I took a palanquin in Maharashtra once, from the train station to the hill station bungalow we were staying at. It beat walking, but I would be remiss in not saying that I felt more than a bit of guilt as two Indian gents did all the work. They were both tipped very well for their efforts.

http://harbinger.twilightwar.net/p-ride.JPG

I think after the apocalypse I could easily come around on the palanquin as a full-time mode of transport however.