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Getting Around Vrindavana
(Local Travel)

You should always fix the price in advance with the rickshaw drivers. If you have a disagreement on price at the end of a trip, get the help of a local devotee or the help of one of the local shop keeper. I have always found the shop keepers to be helpful, especially if you are going to shop at their shop. It can be difficult to work out a disagreement, if you do not speak the same language. It does not help to get angry, they are used to it.

A bike rickshaw to Loi Bazaar costs Rs 8 to Rs 12 (depending on the demand and the time of the day), and anything over Rs 15 is over-paying. People have been charged Rs 100 and more. Sometimes at night and during festivals there are just no rickshaws around, so you may be forced to pay Rs 15 to Rs 20 to get to Loi Bazaar. Paying more than Rs 15 should not happen very often.
To get to Fogal Ashram is Rs 5, Maheswari Ashram is Rs 4, Vrindavana bus stand Rs 15. Locals may pay lower prices.

To visit the major temples in Vrindavana takes about three hours and costs Rs 90 by bicycle-rickshaw, or Rs 30 an hour. Many of the rickshaw-walas know where all the major temples are located.

Taxi Fares
To Radha Kund and back with a two hours waiting time is Rs 500. To go to Varsana and Nandagram is Rs 650. To go to Varsana, Nandagram, and Radha Kund is Rs 750. To go to Gokula and Raval is Rs 600. To do a local trip in Braja is about Rs 550 for 4 hours and Rs 650 for 6 hours. To go to Mathura and back by taxi is Rs 250, and one way it is Rs 150. To take an auto-rickshaw to Mathura is Rs 70 one way and Rs 140 roundtrip. To go to Delhi is Rs 1100. To go to Delhi and drive around for the day is Rs 1300.
A taxi to Agra or Aligarh costs Rs 600 from Vrindavan. A taxi to the train station in Tundla costs Rs 700. From the Tundla train station it will cost about Rs 800 to Vrindavan. A taxi to Jaipur costs Rs 1800, if you go and come back the same day. The taxi is Rs 900 for each additional day.

Rickshaw and Auto Rickshaw Prices
Destination Rickshaw Auto Rickshaw
Loi Bazaar 8 to 12 40
Banke Bihari Market 9 to 11 40
Bus Station 10 to 15 45
Kesi Ghat 10 to 15 45
Govindaji Temple 10 to 15 45
Radha-Raman Temple 10 to 15 45
Radha Damodara Temple 8 to 12 40
Madana Mohana Temple 5 to 7 30
Mathura Train Station Too far 50 to 70
Radha Kunda Too far 200 to 250

Taxi Prices Ambassador Tata Sumo
Delhi 1100 1500
Delhi Airport 1100 1500
Delhi All Day 1300 1800
Mathura Train Station 150 300
Mathura and Back 250 400
Jaipur 1800 2500
(Rs 800 to Rs 1000 for extra days)
Radha Kunda and Govardhana 500 700
(Two hours waiting time included)
Nandagram and Varsana 600 900
(Six hours total time)
Nandagram, Varsana & Radha Kunda 600 900
Gokula and Raval 500 800
Agra (drop off) 600 900
Agra for the day (eight hours) 700 1100
Tundla 700 1000
Aligarh 600 900
Four Hours 500 900
Six Hours 600 1050
Eight Hours 700 1200
Twelve Hours 900 1500

You can also get picked up from the airport for Rs 1200 plus Rs 100 for the parking fee at the airport lot, or for a total of Rs 1300. If you arrive more than one hour past the pick-up time there is a charge of Rs 50 per hour, plus if you are more than four hours late there is an extra Rs 50 parking fee. You can reserve a taxi like this from Dinesh and other drivers. You tell the driver your name and they will have a sign with your name on it when you come off the plane. You should also give them a general description of how you will be dressed (for instance whether in devotee or regular clothing).

The basic charge for a day is based on a six hours day for an ambassador and Rs 900 for a Tata Sumo, and extra hours are Rs 50 per hour for an ambassador and Rs 75 per hour for a Tata Sumo. If you are taking a taxi to Delhi or Jaipur, you should make sure when reserving the taxi that the driver that will take you knows Delhi or Jaipur. Many drivers do not know Delhi at all.

Bargaining with Taxi and Rickshaw Drivers
If possible find out the price of where you are going in advance. If there is a group of rickshaws in one place, as a rule do not take the first one that runs up to you. If someone is working harder to find customers usually they want a higher price. Walk up to a group of rickshaw drivers and ask them how much they want, as if you know exactly what the price is (hopefully you do). One important point is to ask a local what the price should be to go your destination before arranging a ride if possible.

If someone quotes you a totally outrageous price, do not even waste your time negotiating with him; just go to the next driver. You will almost always be quoted a higher price than the actual price, say Rs 15 rupees if the actual price is Rs 10. You then say I will pay you Rs 10. Usually they say no. At this point you immediately turn to the next rickshaw driver and ask him if he will take you for ten rupees. If he says no, then ask the next rickshaw driver. Usually one of the other drivers you have asked will then say I will do it. I then confirm the price by showing my hand with five fingers up and say five rupees and ask him to confirm that he understands, by shaking his head yes. This might not be the best way to bargain with rickshaw drivers but it definitely works.

A problem may come up if you see something you want on the way and ask the rickshaw driver to stop. It is best to work out something extra with the driver before you get out of the rickshaw. Ask him how much extra it will cost to stop for 10 minutes. Waiting time in Vrindavana is about Rs 25 per hour. When you stop like this and do not work out a price there is a good chance you will get into an argument with the driver. Sometimes they want double the negotiated price.

Sometimes at the end of the trip the rickshaw driver wants a higher price then you agreed to pay him. You may try to hand him the money and he will not take it. At this point you can just put the money on the seat of the rickshaw and walk away, making sure you do not look back.

I personally have gotten into only one argument with a rickshaw driver, when I negotiated the price. I won the dispute after a few seconds by taking the help of a local shop keeper. But I have gotten myself into a few bad situations when other people negotiated the price, to the point where even double the normal fare was not enough. Never argue with a driver, the madder you get the more determined they get. He is used to seeing people get mad at him. Just act as if you know the price and act as if there is not a problem in the world.

Communication Problems
When getting a bike rickshaw you may ask to go somewhere and the driver says that he will take you and you work out a fair price. After you go two blocks the driver asks you where you want to go and you tell him again. You then realize he has no idea where you want to go. He is usually overcharging you enough that he can bring you anywhere in town and still make a profit.

When I get a rickshaw driver, I first tell him where I want to go and make him repeat the name of the place. If they cannot repeat the name, I say it a few more times. If they still cannot understand where I want to go, I ask another rickshaw driver.

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