Indian Currency
The currency of India is called the rupee (Re) with one rupee equaling 100 paise. The largest note we observed in circulation was 500 Re with the most common being 100 Re. The exchange rate at the time of our visit was about 45 Re to the dollar, which meant we easily carried several thousand rupees with us. It was not uncommon to see clerks making change by breaking apart stacks of rupee notes 15 to 18 inches tall that were held by very large staples. This helps explain why there are so many holes in Indian currency.

Once you get used to handling the currency, one of the things we noticed was the bright coloration of the bills. Like most nations, currency designs come from India's historical past. While dollar notes are acknowledged to be dull and not ornate with the dominant green color, Indian notes display vibrant colors and come in differing sizes. The greater the value of the note, the size of the bill increased. The person from history most frequently found on the notes is Mahatma Gandhi.