Auto-rickshaw, Delhi

Although cycle rickshaws are allowed in Old Delhi, the pollution free autorickshaws are quicker and more comfortable.
The starting price is 8 rupees for the first kilometer, and after that 3.50 rupees for each extra kilometer.
The night charge 11pm-5.am costs 20% extra.

Delhi is amazing to get around - but I'd recommend taking an auto rickshaw.

We hired one to take us on a 30 to 40 minute trip and the cost was 100 rupees for the hire of the vehicle. It would have been the same price for one person as it was for the 3 of us. It took a very short barter to get the driver down to 100 but he only started at about 200. 100 at the time of our visit was about £1.25 or $2.50. And absolute bargain but sometimes it does get a bit hairy and you will no doubt be driving considerably closer to the vehicle in front, to the left and to the right of you than you would normally. Great fun!

Basically an auto rickshaw (a.k.a Tuk Tuk) is a three-wheeled motorised motorcycle with a driver up front and seats for two passengers behind, although I saw many absolutely crammed full with either adults or school children. Tempo's are bigger versions of auto rickshaws. The one's in Delhi have a meter but its never used so you have to negotiate and agree on a price before you start the journey. I look back on my notes over my first few days in India and laugh at how much I was paying for short trips. You can get some idea as to how much things should be if you take a pre-paid autorickshaw (there are stands in Connaught Place and from outside the Toursit Information Office on Janpath). I took one from here to the Qutb Minar some 13km south of the city centre for just Rs70 considering I was paying around this figure for trips of just a few km's when I was negotiating a price up front. Bear this in mind when the driver's quote Rs100 to start with!

One of the most popular ways to travel around within the city is the auto-rickshaw.
Much like Bangkoks `tuk-tuks', they come with a reputation, and its not of the best kind. However, with bus transport bieng another story and not advisable for the un-initiated, and taxis bieng a little bit on the expensive side, `autos' rule the roads as the most logical alternative by default.
The latest bit on them is that there is a fare dispute with the authorities, and because of that, most autos refuse to go with the metered fare, and would charge amounts that are determined in advance. This leaves much room in the grey areas naturally.
Delhi is waiting for the plans for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be in place. Work on many projects has begun- the Delhi Metro system is already in place, a High Capacity Bus System is being set up, and also plans for a light rail system along with high speed trains betwen the airport and the city centre...
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pic: j-san

The auto-rickshaw is one of the most inexpensive mode of transport in Delhi and probably the fastest. They certainly dart in and out of the narrowest opportunities. Make sure you negotiate a fee before starting out. Most will be very happy just to take you around and sightsee you are happy to let them do that. I didn’t find them pushy at all and when I said I just wanted to walk, they accepted that and moved on. There are still cycle rickshaws around but most have been removed from the more modern areas.

An intersting way of seeing parts of Delhi is by autorickshaw. However, beware - they can be very crowded! You could however negotiate with the driver and book the whole rickshaw for your family or group. The older style, 'open on all sides' is much better for looking around. And dont forget the Delhi pollution you will be exposed to. In any case it is an interesting experience as you share the ride with the locals, and cheap too.

It's very easy to move in Delhi in ricksaw. In spite of the traffric:cars, motorbikes, bicicles.., you will enjoy ricksaws!! It's better to fix teh prices before the ride or you can have problems! we took different ricksaws to go to the same area, even the saem place , and the give us different prices so it's better to ask for a cheaper place if you think the one given is too much!

Although being a westerner and treated somewhat like a fish in bowl with onlookers peering to get a glimpse of the westerners, the auto rickshaw is the best way to travel. Fresh Delhi air and a sense of keen adventure describes navigating the streets of Dehli by this unique tripodian experience. Do negotiate price up front and make sure you have your destination in mind or they will try to take you to the emporium which is a 4 story tourist trap! Shop the open markets and be with the people it is facinating and mind-boggling to immerse yourself in such a densely populated society.