| Tips for getting around Kolkata (Calcutta) posted by real travelers and Kolkata (Calcutta) locals. Kolkata (Calcutta) Map |
 | Kolkata (Calcutta) Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 64 |  |
 by lynnehamman
I realise that this is a much needed job for thousands of Rickshaw-wallahs, and they are certainly the only form of transport during the monsoon, when Kolkatas streets become rivers.
These men are however, often exploited by the conglomorates that own the rickshaws.They are paid a pittance for a ride, and then have to pay the owners of the rickshaws so much per day for the use of the rickshaw.
I therfeore implore you- if you feel the necessity to use one- give a good tip, and do not wrangle about the cost. Its only a few rupees anyway. It is very hard work to drag people around the streets of Kolkata. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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 Stuck in a Taxi in Traffic- a
nightmare! by lynnehamman, 1 more photos
We used it on a daily basis. It costs only a few rupees per trip.
Taxis are good - but make sure that the meter is switched on. The fares are cheap.
The only problem that we encountered with taxis was that the drivers SAY that they know where you want to go, then end up taking you to some other place! Maybe its a language problem- maybe not.But its very frustrating, sitting in the noisy crazy traffic of Kolkata, not having any idea where you may end up. We eventually decided to find someone,anyone, who could speak some English, and they would then explain to the Taxi driver where to take us. It hel[ed a lot. Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
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 The yellow cabs in Kolkata-
commuters' relief! by Kumarjit |
 Typical Street Scene by RickinDutch
The best way I found to get around the city is to rent a private car with a driver. For about $20 a day, he will take you where you need/want to go , wait for you, and take you on to the next spot.
A good rental agency we have used is Travel Cars. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor HomePhone: +91 33 2249 4970
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I had heard from a friend that the Rajdhani Express was the way to get from Delhi to Calcutta. From their stories I expected wing back chairs and sterling silver service as we made out way from west to east across the subcontinent. After waiting in line at the Delhi train station for hours and getting nowhere, (those nicely saried ladies have sharp elbows) I went to the Soviet Student Travel Agency to get my tickets. Ended up with A/C first class standby. The day of the train, my name wasn't posted on any of the car rosters or even on the standby list. So ran back over the bridge across 16 lines of trains in 100F and 100% humidity and ended up at the same ticket counter I had been unsuccessful at earlier in the week. Finally got to the front and was told that a seat was available in car 2. Ran back, grabbed my stuff and hopped on Car 2 as it started to roll out of the station. No open seat.
After a long discussion, it was determined that a seat was open in Car 1. So back I went, gathered my stuff and found my seat.
No wing backed chairs or sterling service, but it was quite comfortable and the tea and food served just fine. We left Delhi at 1700 and were supposed to arrive Calcutta the next day at 1000AM. But something was wrong with the signal system and we had to stop at every cross track along the way, sometimes for a half hour - waiting and listening for another train before we proceeded. We arrived in Calcutta about 1800, just as the sun was setting. No beds, just kind of napped where you sat. Seats were like a yellow school buses - vinyl. And they were very proud of their air conditioning - seemed like it was 50F the whole time.
But while it wasn't as luxurous as I had expected, the views along the way and the conversations with my fellow passengers were very enjoyable.
I've learned since that the best way to get good seats at a reasonable price is to book ahead, either thru a travel agent or online. Leave a Comment
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Since Kolkata is one of the largest city of the world ( not in terms of modern ness and facilities) it is still very well connected with most parts of the world by air. it is also well connected with rest of India by air plane, train and bus. There are about 2000 train goes out of Kolkata and comes every day from different parts of India.
This is also the first city of India to have metro as main transport system. it is also the cheapest mode of transport in the world. The longest distance fare is only rs.8/- one side or about 12cents.
Calcutta also has the cheapest taxi compared to Bombay and Delhi. The minimum fare is rs.20/- for 1.6kms.
Local bus fare is also very cheap lowest being rs.4/- and highest rs10/- Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Inside a Kingfisher flight
from Kolkata to Mumbai by Kumarjit
You can contact the airlines offices for more details. There are four main domestic airlines operating from Calcutta Airport. Their contact numbers are given below:
Jet Airways: +913339840000
Jetlite: +913330302020
Indian Airlines : +91331407
Air Deccan: +919831677470 / +913339008888
Indigo Airlines: +919910383838
SpiceJet: +919871803333
Kingfisher: +918041979797 Theme: AirplaneOther Contact: Contacts are given above
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Finally, we approached the airport. There had been an icy silence between us the last 5 minutes. Having failed in all previous schemes, and no longer having to impress his buddy anymore, he began begging with me, pleading about how he was a poor man and I should take pity on him. All this, after previously doing everything he could to try and cheat, deceive and coerce me. But it was too late. The tables had turned. I stuck with our original agreement the whole way. I got out, grabbed my bags and paid him 200 rupees. He acted crestfallen, and said I was "a bad man". I turned away, cursing his insolence, and walked off... The funny thing is, if he hadn't tried to fleece me, I would have tipped the guy 50 or 100 rupees...! Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Having failed in all previous efforts, the taxi driver's next gambit was to go into a rage. He started shouting and acting really angry, saying that I had better pay the extra amount and if I didn't like it, he would let me out and I could take a different taxi the rest of the way to the airport. Obviously, this would have been a big inconvenience for me and could cause me to miss my flight. I had had enough. I finally said, in a terse tone, "just take me to the airport." I followed with a threat of my own, "You know, I can call the hotel and tell them what you are doing here." As soon as I made it clear that I would report this to the hotel, everything changed 180 degrees! Suddenly, he was talking very polite again, pleading to convince me that I had to pay more because he had taken the bypass. I quit talking to him. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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My driver arrived and I got in the taxi. For some unexplained reason, another man was also next to him in the front seat. We left the hotel courtyard and immediately, the driver started trying to swindle me for as much money as he could get!
His first scheme was to ask if I wanted him to turn on the air conditioning. It was a typically insanely hot day in India so I said "Sure, if you have it." So we rolled up the windows and he flipped it on. Then, he asked me where we were going although he had obviously already been informed about this by the hotel staff who had obtained his services. I said, "to the aiport, as quick as possible", as I had little time left to catch my flight. Then he says, "500 rupees!" I said, "What?? The hotel staff said only 200!" Then he said it was higher because of the air con. Somehow he had conveniently forgot to mention that when he politely asked if I wanted the air con earlier. I said he better turn off the air con since I wasn't paying more than 200. So he turned off the air con and we all rolled down our windows again... Then he explained that with the air con, it should be double the price. Hmm, so I guess around these parts, 500 is double of 200, interesting... Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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