This is the main mode of transport for traveling in India. Popular destinations are served by a large number of fairly comfortable buses; in less popular areas, sometimes you have to travel by simpler buses. Tickets are sold by the conductor. Passenger luggage is transported on the roof of the bus, as there is usually no room for it in the cabin.

Trains

The most inexpensive mode of transport in India is rail. In this case, we are talking about tickets for second-class carriages, since first-class tickets are quite expensive. Train tickets are recommended to be booked in advance to avoid inconsistencies. Some tourists, going to India for a long time, prefer to order a “Pass to India” from special agencies, which allows them to use any trains to move around the country during the year.

Taxi

Taxis in India are black and yellow. Most taxis are equipped with meters, but they are not always turned on. Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws can also be used as an “exotic taxi”, but in this case it is better to discuss the cost of the trip in advance. The night rate in India exceeds the daytime one and a half times.

Air Transport

In recent years, air travel has become increasingly popular in India - today there are about 70 domestic airports in the country, equipped with everything necessary to make tourists feel comfortable waiting for flights. Although this type of transportation requires certain costs, it allows you to quickly and easily get from one point of the country to another.

Car rent

Renting a car in India is not difficult, but not every tourist decides to take such a step. The reason is simple - the poor condition of the roads and the frequent non-compliance with traffic rules by Indian drivers. Among other things, traffic in India is left-handed, which only adds to the problems for tourists.

If you do decide to rent a car, you will need an international driving license and a third party liability insurance policy. You can also rent a car with a driver and thus save yourself from having to deal with problems on the road.

There are left-hand traffic.

The total length of the country's highways is 3,316,452 km, of which 200 km are expressways (2006).

Airports: 345 (as of 2008). Airports - paved runways: 251. Unpaved runways: 94. Helipads: 30 (2007).

Waterways: 14,500 km. In India, the lower reaches of the rivers Ganges, Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri are navigable.

The territory of India is covered by an extensive network of railways. Total length of railways: 63.327 km. Broad gauge: 49820 km - 1.676 m gauge (17786 km electrified), narrow gauge: 10621 km - 1.000 m gauge (135 km electrified).

Last changes: 27.01.2013

Public transport

Buses form the basis of urban transport. In large cities and resort areas, they are quite modern, many are equipped with air conditioning. Suburban lines and buses of private companies are often quite dilapidated. Poor technical condition, bad roads, overcrowding on many lines, many stops and an abundance of pickpockets, both at stops and in the cabin, have already become a proverb, so tourists are advised to use bus routes with great care. However, the bus remains the cheapest (albeit the most inconvenient) way to get around the country.

There are three types of taxis in India: taxis, motor rickshaws and cycle rickshaws. The fares for the trip are usually extremely low. It is customary to round the amount to a higher value. It is necessary to agree on the price in advance when boarding and in no case change it. At night, rates are one and a half times higher.

New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai have their own subways. Trains and metro stations are equipped with powerful air conditioners and a reliable fire safety system.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Air transport

Air travel in India has experienced a real boom in recent years. About three dozen airlines carry out transportation across the country. And the competition, inevitable in such a situation, only plays into the hands of the tourist.

Airlines are served by fairly modern aircraft.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Railway transport

Railways provide the bulk of passenger and freight traffic. High-speed trains with air-conditioned carriages run between major cities. Express trains are less comfortable, but almost 30% cheaper. Sleeping cars are divided into several classes.

The general rule for all classes is pretty messy. Dirt is somewhat less in higher grades.

The mountainous areas are served by many lines built by the British, so the rolling stock is far from new, and the track gauges often have different widths, hence the low speed and frequent transfers when traveling.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Water transport

Water transport in India is rather poorly developed.

Sea connections exist between Port Blair, Kolkata and Madras (only during the tourist season), as well as between Kolkata and Madras. A more modern line is between Cochin and the Lakshadweep Islands.

The Kerala coast is served by regular passenger ships, several flights, including a real paddle steamer, link Allapuja and Kovalam.

Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Goa runs a modern catamaran with air-conditioned cabins.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Car rental

All major international car rental companies are represented in India. In addition, dozens of local companies.

To rent a car, you need a third party liability insurance policy and an international driver's license. Rental offices are located at most hotels, airports and business centers of major cities.

Bad roads, a lack of necessary infrastructure, and massive road traffic violations by Hindus result in unusually high car rental rates.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Useful

The vast majority of the country's roads are in a deplorable state. The trails are narrow, often devoid of any markings or road signs. The canvas is in poor condition. Lots of potholes, holes, cracks. And all this against the backdrop of a dense flow of vehicles.

Indian drivers do not comply with the minimum traffic rules, the technical condition of vehicles is horrendous, carts drawn by oxen often move in the general stream, elephants regularly go out onto the canvas, cows sacred here (when they appear, the traffic jam will stand until the animal itself leaves with roads) and other representatives of the local fauna.

Drivers communicate with each other by conventional signs and signals that may be incomprehensible to a tourist driving. Oncoming traffic, having notified the traffic participants with a trumpet signal, starts overtaking in the oncoming lane, forcing those traveling towards them to pull over to the side of the road. Motor rickshaws that do not have turn signals indicate that they are about to turn with a quick wave of their hand. The car in front can easily stop in the middle of the road without any warning to other road users. People often walk on the sides of the roads, and great care should be taken.

Plus, driving in India is left-handed.

Most airline flights are either delayed or cancelled. At the same time, the rights of air passengers, as a rule, are not respected.

According to the rules, taxi drivers and auto rickshaws are required to turn on meters when landing, but they rarely do this, especially when they see a tourist in front of them. Cases of cheating and cheating tourists are ubiquitous, and a fair amount of perseverance must be exercised in bargaining with taxi drivers and rickshaws. In addition, without your knowledge, attempts may be made to bring it to a souvenir shop or to “your” hotel, where the taxi driver has a commission.

In some Indian states (Goa, etc.) there are officially so-called "taxi driver days" (for example, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). These days, only buses that take tourists to or from the airport are allowed on the territory of the hotels. All other transportations, including excursions, have the right to be carried out exclusively by taxi drivers.

Page 3

8. Development of the transport complex.

India is one of the largest railway powers in the world. The length of its railways is about 62 thousand km.

Railways account for 55% of India's land transportation, which is 800 thousand tons of cargo and 9 million passengers daily. In terms of cargo transportation - 173 billion tons / km per year - India ranks 5th in the world. By the year 2000, the volume of traffic on the Indian railways should almost double compared to 1985. The main increase in traffic is expected on the railway lines connecting the four largest cities - Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Currently, it is planned to electrify more than 10 thousand km. Railways in India are profitable. In 1984/85 they generated Rs 14.57 billion in revenue for the Indian central government.

The main cities of India are interconnected by national highways, which are constantly being expanded and reconstructed. On these highways, traffic is very busy, and intercity bus service is developed. The total length of roads in India with a hard, so-called "all-weather" surface for the period from 1950/51 to 19984/85 increased from 157 thousand km. Up to 833 thousand. However, only 1/3 of settlements have access to such roads.

Most Indian roads, especially in the outback, are unpaved. During the rainy season, they become impassable, and thousands of Indian villages are then cut off from the outside world.

With a relatively small number of vehicles (5.2 million including 218,000 buses, 734,000 trucks and 1.5 million cars), India has a high accident rate.

India is a maritime power. It has 736 merchant marine vessels with a total capacity of 6.5 million tons. However, 62.9% of maritime trade is handled by the eight main ports. The largest among them is Bombay.

Achieved significant development in India air Transport– both on international and domestic lines. Bombay, Delhi and Kolkata are India's major international airports, and they also serve a large number of transit flights of foreign airlines from Europe to Southeast Asia and Australia. International airports also exist in Madras and Trivandrum.

