Transportation in India can be summarized in three words: BEEP! BEEEEEEEP! and HONK! No matter what time of day it is, I can always hear horns from passing autos (auto rickshaws), cars, scooties (mopeds) and bikes (motorcycles). In India, honking does not usually mean someone is angry. Instead, drivers honk to let everyone know where the vehicle is and that whether it is going to go or wait for another vehicle, dog or person to move first. Even in the middle of the night, someone somewhere is honking to alert us all to their presence.
Auto rickshaws, better known as autos, are the most universal way of getting around town. Autos are three-wheeled vehicles that have a metal outside to keep out some of the dust and keep everyone inside. There are no seatbelts. Autos are built for two or three passengers and a driver, but shared autos will often have six or seven (or more) passengers. Taking an auto across Vellore costs about 120 rupees (which is $1.73). The more people in the auto, the cheaper since you split the cost. You can also catch a shared auto, which will take you in the direction its going for ten rupees (about $0.14) and drop you at bus stations or other landmarks.
