2018
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Useful Information

A Detailed Guide to Public Wi-Fi Networks in India for Foreign Tourists

Everyone need internet access in this digital world. Be it at their homes, in offices, at railway stations, bus stops, cafes or airports, Millions worldwide latch on daily to paid or free public Wi-Fi hotspots to surf the Net on their mobile devices. Many tourists who are on holiday in India, meet their data needs through free public wifi zones or hotspots to save on expensive International roaming charges in India Public wifi hotspots for foreigners in India though, can be a bane rather than a boon. Here’s why you should consider renting a portable 4g internet router or Travelphone Public Wifi for Foreigners in India- Instead of handing out passwords on a piece of paper, the Government has implemented a WiFi User Authentication System that generates an SMS password, delivered directly to the users phone number. The condition attached being that the mobile number has to be a functioning with an active Indian SIM card. Once in a public wifi hotspot zone, a user must select the name of the free public Wifi Network, which loads a login form asking for an Indian mobile number. Once inserted, an OTP (One -time password) is sent to the user by the the ISP. The OTP must be entered and validated. As a result, a foreign number can’t be used to access any public wifi zone without a working Indian mobile number or SIM card1 Due to security reasons, getting a SIM card in India for foreign tourist requires furnishing a lot of documents and there are many many steps involved in the process.On top of that, even if you manage to acquire an Indian 4g SIM Card The number of public internet and wifi hotspot zones in India are very limited 31,000 compared to the USA 11 Million or France 4 Million. Cyber Security for Tourists in IndiaOne of the biggest threats with free public WiFi is the ability for hackers to position themselves between you and the connection point. So, instead of taking you directly with the hotspot, you end up sending your information to the hacker. The hacker also has access to every piece of information you send out—emails, phone numbers, credit card information, business data, the list goes on. And once a hacker has that information, it means trouble. Real trouble. And while you may think ‘okay, I’m not checking my personal email or netbanking while travelling in India, I’m just checking the sports scores,’ remember anything you do on a public WiFi network is not secure.2

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Media and Entertainment

Iconic Movies That Were Shot in India!

Bollywood movies are famous for shooting scenes all across the globe, whether in the Swiss Alps or the Pyramids of Egypt and we’ve grown to love them. But nothing comes close to the excitement of discovering India in a Hollywood Film!Here are some movies that were either partly or wholly shot in India. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) - JodhpurThe director, Wes Anderson, said his inspiration for this movie was Satyajit Ray and several other documentaries on India. Apart from being shot in Jodhpur, one can also spot Irrfan Khan in the movie. The Fall (2006)- RajashtanThis film is a well hidden gem. Starring Lee Pace(Guardians of the Galaxy) and Directed by Tarsem Singh, a pass out of Bishop Cotton School, Simla, who chased his Movie making dream and made The Fall, a perennial favourite among critics. Though the movie is shot all over the world, its major bulk was filmed in Jodhpur, Agra and the Andaman islands. The Dark Knight Rises- Jodhpur (2012)This Superhero movie has scenes from Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. The Prison where Bane grew up and later imprisoned Batman in, to be specific.

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Useful Information

India's Latest e-KYC Policy for Sim Cards 2018- All You Need to know !

