Visa: You will need a Tourist Visa if you wish to travel to Rajasthan from the UK.

Money: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Best time to visit: You can plan your travel in Rajasthan between July to March; the best time however is between Oct-Feb, except Mount Abu, which is the only hill station in the state.

Food: If you plan to try Rajasthani cuisine, make sure to ask specify your spice preference. Rajasthani food is traditionally very hot and spicy. Most of the eating-places including some budget hotels serve continental meals as well. A word of advice - if you have a tender digestive system - avoid experimenting with the traditional food.

Sun: The sun can be extremely harsh especially after rains in the Thar Desert. It is advisable to carry sun block lotions, as these are not available locally.

Credit cards: Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards. Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

Drugs: Heavy punishments including imprisonment are imposed for possession of narcotic drugs. Fairs and Festivals: Desert Festival, Baneshwar Fair, Gangaur festival, Mewar festival, Elephant festival, summer festival, Teej, Marwar festival, Pushkar fair and Camel festival. Important Cities of Rajasthan: Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittaurgarh, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer.

Emergency numbers: Police control room: 100,Fire station: 101,Ambulance: 101,General Post Office: 368740.

Water: Tap water is purified and quite safe to drink. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Mineral water is available in sealed bottles.

Temple codes: Footwear inside the temple and entry into the sanctum sanctorum is banned in all the temples.