About 10 years ago, a group of crazy people calling themselves ‘The Adventurists’ created an insane 14-day Bucket List adventure race – The Rickshaw Run. Essentially, they created an adventure where participants drive a 3-wheeled Tuk Tuk (a tricycle with an engine) across all of India.  The catch? Well, no one knows what will happen during the race or if they’ll even make it to the finish line.  If you are crazy enough to enter this insane adventure race, you will battle the 1.2 billion people and 140 million vehicles in India. But you will do this all while experiencing an epic adventure trying not to die all while having the time of your life! If you survive, you’ll love to reminisce these funny but true things about the Rickshaw Run.

You are going to get lost!

Perhaps one of the most funny but true things about the Rickshaw run is the term “un-route”. The Adventurists use this phrase to describe the path between the starting line and finish line! This is because they do their best not to guide you in order to protect the sanctity of the insanity. Besides, it would be pointless to do any planning or mapping with all the unknown variables that will be thrown at you by the sub-continent. So, expect to get lost everyday. You will drive through the labyrinth of people, animals, and millions of vehicles just searching for a place to sleep and eat every day.

You will become the best defensive driver in the world!

There may be no place in the world scarier to drive than India. The roads are littered with more obstacles that you would find in a Japanese game show. Every day you dodge cows, pedestrians, and countless vehicles that will you put your Frogger skills to the test. You won’t be able to relax behind the wheel, you will learn what defensive driving really is!

Hot Tip: Most places in India are safe to walk around. And though driving across India was a bit nerve racking we never felt unsafe. However, as in any place you travel please use common sense and stay to main areas while exploring. We also strongly recommend that you consider getting Travel Insurance from World Nomads. It is a simple and flexible insurance to keep you safe while participating in this wild adventure.

Going to the bathroom will be a scary adventure!

The only thing scarier that driving in India is using the bathrooms! Of course, none of these bathrooms will ever be considered one of the best toilets in the world. In fact, in the beginning you will find yourself perplexed upon entering a traditional Indian bathroom. If you are lucky, you will find a traditional western style seat. But usually you will see a squat toilet (a hole in the ground with two foot grip pads on each side). If you dare to squat it out, then the real adventure begins. You then have to figure out how to “wipe” with the Bum Gun or a bucket of water with a small pitcher hanging on the side. From that point on, you will undoubtedly hoard any toilet paper you find as you fight off the symptoms of Delhi Belly!

You will sell your soul for a hot shower!

Driving in the Tuk Tuk is a great feeling as the lack of doors opens you up to all of the environment of India. However, you will also collect all of that Indian environment all over your body. Each day you will be caked in the dust, exhaust, and pollution of the road as you struggle to even run your fingers through your hair.

You will carry so much cash, you will feel like a pimp!

At the end of 2016, India created a homemade cash crisis, as Prime Minister Modi announced that all 500 and 1,000 Rupee notes would cease to be legal tender and needed to be exchanged for newly created 500 and 2,000 notes. This caused somewhat of a financial scramble as ATMs were constantly out of cash. Couple that with a great exchange rate ($1 USD to $67 INR) and finding an ATM with cash, you’d likely withdraw so many bills you’d walk away feeling like a baller!

Expect to break down and even crash!

When arriving at the starting line, The Adventurists will recommend that you take one of their mechanics classes. However, unless you consider yourself a grease monkey, these classes might as well be taught in an ancient Sumerian dialect. The Tuk Tuk is a simple engine. But it will most likely cause more issues than any space craft created by a NASA engineer. If somehow you do manage to avoid major break downs, don’t fret. You are bound to crash as the sub-continent and its drivers will throw everything they has at you and your Tuk Tuk.

You will be hounded by the local paparazzi!

Indian Tuk Tuks normally have yellow tops with either a black or a green bottom. So you can imagine the stares you are going to get as your ride your Skittles colored chariot down the road! Everywhere you go, locals will approach you begging for a “selfie”. They will even drive you off the road hoping for a picture to document the time they met some crazy westerner in their neighborhood on their Facebook page.

Ordering food will be a game of Russian roulette!

Beware of the Delhi Belly! This warning will haunt you every time you visit a “hotel” (aka: restaurant) in India! Make no mistake, the food in India is amazing if you can figure out what to eat. It’s just that every time you enter a “hotel,” after being shuffled to the wash rooms, you are handed a menu of countless options and usually without pictures. Therefore, you’ll find yourself pointing to the couple of words you recognize and hoping for the best!

You will communicate a lot via sign language or charades!

According to Census of India of 2001, India has 122 major languages and 1,599 other languages. What felt funny but true about the rickshaw run was that none of them felt like English. However, the Indian people are wonderful and will work with you to figure out exactly what you need. Whether you are ordering food at a restaurant, trying to explain what is broken on the tuk tuk, or just having a laugh with the local kids, get ready to use all kinds of hand signals or charades to get your message across.

Kingfisher Beer will become your stress reliever!

When in India, drink as the Indians drink. Since 1978, Kingfisher has been the most trusted brand of beer in India lubricating those who partake in the refreshing beverage. After a long tense day of navigating your rickshaw, you will immediately look for a tall Kingfisher to relieve the stress of the day and celebrate the fact that you didn’t die.

You’ll make best of friends while having the time of your life!

The Adventurists describe the Rickshaw Run as.

“A 3,000km Indian adventure in a 7-horsepower glorified lawnmower. The Rickshaw Run is easily the least sensible thing to do with two weeks.”

But to be honest, it is probably the greatest and most sensible thing you can possibly do for two weeks. You will meet people from around the world, all joining in an insane adventure. With your new friends, you will discover not only a great country, but also a lot about yourself. Plus if you are able to survive you will have the time of your life.

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Bucket List Board!

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