For a long time, KYC and Aadhaar verification has been a pebble in the shoe for those looking to buy a functional Sim card in India and has caused a great deal of frustration and inconvenience, specially for tourists trying acquire a local Sim card for their stay.Until recently, the Indian Government required an ‘Aadhar card’ verification before issuing any sim card. An Aadhar card, along with a unique Aadhar identification code for each individual, is best described as being similar to the Social Security Number system employed by the USA. Only a person of Indian nationality can be issued an Aadhaar card. Therein lies the bane of many foreign travellers who, by virtue of not having an Aadhaar number, have to virtually jump through hoops in order to obtain a working Indian Sim Card for voice calling and internet data. In October, 2018, India’s Department of Telecommunication announced that Aadhar verification is no longer required to obtain an Indian Sim Card. This should have been a cause of celebration for travel enthusiasts and tourists. Furthermore, the promotion of the eKYC process (digital verification) should have had us ecstatic, right? At a glance, one would think so but looking closely, there isn’t much to be too happy about . Despite how much better it may sound in theory, the process for buying a new sim card hasn’t become any simpler. What is e-KYC ?KYC means “Know Your Customer”. It’s process by which regulating authorities ( Telecom Service Providers, Banks etc.) obtain information about the identity and address of the customers. This process helps to ensure that services are not misused. The KYC procedure is to be completed by service providers while opening accounts. e-KYC refers to an alternative digital process introduced by the Department of Telecommunications.Generally an identity proof with photograph and an address proof are the two basic mandatory KYC documents that are required to establish one’s identity. As mentioned, until recently, an Aadhaar card and Aadhaar number ( Unique Identification Number) were also required as KYC documents. What e-KYC Means for Foreigners/TouristsThe latest direction issued by the Department of Telecommunication, allows for fulfilment of E-KYC without a government issued Aadhaar number. This new provision, coupled with the term ‘E-KYC’ has led to some ambiguity. Taken at face value, ‘ e-KYC’ suggests an electronic or digital method for submitting pertinent documents via the internet in order to fulfill the KYC requirements needed to buy a local sim card.To help clarify the new regulation, the process for e-KYC is outlined below - The Entire process of eKYC verification will be undertaken by Licensees ( shops that sell sim cards) through authorised and official apps. e-KYC is done at Points of Sale or shops. Perhaps the most important omission in discussions about the new eKYC process is that a potential customer must be physically present at the Point of Sale ( PoS) or shop, where an Officially Valid Document for identification must be furnished. For example, an original and valid passport or a Driver’s License . At the Sim Card store, the merchant or shopkeeper Will take a live photo of the customer, that shall be embedded in a Client Acquisition Form ( C.A.F) by the storeowner. Further, this live photo of the customer shall be watermarked and must be geo tagged. i.e. include GPS coordinates along with time and date. These details are then embedded in the CAF by the shopkeeper, and sent to the regulatory telecom body for verification. Once a person’s KYC details are verified, that customer will be given access to an operating sim card. Evidently, the process of e-KYC is still tedious and quite inconvenient for a foreign visitor trying to buy a local sim card. Luckily, there is a virtually hassle free alternative!

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Knowledge

Will my Cell Phone Work in India?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions by a traveller who wishes to travel to India. Smartphones and Internet are the essence of life now, however much you want to deny that! However, the answer to this question is not polar. Let’s first look at what all is there that can go wrong. Why will my phone not work in India?Your phone may not work in India with any of the local sim cards unless it is unlocked. In most of the parts of the world, mobile phones are locked to their telecom carriers and only they (your telecom carrier) can unlock the phones for you. You will not be able to insert another sim or use it with another carrier unless you pass their criteria of getting the phone unlocked and then go through the procedure which can take time and may cost you money of you get it done privately.Therefore, if you are getting an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus or 6s Plus from USA with you, make sure it is unlocked beforehand. Your phone may also not work, even if unlocked unless the GSM bandwidth of your phone is compatible. In India, the compatible GSM bands are as follows:2G capabilities: GSM 900, GSM 18003G capabilities: UMTS 900, UMTS 21004G capabilities: LTE 850 (5), LTE 1800 (3), LTE 2100 (1), LTE 2300 (40), LTE 2500 (41) Some key points to explain the necessity of this: Lower frequency network bands provide higher coverage. Higher frequency network bands provide higher data speeds. Proper Bands are required for VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution) services as it is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile phones and data terminals. Therefore, one needs to identify their home GSM bands and compare it with India’s for a functional phone.

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Useful Information

Best Indian SIM card 2018 - A Step-by-Step Guide for a Foreign Tourist

Travelling to India soon and need to be connected to friends, family and fellow travellers? You will need a sim card to use in india. Not to scare you, but getting a sim card in india can be quite an experience. Read for yourself! Trying to find the cheapest SIM card in India, with a good data plan, and the one that works with your unlocked phone and provides mobile wifi, can be absolutely exhausting with so many options available even when the SIM card price in India is mostly affordable. Before you make a choice, read below as we answer the most frequently asked questions by foreigners travelling to India. Will my Mobile Phone Work in India?Your phone may not work in India with any of the local sim cards unless it is unlocked. In most of the parts of the world, mobile phones are locked to their telecom carriers and only they (your telecom carrier) can unlock the phones for you. You will not be able to insert another sim or use it with another carrier unless you pass their criteria of getting the phone unlocked and then go through the procedure which can take time and may cost you money of you get it done privately. So, if you are asking ‘Are all iPhones unlocked’ or ‘Can you unlock and iPhone 7 or iPhone 6s’? Yes, you can and should get them unlocked or check if they are unlocked from your native service provider before you arrive in India. Your phone may also not work, even if unlocked unless the GSM bandwidth of your phone is compatible.

