Getting around Kolkata

There are streets and more streets… some streets are 2 way, some are one way, some are one way at certain times, and some change directions depending on how hot a day it is!

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So to navigate all this we have found the only way is a cab, like the locals do. But there is somewhat of a language barrier with the local yellow cab drivers. The yellow cabs are the ones that are the old Hundustani Motor Ambassadors (ie old British 1950′s Austin’s, but still made here to this day!) . We also have the new radio cabs, called Kolkata cabs. The 2 brands and really worlds apart, but the yellow cabs are plentiful and the radio cabs must be pre booked, sometimes days in advance due to their popularity.

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The Kolkata Cabs are nice new cars, small station wagons that are airconditioned and clean, the drivers speak english, know their way around and will actually wait if you need to go into a shop or as we do we get them to wait when we go visit the dogs.

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The yellow cabs are am adventure. These old cars are held together with lots of body filler, and the paint thats hand painted onto them. They are all old. They have a really poor turning circle so dont expect a U turn in anything under a 8 lane wide road, and the brakes are like the brakes on your bicycle , the driver looks like he is pushing on the pedal with all the strength he has everytime you stop.

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The prices are good in western standards, a 10 km journey to the big mall here takes about 30 minutes, in a yellow cab will cost around Rp60(US$1.10), and in the new Kolkata cab it will cost around Rs100(US$2 )…. if we can we take the more expensive one just alone because of its airconditioning!

But remember in any of these cabs, take the address of your destination with you on a piece of paper and have the phone number of your destination in case the driver gets lost… dont worry they always get lost!

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