Tuktuk: Rajasthan’s Sardarshahr is a hub of flashy autos!

Tuktuk or the tempo, as it is called in Sardarshahr, is not just a mode of transport in this Rajasthani small town. It is a cultural experience, a journey into the local aesthetic traditions.
Sardarshahar is a small town in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan. Situated on the crossroads of an ancient trade route, the town is steeped in history, with heritage strewn across its alleys and streets. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant frescoes and elegant havelis, people here have cultivated a penchant for ornamentation and the Tuktuk is a great example of their love for artistic expression.
“People here love vibrant colours and flashy designs. The design and the colours are derived from the rich local heritage that can be seen in the way people dress, especially women, decorate their animals and build their houses,” says Vimal Singh, an auto driver who owns a flamboyant Tuktuk in town.
Camel carts and trucks also get flashy treatment in the region, but the Sardarshahr’s Tuktuk is a case apart.
With flashy exteriors and highly embellished interiors, the tuktuk gives you a ride into local aesthetics.
Unique design “Tuktuk is the primary mode of transport in the town and is the most visible vehicle on the road. So, with the way people in the town think, it becomes a status symbol, a style statement as well as a way to appeal the customers,” said Mohammad Shahrukh, another auto driver.
Unique in its design, structure and look, the Sardarshahr Tukuk is a mechanised tanga, with seating arrangements for six people in rows behind each other.