Offbeat Commutes: Exploring India’s Most Unique Ways to Get Around

In a country where modern highways crisscross ancient trails and tuk-tuks compete with XUV’S, India’s transport scene is anything but ordinary. While metros, Ubers, and local trains dominate most urban lives, tucked away in corners across the subcontinent are travel experiences that are far from conventional—and often, far more memorable.

From riding through misty hills on toy trains to gliding over backwaters in floating homes, India offers some of the quirkiest, most culturally rich ways to move. Here’s a look at some of the most unique—and charming—modes of commute you’ll find across the country.

1. Trams in Kolkata: A Ride Through Time

Kolkata is home to India’s last surviving tram network. These slow-moving streetcars, weaving through the city’s colonial-era roads, are more than just transport—they’re time machines. Run by the West Bengal Transport Corporation, the trams may not be the fastest, but they remain iconic. Riding one through Esplanade or Shyambazar isn’t about saving time—it’s about soaking in a slice of the past.

 

2. Water Metro in Kochi: India’s First of Its Kind

Launched recently, the Kochi Water Metro is revolutionizing urban transport by bringing public ferry services into the 21st century. Think metro, but on water. Sleek boats with AC cabins ferry commuters across the backwaters, cutting down road congestion and offering a stunning view of Kerala’s coastal beauty. It’s functional, futuristic, and deeply local at once.

 

3. Elephant Rides in Jaipur and Kerala: Regal but Controversial

While not a mainstream commute, elephants have historically been symbols of royalty in India. In Jaipur, tourists often ascend to Amber Fort on elephants, while in parts of Kerala, they’re still part of temple processions and forest terrain travel. Though rich in heritage, elephant rides today face ethical questions about animal treatment—making them more a spectacle than a sustainable ride.

 

4. Hand-Pulled Rickshaws in Kolkata: Humanity on Wheels

These rickshaws, pulled by barefoot men through narrow alleys and rain-soaked lanes, are slowly fading. Found only in parts of North Kolkata, they’re a throwback to colonial times. While they may raise ethical concerns, they also serve as lifelines during water-logged monsoons where nothing else gets through. It’s a stark reminder of both endurance and inequality.

 

5. Coracles in Hampi: Round, Wobbly, and Whimsical

These bowl-shaped boats, made of bamboo and tar, float on rivers like the Tungabhadra in Karnataka. There’s no steering wheel, no engine—just a local spinning you gently across the water using a paddle. It’s rustic, slightly dizzying, but a total vibe. In places like Hampi or parts of Tamil Nadu, coracle rides are part adventure, part amusement park.

 

6. Toy Trains: Postcard Views on Narrow Tracks

India’s toy trains are heritage on wheels. Running through the hills of Darjeeling, Shimla, Ooty, and Matheran, these narrow-gauge trains chug along at a leisure pace, winding through misty forests, tea gardens, and cliffside tunnels. They’re not just about getting somewhere—they’re about how you get there. A window seat here is worth every minute of the slow journey.

 

7. Tongas: Horse-Drawn Carts Still Trotting On

Once a common sight, tongas—two-wheeled carts pulled by horses—still operate in some small towns, especially near pilgrimage spots or old bazaars in cities like Lucknow, Agra, or parts of Rajasthan. While autos have largely replaced them, tongas still offer a slow, rhythmic ride that makes you feel like you’re in a scene from an old film.

 

8. Songthaews in Northeast India: Thai Twist, Desi Spin

Inspired by their Thai cousins, songthaews—modified pickup trucks with bench seating—are popular in parts of the Northeast, especially in border areas and hill towns. They’re cheap, rugged, and squeeze in everyone from school kids to market vendors. Hop on one in Mizoram or Nagaland and you’ll see transport and community merge into one.

 

9. Shikaras in Kashmir: Romance on Dal Lake

Sitting on a shikara in Srinagar is less commute, more poetry. These carved wooden boats, with canopies and cushions, glide over Dal Lake like they belong in a painting. Whether you’re getting to a floating market or just drifting under the shadows of the Himalayas, it’s a reminder that in Kashmir, even transport can be pure art.

 

10. Houseboats: Floating Homes of Kerala’s Backwaters

Part luxury stay, part slow-motion transport, houseboats—or kettuvallams—sail through Kerala’s intricate network of lagoons and canals. Equipped with bedrooms, kitchens, and lounge decks, they’re more than boats—they’re experiences. What used to be rice barges are now serene floating villas, showing you Kerala not from the road, but from the water.

In India, how you travel often matters as much as where you’re going. The country’s landscape and culture shape transport in ways that are equal parts inventive, emotional, and rooted in tradition. While metros and flights might get you there faster, these unique ways to commute show you sides of India that Google Maps simply can’t.

So next time you’re planning a trip, leave a little room for the unexpected—because in India, even the journey has a story to tell.