Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hitching
For a negotiable fee, truck drivers supplement the bus service in some remote areas. However, as drivers rarely speak
English, you may have difficulty explaining where you wish to go, and working out a fair price to pay. Be aware that
truck drivers have a reputation for driving under the influence of alcohol. As anywhere, women are strongly advised
against hitching alone or even in pairs. Always use your instincts.
Local Transport
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Buses, cycle-rickshaws, autorickshaws, taxis, boats and urban trains provide transport around South India's cities.
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Costs for public transport vary from town to town.
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For any transport without a fixed fare, agree on the price
before
you start your journey and make sure that it covers
your luggage and every passenger.
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Even where meters exist, drivers may refuse to use them, demanding an elevated 'fixed' fare. Insist on the meter; if
that fails, find another vehicle. Or just bargain hard.
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Fares usually increase at night (by up to 100%) and some drivers charge a few rupees extra for luggage.
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Carry plenty of small bills for taxi and rickshaw fares as drivers rarely have change.
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In some places, taxi/autorickshaw drivers are involved in the commission racket.
Autorickshaw, Tempo & Vikram
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Similar to the tuk-tuks of Southeast Asia, the Indian autorickshaw is a three-wheeled motorised contraption with tin or
canvas roof and sides, with room for two passengers (although you'll often see many more squeezed in) and limited lug-
gage.
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They are also referred to as autos, scooters and riks.
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They are mostly cheaper than taxis and usually have a meter, although getting it turned on can be a challenge.
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Travelling by auto is great fun but, thanks to the open windows, can be noisy and hot (or severely cold!).
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Tempos and
vikrams
(large tempos) are outsized autorickshaws with room for more passengers, shuttling on fixed
routes for a fixed fare.
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In country areas you may also see the fearsome-looking 'three-wheeler' - a crude tractor-like tempo with a front
wheel on an articulated arm - or the Magic, a cute minivan that can take up to a dozen passengers.
Boat
Various kinds of local boats offer transport across and down rivers in South India, from big car ferries to wooden canoes
and wicker coracles. Most of the larger boats carry bicycles and motorcycles for a fee.
