India
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 India | |
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| Information | |
| Language: | Hindi, English |
| Capital: | New Delhi |
| Population: | 1,147,995,904 |
| Currency: | Indian rupee (₨) (INR) |
| Hitchability: | from  (bad) to  (average)
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| <map lat='21.739091217718574' lng='82.177734375' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' /> | |
India is a country in Asia.
India is a land of diverse cultures, faiths, languages and people. For all practical purposes though, English and Hindi (the national languages) are widely understood throughout the country.
The condition of road surfaces, driving habits, vehicles and driver profiles varies greatly from region to region even in the same state. Although hitchhiking is allowed as in it is not illegal, it is not something which is common. A ride may be difficult to get as hitchhikers actually turn out to be robbers and dacoits who flag down vehicles and loot them. People therefore give hitchhikers the cold shoulder.
However, hitchhiking is possible. The Academy of Free Travel organized an expedition in India in 1998 where nine participants hitchhiked the entire length of the country north to south. There is a growing Indian hitchhiking community.
Contents
Paid Vehicles
Gesturing for a ride will inevitably attract a taxi, bus or the three wheeler auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Rates will vary from region to region.
Rides on Trucks
Probably the only vehicles which may bother to stop and pick up hikers would be long distance trucks. They generally ply between cities or villages. Speeding is common and trucks are often involved in accidents. Drunk driving is also fairly common. If offered a ride on the truck, it is best to humour the driver and helper by engaging in small talk as far as possible. Silence may lead to sullen behaviour and even hostility.
Trains
Ticketless travel in trains is common although heavy fines are levied if caught. Also trains are scanned thoroughly for suspicious people and goods given the recent bomb attacks.
Cities
- Delhi
- Mumbai (Bombay)
- Kolkata (Calcutta)
- Karachi
- Chennai
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Surat
- Pune
- Jaipur
