Transport

Kolkata has one of the best transport networks in the country. The metro - India's oldest underground - runs the length of the city, while trams and buses provide wide coverage as well. The ubiquitous yellow Ambassador taxis are good value (and a thrilling means of getting around, too). Hand-pulled rickshaws are a fun way to travel short distances - though this practice is being discouraged by policy-makers, who deem it ignoble. Car hire is available, with drivers included - unless you are a professional stunt driver on vacation, do not even attempt to drive around Kolkata yourself. As in all Indian cities, traffic congestion is a problem that results in frequent, noisy gridlock. Walking from one attraction to the other is, therefore, often the quickest way of getting around. Note that the 11-mile (17km) journey to and from the airport usually takes over an hour.