FAQs
Question
When should we plan to arrive in Kolkata.
Answer
We recommend landing in Kolkata on November 23rd to rest before traveling to the wedding hotel. The jetlag can take some time to get used to, so it may not be a bad idea to come in earlier and explore the city of joy!
Question
How long would you recommend staying in India?
Answer
Come for at least 1 week -- come for longer if you can! The time in and around the wedding will be the 23rd to 26th (4 days); there are fun areas to visit in Kolkata before or after the wedding. If you come for longer, you can explore more of India too! Most flights have multiple legs for the trip, so you can travel around before taking the connecting flight to Kolkata or when flying out. If you would like any recommendations about travel in Kolkata or India, please reach out!
Question
About booking flights...
Answer
The earlier you book, the better (and cheaper!). There are typically two ways to fly into Kolkata -- via the Middle East (e.g., Qatar, Etihad, or Emirates) or via other Indian cities (Air India, with layovers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc.). They take roughly the same time overall, but the latter requires you to go through customs and immigration in a different Indian city. We recommend flying via Middle Eastern airlines unless you plan to explore other Indian cities!
Question
How do I get a visa to travel to India?
Answer
You can get an e-visa to India. The form is relatively easy to fill out; you typically get your visa in 2-3 days. We would recommend that you do this at least a month before travel to be safe. The form will need you to provide information about who you are visiting in India -- please reach out to us, and we will help you with this part!
Question
What vaccinations do I need?
Answer
Please review the CDC guidelines for travel to India. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/india
Question
What should I bring on the flight to help with the long travel?
Answer
- Neck pillows - Compression socks - Motion-sickness aid (e.g., Dramamine) - Sleeping aid (e.g., Melatonin) Note: We've found sleeping aids also to help reset our sleep schedule when we're jetlagged!
Question
What clothing should we pack?
Answer
- Outfits for the various wedding events - Light, airy clothing suitable for warm days - Jackets for cooler nights - Scarfs to cover shoulders and head (needed for some of the temples if you plan to visit) - Hats/sunglasses for the sunny days - Swimwear
Question
What other items would be good to bring?
Answer
- Sunscreen - Bug spray - Any prescription medications - Wet wipes/hand sanitizer - Face masks* * Kolkata is much better than some of the other cities, but the AQI is higher than US cities