9. Socio-economic development of individual regions. Reasons for the unevenness in their socio-economic development. Aligning the levels of economic development.

Separate regions of India differ significantly among themselves in terms of the level of socio-economic development and economic specialization. Each such region covers several states connected by a single geographical and economic community, less often limited to one state.

The economic-geographical zoning of India is carried out by different researchers - Indian and foreign - in different ways. There are seven major economic and geographical regions in India: Northern (Uttar Pradish), Northwestern (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradish), Eastern (West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa), Northeastern ( Assam, Meghala, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh), Central (Madhya Pradesh), Western (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa) and Southern (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerama, Puttucheri, Lakshadweep). At the same time, the union territory of Delhi is given a special place.

Delhi combines the functions of the political and administrative center of India with transport, industrial, cultural. In the old branches of production - textile and food, precision engineering, metalworking, and the chemical industry were added. There are three universities and dozens of research institutes in Delhi. The northern region is an agricultural state. It has 18.8 million hectares. Irrigated area and is the largest producer of grain, including wheat, rice, barley, corn, potatoes, fruits. The district produces half of Indian sugar cane. Northern India is one of the last places in India in terms of industrial production and economic development.

For the North-West of India, the absence of a large industry is indicative.

The unique combination of mineral resources of East India determines the active industrialization of the region, the main coal and metallurgical base of India.

The North-East is rich in hydropower resources, but due to the remoteness of the region, they are used extremely poorly.

Central India is the largest state in terms of area, the leading center of the cotton industry.

Western India is the main oil-bearing region of the country.

The southern region is important for rice cultivation, a major producer of cotton, oilseeds, and coconuts.

10. Foreign economic relations. Export. Import. Participation in integration economic unions

The share of India in world trade is relatively low, moreover, this indicator tends to decrease: India's share in world exports has decreased from 1.05% to 0.43%. At the same time, the absolute volume of both India's exports and imports is steadily increasing. India's main imports are oil and oil products, machinery and equipment, pearls and precious stones, mineral fertilizers, vegetable oils, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and chemical products.

India's main trading partners: in terms of exports - the USA, Russia, Japan and Great Britain, in terms of imports - Russia, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Canada.

Main export commodities: tea, iron ore, cotton fabrics, ready-made clothing, jute, leather and leather goods, pearls and precious stones, machinery and equipment.

Name: Economic characteristics of India
Chapter: Geography, Economic geography
Publication date: 2007-04-28 20:30:43
Read: 3256 times

across its territory. Excursions offered by travel agencies do not cover even a hundredth part of its sights and places with nature, which has preserved its originality since ancient times. For the same money you can really see much more, get to know the local life and its traditions, soak up the spirit of love and the magic of centuries-old history. Of course, moving "on foot", it is impossible to cope with such a task.

Long distance routes: trains and buses in India

at Jhansi station on the road from Khajuraho to Delhi

Indian trains

- a great option for inexpensive and convenient travel between cities. Such a trip will cost three times cheaper than an analogue of the Russian train. For example, the cost of a ticket on the Delhi-Trivandrum route (more than 2000 km across the country) in a class 2AC carriage(reserved seat with air conditioning) along with meals will be about 4500 rupees. The absence of tickets in this class is a frequent occurrence for the Indian railway. In this case, it is possible to purchase an entrance ticket without a seat. But this is acceptable only for a trip of no more than 3 hours.

FC class cars Suitable for those who prioritize savings over comfort. The atmosphere in them is comparable to our electric trains: merchants, beggars and musicians create the appropriate surroundings. But the fee is almost symbolic 1000 rupees / 1000 km.

Meals at Shatabdi Express

Faster and more expensive

Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express

– modern, air-conditioned trains with soft seats. Shatabdi are focused on day trips. The Rajdhanis operate long distance routes between Delhi and the state capitals. The ticket price for a 2-hour trip over a distance of 200 km is from 370 to 700 rupees, depending on the class of the car.
For example, when traveling to India, we traveled along the Agra-Jansi route on the Shatabdi Express.

