About Goa
Variously known as "Pearl of the Orient" and a "Tourist Paradise",
the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt
known as Konkan. Panaji (Panjim) is the state capital located on the banks of
the Mandovi river. Tourism is a major industry in Goa. On an average a million people,
including 1.25 lakh foreigners visit Goa. The territory is known for its numerous
beaches such as Calangute, Colva and Vagator. Essentially export-oriented
because of iron ore and manganese deposits. Paddy is the main agricultural crop,
followed by ragi, cashew and coconut. Rice is the staple food of Goans.
Fish, like rice, is an important component of the Goans' food.
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Travel Checklist
- VISA
All non-Indian-citizens are required to have an Indian
visa to enter the country. Allow yourself sufficient time
(say 2-3 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. Please visit
this site for more information including an online copy of the
application
form for 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 relevant information.
- Flight Reservations
Flights to India and Goa in particular tend to fill up well ahead of the December holiday
season. We recommend that you make your flight as well as lodging 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.
- Vaccinations (shots)
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.
- Foreign Exchange
While international credit cards are widely accepted in commercial
establishments in India, several places rely on cash transactions
in the local currency (Indian Rupee). 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. 44/- per US dollar. 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.
- Hotel Reservations
Please make your hotel reservations
ahead of time so that you get your choice of accommodation.
- Time and Weather
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 27° Celsius (approx. 81° 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
Flights to India
Goa is well connected by airline services to most major cities in India.
All flights, national and international, to and from Goa, operate from the Goa Airport at Dabolim
The approximate driving time is 40 minutes & distance is 28 kms (17 miles) from the Airport to Hotel. Major airline
operators such as Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines have flights carrying passengers and cargo in and
out of Goa. Besides these, a number of chartered flights land in Goa from UK and
other European countries. The national airline Air India also lands a few international
flights, especially from the Gulf countries. 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.
More information about the flights from and to Goa airport can be found at
air-transport.
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.
-
Airport to Hotel Transportation
Goa's Dabolim Airport (GOI-Dabolim) is approximately 28 kms (about 17 miles)
from Cidade de Goa. The driving distance is about 40 minutes. The hotel will
provide complimentary airport transfers. Please confirm while making
reservations. A prepaid taxi service are also available at the airport
across from the baggage claim. The typical fare from the airport to the hotel is Rs 450.00.
Travel to Goa & within India
Dempo Travels Pvt.Ltd.
Panaji-Goa
Phone: +91(832)2426151, 52, 53, 55
Fax: +91(832)2426154
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Jude Dsouza or Alirio Da Costa
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Internet Access
Wireless internet access is available in the hotel at nominal rates.
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