How to Drive in India

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Metros in India are extremely congested and the drivers can appear to be rough in their approach towards beating the traffic. In Delhi alone there are 2 million vehicles. The roads also play a part in making driving difficult. This article will give you tips for driving safely in India

Steps

1. Be careful while driving in any city. India is no exception.Remember that in India, just like the U.K. has a right hand/left side drive. So, if you rent a car make sure that you test drive it for a while in a open space before going on the main road
   
2. Remember to be super alert at all times. In most Indian cities, though there are lanes, people don't use them and may cut in front of you without warning. Animals or children may come in your way. Whenever your foot is not on the accelerator, it should be resting on the brake.
   
3. Acknowledge that insurance in India has various clauses in it such as depreciation charge on metal and plastic. So please read your insurance completely and understand it well. Remember that third party claims are rare in India and in most cases would need a copy of Police FIR. Avoid accidents at all costs.
   
4. Be aware that it is not uncommon to find drunk drivers after 8 PM, so be extra careful at nights. Do not tailgate any driver at a speed higher than 30 KM, if possible avoid it completely. People can turn without giving a signal or indicator
   
5. Remember that there are all sorts of vehicle on Indian roads such as bullock carts. cycles, rickshaw, three wheeler, cars, SUV, trucks, buses etc. There are no separate lanes for slower moving vehicles so be prepared to drive slowly using brakes very often. There are hardly any automatic transmission vehicles in India so be prepared for a manual transmission. If you rent a car ensure that its clutch pedal is light else you will end up building a stronger calf muscle.
   
6. Learn that a marriage party, minister or religious possessions are regular and can hold up traffic. Don't be shy in taking alternative routes in such situations , like driving on the side unpaved road (if its there) or cutting the traffic like others.
   
7. When driving to a small town or rural village, roads will be too thin for two lanes. Therefore, traffic coming in the other direction will have to travel on the same path as you. When a car is coming towards you, move to the LEFT so that you are only taking up half the road. It's ok if the left side of your car isn't on the road anymore. The guy coming towards you will do the same thing on his left side. After you have passed each other, come back onto the road.
   
8. Remember that case of an accident, if the situation gets out of hand then call the cops immediately. This will save you from getting a beating from the public. In case of an accident public involvement will surely happen and the guy with a smaller vehicle will get the sympathy. Avoid any such pandemonium and try to settle things quickly.
   

Tips

• Keep all your car related papers such as registration, insurance and driver's license with you while driving
  
• Make sure your brakes are working all the time
  
• Keep your vehicle in good running condition all the time
  
• Tires play a great role while turning and breaking speed so please ensure that they are in shape and have anti-skid feature
  
• Blowing horn is not a bad thing and people do this to express all sorts of feeling or to keep the animals from coming in their way. Use horn in a generous manner
  
• Best way to learn how to drive in India is to follow one of the taxi drivers. They have mastered the art of driving on pure instincts.
  
• Visit http://driving-india.blogspot.com for a comprehensive review of defensive driving techniques.
  

Warnings

• Some of the red lights may not work at odd hours, be careful when approaching such a crossroad
  
• You may often see drivers breaking traffic rules (e.g. jumping red lights). DO NOT be tempted to follow their example - not only is it highly dangerous, but traffic police officers (especially in Delhi) are on the lookout for violators. Additionally, some traffic lights are now equipped with cameras to catch red-light jumpers.
  
• Always look on both sides while turning, it is not uncommon to find drivers on the wrong side of the road
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Be a Better Driver
  
• How to Travel to India—Native Style
  
• How to Vote in India
  
• How to Cross a Road in India
  
• How to Reduce Income Tax Liability in India
  
• How to Be Indian in an American Society
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Drive in India. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

New 7 wonders declared

A glittering ceremony was held at Lisbon on Saturday to present the New Seven Wonders of the World. The 21 finalists were voted by a massive online and SMS campaign conducted across the world. And the winners are :

1. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge

2. Statue of Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness

3. Great Wall, China (220 BC and 1368-1644 AD) Perseverance&Persistence

4. Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication

5. Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection

6. Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 - 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering

7. Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion

2 days to go : Keep voting for Taj

According to the New7Wonders, the last ranking in alphabetical order were issued on June 7. There will be no further ranking lists released prior to the Declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, Viering said.

However, the countdown has begun and the Agra's Taj Mahal "still has a long way to go to make it to the acclaimed list."

"The candidate ranking is extremely volatile, since votes are pouring in from every corner of the world throughout each day.

"The Taj Mahal, a priceless historical monument, needs the support of each and every Indian to make it to the new 7 wonders list as currently the odds are not exactly in India's favour."

So, Keep voting for Taj and lets bring it to the top slot.

Remember guys, Its less than 2 days now, when the new 7 wonders will be announced in Benfica Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal in the presence of glitterati, celebrities from Hollywood and other dignitaries.

4 days left: Vote for Taj now.....

ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT.........
TO CHOOSE THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD!

