If you’re planning to travel to India, there are a number of things that might have to be looked into. This can make your travel plans difficult. Along with the number of decisions you have to take at every given point of time, it is also important that you keep in mind what mode of transportation should you opt for when moving around in India.

Flights

Once you’ve got a visa inde, the first thing you would have done is to take a flight to India. In most of the cases, it’s the only way in which foreigners enter the country. However, if you’re planning to use this mode of transport to move around in India, you’ll end up extending your budget unnecessarily. This is not a good thing because it is one of the most expensive modes of transport. However, if you’re in a hurry, getting the flight is the best thing to do.

In this case, it is also important to know that most of the flights in India are scheduled in a way that you’ll have at least one stop midway. So, if you’re booking a flight because you’re in a hurry, make sure that you book a non-stop flight only.

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Trains

The most reliable and efficient mode of transport in India is the train. This is because most of the local population of India is dependent on the rail network to help them move around in the country. Apart from being the most reliable and efficient mode of transport, it is also one of the most cost-effective modes of transportation here. So, if you are on a budget, you should consider traveling by rail in India more often. This will save your time and help you stick to your budget set for this purpose.

With trains, it is also important to know that it will connect you throughout the country. So, wherever you wish to go, you can rely on the train network in India.

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Many Indian train routes pass through beautiful countryside

Auto rickshaws

While moving around internally, you can walk and run, but if you’re looking for a comfortable mode of transport to move around locally, you can rely on the auto rickshaw. It will help you move around with ease and make the process quicker for you. So, you can opt for this mode of transport, wherever you wish to go.

When we talk about auto rickshaws, we have seen foreigners finding them in an uncomfortable spot because most of them do not like traveling in an auto rickshaw because it’s open and not the safest mode of transport, keeping in mind the fact that the auto-rickshaw drivers try to skip the rickshaws to get out of the traffic zone in a flash.

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Prepaid taxis

While you’ll find many taxis everywhere in India, you should opt for a prepaid taxi as it will help you reach your destination without any issues. This is because many tourists often complain that taxi drivers take a longer route and try to extort money from them. Many such cases are even seen at the airports, especially Delhi airport. If you do not want to add this in your memories as you leave for India, opt for prepaid taxis more often. Yes, if there are situations where you do not get prepaid taxis, you should take the normal taxis but keep the GPS on and track your location. Apart from this, get an idea about the amount that the taxi driver should take to leave you to the place you wish to travel to.

In the case of prepaid taxis, you should make it a point to understand the terms and conditions before booking a ride. This is because you might end up paying extra for toll and other charges during your journey.

Animal-powered rickshaws

Moving around locally and even in some urban cities, you’ll find animal powered rickshaws. This is a mode of transport that allows poor people to get their living. However, many foreigners consider this to be an exploitation of animals and do not prefer opting for them. This is a personal choice, and you’ll not be judged on the basis of your thoughts on this mode of transportation. However, it is advisable not to be vocal about your thoughts on the same.

So, if you think that you should not opt for animal-powered rickshaws, you can look for other modes of transport, if any.

Moving around in India won’t be problematic for you if you’re planning your day and choosing your mode of transport accordingly.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Kim Rampling

    A few reflections on this blog post:

    Flights: Unless you are on a rock bottom budget, local Indian airlines can be surprisingly good value, as long as you book in advance and use an Indian ISP address (use a good VPN if outside the country) – I have personally flown IndiGo, Spice Jet and, the best, AirAsia India.

    Trains: It’s essential to book in advance as there is no way you can just pitch up at the station and buy a ticket – the exception is possibly the local commute trains in Mumbai. On long distance or inter city, make sure you get One A/C or Two A/C as the other class tickets will mean you will be travelling with many, many other people in a VERY packed carriage without air conditioning, and if you need to leave your seat, you WILL loose your place!

    Taxis – use Uber or the Indian equivalent, Ola. They have special pick up areas at most airports and you can pay the driver in cash at the destination – make sure you get it correct if it’s not a know hotel or landmark, as the driver’s English will be limited. Download the app before you leave and then use the free airport WiFi to hail, although would highly recommend you are on a local SIM card or roaming so you can pinpoint your destination within the app or on Google maps (which is a good idea to keep on to make sure the driver is going the right way!). If you have difficulties hailing, in most of the major airports, both Uber and Ola have taxi marshals, who are usually very busy and being constantly harassed, but will help – just look for the guy running around on a phone with or without a Uber/Ola jacket

    1. Bryan

      Thanks for the tips, Kim. This is all great information!

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