Domestic Travel Within India

Journeying in India is an adventure in its own right. If you are not culture-shocked seeing its people, you will definitely be shocked while journeying within the country. But there is nothing to worry about as long as you do not expect efficiency of a western country and take all of this as an integral part of Indian experience — have patience and faith in the system. You are safe in this country.

On Arrival and Getting Around
Once through customs, the visitor is often besieged by taxi drivers and porters. If a travel agent or a friend is meeting you, he or she may be waiting for your outside the arrival building. And, if you are on your own, enquire at the ‘Information Desk’ for prepaid taxi system operated by the police.

You will find several agencies offering rent-a-car services. You may find their counters at the airports as well. Your hotel will also very likely house a travel counter from where you could hire a car. A variety of cars are available – Mercedes, Cielo, Ford, Opel, the sturdy Indian Ambassador car, a range of Maruti cars, 4-wheel drives by Tata and so on.

Taxi and auto-rikshaw can de identified by their distinct black and yellow colour. Both are metered. While hiring a taxi, ensure that the driver flags down the meter before he starts. The meter reading fare charts are available with all the drivers and pay as per the chart. The night charge (2300 hrs – 0500 hrs) is an additional 20 percent for the auto and 25 percent for the taxi. Extra charges are payable for heavy baggage and halting. Tipping is not customary. To complaint about overcharging or misbehaviour, call 3319334 during office hours (0900 – 1700 hrs) and after office hours 3014896. Remember, complaints of foreigners are given more serious attention in India.

You can also try a cycle-rikshaw or even a ‘ tonga ‘ (a horse driven carriage) for a unique Indian way of travelling though they ply in select pockets in metro cities and abundantly in small towns and cities. Motorcycles can also he hired in some tourist cities like Goa.

Air Travel
India has a relatively extensive network of domestic airlines. The biggest of domestic carrier is Indian Airlines which has the distinction of being the second largest domestic carrier in the world. It links 59 cities in India and 16 in the neighbouring countries including Bangladesh , Maldives , Nepal , Pakistan , Singapore , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Kuwait , UAE, Oman and Malaysia . A number of private domestic airlines, such as Jet Airways and Sahara India Airlines, serve a variety of regional destinations. A few smaller airlines such as Jagson Airlines, Gujarat Airways, etc. also offer limited regional services.

For travel during the peak tourist season (October-March), try and make reservations in advance, as flights are usually heavily booked on popular tourist sectors. Due to time-consuming check-in and security procedures, you must be at the airport an hour before the departure time.

On domestic flights no alcohol is served and it is an offence to consume alcohol. The baggage allowance per adult is 20 kg and in business class it is 30 kg. Also, make a note of the fact that there are no Cancellation Charges on air-tickets purchased in foreign currency.

Security is generally very strict at Indian airports. What can be taken on board as hand luggage often varies with international convention. Batteries of any type are not allowed and are often removed from the cameras.

During winters, adverse weather and fog conditions are real problems and hence flight delays and last minute cancellations are very common. In such cases, you are advised to stay in regular touch with your tour operator or with the concerned airline to ensure that this has minimum possible impact on your tour.

Rail Travel
The railway system in India was established during mid 19th century. It copes with upwards of three billion passengers every year. The network, which covers much of the country is a quintessential part of the fabric of India , and a journey on it should not be missed. However, it is very important for you to remember before undertaking a rail journey that although Indian trains are clean and comfortable, they are not of European standard.

Of the many different categories of accommodation available, those recommended are air-conditioned first class (the most expensive and almost as expensive as flights); two-tier sleeper (second class) and non air-conditioned first and second class. However, unless you really want to experience how common Indians travel, do not travel in non-air-conditioned classes as they can be dusty, crowded and rather uncomfortable.

Advance reservation is strongly recommended for trains. In the larger cities, the major stations have tourist sections for the convenience of foreigners. If reservations are not available, talk to the station in-charge about other options, such as the tourist quota etc.

Remember to check which station your train departs from and do allow yourself at least 20 minutes to find your seat/berth. List of passengers with seats/berths allotted to them is displayed on platforms and on each coach, an hour before the departure. The station superintendent and conductor attached to the train are usually available for assistance.

Food can be ordered through the coach attendant, however, it is advisable to carry your packed food if you are on a long journey as the train food may not be good enough. The fare of various Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains are inclusive of food as well.

You could opt for the luxury tourist trains such as Palace on Wheels and the Royal Orient. The Palace on Wheels takes you on a week-long journey through Rajasthan, while the Royal Orient takes you on a journey through Rajasthan and Gujarat . India also offers a journey on many of its toy trains. These trains, operating on narrow-gauge-tracks — hence the name toy trains — were started during the British era to link stations in the plains to hill stations. They offer a laidback experience where passengers can take in the diverse mountain scenery at leisure. Some of these routes are Kalka-Shimla, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (to Ooty), Darjeeling Hill Railway and Matheran Railway.

Road Travel
Although driving is on the left in India , that is where the similarity with British roads begins and ends. Traffic is an amazing mix of over-loaded ox-carts, exuberantly painted lorries, elephants and camels and trailers. Don’t panic, your driver knows his job and is very well familiar with these conditions.

The highway travel has become extremely popular even for domestic tourists ever since the small car boom in the country. Some popular tourist highways such as Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Chandigarh have comprehensive facilities such as motels, unleaded petrol stations, public conveniences on route. You will also notice several colourful ‘dhabas’ on the highways. These are food stalls serving Indian meals and cupfuls of sugary tea or ‘chai’ — created for the convenience of the truckers. These ‘dhabas’ are also very popular with the domestic tourists, however, foreigners are advised not to try food here, but they all stock mineral water and cold drinks.

All state transport corporations operate extensive bus services and it is possible to reach even the remotest places by bus. However, please do remember that not all buses are well-cushioned and some of the rides can be bumpy and uncomfortable. Take a bus only when you are sure of what it feels like. Tourist districts, of course, will have a range of buses — offering air-conditioned, well-maintained interiors. Bus travel is the cheapest means of transport in India.

The most commonly available cars in India are the Ambassador and a variety of Maruti cars. In big cities various other cars are available including the Mercedes. However, the cost of these cars is higher than Ambassador car. All these cars can be hired by the day — for example to see Delhi ’s sights — or for weeks for extended tours of the country.

Driving in India
You will need your domestic license, liability insurance, an international driver’s permit and vehicle’s registration papers (if bringing your vehicle). This is not, however, an easy country in which to drive and it is definitely not recommended for beginners and those of a nervous disposition.