Traveling Around in India

The boom in the travel industry and the current political and economical climate in India have engendered an increase in tourism. When in India, you live as the Indians do! And that means moving around as they do as well. Yes, the modes of transportation are as diverse and versatile as the Indians themselves.

While the auto rickshaws, trams and the local trains ply short distances; taxis, domestic airlines and state of the art private vehicle services take care of commuting in the cities. In India, previously, in the villages and small townships, bullock-carts and horse drawn carts were used as a means of transport and still are, but only for amusement and for that ‘experience in a life time'.

When getting around in India be prepared to do the most unusual to make the most of your trip to this amazing country. But to enjoy and experience Indian business at its purest form all you need to do is put on you walking shoes. The exercise helps you to keep to your fitness regime, soak in the locales and cover decent distances without much fuss. If your Indian destination is a semi-urban spot, then walking amidst fields or enjoying a journey in a bullock cart is the way to enjoy yourself!

The cart rides are not only fun, but also very versatile, being also used to transport grains, vegetables, crops and cattle feed among other essential commodities. It may not be the only means of transportation today, but it certainly is most fun. The rural means of transportation enable many locals to commute from their homes to other places within districts. These tongas actually enable the transportation of about four to six passengers at a time. Part of the thrill is to see the animals being fed and groomed enroute.

Another wide used mode of transport is the bicycle, and if you've never been to India you will surely notice that fact upon arrival. Bike are everywhere, and for good reason. They can be rented for next o nothing, and they are excellent for covering short distances in the city or if you are just exploring the many the many nooks and crannies about town. The low purchase cost makes it a viable option if your stay in India is for a considerable span of time and they can be a better choice than the tonga and easier on the budget in comparison to the taxis and rickshaws.

Bicycles are not the only two-wheeled transport vehicle, there are also many motorcycles and scooters filing the streets. If going two-wheel is not your cup of team you can also rent a car or flag down a taxi like the ubiquitous three-wheeled rickshaws.

When traveling longer distances, India has plenty of cheap public transportations services like buses and airlines. In places like Goa, you can even take ferries and boats which also play an important role in mass transit. A rather old fashioned, but still widespread mode of transport in India, especially along trek-routes, is the palanquin or the Indian "palkee", which is also regular sight at any traditional Indian wedding.

The cycle rickshaws and the manually pulled rickshaws are the other options when considering a holiday in India. Depending on the nature of business in India and concern for traffic congestion, any one or all of the mentioned modes of transportation are all good options. But when traveling to any country, your first concern is making sure you are safe and secure.