ernakulam
11. Bolgatty Palace
12. KSRTC Bus Stand
13. Ernakulam Junction Railway Station
14. North Railway Station

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Kolkata, West Bengal (Paschim Banga)

1. Howrah Station
2. Sealdah Station
3. Airport- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International
4. Alipore Zoo
5. Kalighat Temple
6. Victoria Memorial
7. Park Street
8. New Market
9. Sudder Street

Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Locations vary

Mysore, Karnataka (Green Police)

Locations vary

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu

Locations vary

Legend has it that Gurgaon is the ancestral village of Guru Dronacharya, the martial arts teacher to the Pandavas and Kauravas, whose story is told in the Indian epic, Mahabharata. “Most of us feel that the city should be renamed Guru Gram to emphasize the fact that this is where Guru Dronacharya used to live. Not many people these days are aware of it and there is nothing wrong in renaming it. The financial commissioner and principal secretary of the revenue and disaster management department have already written to the district authorities to seek their opinion about the name change,” said a committee member.

Gurgaon’s mayor, Vimal Yadav, has also weighed in on the topic. He said, “There are some councillors who have expressed their desire that the name should be changed and we will discuss the matter. To begin with, we are also thinking of having Guru Dronacharya’s photograph displayed at all the city entrances.”

Few lights exist along the garden pathways and bridges making it difficult for visitors to navigate safely.

“Utmost care is also being taken to preserve the garden’s flora. The illumination is being done in a manner that it does not affect those areas of the garden where clusters of trees or flower-beds are, said CCA principal Pradeep Kumar Bhagat.

Indian Railways believes it can curb unauthorized ridership as every ticket will be booked with a photo ID, and it hopes to crack down on passengers traveling on transferred tickets sold by touts. Domestic and foreign tourists must be be able to provide a government issued photo ID if asked by the ticket examiner. Non-AC travelers are currently unaffected by the new policy although the decision on photo IDs may be widened in future so that every passenger on board a train has a valid identity card.

Update 9 February 2012: The scope of service involved in ID proof has widen and now includes: AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier, 1st AC, AC Chair and executive classes. Nine original ID proofs have been designated as acceptable forms: Voter ID Card, Passport, PAN card, Drivers license, Photo identity card with serial number issued by central/state government, Student identity card with photograph issued by recognized school and/or college, Aadhar card, Bank passbook with photograph, and Bank-issued credit cards with photograph.

Passengers unable to produce acceptable identification from the above list, and/or traveling on a ticket which does not match the passenger’s name will be classified as ‘Without Ticket’, and the applicable fare will be charged.

The new rule applies to domestic and foreign travelers.

“If the offers are attractive, the company will consider selling the stake and use the proceeds to continue to strengthen the group’s balance sheet. TCIL is a strong business, operating in an attractive market. Both the business and the market are growing and Thomas Cook will only sell its stake if a compelling offer is received,” Sam Weihagen, group CEO of Thomas Cook, was quoted as saying.

A sale would mark the second time Thomas Cook has left the Indian market. In 2005, it sold the TCIL to Dubai Investment Group, only to buy it back in 2008.

Thomas Cook India operates 153 locations in 70 cities with a workforce of 2,700 people.

Parking Fee

Tourists arriving by pre-paid car and driver or buses will not be charged for parking. This fee is already covered in your India tour cost. Private cars will be subject to a fee of Rs 30 per vehicle.

Entry Fee

The palace has four entrances; Main Gate (East): Jaya Maarthaanda, North Gate: Jayarama, South Gate: Balarama, and West Gate: Varaha. Public Entry is from South Gate.

Cost: Indian Adult Rs 40, Students Rs 10, Children 11 and up Rs 20, Children under 10 Free. Foreigners Rs 200 (Regardless of age).

Camera Fee

After the ticket counter and past the entry gate, visitors are free to roam the palace campus. Bear in mind photography is not allowed inside the palace. Photos can be taken from outside the palace in any open spaces, however, all visitors are required to leave cameras at a camera check located just inside the entry gate. Cameras are placed into a locker and a voucher is given to the owner. Although the posted signs say this service is free, you’ll most likely be asked for a monetary gift of Rs 5-10 upon redemption of your camera.

Security posted outside the actual palace building will check for cameras and mobile phones before entering. You will be redirected to the camera check if you haven’t disposed of your camera beforehand. Unless, of course, you offer a monetary gift (Rs 20-50) to the security official. It’s a 50/50 chance you’ll be allowed entry with your camera. Countless other visitors use their mobile phones to take photos with little to no hand-slapping for the offense.

Elephant & Camel Fee

Adding to the majestic regal palace feeling is an on-site elephant clad with a howdah for riding. Friendly mahouts will rope you in with big smiles and offers to “just feed the elephant”, before asking for donations as well as offering paid services. Prices varies. A short 5-10 minute ride should cost you no more than Rs 200. An optional camel ride is also available.

Shoe Fee

All visitors are required to discard their shoes prior to entering the palace. You may roam with shoes outside on the palace campus up to the point of entry. A shoe-check stall is located adjacent the palace entrance. As with the camera check, signs posted advertise this as a free service to tourists. In reality, foreigners will be pressed for monetary gifts of up to Rs 50 per pair of shoes. This preposterous fee can be negotiated to as little as Rs 5 per person. Just be sure you have exact change. Also, socks are allowed inside.

