Kolkata

By taxi

Kolkata just wouldn't look the same without the plethora of yellow ambassador taxis that ply on its roads. They're easily available and relatively cheap, and will usually use their meters.

The fare is 2 times plus Rs 2 the reading of the meter. The Meter starts from Rs 10, which means Rs 22 actually. There is a "green taxi" which is red coloured ! and charges the same. In case you are confused always ask to see the chart that the driver is supposed to carry with him. Expect to pay a bit more if you are going to the outskirts of the city or travelling at night - it will depend on your bargaining skills but should not be more than Rs 20 on top of the taxi meter. Unlike other metro cities in India, there is no 50%-100% surcharge for late night hires.

By Tram

"Calcutta Tramways" is the only tram service in all of India, and the oldest surviving electric tram network of Asia. Though decommissioned in some part of the city, electric trams are still one of the means of travelling between a few places within the city. They move slow on the laid tracks in traffic jammed streets, but they are environment friendly no emissions on the street, only at the source of energy generation.

By bus

The city has an extensive bus network possibly the most exhaustive in the whole of India and this is the cheapest, though not always the most comfortable means of transport. The routes are written all over the colourful buses in Bengali and also in English. The conductors call out their destinations to everyone he's passing and all you have to do is wave at the bus anywhere and it will stop, often causing a small traffic jam in the course. Just jump in.

Among the buses that ply the city streets, the deluxe buses run by CSTC Calcutta State Transport Corporation, CTC Calcutta Tramways Company,JNNURM Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and WBSTC West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation are probably the better option. A/C buses VOLVO are also available to selected destinations.

By ship

The river offers a less crowded but slow traffic medium. There are several points popularly called Ghats and jetties on the bank of the river from where you can board several regular routes of ferry services. Ferries can be fairly large launches to small improvised motorized boats. Even if you don't get any exotic manual boat like you get in Varanasi, the river transport of the city lets you go to several old spots near the bank in a hassle-free manner with an additional dash of the view of decadent river front of the city.

By Rickshaw

Long the world's only major metropolis where human-pulled rickshaws were still a major form of transport, a complete ban was supposed to be imposed in November 2006 - but with 35,000 union members who are unlikely to disappear overnight it was not implemented.

By Metro

Kolkata's "Metro Railway" was the first underground rail in India, yet it still has only a single route connecting the North and South of the city, from Dumdum to New Garia. It is the cleanest, most reliable, least but still rather crowded and most efficient of all the transportation Kolkata has to offer. Trains run every 6-15 min and at Rs 4-12. It runs from 7AM-9:45PM from Monday to Saturday and 2PM-9:45PM. on Sunday. Work is underway to connect districts further South. There is also an East-West line in the works on full swing, which will connect Salt Lake to Howrah stn.

By train

The electrified suburban rail network of the SER and the ER is extensive and includes the Circular Rail.

By Auto-Rickshaw

Shared auto-rickshaws are available from different points. They travel in fixed routes and the fare is fixedalthough you might find the driver charging a little more as the darkness sets in. They are supposed to take four persons, three in the back seat and one sharing the driver's seat!