India is a vast country but luckily
for the traveller, it is extensively linked by public transport. All
major towns and cities have airports. Even very small towns are
connected by rail with Indian Railways maintaining the biggest network
in Asia. ‘Toy trains’ are quaint, neat and narrow gauge; pretty like the
hillsides they chug up. The roads and highways may not be state-of-the
art multi-lane expressways but if it’s basically about getting to
places, they serve the purpose well! The bus network, privately run and
state operated is extensive.
Traffic
drives on the left hand side and it is possible to hire cars, but more
easily chauffeur driven ones. Self drive cars are hard to come by as the
government does not issue licenses for these. That’s fine, believe us,
because you will appreciate your driver here! Roads are reasonably good
in parts, specially the major highways. Near towns and villages they
deteriorate and depending on the season, crumble into tracks in some
areas. Valid documentation is an International Driver’s License. Taxis
and three wheeler auto rickshaws are ubiquitous in the Indian urban and
even semi rural landscape. Most small towns have motorcycle rentals.
Travel
by water is not popular but there are ships to the Andamans from
Calcutta, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Backwater cruises in converted
rice boats called Kettuvalams are a delight in the lazy lagoons of Ker
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