Why go to Rajasthan? The 10 good reasons to go Rajasthan

Stores are open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for boutiques, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for small convenience stores. Banks and administrative offices are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm. Station booking offices are open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, and Sunday, 8am to 2pm. In small stations, there may be a break at 10 a.m. for chai and lunch.

You don't need to reserve your ticket in advance to visit any of the monuments. However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is in charge of the national monuments, has set up an online ticket-buying system, so that you don't have to queue at the entrance to certain national monuments. You can visit https://asi.payumoney.com to purchase tickets for most monuments. The service costs Rs. 50.

The price of admission to monuments continues to rise, and is now impacting the budget of less fortunate travelers. Admission to any national monument costs Rs. 600. Entry to the Taj Mahal, a real financial windfall for the Uttar Pradesh government, now costs Rs. 1,100, to which must be added Rs. 200 for access to the mausoleum.

There is an interestingcomposite ticket in Jaipur that allows you to visit 7 sites. Valid for 48 hours, it can be purchased at the entrance to any of the 7 sites: Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Sisodiya Rani Gardens, Vidhiyadhar Gardens. Tickets cost Rs. 1,250. The City Palace is not included.

The Hindu calendar is punctuated by colorful festivals, some of which are well worth the trip. These include Diwali in November and Holi in March. The Pushkar Camel Fair, held just after Diwali, attracts thousands of tourists and professional photographers.

You'll find accredited guides at the entrances to national sites and monuments managed by the ASI. If you would like a French-speaking guide, it's best to book his or her services through the local tourist office. You'll also find contact details of French-speaking guides on our pages, who can show you around their city or Rajasthan. Most private monuments, such as maharajas' palaces, have audio guides available in French.

Smoking is banned in and around schools and public buildings, and in enclosed public places (hotels, restaurants, cinemas, etc.). As part of its fight against pollution, the city of Delhi has outright banned smoking in markets and in the vicinity of certain public places such as hotels, cinemas and so on. If you're a smoker, you'll have to go into hiding to light up in Delhi.

If you want to take a guided tour of a monument, make sure it's accredited. Some sites refuse access to non-accredited guides, in which case you'll have paid for nothing.

For day tours and excursions, always use a reputable agency. If you are approached on the street, there's a good chance you won't be able to keep your appointment, or your vehicle will look like a rolling tomb.

Many agencies pass themselves off as official tourist offices and display the "Incredible India!" logo on their shop windows. Here too, beware. Generally speaking, few tourist offices provide any interesting information (unfortunately), so it's best to avoid them.

Make sure your shoes are easy to take off and put back on, as you'll need to remove them for any visit to a temple or mosque. Ladies, always carry a scarf to cover your head or shoulders when visiting religious sites. In general, a covering outfit is always appreciated. Gentlemen, shorts and Bermuda shorts are not permitted in mosques. You must cover your head with a headscarf to enter a gurdwara, a Sikh temple.