Starting 27 March 2011, Philippine Airlines will start flights from Manila to Delhi, India. (Indira Gandhi International Airport). That's very exciting, at least for me. I have always wanted to go to India, and I was very tempted last year to book tickets with Air Asia for an Indian adventure this year. However, the prospect of going to Kuala Lumpur first seemed a daunting task for me. Good thing I didn't buy because Philippine Airlines will now have flights direct to Delhi. There are also flights to Delhi from Manila via Bangkok, Thailand. Yay! On the downside, I think it's going to more expensive. However, for its maiden voyage and perhaps for the first few months, Philippine Airlines is likely to have a seat sale for their newest route. I'm seriously contemplating on buying tickets to Delhi if that ever happens.
Here is the full details of PAL's Delhi route from
PAL's website:
Delhi, India Effective 27 March 2011, PAL shall operate between Manila and Delhi six times a week.
Flight PR758 (non-stop flight) is departing Manila every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9:10 p.m and arriving in Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) at 01:10 a.m. (Delhi time). The return service, PR 759, departs Delhi at 3:00 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and arrives back in Manila at 12:00 noon (Manila time)
While flight PR752 (via Bangkok) is departing Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:45 p.m and arriving in Delhi at 01:10 a.m. (Delhi time). The return service, PR 753, departs Delhi at 2:45 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and arrives back in Manila at 1:50 p.m. (Manila time).
Delhi, the capital of India, is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world and is estimated to be over 5,000 years old.
The cosmopolitan city of Delhi is also known as one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
The city includes many historic monuments like the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in the early 18th century which was used to compile astronomical tables, predict the times and movements of the solar system. Another tourist spot would be the Lodhi Gardens, a park spread over 90 acres which contains architectural works from the 15th and 16th centuries. It is also a haven for yoga enthusiasts and Delhiites who love their morning walks.
Other must see are the Red Fort; one of Delhi’s top tourist sights, Humayun’s Tomb which is included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Jama Masjid; the largest mosque in India.
Taj Majal, one of the most fabulous monuments in the world is 200 kms. from Delhi.
PAL likewise linked a page directly to the
Bureau of Immigration, India, for VISA ON ARRIVAL for PHILIPPINE NATIONALS. The visa on arrival is likewise applicable to nationals of Finland, Japan, Luxemborg, New Zealand, Singapore. Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos -
Tourist Visa on Arrival
The foreign national of following Nine countries viz.
| 1.Finland | 2.Japan | 3.Luxemburg |
| 4.New Zealand | 5.Singapore | 6. Combodia |
| 7. Vietnam | 8. Philippines | 9. Laos |
can get a Tourist Visa on arrival with a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility (w.e.f 01.01.2010) by the Immigration officer at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata Airports and NOT in any other Immigration Check Posts(ICPs).
A Tourist Visa-on-Arrival shall be granted to a foreigner who is a national of Finland, Japan, Luxemburg, New Zealand , Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos :
- whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives etc and no other purpose/ activity;
- who does not have a residence or occupation in India;
- who holds a passport with minimum six months validity, and a re-entry .permit if that is required under the law of the country of nationality of the applicant;
- who is a person of assured financial standing ( the production of a return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his stay in India may be considered sufficient for this purpose).
- who is not a person-non-grata to the Government of India;
- who is not considered an undesirable person and is not the subject of a black list or any warning circular or other restrictive list;
Note:
- A citizen from the above-named countries who wants to come to India for a longer duration should be granted a visa of the appropriate category by the Indian Mission/Post concerned.
- This facility shall not be available to the citizens of above-named countries if the person or either of his/ her parents or grandparents (paternal or maternal) was born in , and was permanently resident in Pakistan. Such persons can visit India after obtaining appropriate visa from the Indian Mission/ Post concerned.
A Tourist Visa-on-Arrival will be valid for entry and stay into India within the period of its validity subject to conditions specified. The Immigration officer may grant single entry Tourist Visa-on-Arrival up to 30 days to nationals of Finland, Japan, Luxemburg, New Zealand, Singapore , Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos.
3.Conditions for Tourist Visa-on-Arrival: | |
Tourist Visa-on-Arrival shall be non-extendable and non-convertible. At the time of issue of Tourist Visa-on-Arrival, the Immigration officer must make it clear to the foreigner that a Tourist Visa-on-Arrival can neither be extended nor converted to any other kind visa during his/her stay in India except in the following circumstances and with the prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs:
a) Tourist Visa-on-Arrival may be converted to 'X' (Entry) Visa if a foreigner who has come to India on Tourist Visa-on-Arrival marries an Indian national during the validity of his/her Tourist Visa-on-Arrival. Such conversion would be considered subject to fulfilment of following conditions: - Submission of a copy of a Registered Marriage Certificate, and
- Report from the concerned FRO/FRRO about their marital status which will, inter-alia, include his/her antecedents, confirmation about their living together and security clearance.
b) Tourist Visa-on-Arrival of the foreigners who fall ill after their entry into India rendering them unfit to travel and require specialized medical treatment may be converted to Medical visa if they are eligible for grant of Medical Visa and medical certificate is obtained from the government / government recognized hospitals. In such a case, Tourist Visa-on-Arrival of the attendant accompanying the foreigner( whose Tourist Visa-on-Arrival is converted to Medical Visa) may also be converted into Medical Attendant[Med-X] visa co-terminus with the Medical visa of the Foreigner.
4.Fee for Tourist Visa-on-Arrival | |
A fee of US $60/- or an equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger( including children) will be charged from each foreigner for the grant of Tourist Visa-on-Arrival.
Tourist Visa-on-Arrival shall be allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year to a foreigner with a minimum gap of two months between each visit.
The Tourist Visa-on-Arrival facility shall not be applicable to holders of Diplomatic/ Official passports.
