Public Transport vs. Private: Getting Around India for UK Travelers
Are you wondering how to get around India on your trip from the UK? This blog will help you by providing a comprehensive guide on the pros and cons of public and private transportation in India. Now, as a traveler from the UK, you would need to make a choice from among this vast and diverse transportation landscape as your go-to choice for getting around India.
Understanding the Indian Transportation Landscape
If you are thinking of availing public transport, you have a variety of options to choose from. From the Indian railway system, to the underground metro system or buses, or taxis and auto-rickshaws- a great series of public transportation options exist that you can experience in India.
Generally, public vehicles are the most affordable types of transport in India, and experiencing it is akin to experiencing the lifeblood of the quaint villages as well as the bustling metropolises.
Car rental is also a common way that tourists can travel around in India. For a premium, this mode of transport in India can help you reach the places you need to, while also providing comfort and increased safety.
So, when applying for an Indian eVisa, plan your itinerary according to your chosen mode of transportation.
Public Transport in India – Pros & Cons
If you were to choose public transportation as your mode of travel in India, here is a list of the positives and negatives of Indian public transit that you need to keep in mind.
Trains
The Indian Railway system is among the most expensive and busiest in the world. The 9,000 passenger trains that operate in India transport almost 18 million passengers each day. If you are wondering how to get around India on a budget, hop on a train.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is a public sector undertaking that helps travelers by offering different services. IRCTC has simplified the process of booking train tickets and traveling on trains for Indians.
Also, the Indian Railways consists of premium express trains such as the Duronto Express, Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, Vande Bharat Express and so on. These trains offer a comfortable way of undertaking long journeys.
Now, what are the positives of the Indian train system? The connectivity is the most desirable aspect of the Indian railway network. The network connects every city and town in India, from the busiest to the quietest. They all have a railway station.
It is said that if you want to experience India fully, you must travel on the train at least once. The trains are affordable, and the train tracks connecting the country will take you through the scenic countryside. If the discussion ended here, a train journey would be 100% the best way to experience India.
However, there are certain downsides to the Indian train experience. The trains frequently experience delays, and crowds are very common. Unless traveling on a premium express train, a common occurrence may be the crowding of non-reservation travelers in reserved compartments, with barely any space left to move around.
While many Indians are used to traveling this way, as foreign tourists visiting from the UK, you would find this method of traveling to be a struggle.
Flights
Air travel is among the most notable modes of transport in India, although not as popular as trains. Most major cities in India have an airport. While some of them offer both international and domestic travel, some smaller airports only offer domestic or regional flights.
While currently all flights are operated privately, for the longest time, Air India was India’s national airline and is the flag carrier.
Air travel has many pros. Safe and comfortable, they increase your ease of travelling long distances either from one city to another, or to a different country. If your itinerary takes you across different states, but your time is limited, air travel can save you a lot of travel time that you can focus on sightseeing.
However, a few cons do bog down the mostly positive reputation of flights in India. High ticket prices and the irregularity of ticket availability are two key negatives of air travel in India.
Metro Systems
The biggest metropolitan cities in India all have an underground railway network referred to as the Metro.
The Kolkata Metro was the first to start its operations, on 24th October 1984. It was followed by the Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai Metro. Nowadays, the metro systems have developed to also offer above-ground routes.
So, if you want to experience the Underground Indian Metro in all its glory, the Kolkata Metro is a must-have experience.
The Indian Metro system, as a type of transport in India, has many positives for you to experience as a foreign traveler. The Metro System in India offers impeccable services with periodic trains with low chances of delay. Nowadays, most Metro trains are air-conditioned and clean, making the travel experience comfortable even on a crowded day.
Despite the many positives, the Metro system is only available in the large metropolitan cities. So, if you have planned to apply for the Indian tourist visa to experience the scenic countryside, the Metro will not take you to your goal.
Buses
Indian cities and towns are all connected by road, and one of the most common transportation you will find there is the bus. In Indian cities, such as Kolkata, the buses are frequent, affordable and have vast routes.
Both government and private bus options are available types of transport in India, with a variety of types that range in costs as well as comfort. From the regular city buses to the air-conditioned long-distance buses, there is a plethora of options you can select when it comes to buses in India.
And it’s not just intra-city or luxury travel; there’s much more in between when it comes to India’s extensive bus network. Take, for instance, the Jodhpur to Bangalore bus route. Easily the longest bus route in the country, this will take you on an interesting journey across 1983 kms. If you want to take the scenic route AND the urban one, this mode of transport in India is for you. Book a seat from RedBus, AbhiBus, or a travel portal like MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo.
