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ADVISE TRAVEL GUIDE

Things to Do in India • Cruise along the tropical backwaters of Kerala, pausing en route to visit sleepy villages a

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INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE - GETTING AROUND

World Travel Guide Asia India Getting Around

Picture choosen by: Mr.M. Kamruzzaman . Getting around India India is big and there are lots of interesting ways to travel around it, few of which could be described as efficient or punctual. Flights get
cancelled, trains are delayed by hours or days, buses show up late if at all. Allow considerable buffer time for any journey with a fixed deadline (eg. your flight back), and try to remember that getting there should be half the fun. Note that travel in much of the North-East (with the notable exception of Assam) and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will require obtaining a Protected Area Permit (PAP). The easiest way to get one is to request it along with your visa application, in which case it will be added to your visa. Otherwise, you'll need to hunt down a local Ministry of Home Affairs office and battle with bureaucracy.

By plane

India's large size and uncertain roads make flying a viable option, especially as prices have tumbled in the last few years. Even India's
offshore islands and remote mountain states are served by flights, the main exceptions being Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (although crossing over from neighbouring states is fairly easy). Due to the aviation boom over the last few years, airports have not been able to keep up with the air traffic. Most Indian airports continue to function with one runway and a handful of boarding gates. Check in and security queues can be terribly long, especially in Delhi and Mumbai. India has recently built two new international airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore, which are modern and well-equipped. Mumbai and New Delhi airports are being upgraded.
In northern India, particularly Delhi, heavy winter fog can wreak havoc on schedules. Flights to small airports up in the mountains, especially to Leh in Ladakh (which is reachable only by plane for most the year), are erratic at the best of times.

By train

India boasts of the biggest network of railway lines in the world, and the rail system is efficient, if not always on schedule. With classes
ranging from luxurious to regular, it's the best way to get to know the country and its people. You will get to see the beautiful Indian
countryside first hand, and most train passengers will be curious about you and happy to pass the time with a chat.
Regular Trains
Trains come in many varieties, but the broad hierarchy from luxurious to normal is as follows:
1. Rajdhani Express
2. Shatabdi Express
3. Jan Shatabdi Express
4. Garib Rath Express
5. Superfast Trains
6. Mail/Express Trains
7. Fast Passenger Trains
8. Passenger Trains
9. Local/Suburban Trains
Tourist Trains
These are akin to five-star hotels on wheels. Operated jointly by Indian Railways and state tourism departments, they are a wonderful way to experience the sights in India without having to worry about the hassles of travel and accommodation. There are four major tourist trains
operating in India at present:
Palace on Wheels,— This train covers important tourist attractions and historical sites in Rajasthan.
Deccan Odyssey,— This luxurious train transports its guests on a weeklong journey through some of the best places in Maharashtra and Goa.
Golden Chariot,— This train takes travellers on a weeklong journey through Karnataka and Goa.
Royal Rajasthan on Wheels- This new train covers the most important sites of Rajasthan. This train has all the facilities which
Palace on Wheels has along with International Spa center and other facilities.

By bus

While you can't take a cross-country bus-ride across India, buses are the second most popular way of travelling across states and the only cheap way of reaching many places not on the rail network (eg. Dharamsala).
Every state has its own public bus service, usually named "X Road Transport Corporation" (or XRTC) or "X State Transport Corporation" (or XSTC) which primarily connects intra-state routes, but will also have services to neighbouring states. There are usually multiple classes of buses. The ordinary buses (called differently in different states, e.g. "service bus") are extremely crowded with even standing room rarely
available (unless you're among the first on board) as reservations are not possible and they tend to stop at too many places. On the upside,
they're very cheap, with even a 5-6 hour journey rarely costing over Rs.100.
In addition to ordinary public buses, there might be also luxury or express buses available, and sometimes they even have air-conditioning.
They are more comfortable, have assured seating (book in advance), and have limited stops, making them well worth the slight extra expense. Even better-class buses rarely have toilets, but long-distance buses make occasional snack and bathroom breaks.
Private buses may or may not be available in the area you are travelling to, and even if they are, the quality could vary a lot. Be warned that many of the private buses, especially long-distance lines, play music and/or videos at ear-splitting volume.