Buses in India

in state capitals and major tourist centers there are luxury and deluxe buses that run express between cities in the state and beyond.


Another option for traveling long distances at night is

slipper bass

They move at a speed of 80 km / h, so they will quickly deliver to their destination.
The disadvantage of such a trip is that it is almost impossible to sleep. High speed combined with Indian roads gives a noticeable shaking. Plus, every 20 minutes, the conductor announces stations “not in his own voice”, running through the cabin. In such conditions one can only dream of sleep. 🙂

Getting around the city: how they travel in India in municipal transport

The most common urban transport in India is

rickshaws.

Rickshaws include several varieties. Ordinary rickshaws that are pulled by people are banned in many cities because of their unaesthetic nature.
Bicycle rickshaws and motor rickshaws are very popular.

Let's ride a rickshaw

TRISHAW It is a regular bicycle with a seat for a passenger.
It is not characterized by high speed, so it is convenient for sightseeing or traveling short distances in pedestrian areas.
The fare is negotiable, within 5 rupees per 1 km.

MOTOR rickshaws- small funny 2-3 local carriages mounted on a three-wheeled motorcycle chassis.

Motor rickshaws on the streets of Delhi

Motor rickshaws are the best option for getting around the city and a good way to save time in traffic jams. The average fare for the trip is 10 rupees / 1 km. But this cost can be considered conditional, because it is almost impossible to persuade the driver to turn on the meter. Therefore, the cost of the trip to the destination must be negotiated in advance.

In the city, you can cheaply travel by

municipal buses.

Traveling in them is pennies even for decent distances.
The Internet is teeming with images of this kind of municipal bus ride:


In fact, no one “will allow a white man” to drive in this way: they will let you through, even give up your seat to a woman, and no one will deliberately put pressure on you.
We traveled from the Taj Mahal to Agra on such a bus (the Indians tried not to even touch us, shunned and showed their respect with gestures, facial expressions, smiles).
Some then “occupied” the bus as in the first photo, but we didn’t see this anymore, since we were inside 🙂


Large metropolitan areas have

underground.

With it, you can easily and quickly be almost anywhere in the city. Therefore, if the plans include Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore or Calcutta, then the metro is the fastest and most economical way to travel.
At the box office of the subway for only 100 rupees, you can buy a tourist subscription. It allows you to ride the subway all day without restrictions. For comparison, it will cost almost 10 times cheaper than a rickshaw.

Thus, do not be afraid to move around India on your own. The transport system in India is highly developed. Everyone decides for himself which of the ways to move around the city and beyond is suitable for him.

Taxi in India or rental car

ORDER A TAXI directly from the airport in Delhi to your hotel, or from the hotel to attractions, as well as from one Indian city to another, you can use the widget KIWI TAXI:

You can also ride the roads of India in a rented car with a guide and driver as part of a tour that my Indian friend Deepak and I recently began to conduct for tourists from Russia and neighboring countries.

From India to Goa or Sri Lanka

If you need to get from India to GOA or Sri Lanka, then the fastest way to travel is by plane 🙂

Riding in India on trains, public buses, motorcycle and cycle rickshaws
Katya Bashkurova.

Transport India

international communication

India has a well-developed network of international air services operated by Air India and other airlines. The company "Indian airlines" provides flights on domestic lines and to neighboring countries. In addition to air, there are sea and land routes with countries: Sri Lanka (ferries from Rameshwaram (the line is not served during the monsoons); Pakistan (today the only land transport route connecting Amritsar and Lahore); Nepal (the most practical and popular route - rail to Raksaul (Bihar) and then by bus to Kathmandu; there is a train to Nantanwa (Uttar Pradesh) and then by bus to Kathmandu/Pokhara or from Bhairawa to Lumbini in transit to Pokhara; can be reached by bus through the southern valleys from Darjeeling to Kathmandu); Bhutan (by train to Siliguri, then by bus to Puntsholing; there are also flights from Calcutta to Paro (Thimphu) operated by Druk Air); Bangladesh (by train from Calcutta to Bangaon (West Bengal), by rickshaws across the Bengal border from change at Kulna or Jessore to continue on to Dhaka or from Darjeeding via Siliguri, then by train or bus to Haldibari); Burma (no land connection); Kit ai (there is no ground communication).

