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By
Air
There are three large domestic airlines,
which fly across the country. The
state-owned Indian Airlines with the largest
network, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines. A
few other smaller airlines offer limited
regional services.
Indian Airlines
Commanding a large and modern jet fleet, the
Indian Airlines (IC) network spans the
countrys 3,000 kilometers, from Leh in
the north to Tivandrum in the south and
about the same from east to west, covers all
important places of tourist interest,
linking 59 cities in India and 16 in
neighboring countries including Bangaladesh,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Kuwait, UAE Oman and
Malaysia.
Jet Airways
Indias largest private airline
operates a fleet of Boeing 737-300/400 jets
to 25 domestic destinations. The airline has
Interline agreements with over 108
international airlines and facilities
include 24 hour flight information and
reservation, computerized check in, free
coach service at both Mumbai airports, a
choice of means including veg./non veg.
Diabetic, low cholesterol, Jain meals etc.
On the club Poremiere business class
facilities include tele-check-in, use of
Club Poremiere lounges, priority baggage
service and seat preferences at the time of
reservations.
As a Jet Prilege member you are entitled to
priority wait listing, tele-check-in, access
to club Premiere lounges, excess baggage
allowance, priority baggage clearance and
exchange of Privilege miles for free flights
anywhere on the British Airways and KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines network.
Sahara Airline
The airline has a fleet of Boeing 737-400
jets and 4 helicopters (Dauphins and Ecuriels). With Interline agreements with
various national and internationsl airlines,
value added services on Sahara include an
in-flight, library, valet service, tele
check- in for both Y & J
class, personalized reading kit and meal
preference (Jain meals and diabetic meals
are standard fare and customized meals for
Sahara Royale passengers includes Thai,
Italian, Continental and Indian as well as
health meals) The Sahara Club Crown is a two
dimensional frequent flier program offering
frequent flier program offering options for
redeeming points against privileges and
gifts from well known international brands.
The Three-level membership is available as
Sahara Silver, Sahara Gold and Sahara
Platinum subject to up gradation depending
upon accumulation of points.
Domestic Airports
India has a total number of 115 domestic
airports. Many of these have been
significantly upgraded of late. Beginning
with Delhi, the capital the brand new
terminal is comfortable and comprehensive.
Technologically too the airport has been
substantially upgraded.
There are new terminal buildings at Agra,
Cochin, Najpur, Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore,
Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, featuring
contemporary design and facilities.
Inland Air Travel
Tax
An Inland Air Travel Tax is leviable at 10
per cent of the basic fare, on all
passengers embarking on an inland air
journey. Passengers paying their airfare in
foreign exchange will be exempt from payment
of this tax. In addition, infants, cancer
patients, the blind and invalids (those on
stretchers) are exempt after fulfilling
certain conditions in the relevant
notifications.
India by Rail
The Indian Railway network is incredibly
extensive (the second largest in world). If
you want to see the country unfold in front
of you, this may be best mode of travel. The
rail network of course, is more extensive
than the air network and may take you to a
greater number of places. The Railways
operate nearly 7,800 passenger services a
day over a route length of approximately
63,000 kilometers.
You could opt for the luxury tourist trains
such as Palace-on-Wheels and the Royal
Orient, the super fast Rajdhani
and Shatabdi trains or the other
regular trains which or the other regular
trains which are divided into 15 zones. Most
trains run daily.
Tourist Trains
There are many tourist trains like Palace
on Wheels, Royal Orient Express, Rajdhani
Express, Shatabdi Express
and Toy Trains like Kalka-Simla, The
Shivalik Deluxe Express, Shivalik Palace,
Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Darjeeling hill
railway and Fairy Queen, the oldest running
locomotive in the world and so on for your
travel on the rails.
India by Road
India has a road network of over 2.9 million
kilometers. National highways comprise
34,608 kilometers and state highways 128,
622 kilometers. All state transport
corporations operate extensive bus services
and even the remotest place can be reached
by bus services.
Taxis operate in cities and large towns with
meter reading rates of distance traveled. It
will be a congruent pleasure to find an
ordinary driver in a Khaki dress talking
very comfortably with you cracking humorous
stories and other interesting incidents.
Other local road transport means are auto-rikshaws
(three-wheeled vehicle), cycle-rikshaws and
motorcycles may also be hired in some
tourist places like Goa. Their accent wont
trouble you but will add spice to your
journey.
You
will also find several agencies providing
rent-a-car services.
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