Utilities
Telephones
Even in small town you will find abundance of phone booths called PCOs or Public
Calling Offices. You can make local calls our STD call that is Subscribers’
Trunk Dialling or ISD International Trunk Dialling from these booths. You can
spot such booths by a glow sign displayed outside the booth saying PCO/STD/ISD.
You dial yourself and pay as per the print out metered bill only. These are
cheaper options that direct dialling from hotels. The phone service is usually
and you can get connected in moments.
Most of the phone booths also offer fax services.
Cyber Cafes
Cyber Cafes are existing all over and Internet and email access. The Cyber
Cafes with leased line or ISDN lines are generally faster. However Internet
can be very slow between 5 pm and 9pm but is generally faster in mornings,
early afternoons and late nights. The rates can vary between Rs 10 to 50 per
hour.
Newspapers
Newspapers in English language with good quality international and national
coverage are easily available. Newspapers like The Hindustan Times, Times
of India, Indian Express, The Hindu and The Statesman are available. Selected
bookstall may have some international newspapers too.
DRINKING WATER & BEVERAGES
The Indian loves tea called locally chai it forms an essential part of the social
milieu and served as a hospitality brew. Tea is available all over in roadside
teashops or restaurant and even on railway and bus stand platforms. A very hygienic
tea service is available largely on railway station is in clay pot, which are
disposable, but this now being replaced by disposable plastic cups. Unless you
specify specially tea is a mixed brew and many traveller find it too sweet.
So you specify tea in a tray and manage the addition of milk and sugar. Coffee
though less freely available can be found in more exclusive joints. Now coffee
vending machine of popular international brands is also gaining currency and
some places also have an espresso machine.
There is an apparent over dose of international Cola and carbonated drinks
like Coco Cola and Pepsi, which are available in abundance at every corner.
These are supplemented by local brands like Thums UP and Limca. Masala Soda
a peculiar concoction of rock salt and lime with soda can be a pleasant surprise
and very digestive. A variety of fresh and canned fruit juices and local drink
particularly good for summer like khas and rose are also very soothing. A
diluted and churned curd drink called lassi, which is thinly salted and sweetened
and often topped with cream can be quite filling and a remedy to sun strokes.
A variety of alcoholic drinks like whiskey, gin, rum, brandy or vodka is available
in good standard. Blended whiskeys with Scotch are available and are generally
more expensive. Wines and Champaign are also available but in major towns.
Bottled and canned Beer is very easily available and is generally chilled
before sale. Bars are licensed by the government and are available only in
mid range and expensive hotels. There are plenty of liquor shops but public
drinking is banned.
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