Next to motorcycles (and walking), auto-rickshaws are the most common mode of transportation in India. These diminutive vehicles are sort of a cross between a motorcycle and a golf cart. The basic design is the same all over the country, though the colors will vary (this is my fave, yellow with a black vinyl top). The rickshaw drivers like to customize their rides, with paint, decals, and the ever-popular Ganesh statue on the dash. If you don't mind the noise and exhaust fumes, it's a serviceable way to get around town. The fares, however, can be problematic. Rickshaw drivers keep their meters switched off and covered, preferring to set prices on a case-by-case basis. Bad news for me, a white guy, who tends to get charged at a rate 2 to 3 times higher than the locals. The rickshaws that frequent the big hotels and tourist areas are most likely to over-charge. On the other hand, on the occasions when I've flagged a rick in a quiet residential area, I've found the drivers to be quite fair and the prices reasonable. Experience has taught me it's best to agree upon a fare before climbing in.
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