Beauty parlours Jaipur is renowned for its herbal beauty parlours, where you can pamper yourself with a healing body massage or marrow-and-turmeric pack facial. The most famous is the Shahnaz Hussain Institute, at S-55 Ashok Marg in C Scheme (tel 0141/378444), which has separate clinics for men and women; if it's fully booked, try the less expensive Kaya Kalp, at 55 Chander Bhawan, behind the Rajput Sabha Bhawan, near St Xavier's school, Ashok Marg (also with separate clinics).

Bookstores The boutique in Hotel Arya Niwas stocks a good selection of titles in English, most of them about, or set in, India. Books Corner, on MI Road just past Niro's has up-to-date magazines, newspapers and books in all major European languages, while Evergreen Guest House also has a secondhand stall.

Cinemas If you go to the cinema only once while you're in India, it should be at the Raj Mandir on Bhagwan Das Road just off MI Road, which boasts India's most kitsch, over-the-top decor and hefty sound system. Most movies have four daily showings, and there's always a long queue, so get your tickets an hour or so before the show starts.

Dance Several of the big five-stars, including the Rambagh Palace and Sheraton Rajputana Palace , host nightly culture shows, featuring folk dance, music and traditional puppetry. These can be a lot of fun, especially if they're held outdoors. Expect to pay around Rs150. Another music and dance venue is Choowki Dhani , 22km south of the city.

Hospitals The largest in Jaipur is Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH), Bhawani Singh Marg tel 0141/566251.

Internet Access costs Rs30-50 per hour. The majority of hotels listed above are online. Otherwise, try one of the many internet offices around town: one of the best is Communicator on the ground floor of the Jaipur Towers, opposite All India Radio, MI Road, who charge less than average for offline work.

Music Jaipur's not a particularly good place to buy musical instruments (those made here are of medium or inferior quality), but plenty of travellers take sitar lessons while they're in the city. A recommended teacher is Mr Ghasi Lal Sharma, who can be contacted through the Sharma Music Centre, on Nawalgarh Road.

Photography Fuji outlet on Kishan Pole Bazaar, near Ajmeri Gate; Konica on MI Road almost opposite Niro's ; Kodak by Sweet Dream hotel, and various others.

Police stations The main police post is on Station Road opposite the railway station (tel 0141/311677).

Post For poste restante, go to the GPO on MI Road (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm). Parcels and registered mail are kept at the sorting office behind the main desks; packages are cotton-wrapped and sewn at the concession by the main entrance.

Swimming pools A  Evergreen Guest House charge nonresidents Rs75 for use of their pool, but you may prefer to pay more (Rs150-175) at posher establishments such as the Jai Mahal, Jaipur Ashok or Raj Mahal , where lawns, deck chairs and refreshments are available.

Tailors One of the best tailors in town, patronized by no less than the maharaja himself, is Jodhpur Tailors, behind Neela Hotel, near Ganpati Plaza (MI Road). This is a good place to get suits made, as well as traditional Indian shirts and pukka Jodhpur riding breeches, and they're not at all expensive.

Travel agents GSA Janta Travels, MI Road tel 0141/368569. Sita World Travels, Station Road tel 0141/368226 or 361404, fax 321522, an agent for Indian Airlines and also Western Union, deals with international and domestic flights very efficiently.

Yoga Jaipur has several reputable yoga schools, among them: the Rajasthan Yoga Centre, 2km north of Bani Park in Shastri Nagar; the Yoga and Naturopathy Centre, opposite Rajasthan University, C Scheme, in the southwest of the city; and Samarpan, #1 Road, VKI Area, which is run by a disillusioned allopathic doctor. If you need somewhere to convalesce after a chronic illness (such as hepatitis), a place well worth checking out is the Navneet Natrupathy Centre, 30km south along the Agra road, in the village of Bassi.