Banks: 10:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 13:00, Saturday
Post offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department stores and shops: 09:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday; some are open later and Sunday
Museums: times vary according to the facility
Business offices: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday

Bikaner presents the average visitor with no major threats to their personal well-being or the safety of the possessions. The city is largely free from violent crime and tourists are invariably treated with respect, although this may in many cases be only superficial in a bid to get their business.

The usual petty crime element exists of course and visitors are warned to be mindful of what they carry and how they carry it, so as to avoid the attention of pickpockets and bag-snatchers. As with most cities, women are advised not to go out alone at night, especially in secluded and sparsely populated areas.

Shop owners are notoriously ruthless in their efforts to get you to buy things and will offer you tea and other courtesies as part of their technique. Visitors should not feel obliged in any way to make purchases simply because a vendor has given them small gratuities of this nature. Many shopkeepers will appear displeased if they go to great lengths to encourage you to buy and you decide to leave without doing so, however, few will go beyond a pained expression or a grumble so visitors need not feel threatened or intimidated by such behaviour.

Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz; all plugs are round two-pin types.

Bikaner presents the same threats to health that are present throughout India and visitors need to be mindful of a number of issues if they are to avoid episodes of malaise or serious illness. Eating out can present health risks on account of low levels of hygiene at local eateries, so some good judgment needs to be employed before deciding where and what to eat.

To be entirely sure of hygienically prepared food, stick to the restaurants within the quality hotels and resorts. Avoid drinking tap water at all costs and steer clear of ice in cold beverages in case it has been prepared with unpurified water. When purchasing bottled beverages of any description, be sure that seals are intact and reject any bottles where they are not.

Swimming in anything other than chlorinated pools is seriously advised against as many sources of still water harbour dangerous bacteria that can enter through skin.

Essential vaccinations include those for hepatitis A and typhoid, with rabies being optional for any visitors who feel that their trip might bring them into close and frequent contact with wild animals. Anti-malarial drugs are highly recommended while an effective mosquito repellent should be worn at all times to limit the risk of both malaria and dengue fever.

Emergency services: 102

Rajasthani is spoken by a significant number of permanent residents in Bikaner with the specific dialect known as Marwari. While dialects of Rajasthani differ from region to region, there are common elements between them and hence communication is possible between citizens of different regions. Hindi is also widely spoken, while English is common in tourist areas with a good standard spoken in hotels and resorts.

The rupee is Bikaner’s official currency and is made up of 100 paise. Notes are issued in denominations of Rs1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5, while coins are issued in Rs5, 2 and 1; and 50, 25, and 10 paise.

Bureaux de change are scarce in Bikaner and the best bet for visitors is to make use of the currency exchange facilities offered by the city’s banks. Some of the large hotels may also offer exchange services, however rates will be considerably worse than those offered in the banks.

Bikaner has a single ATM available and its reliability is questionable so visitors should be sure to have sufficient fiscal means in the form of travellers’ cheques (US dollar cheques are advisable) or foreign or local currency, before they arrive in the city.

Non-national visitors are permitted to bring a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of loose tobacco into the country while alcohol allowances for those in the same category permit the importing of no more than a litre of wine or spirits.

It’s forbidden to bring or attempt to bring obscene publications or religiously offensive material into the country; those doing so face severe consequences. Additionally organic produce such as coffee beans, fruit and vegetables, meat products, flowers, plants and seeds may not be imported except by special licence.

In social situations, visitors being introduced to a group of locals should be mindful of greeting the eldest member of the party first, since the hierarchy is given much significance in India. The namaste greeting of pressing your palms together and bowing is the common greeting but sometimes a handshake is exchanged between men, especially in business situations. Women however, do not shake hands with either sex.

Religion dictates naming conventions throughout India and while Hinduism is the predominant religion in Bikaner, it’s unwise to take for granted that this will be the faith of a person and hence at first meetings it’s perhaps best to politely request by what title your host, new friend or acquaintance would prefer to be addressed.

Fraternisations between male visitors and female locals are inadvisable and likely to elicit negative attention from friends and relatives.

Dining Etiquette
Dinner at the house of a local has the capacity to draw visitors into all manner of complicated etiquette issues so it’s wise just to be sure to observe the basics and not worry overly about the finer points as your host and fellow guests will invariably be forgiving of any minor faux pas.

Rule number one is to always remove shoes before entering a home. You may or may not be offered an alternative to wear inside, if not then don’t ask and be content to walk barefoot. In the dining room meanwhile, guests should always wait for their hosts to show them to their seat and then refrain from eating until all members of the party are seated and ready to begin the meal.

It’s polite to accept the food that is offered graciously and not to enquire excessively about it, unless it’s with a view to offering praise. Since many citizens of Bikaner are vegetarian, a meat-free meal is likely – and it’s wise to avoid commenting unnecessarily on this issue.

Most food is eaten with the right hand although the nature of certain dishes necessitates use of a fork or spoon, hence visitors should not be afraid to follow the example of fellow table guests with regards to this issue. Plates should never be cleared completely and visitors should always leave a small amount of food behind as this suggests that the meal was sufficient and hence compliments the host.

Bringing a small gift for the host is a polite although not necessarily expected gesture. Visitors able to present their host with something from their home country as a token of their appreciation for dinner, will be looked on favourably, as will those who present flowers or edible delicacies.

North American, Canadian, Australian, British and EU citizens need a passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry and a tourist visa in order to be granted entry to India. Visas are obtained relatively easily from Indian embassies in the aforementioned countries as visa-on-arrival does not exist for India. Note that visas take effect the moment the are issued, not when you enter the country; so if you plan too far ahead, your visa may expire before you want it to.

The Tourist Reception Centre at the RTDC Hotel Dhola Maru is a good place to find out more about tourism in Bikaner. You can reach them at: +91 151 544125.