Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday
Banks: 10:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 12:00 Saturdays
Post Offices: 10:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday

Even by Indian standards, Ahmedabad is a very safe city for tourists to visit. Given that far fewer foreign visitors come here than the likes of Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi and Jaipur, predators that specialise in ripping off or robbing tourists haven’t had a chance to materialize here. Coupled with the fact that Gujarat is the only state in the country where alcohol is banned means that Ahmedabad is a sedate city where the locals are usually friendly and interested in overseas visitors rather than keen to profit from them.

In certain areas of the city it is wise to exercise caution, however, especially after dark. These areas include the district around Bhadra temple and near Vasna Toll Naka. Single females should be especially careful in such areas.

The roads pose a threat if you plan to drive yourself while in Ahmedabad, not only because of the quality of the surface but also because road rules are commonly ignored. Similarly, those nervous about being driven might consider a more robust vehicle than an auto-rickshaw in which to get around. A qualis is likely to stand up much better in the event of an accident.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz

Most health problems experienced by visitors in Ahmedabad are directly linked to the poor management of the environment and the pollution caused by the ever-growing number of factories. The air quality is not very good here and neither is the water quality, so never drink tap water. Instead, drink sealed, bottled water only.

Like with the rest of the country, visitors to Ahmedabad need to make sure that immunisations against major, preventable diseases are up to date. Never travel here without a tetanus booster under your belt and make sure to get the necessary hepatitis A shot.

Malaria isn’t a huge problem here, but you will probably want to make sure you take the latest preventative medicine, a course which must usually be started before departure. Make sure to speak to your local doctor about malaria a few weeks prior to leaving home.

Given the lower standards of hygiene and the excessive heat, food can spoil quickly and cutlery may not always be clean. Many visitors get minor stomach upsets during their stay here. To avoid anything serious, don’t accept ice and eat fruit with caution; peeling all fresh produce is the best prevention. The fact that meat is hard to come across in Ahmedabad restaurants reduces the threat of stomach upsets.

Raksha Hospital: +91 79 26872363

Gujarati is by far the most widely spoken language in Ahmedabad. Hindi, the most common language in India, is spoken to a lesser degree while English is not very commonly spoken, although tourist services always have someone on hand that knows the language.

The Indian rupee is the official currency of India. The lowest denomination is the 1 rupee, although more common are the 5, 10, 20 and 100 rupee notes. Larger denominations include 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.

Options for changing money in Ahmedabad are few and far between. The best place to change money is at the Bank of India with branches at the airport and in the city. Be aware of the opening hours as Indian banks are notorious for only opening for about four hours a day and changing your money can take anything up to an hour. To avoid excessive delays, bring commonly used currencies like the US dollar, pounds sterling or euro. Credit card advances are also available at selected venues around town, but fees can be hefty.

Indian customs operate according to the usual declaration policy where you will be asked to walk through the red channel at the airport if you have anything to declare. Should you be carrying more than US$5,000 in cash, you are asked to notify customs officials.

Alcohol presents a unique problem when landing at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. All alcoholic products are illegal in Gujarat, but foreign passport holders are exempt from this stipulation. However, customs officials and the authorities in general consider any alcoholic beverage with suspicion so if you do decide to carry the duty free allowable quantity of alcohol – under two litres of wine or spirits – it may delay your passage.

There are a few rules of etiquette that visitors to Ahmedabad should be aware of. When visiting a temple, make sure to cover bare shoulders and don’t wear shorts. Shoes should be removed before entering religious sites too. When in doubt, follow the locals.

Foreign men can drink alcohol in Ahmedabad without consequence, but women should be particularly careful. Immodest dress and consumption of alcohol by women in the presence of Indians in Ahmedabad is not recommended. Women who smoke cigarettes in public may attract negative attention.

While it is perfectly okay for men to man-handle each other and women to hold each others hands, inter-sex physical contact in public is generally considered unacceptable, especially sexual contact or overly affectionate behaviour. If you come into contact with an Indian, refrain from touching them with your left hand as this is usually saved for hygiene duties.

Many Indians scoop up their food with their right hand before pushing it into their mouths. While this would be seen as inappropriate in the west, it is perfectly normal here, unless done with the left hand which is considered to be dirty. You will not be expected to follow suit, however, and will almost always be offered a spoon and fork or, in a higher end venue, a knife and fork.

In Ahmedabad, finding a place that serves meat can be hard and visitors areadvised not to show frustration or anger if they cannot get hold of the meat dish they desire. If you have brought alcohol with you to the city, don’t take it to a restaurant or public area. Generally, tipping is not expected but you might want to leave between five to ten per cent gratuity when dining in an upmarket place.

Unless you are from Bhutan or Nepal, you will require a visa to visit India. Visas can be arranged through Indian embassies and consulates in your home country and usually take just a few days to process.

In almost all cases, tourists from Europe and North America are eligible for a six-month tourist visa which is then activated from the moment it is issued and not from when you enter the country, as is usually the case with visas for other countries. One-year visas are also available while six-month visas can be extended for a further six months at an immigration office in the country. US citizens are sometimes eligible for 10-year visas under special circumstances.

Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least six months following your intended departure date and that there is an unused page left in your passport for the necessary visa stamp before applying for a visa.

Ahmedabad’s main tourist information office can be found in the centre of the city at Khamasa gate. The office can be reached at: +91 79 2365611.