Hand pulled rickshaws waiting for customers at New Market Kolkata (Calcutta)

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Hand pulled rickshaws once widespread throughout Asia, have now been outlawed and replaced by cycle and auto-rickshaws in most areas. The largest hand rickshaw fleet was once believed to be in Kolkata (Calcutta) but here numbers have declined rapidly. No new rickshaw licenses have been issued in Kolkata since 1945. Rickshaws were officially banned from Kolkata in November 2006, however many hand rickshaw drivers still work on the streets. Most are believed to be destitute so this is their sole means of survival. The rickshaw is usually their home and shelter. During the monsoons hand drawn rickshaws are often the sole means of transport.

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Size: 3332px × 5100px
Location: Richshaw Stands, New Market, Kolkata Calcutta West Bengal India
Photo credit: © Valerie Armstrong / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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