- Avoid touring to Jammu & Kashmir because of potential terrorist incidents and violent public unrest.
- The area of Jammu & Kashmir is disputed with India, Pakistan, and China all claiming some or all the territory. Terrorist teams goal safety forces, particularly alongside the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan.
- Key vacationer spots like Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam are significantly dangerous for foreigners.
- Communal violence has brought on massive strikes and enterprise shutdowns, requiring police evacuations of U.S. residents.
- Foreign vacationers are prohibited from visiting sure areas alongside the LOC and might have a journey allow.
- Avoid areas inside 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the India-Pakistan border.
- Both nations keep a powerful army presence on their respective sides of the border.
- The solely official border crossing for non-citizens is between Atari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan within the state of Punjab.
- The border crossing is often open, however vacationers ought to verify its standing earlier than touring.
- You want a Pakistani visa to enter Pakistan. U.S. residents dwelling in India can apply for a Pakistani visa in India. Others ought to apply of their nation of residence.
- Both India and Pakistan declare an space within the Karakoram Mountain vary, together with the Siachen glacier.
- Travel and mountaineering on this space are extremely harmful.
- The disputed space contains:
- Rimo Peak
- Apsarasas I, II, III,
- Tegam Kangri I, II, III,
- Suingri Kangri
- Ghiant I, II
- Indira Col
- Sia Kangri
- Check with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for present situations.
Ethnic rebel teams within the northeast generally commit violent acts, together with bombing buses, trains, rail strains and markets.
- U.S. residents will not be often focused however may very well be affected as bystanders.
- Avoid touring by practice at evening, touring outdoors main cities at evening, and enormous crowds.
- U.S. authorities staff want permission from the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata to journey to sure areas in:
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Sikkim
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Meghalaya
- Tripura
- Manipur
- Foreigners want Restricted Area Permits to go to some Northeastern states. Contact the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata for present situations.
Maoist extremist teams, often known as “Naxalites,” are energetic in East Central India’s rural areas.
- Naxalites continuously assault native police, paramilitary forces and authorities officers.
- They are liable for extra assaults in India than every other group.
- Naxalites haven’t particularly focused U.S. residents however have attacked Western firms and rail strains.
- Naxalite violence hardly ever happens in locations frequented by foreigners, however there may be nonetheless a danger.
Areas of Naxalite exercise embrace:
- Eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana by means of western West Bengal.
- Rural elements of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
- Borders of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
U.S. authorities worker journey restrictions:
- Due to altering threats, U.S. authorities vacationers to states with Naxalite exercise want authorization from the U.S. consulate liable for the realm.
- This is required except they’re solely visiting capital cities.
Certain states or elements of states require overseas vacationers to acquire Restricted Area Permits from the Government of India Bureau of Immigration. These areas embrace:
- The union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- The union territory of the Laccadives Islands (Lakshadweep)
- The state of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Portions of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir close to the Line of Control with Pakistan and sure parts of the union territory of Ladakh.
It additionally contains parts of the states of:
- Sikkim
- Himachal Pradesh close to the Chinese border
- Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal) close to the Chinese border
- Rajasthan close to the Pakistani border
- Manipur
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
Restricted Areas Permits could be obtained from Indian embassies and consulates overseas.
- Within India, the permits could be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) at Jasisalmer House, 26 Man Sign Road, New Delhi.
- Official guesthouses in New Delhi for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim can concern permits to sure vacationers for his or her respective states.
- Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in Tamil Nadu: Be conscious that the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center in Kalpakkam is close by. It is restricted, harmful, and never clearly marked.
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: The Indian authorities has strictly forbidden anybody from visiting North Sentinel Island to make sure the protection of islanders and vacationers. Travelers who violate this legislation could also be arrested.