India Read the current Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice for India before travelling.       Visas. British nationals require visas for India. If you arrive without a visa you can expect to be sent back. Multiple visas have restrictions. Check the details and always check with the issuing authority that your visa is valid for when you intend to travel. Many people are caught out by misreading their visas. If you intend to take side trips out of India, say to Nepal, then return. Make sure you have a double, triple or multiple visa according to your needs. Don’t overstay the time limit on your stay in India or you could go to jail or face a fine.       Book a hotel room prior to arrival. Tourists are advised to book at least their first night’s accommodation before arrival in India. Those without somewhere to stay can fall prey to rogue taxi and rickshaw drivers who offer to take them to a hotel. Unwitting victims have been attacked and robbed.       Keep your money and passport in a safe place. The theft of passports and other belongings is on the increase. Replacing a passport will take time and money. Organised gangs of thieves work the trains on tourist routes. Keep your passport, money and valuables on you and not in your hand baggage. Do take particular care of your belongings whilst boarding and alighting from trains. Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.       Changing money. Foreign currency regulations are strict. Only change money at banks or legal foreign exchange dealers. Keep and look after your transaction receipts as you may be required to provide proof that you obtained your rupees legally.       Health. Many foreigners fall victim to the heat, which may be extreme and to dysentery and diarrhoea caused by eating and drinking contaminated food and drink. Eat only recently prepared food that has been thoroughly cooked, and take sufficient liquids in the form of water that has been boiled, or bottled drinks, to prevent dehydration.       Health Insurance. Make sure that you have comprehensive medical insurance to include private treatment and hospitalisation as well as medical evacuation, since the State medical services are not generally so good. Keep your policy document with you.       Leave ample time for travel. Flights are often over-booked and passengers (even those who have confirmed tickets) can sometimes find themselves without a seat. Arrive at least three hours before an international departure. Connection flights can be subject to unforeseen delay. You should allow extra funds to cover this contingency.       Dress. While Indian attitudes to informal European styles of dress are generally tolerant, local religious or other sensibilities should be borne in mind. If in doubt take local advice especially with regard to topless bathing. Nude bathing is illegal, even in holiday resorts such as Goa.       Safety on beaches. Exercise caution in the waters of India’s coastline, which are subject to strong under-currents.       Currency, gold and electric goods smuggling. Don’t risk it. Indian customs authorities have powers to deal with suspected currency or gold smugglers. Don’t be tempted by promises of easy rewards. Those who are usually end up repenting in an Indian jail for 10 years.       Don’t get involved in drugs. The penalties for smuggling, possession and use are severe (10 – 20 years jail plus fine) and detention of up to three years awaiting trial. Second offenders can receive the death sentence.       Restricted areas. Don’t venture into restricted areas without a permit. The main regions forbidden to foreigners without permits are border areas between India and Pakistan (in Punjab and Rajasthan) and several states in the far north-east of India.       Photography. Don’t photograph military installations. Photography at some civil airports is also forbidden as they are shared with the Indian Air Force.