How do they drive in India? Watch the video to have an idea :) And, if you are crazy enough to try that, at least see some tips below!
Travel tips
1. In India, they drive on the left, so be prepared.
2. Even if you are a fan of self-driving, in India it's better to rent a car with a driver - at least, for the first time. In the event of an accident, the foreigner is always to blame. Even if the local one was driving on the opposite lane, all his neighbors will be there to confirm that you are the offender. And first, you should manage to find the police, which is not so easy in remote places.
3. Take the map with you. The most of the road signs, if they exist, wrote in Hindi; GPS works properly not in all places of the country.
4. Sometimes the driver should pay road taxes or some fees, but nobody could explain to me exactly where should one do that and how much shall one pay. Our driver did it in some strange sheds out of the roads and telling that in these places they used to pay taxes "online".
5. It is a real nightmare to find a parking space in tourist centers. The rules of parking are not clear either. Ask the locals.
6. Besides all the above, there is no big difference between renting a car with a driver and without. While the rental cost for the car, depending on the class, will be 15-45 euros a day (plus insurance), the driver's services cost about 3-4 euros per day. So believe me, taking a driver you'll save your money and your brains.
7. If you still decide to try self-driving in India you should have an International Driving License. Moreover, you better show the original of it only in a car rental company but not to the wardens. If they take your driving license you hardly can get it back, but if you drive without the license you just would have to pay about 4 USD (200 Indian Rupees) as a fine. If the policeman tells you other amounts, let say, 40 USD or 400 USD - what is quite possible - you simply have to bargain. This also applies to any other fines, as well as to any other situations in India.
Our trip has been organized by ADI-Tour. With them, we had an experienced driver and a brilliant guide providing us with a lot of great information. Highly recommended!