By car

Driving on your own
In India driving is on the left of the road — at least most of the time. You can drive in India if you have a local license or an International
Driving Permit, but unless you are used to driving on extremely chaotic streets, you probably will not want to. The average city or village road is narrow, often potholed and badly marked. National Highways are better, but they are still narrow, and Indian driving discipline is non-existent. In the past few years the Central government has embarked on an ambitious project to upgrade the highways. The Golden Quadrilateral connecting the four largest cities with four-laned highways is nearing completion and its roads almost reach international standards. But it is still some time before the drivers adapt to the new roads, so if you are a foreigner, you'll be wise to put off your plans to drive on Indian roads by a few years.
Hiring driver with car
Instead, if you desire going by a car, opt for driver while renting the car. Rates are quoted in rupees per kilometer and you will have to pay
for both ways even if you are going only one way. The driver's salary is so low (typically around Rs 100 to 150 per day) that it adds little to
the cost of renting the car. The driver will find his own accommodation and food wherever you are traveling. A common rental vehicle is the
legendary Ambassador, which is essentially an Indian-made 1956 Morris Oxford: it's large, boxy, with space for 5 passengers (including driver), and a decent-sized trunk. However, the Tata Indica is now replacing the Ambassador as the cheap car of choice. Imported international models may be available at a premium.
There are numerous advantages to having a car and driver.
A native driver is the safest means of car travel.
You can keep your bags and shopping goods with you securely wherever you go.
The driver will often have some knowledge of local tourist destinations.
A car is the quickest and most reliable means of going from point to point. After the initial agreement you needn't spend any time finding travel, haggling over price, etc.
You can stop anywhere you like, and change plans at the last minute. It is rare to find a driver that speaks more than a few words of English. As a result, misunderstandings are common. Keep sentences short. Use the present tense. Use single words and hand gestures to convey meaning.
Make sure you can trust your driver before you leave your goods with him. If he shows any suspicious motives or behavior make sure you keep your bags with you. Conversely, if your driver is very friendly and helpful, it is a nice gesture to buy him a little something to eat or drink when stopping for food. They will really appreciate this.
Your driver may in some cases act as a tout, offering to take you to businesses from which he gets baksheesh (a sort of commission). This
isn't necessarily a bad thing - he may help you find just what you're looking for, and add a little bit to his paltry income at the same time.
On the other hand, you should always evaluate for yourself whether you are being sold on a higher-cost product than you want. The driver might ask for a tip at the end of the trip. Pay him some amount and don't let him guilt-trip you into paying too much.
If you rent a car for a trip to a remote destination, make sure before getting out that you will recognize the driver, and write down the license plate number.
As always, be careful when traveling alone, and avoid venturing out late at nights and beware of touts.

By motorcycle

Another choice, popular with people who like taking risks, is to buy a motorcycle. Not for the faint of heart or inexperienced rider. India
boasts the highest motor vehicle accident rate in the world. The Royal Enfield is a popular (some would say, the only) choice for its classic looks and macho mystique. This despite its high petrol consumption, 27 kms/liter, supposed low reliability (it is "classic" 1940's engineering after all and requires regular service adjustment) (you can find an Enfield mechanic who has worked on this bike for ten, twenty, thirty years in EVERY town in India) (who will perform miracles at about a dollar an hour labor cost), and claimed difficulty to handle (actually the bike handles beautifully, but may be a wee heavy and seat high for some). Or, one can opt for the smaller yet quicker and more fuel efficient
bikes. They can range from 100 CC to the newly launched 220 CC bikes. Two most popular bike manufacturers are Bajaj and Honda. The smaller variants (100 CC - 125CC) can give you a mileage exceeding 50 kms/liter on the road, while giving less power if one is opting to drive with pillion on the highways. The bigger variants (150 CC - 220CC) are more powerful and one can get a feel of the power especially on highways - the mileage is lesser for these bikes anywhere between 35kms/liter to 45 kms/liter. Preferably tourists should go for second hand bikes rather than purchasing new ones. The smaller 100 CC variants can be purchased for anywhere between Rs. 15000 to Rs. 25000 depending on the year of make and condition of vehicle. The bigger ones can be brought from Rs 30000 onwards. Other India Travel Guides Food and Drink Getting Around Key Facts Getting There Climate Public Holidays Shopping Night Life and Entertainment General Information Duty Free Things To Do Things To See Money

RECENTLY SUBMITTED IN India

Money. India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 07 April 2010 05:54:13

Currency Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 paise. Note: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Currency Exch... More

Nightlife & Entertainment in India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 25 March 2010 10:19:12

Unlike most of the western countries, India generally has little nightlife. You may find some bars, nightclubs in some major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. However, you can find some cultural shows, Indian dance and music in some tourist centers. Almost every town will have a cinema ... More

Things to See in India Posted by Mr. M. Kamruzzaman . on 25 March 2010 10:16:09

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