Travel Between Negombo & Colombo

There are a few options for traveling between Negombo and Colombo. One can travel by road, rail or boat.

Buses run between Negombo and Colombo

Tuk-Tuks of Lanka

Tuk-Tuks are an economic alternative of taxi cars in Sri Lanka. Similar vehicles can be found in neighboring India as auto-rikshaw, in Bangladesh as CNG. But there are a few differences setting them apart from the counterparts in neighboring countries.

Transport from Auroville to Puducherry

Interior of the bus to Puducherry

Easiest way to reach Puducherry ( Pondicherry ) from Auoville is by bus. Bus from ECR near Auroville to the station at Puducherry costs 5.00 Rs. The last stop of this bus is the bus station at Puducherry.

On the way back from Puducherry to Auroville, one can get on a bus from the station. However, there are two different routes going towards Chennai and both pass through Auroville. One drops you off at the Kuilapalayam (intersection of EC Road) and the other one drops off at Morattandi. Make sure to ride the right bus. Be aware of the rush hour crowd in the bus. The Indian crowd can be very intense.

Next in order of convenience would be autorikshaws. They usually charge around 200.00 Rs from the Auroville to Puducherry or the other way round. Sometimes there is room for bargaining.

Another viable option is to ride a moped or motorbike. But driving a vehicle without a licence is not advisable. The police in Puducherry sometimes flags down tourists driving a moped or motor bike to check their licence. Tamil Nadu police is a bit relaxed in that regard.

Pedaling your way to Puducherry is also possible. It's only 5 kilometers from Auroville after all. This is also a healthy and environmentally friendly option.

Wheels in Auroville

The Auroville settlements are spread out within a 60 square kilometers area. Better get some wheels to navigate in Auroville. Wheels come in three versions there: bicycle, motorbikes and mopeds.

Bicycles can be rented from one of the few bicycle kiosks. There is one behind the public washroom at the Visitors' Centre. Rent for a bicycle is 50.00Rs per day. Another kiosk is located near the Solar Kitchen. This one provides free pumping and maintenance.

Another alternative is hiring a Moped, a common mean of transportation in Auroville. Its basically a low power motorcycles. Originally designed with bicycle like pedals to allow pedaling once fuel runs out. But pedals were missing on the ones found in Auroville. Hiring a moped is simple, call or meet the guy who rents them to people and book it for your desired length of time. They usually ask for some advance payment or a security money and the rest is to be paid when you give the moped back. There is shop on the main road going to Auroville from East Coast road. He charged 60.00 Rupees per day for a week. The fuel is also on you. They use a mixture of petrol and some other kind of oil. Most of the grocery shops sell it. A liter of that fuel costs 100.00 Rupees.

I did not look into hiring a motorbike, but the procedure should be similar except that it costs more. Have fun getting in and around Auroville.

Mule Train

Mule Train, photo credit: Subbotsky

The Nepali alternative to rail cars in the Himalayas are mule trains. Villages deep in to (or high above) the Nepali Himalayas are inaccessible by motorized vehicles, let alone railway. Helicopters and small planes have emerged as a new option in recent decades. Mostly to be used in search and rescue operations. Trekking and riding stays predominant modes of traveling for personnel, while mules serve as the most common and effective options of cargo.

Trishaw

The Malay version of rickshaw is called Trishaw. It has structural differences with the human powered vehicle we have in Bangladesh. Basically it's a bicycle with a steel rod and tin sheet structure welded to the cycle on the side. The appendage consists of a seat, shades for protection against sun and braces on the front for support. The Bangladeshi version is a highly modified bicycle complete with springs, retractable shades etc. where the carriage sits behind the driver and the overall structure is symmetrical about the line of action of driving force.