Keep voting for TAJ And Increase The Vote%. Lets bring it to the top position.


THREE WAYS TO CAST YOUR VOTE IN FAVOUR OF TAJ

1. SMS: type TAJ and send to 4567

2. BSNL land line: call 125 5545

3. WEB: Log on to http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php



If you have already voted, than forward this to as many people as possible.

About Taj Mahal

click here to know how to vote for Taj

For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.



Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir’s third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad: in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps.

In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle of succession: he took the name Shahjahan or “King of the World” and showered his beloved begum with the highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be queen for long.

In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition to the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom four sons and three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39 years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and contemporary chronicles tell of the royal court mourning for two years. there was no music, no feasting, and no celebration of any kind.




Epitome Of Love -Taj Mahal
Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided to erect a memorial to his queen in pristine marble that the world would never forget. The site selected for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river, unshadowed by any other structure. The garden had been laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged to his grndson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal firman, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh four havelis in exchange for the garden. The site was also chosen because it was located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace in Agra Fort, further upstream.

Construction Of The Mausoleum - Taj Mahal
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in building the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.

Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box.




The Taj Mahal (sometimes called "The Taj") is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as a "universally admired masterpiece of the world's heritage."

ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT.........
TO CHOOSE THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD!

TAJ Is Pride Of India. Keep voting for TAJ And Increase The Vote%, So That Our TAJ Get Place In 7 Wonders.


THREE WAYS TO CAST YOUR VOTE IN FAVOUR OF TAJ

1. SMS: type TAJ and send to 4567

2. BSNL land line: call 125 5545

3. WEB: Log on to http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php

If you have already voted, than forward this to as many people as possible.

Lets make it a mission to wake up indians, and bring Taj Mahal back to 7 wonders of world.

You still have questions........?
Click here to access FAQs

Wake up India : Vote for TAJ

Is India Sleeping????

Hello Every One.................

ONLY 6 DAYS LEFT.........
TO CHOOSE THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD!



Race heated with votes pouring in every second—more than 50 million to date.
For the first time ever, millions of global citizens are joining their voices to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World. This is the first time that we will, on all continents and in all cultures, regardless of language, religion and the color of our skin, create global memory.

There are only 6 days left to choose these 7 symbols bringing our world together. Competition from all over the world is increasing and the race is still open. Some 50 million votes have been cast so far in this world-shaking, history-making campaign.

Have YOU voted yet?
Are you doing your part so you can celebrate with humanity on July 7, 2007, when the
New 7 Wonders of the World will be revealed in a spectacular event in Lisbon, Portugal?

As of June 7,2007 the ranking is as follows (each group in alphabetical order):

Top 10, alphabetically:
1. Acropolis, Athens, Greece (450 - 330 B.C.) Civilization and Democracy

2. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge

3. Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 - 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering

4. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (1887 - 89) Challenge and Progress

5. Great Wall, China (220 BC and 1368-1644 AD) Perseverance&Persistence

6. Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication

7. Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection

8. Statue of Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness

9. Statues of Easter Island, Chile (10th - 16th Century) Mystery and Awe

10. Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion



Bottom 10, alphabetically:
1. Alhambra, Granada, Spain (12th century) Dignity and Dialog

2. Angkor, Cambodia (12th century) Beauty and Sanctity

3. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey (532 - 537 A.D.) Faith and Respect

4. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan (749 - 1855) Clarity and Serenity

5. Kremlin/St.Basil's, Moscow, Russia (1156 - 1850) Fortitude and Symbolism

6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany (1869 -1884) Fantasy and Imagination

7. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA (1886) Generosity and Hope

8. Stonehenge, Amesbury, UK (3000 BC - 1600 BC) Intrigue and Endurance

9. Sydney Opera House, Australia (1954 - 73) Abstraction and Creativity

10. Timbuktu, Mali (12th century) Intellect and Mysticism

The vote is organized by a non-profit Swiss foundation called New7Wonders which specializes in the preservation, restoration and promotion of monuments, and the results will be announced on July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07, in Lisbon, Portugal, considered a neutral venue as the country has no contending landmark of its own.




Believe me, there is still a long way to go, and these rankings are changing every second.

TAJ Is Pride Of India. I Want you to vote for TAJ And Increase The Vote%, So That Our TAJ Get Place In 7 Wonders.


THREE WAYS TO CAST YOUR VOTE IN FAVOUR OF TAJ

1. SMS: type TAJ and send to 4567

2. BSNL land line: call 125 5545

3. WEB: Log on to http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php

If you have already voted, than forward this to as many people as possible.

Lets make it a mission to wake up indians, and bring Taj Mahal back to 7 wonders of world.

You still have questions........?
Click here to access FAQs

Online, phone and SMS voting ends at midnight GMT on July 6th (the night between July 6th and 7th). The Authorities may close the phone and SMS voting earlier in order to be able to collect the data on time.

So, what are you waiting for...
Vote now.....