Banks: 10:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 12:00, Saturday
Post offices: 10:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 14:00, Saturday
Government offices: 07:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business centres: 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday
Shops: 09:30 to 19:00, daily

As with travel to any foreign destination, visitors are advised to be aware of their personal belongings, especially if they have large sums of cash, credit cards or are carrying their passport. Concealed money belts are a good way of hiding such items and avoiding what is quite a common occurrence, pick-pocketing. However, in general, Udaipur is a safe place and the local people are helpful and friendly.

There are no specific vaccinations required for entry into India. However, it is advisable to speak to your doctor at least three months before travelling to check that you are up to date with standard vaccinations. Hepatitis and typhoid vaccinations are recommended. You may also want to stock up on any medical supplies that you may need. Although most medicines are widely available in India, you may not be able to find the particular brand that you prefer. Visitors to India often suffer from stomach upsets. To avoid this, be careful about where you purchase food and drink only bottled water.

As with much of the rest of India, the main language spoken in Udaipur is Hindi. English is also widely spoken. In addition, the province of Rajasthan has five main dialects: Marwari, Mewari, Dhundari, Mewati, and Hadauti.

The Indian rupee (Rs) is India’s currency. It comes in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 banknotes. Coins come in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, as well as 50 and 25 paise. There are 100 paise in a rupee.

ATMs are often hard to come by in India, with just four available in Udaipur. Make sure to advise your bank that you will be using your card in India before leaving home and inquire as to whether your card will be accepted. The most widely accepted cards are MasterCard, Visa and Cirrus, which can be used for withdrawals and advances from local banks.

When changing money, ATMs offer the most competitive conversion rates, while the next best option is to go directly to one of the major Indian bank branches. Don’t accept torn banknotes, as most local businesses will not accept them from you. For the purchase of cheap items, try to carry around smaller bills otherwise you may have to wait for a long period before receiving your change.

Hold on to any bank statements and receipts for money transactions until you leave the country. You may need to show these if you want to change currency upon exit. Taking rupees out of India is prohibited so make sure to spend all your Indian currency before you leave or change it back to your own currency.

If you are travelling with the equivalent of US$10,000 in a currency besides rupees you are required to fill out a declaration form. Those over the age of 18 years may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; 2 litres of alcohol; and 60ml of perfume. A Tourist Baggage Re-Export form must be filled out if travelling with a camera, video equipment or a laptop. This is used as proof upon leaving the country that you already owned the equipment before entering.

Namaste, the Indian greeting, is one of the first things visitors should learn upon arrival. The word ‘namaste’ is spoken while bowing the head forward and bringing the palms together in front of the chest. Shaking hands is becoming more common, especially among business partners. However, physical contact between sexes should be avoided including hand-shaking. Shoes must be removed if entering a temple or an Indian person’s home. Dressing conservatively is strongly recommended. Public displays of affection or anger should be avoided. Use your right hand activities, including eating.

Dining Etiquette
It is common to sit and chat for a period before eating. In general, once the meal is finished, the evening does too. Indians typically don’t drink alcohol. It is not uncommon that the female of the household to prepare the meal but not join the party. Don’t be offended by this. Often you will have to eat using only your right hand; the left is considered unclean. The main dishes are served in the centre of the table for guests to share. Each diner will receive a bowl of rice. Spooning large amounts of food onto your plate at one time is considered bad manners.

All visitors to India must have a passport that is valid for six months from the date of entry. A tourist visa must be obtained in advance of travel from an Indian embassy or consulate. Visas are available for periods of 15 days, three months or six months.

The main tourist office in Udaipur is located at Fateh Memorial, Surajpol and can be contacted by telephone at: +91 294 2411535; +91 294 2411364. The Tourist Reception Centre can assist visitors with transportation and tours as well as accommodation.