Air transport

There are 4 largest airports in India, of which two are international - Delhi and Bombay.

Delhi ("Delhi International"), 21 km southwest of the city. From the airport there are charter buses on "Konat Place" and taxis (at a fixed rate order inside the airport).

Mumbai (Bombay), 29 km north of the city (journey time 40 minutes). Charter buses to Air India office and major hotels. Taxi to the city at a fixed rate.

Kolkata, 17 km northeast of the city (journey time 20 minutes). There are charter buses to the office of "Indian Airlines" and major hotels. The city can also be reached by taxi.

Chennai (Madras), 16 km southwest of the city. The charter bus meets all flights arriving from 09:00 to 23:00. Train every 20-30 minutes from 05:00 to 23:00. Regular bus every 35 minutes from 05:00 to 22:00. Taxi.

The airline "Indian airlines" serves one of the world's largest networks of domestic flights - about 70 cities. "Indian airlines" also carry out regular flights to neighboring countries - Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

If you are traveling during the peak tourist season (September-March), then book tickets in advance, because flights are very busy at this time. You should arrive at the airport 2 hours in advance for check-in and special control at the airport. Some cities have airport terminals, from where buses will take you to the airport.

Passengers flying to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, including children, are charged a fee of Rs 50; from passengers flying to other countries - from 100 rupees.

In-flight service is world class, but alcoholic drinks are only served on international flights. An adult passenger can carry 20 kg of baggage, and in business class - 30 kg.

The refund fee for tickets purchased locally is very high, but this does not apply to tickets for local flights included in the single international ticket.

In India, the "Discover India" program operates, which involves an unlimited number of economy class flights on all domestic airlines. One and the same point can be visited only once, with the exception of transfers. Price: $750. The program is valid for 21 days from the date of the first flight.

India Youth Fare Program. Passengers from 12 to 30 years old can travel at the youth fare in economy or business class on domestic Indian lines and India-Nepal flights. 25% discount on the ticket price in USD. Valid for 120 days.

The program "Excursion to South India". Flight in economy class between any points in South India - Chennai (Madras), Trichy, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, Koyamputtur and Bangalore. For single tourists, this program is valid on the condition that they purchase tickets for a flight from the Maldives or from Sri Lanka to India via Chennai (Madras), Tiruchchirappalli or Thiruvananthapuram.

New domestic airlines

Recently, the Indian government has given permission for the flights of private airlines, which operate under the name "Air Taxi". Along with the state-owned Indian Airlines, nine private companies can offer convenient and profitable programs throughout the country.

Private airlines "Jagsons", "Modiluft", "Jet Airways", "East-West Airlines", "Sahara" serve only certain domestic airlines.

Flight schedules are published in Divan and Excel magazines and shown in teletexts. You can also find them at travel agencies and at major airports.

Railway

The Indian international rail transportation network is the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. It consists of 62300 km of rails, over 7030 railway stations and over 11200 locomotives. The fare is relatively inexpensive. A large number of express trains connect major cities. Where train service is interrupted, it is possible to get from station to station by bus.

The categories of travel are different, starting from the most expensive I class with air conditioning (the ticket price is comparable to the cost of a similar class fare in other countries), and ending with the cheapest option - a shared carriage with a ticket without a seat. There are also air-conditioned sleeping cars and double compartments, as well as air-conditioned seating cars (both class II); there are class II cars with fans.

Upon arrival in the country, it is advisable to pre-order train tickets for your route. Many train stations have computer systems that allow you to reserve tickets for travel from other cities. In large cities there are special tourist sections, whose staff speaks English, where they provide tickets for foreigners, but you have to pay for them in US dollars (traveler's checks or cash are accepted). If it is not possible to book a ticket, but there is a huge need to go, try talking to the station chiefs, they may be able to allocate you a ticket from a tourist reservation or ticket refund office.