Audio Fee

An audio tour of the palace is available in English, Hindi, German, Italian, Japanese, and French languages. Charges are as follows: Indians Rs 100 per person; Foreigners Free (included in cost of ticket).

Guide Services Fee

Should you opt out of the audio tour there are guide services available near the shoe stall. Cost varies from Rs 200 to as much as Rs 500. Disregard any selling point of licenses and/or published state fees. Negotiate hard, and be sure to agree on a price before a tour begins ensuring the price is for ALL parties involved, not per person. Suggestion: take the audio tour.

Tour Begins & Ends

You’ll need about 1-2 hours to explore the palace. Enter through Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s Pavilion, a gallery of traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Halfway along is the elephant gate, which is the main entrance to the center of the palace. The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage pavilion with a central octagonal gabled roof, covered by stained glasses, is to the south of the building. The Ambavilasa or Diwan-e -khas, a hall used by the king for private audience, is one of the most spectacular rooms of the palace located on the first floor, facing east. On the same floor is the Diwan-e-Aam, facing south. Around the sprawling palace you’ll also see the portrait gallery, the royal armory, collections of costumes and jewelry, intricately carved doors of mahogany and solid silver, delicate chandeliers, exquisite stained glass ceilings, and decorative frescoes.

Museum Fee

After the tour concludes visitors are deposited through a door near a narrow alley. This passageway leads toward several of the palace temples. Be careful not to get caught up in the chaos of foot traffic in this area or you’ll quickly be asked to pay an additional Rs 200 for what seems like entry into the temples. In fact, it’s the entry fee for the palace museum housed within the private living quarters of the maharaja.

Toilet Fee

By this point you may be in need of the on-site facilities. “Are they free,” you ask? In theory the toilets are free to use, however, you guessed it, you’ll be asked for a small monetary gift. Rs 1-2 is sufficient.

You’ve reached the end of your tour. Remember to collect your shoes and camera before leaving. But wait! Before you go, there is one more service available.

Sound & Light Fee

A sound and light show (Kannada language only) is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after regular palace timings are concluded. No show is held if the date falls on a public holiday.

Cost: Indian Adult Rs 40, Children Rs 25. Foreigners Rs 200 (includes English audio kit).

Sunday Night Illumination

Mysore Palace is illuminated by more than 90,000 lights every Sunday night, and on public holidays, from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Palace gates are closed, viewing is from public streets around the grounds. There is no cost associated.

Numerous street vendors sell everything from balloons to candy at various prices. Expect slightly inflated fares on tuk tuk rides, bargain hard for proper rates.

Palace Timings

10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Daily. Best days to visit are Monday through Friday. Expect long queues on weekends.

Exceptions to these timings include: Udyanotsav will remain closed every Monday during this period for maintenance activities; Udyanotsav will also remain closed on 15 February due to a previously scheduled program at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and on 8 March in celebration of Holi Festival.

Three new attractions have been installed to dazzle the crowds. The first, floral carpets, will make it’s initial debut in the garden and is said to be a hit with garden lovers. Second, a new Bonsai garden has been added with about 200 Bonsai plants. And finally, a cactus corner has been created.

Entry and Exit

All movement in and out of the gardens will be from Gate No. 35 of the President’s Estate, which is located at the extreme end of the Church Road, about 300 meters West of Cathedral Church.

Physically challenged people using wheelchairs can enter through Rashtrapati Bhavan Reception, reachable through Hukmi Mai Marg or Rajpath. An exclusive day has been reserved on 14 March at the Udyanotsav for differently abled persons from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Such persons will be allowed entry through the Reception of Rashtrapati Bhavan, from either Gate Nos. 2 or 37.

Allowables

Visitors are not allowed to enter the gardens with any of the following items:

• water bottles
• briefcases
• handbags/ladies purses
• cameras
• radios/transistors
• cell phones
• any writing material
• umbrellas
• arms/ammunitions
• eatables

Any items brought to the entrance gate will have to be deposited before entry at the owner’s risk. No photography is allowed.

Disney will delist UTV from the Indian Stock Exchange and create a new holding company, Walt Disney Company India, to manage all UTV assets in the country. Disney plans to produce Disney and UTV-branded films in India. Disney already operates 3 TV channels in India, employing roughly 200 people. The newly formed company will employ upwards of 1100 people after the acquisition is completed.

I was able to briefly see Tollywood film actress Sneha as she filmed a scene at Thirumalai Nayaka Palace in Madurai. Crew members asked me to keep my distance as the camera rolled. But in-between takes, I was permitted to walk right up to the set, camera in hand.

My second encounter happened on a recent visit to Taj Mahal in Agra. Tamil actor Vikram, another popular Tollywood favorite, was shooting scenes for his upcoming movie Thandavam with co-star Anushka. Vikram is impossibly good looking in person, with a chiseled face, camera perfect eyes, and a body that could put most athletes to shame. The crowd of tourists was in full elation as he worked his smile, happily posing for photos in-between takes.

For the full-year 2011, Foreign Tourist Arrivals logged an 8.9% increase over full-year 2010.