Measurements and Time
India uses the metric system where distance is measured in meters, liquids are measured in liters and solids are weighed in kilograms. 220 volts/50 hertz is the electrical frequency, and power outages do occur so make sure you have a flashlight and batteries. The time in India is Standard Time +0530 UTC.
Postal Mail
Letters overseas must be marked “Air Mail” or “Par Avion.” A letter to the UK or USA can typically take 1 – 2 weeks to get to its destination. Courier services are also widely available. To receive letters from overseas, have them addressed with your name (surname first) to the post office in your area marked “Poste Restante.” The post office will hold letters for 30 days, and you’ll have to show them your passport for identification. The Head Post Office located on Dhanvanthri Road can be reached at 821-252-1618.
Phone
The country code for India is 91 and the city code for Mysore is 0821. When calling from the US to India, dial 011 + 91 + 821(omit the zero in the city code) + the phone number. When making a local call within Mysore, the city code is not necessary; just dial the phone number. You can use the International Subscriber Dialing phones in the kiosks with yellow signboards labeled “PCO”, “STD” or “ISD” which are located all over Mysore.
Currency
The easiest way to access money is with your debit card. Most ATMs will accept debit cards or you can get a cash advance with your credit card – just remember to take your credit card’s PIN number. Some ATMs have transaction limitations, usually up to Rs. 20,000 per transaction or per day.
There is no need to exchange your home currency into rupees prior to your arrival in India. In fact, it is prohibited to bring rupees into the country. When I arrived at Bangalore airport, there were currency exchange desks and an ATM that accepted my American debit card. I also had no problems using my debit card at the ATMs located in major banks such as ICICI or the State Bank of Mysore. If you are planning on studying at AYRI, try to get rupees in 500 or 1,000 denominations. Otherwise, bring a bag to hold smaller denominations.
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