From the Mountains, back to the City
Trip Start
Jan 18, 2008
1
11
Trip End
Feb 02, 2008
Delhi,
India
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Traveling back to Delhi...
I left the Jaipur Inn around 8:30 am, well rested, and walked over the bridge to meet the pre-arranged awaiting taxi, which took me to Haridwar (passing a large statue of Shiva, a Hindu Lord, responsible for the creation of the Ganges River). I had time for a cup of chai and 'home made' Indian biscuits for brekkie, and a little look around at the shops and stalls/carts near the train station, and purchased a pair of socks. Toe socks (made so you can put your big toe in separately from the rest of your toes/foot) were all they had, which is so practical, as thongs (flip-flops) are popular footwear with Indians even in Winter!
The train I'd board to take me back to Delhi, was delayed half an hour, and I was able to have a single seat (with a large window, across the aisle from the 4 seated compartment, so I had a good view (windows only lightly tinted), of the country side en-route to Delhi. I saw agricultural farms and paddocks, with a variety of produce, most of which were all growing contently next to each other including: cane sugar, eucalyptus gums, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard, grapes, rice (in swampy areas), mango trees, and small plots of banana trees - utilising every bit of land, that the farmers could. There were also discs of cow dung neatly stacked in large, circular mounds, to dry out and be collected as 'fuel' (replacing firewood) for the fires for cooking meals and heating. There were also several brick works and chimneys amongst the paddocks., as well as squallers/camp sites of the poor fringing the towns and railway stations. I had lunch on the train (chickpea dhal and rice) which was OK and served in trays for 40 INR ($1.20).
I finally arrived at Nizamuddin Railway Station an hour and a half late, so thought it'd be best to hire a tuk-tuk to take me back to the Namaskar Hotel to collect my luggage. I had asked the staff there prior about what they'd likely pay for a tuk-tuk ride from Nizamuddin to Namaskar Hotel, so I added another 30 rupees being that I'm a 'Westerner' and had an estimate price of 80 rupees. I went to 2 different areas of where lots of tuk-tuks were parked and prices varied from 140 - 95 rupees! I finally found 1 young driver (had his license for a year) who would take me there for 90 rupees. He drove extremely well considering the traffic and unpredictable turns and direction of the other vehicles close by, and as we neared the Main Bazaar intersection, he asked a man on a parked pedal rickshaw which street to take for the Namaskar Hotel. The man noticed me and promptly said that he couldn't drive there in his tuk-tuk, and to let me off (smiling at me) and that he would take me there for only 20 rupees (in part English). I was pretty sure I knew the way (familiar surroundings), and smiled back saying "Ney Shukria" and stayed where I was, saying to my driver that it was OK for tuk-tuk to go to the Namaskar. The Rickshaw driver persisted, "No, No, no tuk-tuk, road too narrow. I take you in Rickshaw!" I again said "Ney" shaking my head, and turned to my driver and again reassured him that he could drive there and mentioned (speaking louder) that I had traveled in a tuk-tuk in the markets 2 days before. I stayed put, and my driver was unsure what to do, but thankfully, the rickshaw driver, glaring at me, pointed with his hand the street to take, so (with a quiet sigh of relief from me) we continued on, parsing several tuk-tuks on the way and I recognised 2 shops (and their fixed signs on the walls) close by to the little lane way to the Namaskar Hotel, and asked my tuk-tuk driver to stop. He did and I payed him for the journey, gave him a big smile and said he was the best tuk-tuk driver in India and thanked him sincerely. He grinned back and waved and continued on.
I had 1 hour left before I'd need to leave by taxi (pre-arranged with the Namaskar Hotel staff for the price of 200 rupees or $6 to take me to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. I repacked the larger backpack, taking the day pack (zips on to the bigger pack) with me, so I headed off to the markets (after quickly freshening up) for some last minute bargains, as I was on the lookout for long pants and some smaller items. I was determined not to pay higher than what I'd set in my mind to be the limit for what I could afford, and I had a rough guide by now, on how much similar items cost and what a fair price was. I bartered, and haggled politely, but stuck firm with what I was offering, and out of 3 shops I visited that had what I was looking for, only 1 didn't agree to my price.
I returned to the Namaskar and tipped the guys for looking after my luggage and also a staff member, who carried my luggage for me to a waiting rickshaw driver (all pre-arranged by the hotel) and he took me to where the taxi was waiting, which I shared with a Japanese girl.
I had a few snacks and drinks using most of the last lot of rupee coins I had, before boarding the Singapore Airlines plane to take me back to Aus (via Singapore).
What an awesome 14 days I had had in India, and something truley special I will remember in years to come!
Bye Bye India!, and off I flew into the night sky...
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Tips & Advice:
Look around for landmarks and memorable signs, buildings, colours/styles of fences or gates, etc, near your place of accommodation, to help you become familiar of where your accomodation is when venturing out, as streets may not be signposted or numbers of the hotel or guest house may not be visible, which may make it difficult for a driver (rickshaw/tuk-tuk/taxi) to find to drop you off or pick you up. Also, less chance of drivers taking advantage of you and misguiding/misdirecting you so they can charge extra or make money from you because of you not knowing the area of where you are staying.
Ask local English speaking Indians (staff of your hotel/hostel/guest house, restaurant staff, Information officer at a train/bus station, etc...) if they know about how much it will cost to go to where you'd like to go in a tuk-tuk or other transport so you have a rough idea of what you should pay (adding around 50% of that price for tourist price).
Price Guide:
* Taxi from Laxman Jhula - Haridwar: 500 INR ($16. AUD) pre-charged by the hotel.
I was told by an Indian man, that the price of a taxi is based on 8 rupees for every 1 km travelled x 2 (driver's return journey). Example: Haridwar to Laxman Jhula central is 31 km x 8 = 248 x 2 = 496 INR
* Train from Haridwar - Delhi traveling 2A class: 507 INR ($14. AUD)
Useful links:
http://www.dollsofindia.com/ganga.htm How the Ganges River came to be - it's powers, beliefs, and the legends of the Gods and Godesses who created it.
