Landing in Bangalore

AbbySciuto

Hi all,

Newbie here - I am flying to Bangalore for business next week and have so far spent more time surfing on IndiaMike than I have preparing for the conference. I was hoping someone could explain a few things to me.

An Indian colleague has sent me information on how to get to the office, the climate, hotels etc which was all self explainatory. However, at the bottom of the list it said 'Don't forget to register your laptop at the airport'. She has now gone on vacation and won't be back until after my departure (how inconsiderate of her! )

So....my question(s) - why do I have to register my laptop, what happens if I forget, does anything else need to be registered, where in the airport would I register, does it affect red channel/green channel going through customs?

Thanks guys - this site has been more informative than anything else I have found on the web.

Nick-H

Welcome to IndiaMike.com, and thanks for the thanks

You are permitted, as a traveller, to bring one laptop computer, for your own use, into the country. I never heard of any need to register it.

I certainly didn't register mine --- but then, I had no intention of taking it back to UK.

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sudheer poppa

Not too sure if it is a standard unupdated info list that most business send out to visiting offcials. A few years back, you had to register laptops just to prove that you will be taking back and you wont be charged a customs duty.

But these days, Indians themselves can carry one laptop into the country without paying any duty. Hence, I would seriously doubt if a foreigner coming on business visit would need to.

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SANJAY_DEL

Just "declare" at the customs desk that you have the laptop and if it's ok, otherwise they'll give you some kind of receipt, so you won't have a problem when leaving the country.

Nick-H

That gives them a chance to make fuss.

It is on the list of things that you are allowed to bring in --- just walk through the green channel (assuming you don't have anything else that needs to be declared). No need to do anything else.

See here and here if you want or need the reference for this.

almond

There is no need to register your laptop post 2004, when everyone was permitted to bring in one laptop for personal use. If you are carrying more than one laptop, then you might have to pay duty or register it. If you bring only one then there is no problem.

So don't worry have curry !

AbbySciuto

Thanks guys. That clears it up - as Sudheer suggested, I suspect it is an unupdated version of a general info sheet.
Well, that is one problem down.

Onto the next one - the BA strike starts the day I fly out so I guess I'll have to fly a day earlier than planned. Jeez, that'll be tough - arrive a day earlier and with no work to do! How shall I occupy my time?

SueJ

I visit on business, too, so have experience of the 'Sunday to kill' syndrome.....but can always find something to do.

Bangalore is a good place to explore as it does not have too many 'obvious' tourist attractions. Personally, I'd visit the Botanic Gardens to see the plants and watch the locals at leisure, then head to the central market to see all the flowers (colours like you'd never imagine, along with the noise...), Chickpet for textiles and depending on where you are staying head for the Forum shopping mall (on the basis that if you were parachuted in you'd have no idea you were in India...), and fit in a shopping trip to FabIndia. After that I'd probably just relax with a beer!

And, no, I've never registered a laptop.

sudheer poppa

Good pointers Sue..

Abby... Bangalore is one of the best cities to get exposed to India - its modern and cozy at the same time can see the all the famous 'scenes' of India if you just go to the right spots like central station area or . Hence, if you have the traveller bug in you feel free to explore the central station area or chickpet as suggested above. And incase you aint very interested, just walk around the hotel and enjoy the scenes of the world famous bangalore traffic... Another option is to hire a taxi and just explore, anything that catches your eye spend a while there and then move on..

I think bangalore tourism dept should start a new campaign, "come experience our traffic, and never complain about it for a lifetime"

phantom

There is a one day bangalore trip organized by KSTDC (the state tourism department) where they take you around and show all the important landmarks of the city. You need to book in advance though.

AbbySciuto

I'll definately go to the Botanic Gardens. I'm staying at the Leela (let's hear it for big fat expense acccounts!)and I understand that there is a mall next door to it or part of it. What is that like - typical for Bangalore or 'Leela standard'?

I would like to see if I get some punjabi suits made while I am there - are there any particularly good places for that and how much should I expect to pay (ball park)?