Many of the more adventurous backpackers and students visit India because it’s cheap and easy to get around. It’s also home to some breathtakingly beautiful temples, luscious jungles, pristine beaches and other fascinating sights that will take your breath away. Sounds exciting right? It is! India is the ideal destination for anyone on a budget and the rupees value is very low, meaning you can get a lot more for a lot less.
Transport in India usually conjures up images of rickshaws, streets packed with motorbikes, or trains and busses so full that people are sitting on the roof, but travelling by bus is actually one of the best and cheapest ways to get around. I had some major trepidation about taking the bus after having ridden on some of the worst roads in the world but I had heard from various other travellers that it was a great way to see everything on offer at a really desirable price.
Travelling light in India is essential and it makes it much easier to get around when you are not lugging a lot of stuff. I took the bare minimum with me and instead of packing books and guides I opted for my mobile which let me do everything from browse the net to play games at Lucky Nugget. This made it a lot easier to hop on and off the bus and when we overnighted from Mumbai to Hampi I didn’t have to worry about a whole lot of luggage.
Busses are generally cheaper than trains and are far more cost effective than renting a car or trying to hire a scooter for any long distance. It’s also easy to book bus journeys online so you can choose the cheapest tickets before you set off. Bus travel gives you a great sense of freedom and you also get to see hundreds of kilometres of unspoiled scenery and have the opportunity to visit areas that are somewhat off the beaten track.
I found my fellow bus travellers to be really friendly and although I had always been a little nervous about taking the bus I was very comfortable. It was a great experience that I can definitely recommend for the money-conscious, budget savvy traveller!
Remember to do some research before you set off on your Indian adventure and get the best bus ticket prices before you leave!