5 traditional yet animal friendly ways to explore India!

Elephant safaris, camel safaris and yak tours aren't the only ways to explore India. You can experience real India by opting for these cool ways of traveling!

Most tourists feel that they haven’t experienced real India unless they have taken an elephant safari, camel safari or a yak ride. Well, there are certainly numerous other traditional yet animal friendly ways to explore India. In fact, these modes of transportation will give you the experience of real India. Why take the conventional cab ride or the plain old bus, when you can do so much better and adventurous. We have listed down 5 super awesome modes of transportation in India.

1. Houseboats

In India, one can find houseboats in Kerala and Kashmir. Ages ago, these boats were used to carry spices in Kerala, but now they are quite a favorite among tourists. While some choose to stay on a houseboat, one can also opt for a day cruise and set sail on the backwaters with cool breeze gushing past your face.

2. Coracle Ride

Coracles are light, bowl-shaped boats with a frame of woven grasses, reeds or saplings. These are a major tourist attraction in the Hogenakkal falls on the Kaveri river. While earlier animal hides were used to waterproof these boats, plastic does a great job now. It’s a fun boat ride, we must say!

3. Rickshaws

If you are visiting India, a rickshaw ride is a must. The experience is more unique if you opt for a cycle rickshaw or a hand-pulled one. These can be found in West Bengal, Chandigarh and a few other states in Northern India. One can also explore Pondicherry, the Indian town with French influence in a cycle rickshaw. It’s advisable to fix the rate for the ride in advance.

4. Tram

Though trams in Mumbai phased out, Kolkata is currently the only city with tram system. While it is slow and technologically backward, a tram ride will give you much more joy than simply riding a train.

5. Toy trains

Mountain railways of India offer around 6 to 7 lines for toy trains. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Kalka–Shimla Railway, the Kangra Valley Railway and the Kashmir Railway are in the rugged hilly regions. The other three are the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu, the Matheran Hill Railway in Maharashtra and the Lumding–Silchar line in Assam. A slow ride on these trains offers a memorable scenic view.