However, due to the extreme variety, the experience may widely vary as well. The government-run city buses are usually crowded as the buses like to pick up more passengers than they can fit. The crowd and the summer heat in many Indian cities do not exactly make a comfortable pair.
The air-conditioned private bus systems are more comfortable in general. However, they are more expensive and comparatively infrequent. Their routes are often limited as well.
Another con of bus travel in India is punctuality. The uncertainty causes experiences to vary. Some buses will always arrive on time, while others may usually arrive 15-20 minutes late. You have to plan accordingly if you are on a time-bound travel arrangement.
Private Transport Options – Pros & Cons
If you do not wish to avail the public transportation system, do not worry. India has a variety of private options as well. All of them focusing on convenience and simplicity.
Taxis & App-Based Cabs
The smartphone-based taxicab apps have been steadily rising in numbers in India. Ola and Uber are the most common and well-known types of transport in India. However, many local online taxi booking services exist in different cities.
Other than that, the metered taxi system is also prevalent in India, and here, you can hail directly on the street.
The positives of the taxi service in India are many. You can avoid the issue of crowding, the prices are higher than public transport, but are generally fair. Modern taxis also have safety systems in place with helpline numbers, GPS tracking and driver verification.
However, a major issue with taxis, especially online taxi booking services, is surge pricing. Often during peak travel times, such as festivals or during heavy traffic, the prices would experience a steep climb. Navigating this issue can be a financial challenge.
Taxis are also hard to find in suburban and rural areas in India, making this transport system obsolete in many parts of the country.
Car Rentals with Chauffeur
Both local and foreign tourists have notably preferred rental cars that come with a Chauffeur. They have flexible services, focus on comfort and often offer language assistance for foreigners.
Another major positive of chauffeured car rentals is that they frequently offer intercity travel, something that taxis or public transport do not commonly offer. The chauffeurs also know the best routes and can often act as guides.
A significant negative of this mode of transport in India is the higher cost. This system will often offer you service for multiple days and will take you to many destinations. Therefore, the overall costs might add up to a high amount. So, if you are planning for a budget trip, this option automatically goes out the window.
Self-Drive Rentals
You can also get self-driving rentals in India. The benefit would be that you do not have to depend on anyone and have full control over your travels. As the British driving system has right-hand steering wheels, the car’s controls will also be quite familiar to UK nationals.
However, for those unfamiliar with Indian roads, it is highly recommended that you hire a chauffeur. If you'd rather drive yourself, simply apply for an International Driving Permit from Parivahan Seva.
The Small Distance Vehicles
India is a country that is known for busy streets connected via alleyways all over. This has led to a collection of various small distance vehicles that you can hire. The most common examples are auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and pulled rickshaws.
These are quite valid budget answers to how to get around India. Suppose you are looking to exit your hotel and visit a nearby tourist spot. The distance might be too short for a bus ride or taxicabs. You can just hail an auto rickshaw and they will easily navigate the alleyways and busy road traffic to get you to your destination on time.
However, there are certain cons to this form of travel as well. In Mumbai or New Delhi, the reservation system causes auto rickshaws to be more expensive, while the share system in Kolkata can be a hassle for a tourist. Cycle and pulled rickshaws usually do not have a structured fare system, and tourists can be likely victims of inflation here.
Sample Transport Plan for UK Travelers
At the moment of planning to apply for an Indian tourist visa, while you plan your travel itinerary to India, you have to decide on the best travel options for you.
If you are traveling on a budget, the best options will be to take trains for intercity travel, a bus for traveling in smaller towns, and if you are visiting cities like Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata, you can navigate the city on Uber taxi cabs and the Metro.
If budget is not an issue, you can book a rented car with a chauffeur. You will not have to worry anymore about planning the choice of transportation.
You need to come prepared with not only your Indian eVisa, but also with the following phone apps to ensure safe travels in India: Uber/Ola, Google Maps, IRCTC, and RedBus.
Ready for a Memorable Trip to India?
Think of your convenience and the most suitable options when choosing the mode of navigating India. If you want to have a budget experience with a dash of cultural immersion, there are many types of transport in India you can avail. If you are looking for comfort and convenience, private transport should be your choice.
The best option can, however, be mixing both, depending on your location. Also, reputed platforms often have cheat sheets available that offer tips on managing transportation choices in India. Download and get it printed for the highest convenience.
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