VISA :
We recommend that delegates holding non-Indian passports apply for the Indian visa at the earliest. If you do not intend to visit NCRA or GMRT, then a tourist VISA is the most convenient option. Please note that if you intend to visit NCRA or GMRT campus, then a business visa is a must. You will need an invitation letter from NCRA to apply for a business visa. This being a small workshop, a conference visa will not be applicable for this meeting. Please contact the LOC (indoaus@ncra.tifr.res.in) for requesting an invitation letter. To be able to issue this letter, we need a copy of the pages of the passport giving the following information - your full name, passport number, nationality and date of issue and expiry, and place of issue of the passport. In addition, we also need the full address of your current affiliation along with your contact email and telephone number. If you need a business visa, we encourage you to put in your request for an invitation letter as early as possible.
REACHING THE VENUE:
The venue of the meeting, Lonavala, is a popular hill station which lies between Pune and Mumbai. Mumbai is well connected by most major international airports from Asia and Europe. Lonavala is about 90 kms from the Mumbai international airport towards Pune and can easily be reached by road (about 2.5 hours drive). From Pune, Lonavala is about 70 kms and can be reached by road (about 1.5 hours drive). Trains to Lonavala from Pune and Mumbai are also available, but often not as convenient. International travelers arriving in Mumbai can book a cab from the Mumbai airport to the Fariyas Resort. For international travelers coming into other cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai or other airports in India, we recommend flying to Pune and taking a cab to the Fariyas Resort. For all domestic travelers, we recommend flying in to Pune and traveling to Lonavala by road.
App based taxi services by Ola and Uber offer convenient cab options for Mumbai-Lonavla and Pune-Lonavla road travel (select "outstation" option while booking). Ola and/or Uber booking counters are available on Pune and Mumbai airports (at the exit). Pre-paid taxi options are also available at both the airports.
For non-resident delegates, travel arrangements to and fro from NCRA will be made by the LOC.
In case of any questions please get in touch with the LOC at indoaus@ncra.tifr.res.in