India Sim card

Why you need a portable wifi hotspot in India?

In India, there are a lot of cafes & restaurants which offer free wifi but mostly at low speeds and that tends to obstruct smooth internet surfing and does not let you apps that require decent data capacity (Apps like Facebook, Instagram). Most cities in India unfortunately, do not have wifi zones. Therefore to use the Internet; you remain dependent and confined to your hotel rooms or cafes and restaurants. The whole hassle of connectivity just sucks up the chill. Do what you are really here to do - Travel! And leave the rest to Trabug. What is Trabug exactly?Trabug started as India’s First Travel Phone that catered to all the needs of a foreigner travelling to India but has now also ventured into a pocket wifi device. The Pocket Wifi Device:This is a small convenient pocket sized device that you can rent at $2.49 a day. The device gives you access to high speed internet (4G) and lets you connect upto 10 devices. It is handy and lasts upto 6 hours after a full charge. It can be charged again using a regular USB cable. It also comes with a companion app for monitoring and settings.

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Food & DrinksStreet Foods

Must Have Street Food In India

India has food that is as colourful and varied as the country itself. One cannot have a complete India trip without trying the food that the locals swear by and that food isn’t available in the high end multi cuisine restaurants, it is the one that you find in the streets. The street food in India varies from place to place too but here are a few dishes that one MUST try! Below listed is an article by Aanchal Kandpal for ScoopWhoop with the title “15 Yummy Street Food Of India Everyone Must Try” that gives you a very varied list of foods that you should try if you are looking to try some of the street food options in India. The list included vegetarian and non vegetarian options with Chole Bhature, Aloo Tikki and Vada Pav leading the list.Read the article below for the full list of foods. Personal Tip: Do not go back without having the roadside Chai/Tea. https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/street-food/ Trying food from the street can be tricky especially if you are an outsider in India and that is why here’s an article by blogger Rachel Jones on “15 Tips on Eating Street Food in India & Not Getting Sick” where she shares her experiences and tips with trying Street Food in India. Rachel is an American who is currently living in Goa, India and has a variety of useful tips for her fellow foreign travellers to India. The tips include taking care of the cleanliness, avoiding ice in drinks, preferring veg over non veg. Read her blog by clicking on the following link for more. https://hippie-inheels.com/tips-on-eating-street-food-in-india-not-sick/ Here’s another article with the title ‘A mini guide to Indian street food’ by blogger, Shalu Sharma from Bihar in India. According to her “Some dishes are specialties of certain regions, whereas other dishes are available pretty much universally, whether you are looking for vegetarian, non-vegetarian or seafood”. Check her blog to know her list of favourites, safety and famous places in India that offer great street food.https://travelwithkat.com/guide-to-indian-street-food-2/

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Food & Drinks

15 Best Desserts of India

1. Kaju Barfi Kaju barfi never fails to evoke nostalgia. This little slice of heaven is savoured by children and adults alike… This delicacy is prepared with crushed cashew nuts cooked with the right consistency of sugar syrup. It’s very easy to find kaju barfi in most sweetshops across India, but be careful, burning off the calories isn’t as easy ! 2. Kheer Kheer is a rice pudding, originating from the Indian subcontinent, made by boiling rice, broken wheat, tapioca, or vermicelli with milk and sugar; it is flavoured with cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios or almonds. It is typically served during a meal or as a dessert. 3. Jalebi Jalebi, also known as zulbia and zalabia, is a sweet popular food in some parts of South Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and East Africa. It is made by deep-frying maida flour batter in pretzel or circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup. They are deceptively addictive, so be careful you don’t end up eating an entire kilogram !