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 also.
Museums: times vary according to the facility.
Business offices: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday.

There are few serious caveats with regards to personal safety that visitors need to consider while holidaying in Hyderabad. Crime is fairly low and that which exists is very rarely of the violent variety. Pickpockets are of course around as they are in every big city in the world, but visitors can limit their risk of becoming victim by keeping cash and valuables in hard to reach places.

India has experienced problems with terrorist attacks in the wake of 9/11 and while Hyderabad is not considered a high risk area, it’s wise to check the status of the city with your country’s foreign office website before travelling.

Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz.

Visitors to Hyderabad are obliged to consider the same issues with regards to health that are pertinent when visiting any part of India. Hygiene is one of the primary concerns and dirty conditions can lead to malaise or serious illness if necessary precautions and mindfulness are not observed. Visitors should be wary of where they choose to eat as cleanliness in some restaurant kitchens can fall well short of Western standards. Street vendors especially are best given a wide berth as their food preparation may lack basic hygiene.

Tap water is not drinkable and should be avoided in favour of bottled water, which is cheap and readily available. It may be wise also to brush teeth with bottled water and clean fruit and vegetables with the same. Avoid swimming anywhere except chlorinated pools as natural sources can harbour dangerous bacteria.

Before leaving for India, all visitors are advised to have hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations and to consider a course of anti-malarial treatment. It’s sensible to wear mosquito repellent at all times as dengue-carriers often bite during the daytime. Rabies vaccinations are only necessary if it is apparent that visitors will spend any significant amount of time in close contact with animals.

Apollo Hospital Hyderabad: +91 40 23607777

Emergency services: 102

Urdu is the main language in Hyderabad; however, it is a local variation, a distinct dialect of its own in fact. Telegu is also spoken in some parts of the city and English is also relatively common and spoken with competence.

The rupee is the official currency in the Indian city of Hyderabad 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.

Cash and travellers’ cheques are best exchanged at banks as bureaux de change are fairly few and far between with those to be found in the city’s big hotels perhaps offering the least favourable rates. ATMs are readily available and generally accept foreign cards although it’s wise to make sure your card is issued or endorsed by one of the world’s big names in finance such as Visa, Barclaycard, AMEX or Diner’s Club.

For visitors who are nationals of countries other than India, the personal allowances for import are: not over 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of raw tobacco plus a maximum of one litre of wine or spirits.

Certain objects are considered contraband and will be confiscated on entry to the country and may bring serious consequences to the individual carrying them, and these include: books or magazines with obscene or religiously offensive content, coffee beans, meat, fruit and vegetables, plants, flowers and seeds and untreated tobacco.

Visitors meeting locals for the first time can do so with the traditional namaste greeting of pressing your palms together or a handshake; although generally speaking, men should not shake the hands of women and vice versa. The eldest member of a group should always be greeted first as the hierarchy of age is given great importance in India. Naming conventions can be difficult for visitors to understand as they are dictated by religion; if in doubt, it’s fine to politely enquire of a new acquaintance the name by which they prefer to be addressed.

Visitors are advised to avoid wearing skimpy or overtly suggestive clothing lest they risk offending the locals. Mosques and temples may not be entered by anyone with exposed shoulders or knees.

Dining Etiquette
On arrival at the home of your Indian dinner host, it’s essential to remove shoes before entering the abode, leaving them at the front door or on any racks provided. Barefoot is the usual state around the house although some hosts may offer you some indoor footwear to put on.

In the dining room, wait for you host to show you to your seat and under no circumstances should you begin eating until all dinner guests are seated. At the table, food is eaten with fingers of the right hand usually, although some dishes necessitate the use of utensils in which case it’s fine to follow the example of others.

It’s polite to eat something of all the dishes you are offered even if only a little of the dish, and to avoid asking too many questions about the food unless it is in a complimentary capacity. Avoid eating all the food on your plate however, since leaving a small amount behind at the end of the meal suggests you were offered an ample amount while clearing the plate has the capacity to offend your host.

A small gift, offered as a token of your appreciation for your host’s hospitality, is a polite but inessential gesture. An item from your home country that is unavailable in India will be especially well received.

A tourist visa is required by North American, Canadian, Australian, British and EU citizens as well as passport with at least six months validity. A visa can be applied for from an Indian consulate in the visitor’s home country. It should be noted that visas are valid from the date they are issued rather than the date you first enter the country, so it’s best not to apply for one too soon before your trip.

Hyderabad has a Tourism & Culture Department situated at A Block, 3rd Floor Secretariat, Hyderabad; and can be contacted by telephone at: +91 040 2345 6717. Additionally the Andhra Pradesh Tourist Information Centre can be contacted on: +91 040 2345 0444.