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Highway Travel:
India has a road network of over 2.9 million kilometers.
National highways comprise 34, 608 kms and state
highways 128,622 kms. Several highways such as
Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Jaipur (partially) have been upgraded
and widened of late. In all, national highways have been
widened to four-lane highways in the states of Rajasthan,
Haryana, West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
In fact, the Indian government is privatising the
highway infrastructure development and the country will
have more extensive motorable roads in the near future.
It is worth mentioning that highway travel has become
extremely popular for domestic tourists ever since
the small car boom in the country. The most important
tourist highways, such as Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra
have comprehensive facilities such as motels, unleaded
petrol stations, public conveniences, etc., on route.
You will also notice several 'dhabas' on the highways.
These are food stalls serving Indian meals and cupfuls
of sugary tea or chai - created for the convenience of
truckers. It wouldn't be advisable for the first timers to try the food
there, but they all stock mineral water and cold drinks.
It is also worth mentioning that the tourism departments
of Haryana and Rajasthan, states adjoining Delhi, have,
in particular, focused on highway tourism. You will
notice several attractive resorts, even a Jack Nicklaus
golf resort, on your way to Jaipur from Delhi.
In India, vast as the country is, roads may be your only
means to reach several places, especially way-off towns
and the hills. The roads are not always smooth off the
main highways and it may be advisable to thoroughly
examine your vehicles before embarking on a journey.
Bus Services
All state transport corporations operate extensive
bus services and it is possible to reach even the
remotest of places by bus. (Check respective cities for
details.) However, 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. Jaipur's Pink Line and Silver
Line buses are a good example. Road travel, of course, is the cheapest means of transport. A one-way
journey to Jaipur on a Pink Line costs as little as US$
7.25. However, if you are travelling on your own, do
remember to book well in advance in the tourist season.
Self-drive
If you are planning a self-drive, India can be an
extremely adventurous and interesting destination. Rules
for importing a vehicle are as follows : Tourists can
import their own vehicles into India with a Carnet de
Passage (Tripltyques) issued by recognised automobile
associations or clubs affiliated to the Alliance
Internationale de Tourisme in Geneva. Cars can be
imported free of duty for up to six months and must then
be re-exported. An International Certificate for Motor
Vehicles (ICMW) and an International Driving Permit are
also required. Drivers must possess a third party
insurance.
Once in India with your vehicle, it is good to remember
a few things:
Vehicles drive on the left in India. Traffic discipline
is not what you find in the west. Give yourself time to
get acclimatised to the conditions and unspoken rules.
Traffice speed is also comparatively low.
Have a map of the journey you wish to chart but don't
always expect people on the way to be able to read the
map. It may be better to just seek directions for the
'next' place you need to reach as per your map.
Fuel : Most highway or gas stations offer unleaded
petrol. Either tank-up sufficiently before starting or
enquire about unleaded petrol stations prior to
embarking on the journey.
Safety : The regular precautions apply. Avoid driving in
the night. Do not offer lift to strangers.
You can also hire self-drives while in India. For this,
the minimum age of the customer must be 25 years, he
must have a valid driving licence for at least two years
with no major conviction. Foreign nationals must hold a
valid international driving licence/licence of the
country of origin. An insurance deposit of Rs. 10,000
(refundable) is required.
Rent-a-Car
You will find several agencies offering rent-a-car
services. International agencies such as Avis, Hertz,
Euro Car, Budget, Apace may be found in all metros. 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 travel counter from where you
could hire a car. Or else, ask for contact numbers of
reputed travel agencies who will also hire out a variety
of cars - Mercedes, Cielo, Ford, Opel, the sturdy Indian
Ambassador or the range of Maruti cars, 4-wheel drives
by Tata, and so on.
Taxis : 'Yellow-top' metered taxis operate in cities and
large towns. The fare on 'metered' taxis is charged on a
kilometre basis and a certain percentage is added to the
meter reading. A 'meter reading chart' carried by all
drivers will indicate the amount you need to pay. Please
note that extra charge is levied and there is an extra
charge on luggage. In cities where taxis don't operate
on meters, negotiate the rate before getting in.
It will also help you to remember that in Delhi, taxis
normally operate from 'stands' which are conveniently
located almost all over the city and you can call the
nearest stand on the telephone. You may not find too
many vacant taxis on the road. In Calcutta, Mumbai and
other cities, taxis can be comfortably hailed on the
roads. Try and take a taxi from a pre-paid taxi stand,
particularly at airports and railway stations.
Other Local Transport
Bus services abound in every city, but remember that
they can be crowded and bumpy. They can be avoided as
other means of transport are easily available.
Auto-rickshaws
These are hooded three wheelers, a convenient and cheap
mode of transport in most cities. Where auto-rickshaws
are metered, the meter reading system is the same as for
taxis except that they are far cheaper.
You can also try a cycle-rickshaw or even a 'tonga' ( a
horse-drawn carriage) for a uniquely Indian way of
travelling though they ply in select pockets in metro
cities and abundantly in small towns and cities.
Motorcycles can also be hired in some tourist cities
like Goa. |
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