E-rickshaws in Vrindavan: how to ride and agree the fare

The short answer first

Use an e-rickshaw for the last stretch to the old-town temples, and fix the whole fare before you sit. Keep your phone and bag on your lap, wear nothing loose, and let the driver know where you will get off. That is nearly all you need.

How it works on the ground

A private car cannot enter the narrow lanes around Banke Bihari, and on busy days vehicles are stopped some 1 to 1.5 km short of the temple. So the cab takes you to the permitted lot or drop point, and an e-rickshaw or a walk covers the rest. Your lala:Cab driver will tell you which lot is in use that day.

There are two ways to ride. A shared e-rickshaw runs a rough route and charges by the seat; a reserved one is hired whole for a trip or for a few hours. Shared rides are cheaper but stop often and may fill up. Reserved rides are easier for a family with elders.

At the marble temples on the outer road the cab can usually drop you close to the gate. On festival days, vehicles are held at outer lots and e-rickshaws shuttle visitors from there. Mathura works the same way near Vishram Ghat and the Janmabhoomi, where e-rickshaws and walking are the only options inside the old bazaar.

Where to hop on

You will find e-rickshaws at the outer parking lots near Banke Bihari, at the Prem Mandir and ISKCON gates, near the Kesi Ghat road and at crossings in the old town. We do not list stand names or numbers because they change, and we have not verified them. Ask your driver, or a shopkeeper, where the line starts.

Early morning, between the first aarti and mid-morning, is the easiest time to find a ride; the evening after the darshan is the hardest, since everybody leaves together. If you are going to Banke Bihari in the evening, have the car wait at the lot so that you do not depend on finding a ride in the crowd.

Common mistakes and the calm fix

The first mistake is not agreeing the fare. The fix: ask before you sit, and repeat it back so both of you hear the same number. The second is a per-person price when you thought it was per ride; ask whether the amount covers the entire vehicle.

The third is an unplanned stop. Some drivers detour to a shop or a temple where they receive a commission. Say plainly, 'Only to the gate, no stops.' The fourth is paying a large note and receiving no change; keep small notes ready. The fifth is letting a driver choose your destination. If you are told that a temple is closed and a 'better' one is open, ring your driver before changing plans.

Fare agreement script

You can say these in simple Hindi or English, and a smile is part of it.

A friendly habit helps: greet the driver, say your destination slowly, and listen to his answer. Most e-rickshaw drivers in Vrindavan are local men who have driven pilgrims for years, and a courteous start usually gives a fair price without a long bargain. If a driver quotes a price that seems far too high, just smile and ask another; there are always more waiting.

• Where: 'Banke Bihari gate tak jana hai.' (I want to go to the Banke Bihari gate.)
• Price: 'Kitna lagega, poora e-rickshaw?' (How much for all of it?)
• Wait: 'Wapas bhi chalna hai, kitna?' (We also want to return, how much?)
• Stops: 'Beech mein koi stop nahin.' (No stops in between.)
• Payment: 'Chhutta hai? Pehle bata dijiye.' (Tell me first, do you have change?)

Safety and manners on the seat

Hold on at turns and keep elbows inside, since the lanes are tight and scooters pass close. Hold your phone in your hand lower down, because monkeys may snatch it from an open side. In crowded hours, a child on a lap is safer than on the open edge. Let elders step in first, and remember that the seat height is low.

Do not argue about the fare after the ride in a crowd. If the amount is more than the price you agreed, pay what was agreed, say thank you and walk on.

Checklist

Before you step in, run through this short list.

• One fare, for the vehicle and not per head
• Start and end point named, with no stops
• Small notes ready for payment
• Bags and phones on your lap, not on the open side
• Return plan fixed beforehand

Related guides and a lala:Cab helper

Read our guide on phones and lockers at temples before you enter the old town, and our Banke Bihari guide for the lots. If you would rather not negotiate, lala:Cab can arrange a driver who stays with you for the day and knows each drop point, so you only need to think of the darshan.

Questions, answered