Tour desks at railway ticket offices can assist in travel planning and booking tickets.

Railway travel enthusiasts can purchase the detailed All India Railway Time-Table or the short but detailed Trains At A Glance.

Do not forget to specify from which station your train departs, and arrive at the station at least an hour or half an hour before the train departure to find your car and seat. Passenger lists with compartment numbers and seats are posted one hour before the train departure. You can be assisted by the station attendant and the conductor responsible for the departure of the train.

Trains in India are slower than in Europe, so if you are in a hurry, take the express. Train fares are relatively low.

Be careful with luggage on the train. Stock up on locks and chains in advance in order to fasten it below under the seats.

Food can be ordered through the carriage conductor, and on some trains the cost of meals is included in the ticket price. Sleeping mattresses are issued for a fee on certain routes in class I and II carriages, but you can also pay the cost when ordering a ticket. Bed linen is issued only in class I carriages with air conditioning.

Lounges (only for short stays) are available at more than 1,100 stations; you can get into them on a first-come, first-served basis, but usually they are all busy. All first class lounges have couches for passengers, but you will need to bring your own linens. Lounges for transit passengers have been built at the stations in New Delhi and Calcutta, and lounges can be booked in advance.

Luggage storage where passengers can leave their luggage is available at most stations, but be sure to lock your suitcases and bags and do not lose receipts. Check the opening hours of the storage rooms to get your luggage on time.

In India, there is a special program "Pass in India", when on one ticket a tourist can travel without restrictions on any trains during the validity period of the ticket. Only foreigners and Indian citizens living abroad can use this program with a valid passport. "Pass" can be purchased while in India or through travel agencies abroad. Payment is accepted only in freely convertible currency. Children aged 5 to 12 can travel on the India Child Pass for only half the adult fare. Children under 5 travel free of charge. The ticket must be purchased prior to arrival in the country. Not sold in India. "Pass" is nominal and cannot be transferred for use to another person. Travelers are required to have their passport ready in case of control. Pass holders are exempt from seat reservation fees and sleeping car seat surcharges. By purchasing a "Pass", you are freed from having to go through all the other formalities or worry about acquiring additional travel documents, wherever you go. The "Pass" must be used within one year from the date of purchase. The validity period is calculated from the start of the first trip and ends at midnight after the expiration of the date indicated on it. The Pass is non-refundable and cannot be restored if lost or damaged. "Pass" can only be returned at the office where it was purchased, and the cost is compensated if the use of the document has not been started, and if seats on the train have not yet been booked. "Pass to India" can be purchased (recommended to do it at least a month in advance) in some agencies in different countries or in India, in railway tourist escort bureaus, as well as from a number of official distributors of "Pass" in New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. You can also purchase a "Pass" at the international airports of Delhi, Bombay and Madras.

Motor transport

Within India there is an extensive network bus routes connecting all parts of the country. This is especially true for those areas in which there is no railway connection, in particular for high mountainous areas. Older buses run on most rural roads, but air-conditioned express buses are increasingly appearing on main routes. On many routes, even local ones, tickets can be booked in advance. Most of the luggage is transported on the roof of the bus, so suitcases must be locked and checked during stops.

Many cities have bus services.

AT big cities there are taxis and autorickshaws paid according to the tax. They don't always have meters, but if a meter is installed, require it to be turned on when you board. Prices for taxi services change from time to time and therefore do not always correspond to the meter readings, however, the driver must have a copy of the current tariff. Taxis come with or without air conditioning. Prices range from 325 to 450 rupees if the car is air conditioned. For trips outside the city there is a per-kilometer fare, usually 2.30-3 rupees per kilometer in flat terrain (usually 6 rupees per 1 km in mountainous areas), and the fare for a night trip is 100 rupees.