Travel Tips for Rajasthan

Visas / Entry Requirements

Almost every non-Indian needs a tourist visa for traveling to India. However, no special permit is required for travel to Rajasthan. A special permit may be required if you wish to visit certain protected areas (e.g. national parks).

Money

Currency: Indian Rupee

Exchange rate: Check at time of travel as it can fluctuate.

Changing Money: You cannot obtain rupees outside India so change your travelers cheques and foreign currency on arrival at the hotel if you can (a better exchange rate than at the airport). US dollars, Euros and Sterling are accepted and easily changed at most hotels. Almost all types of credit cards are accepted by restaurants, hotels and shops. In the larger cities only (Jaipur) you can find ATM machines to withdraw cash.

Holidays / Festivals

The royal state of Rajasthan has all the usual Hindu and Muslim festivals. Besides these, there are a number of exotic and colorful festivals, which are distinctive to the state. During these fairs and festivals, the whole state comes to life with bursts of song, dance and procession. These fairs are very much a highlight of a travel in Rajasthan. Pushkar camel fair, Desert Festival, Baneshwar Fair, Mewar festival, Gangaur festival, Elephant festival, Teej are some of the most flamboyant festivals of Rajasthan.

Communications

Time difference: GMT + 5.30

Telephone: Country Code for India: 91. If you wish to make an international call place 00 followed by the code of the country you are calling.

Mobile telephones: These phones work in almost all the towns and cities of Rajasthan, to be more precise, the whole of Rajasthan. However, there are some areas in the countryside where you will not receive a signal.

Internet: You can have Internet access through 'Cyber Cafes' only in the major urban centers, such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur.

Fax: Sending faxes at telegraph offices involves filling in forms and possibly a long wait but staff

Dress in Rajasthan is casual. However, in the smarter city hotels people often change into fresh clothes for dinner. When sightseeing, do dress conservatively. Ladies are advised to be fairly modestly dressed.

Wherever you stay in Rajasthan, it can be arranged for a tailor to come and see you to have clothes made. They will also bring a choice of fabrics, if asked.

Don't try to sneak into temples and mosques that forbid non-Hindus or non-Muslims.