Good to Know

What is the currency in India?

Indian currency is in rupees. $1 is roughly 80 rupees.

Most things tend to be cheaper. An Uber ride across town will likely be $5-$7 USD. A nice dinner for 4 people will likely be about $90.

We recommend carrying some cash. 1000 rupees/day, in 100-200 rupees notes would be a safe bet. International credit cards were accepted everywhere Cori and Rik went in March - just double check if your bank charges a foreign transaction fee!

Can you drink the water from the tap?

Tap water is not potable. It is safe to shower and brush teeth, but even locals don’t drink water straight from the tap. Most restaurants will serve mineral or RO (reverse osmosis) water. When Cori and Rik were there, we usually confirmed “is this mineral or RO water?”

Restaurants will charge extra for mineral water but not for RO.

What language is spoken in Kolkata?

Bengali is the primary language you will hear spoken in Kolkata. Most people, especially in the service industry, will also speak English or Hindi. We recommend downloading the Google Translate app ahead of time, and downloading the Bengali and English dictionaries. Cori used the Conversation mode with some success while there.

Any rules for clothing while out and about?

India is a more conservative country; however, Kolkata tends to be more progressive than the rest of the country. One note for women - if you are wearing bare shoulders, shorts, low-cut tops, etc. it won’t necessarily be inappropriate. It just won’t be the norm. (You may get some stares.)

What else can you expect while visiting?

Weather:

It will be in the 70s/80s Fahrenheit in December in Kolkata. During the day, it will be low to mid 80s, low humidity. Evenings will be in the mid-70s with low humidity, with light breezes.

Getting around:

We recommend downloading Uber ahead of time. There are other options for transportation, but Uber was the most reliable and very cheap.

Traffic:

Traffic may be hard to get used to, even as a passenger. Drivers drive on the opposite side of the street, and traffic laws aren’t really enforced. There will be almost constant honking, cars cutting each other off, and if there are traffic lanes, no one stays in them.

Service:

Servers/staff are very attentive in restaurants/stores. They want to place the food directly on plates when they bring food and will stay close by in case you need anything. It may feel like they are watching you eat.

Tipping:

Service charges are typically added to checks - no need to tip on top of that cost. If you take a tour, you may want to tip your guide/driver. 10% would be appropriate, minimum of 50 rupees.

You may be approached by homeless people while out and about. It is okay to say no and keep walking; however, if you would like to give them money, 20 rupees would be normal.

Other Cultural Norms:

Personal space/personal bubble is a very American thing - don’t expect people to give you as wide a berth as they do in the US.

There are not a ton of white people in Kolkata. You will likely get some stares while out and about. It is not malicious - truly just curiosity.

Any other questions?

For any other questions, please reach out to Cori’s sisters, Kate (612) 517-8361 or Molly (715) 338-6146. Text is probably the best way to reach them :)