I will be in North India for about a week, and I plan to
travel by train in between cities. How are the Indian
trains? Are they a better option than the bus? Also, do
some of them at least hav A/C? How safe are they? I know
this sounds silly, but I've heard of organized pack-
snatching gangs.
Phil
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Trains? In India? No, it's just like the US, you have to go
Greyhound or fly. But all the trains are AC, with
comfortable padded seats and picture windows and beer for
sale from vending carts. Are you sure you are ready to go to
india?
By all means try the trains in India! They are relatively
efficient and MUCH safer than the buses. One bus trip with
blaring Indian music and near death experiences every ten
minutes will convince you to take the train. A/C is
available but I find it a better experience to travel 1st
Class non A/C so you can open the windows and see out.The
windows can be very dirty and the view in A/C cars is
limited. You can be robbed anywhere in the world. Indian
trains are no worse than Europe for theft. Some of my
fondest memories of India were on the trains.
The trains are brilliant in India. Obviusly not nearly as
efficient as in the west, but India is a third-world
country. They are cheap, comfortable, and generally
convienient. It's definitely a better option than bus, they
drive like complete maniacs in India, and the buses really
aren't all that safe. They are sligtly cheaper than the
trains, though. Go with 2nd class sleeper - if you go 1st
class, you'll be completely on your own, but in 2nd class,
you get to mix with everyone, and Indians are really
friendly, they'll share their food with you and everything.
The sleeper bunks are really quite comfortable as well. It's
definitely an experience not to be missed.
Use the first class air-con cars. It is over twice the
price of regular first class but separates you from the
crushing hordes of the other carriages. Some of the trains
I took would have put me in a wall-to-wall crush of
standing locals for 10 hours or more with a backpack and
daypack. The cars were so crowded that they were spilling
into the 1st class area. You literally could not push your
way into the other class cars. Good luck with your bags in
that case. You will pay about $45 US for a 15+ hour
overnight 1st class berth on the expresses. It is worth
every cent. You will find your berthmates to be Indian
businessmen or such. The accomodations are slightly
outdated like a late 1940's chrome molded bus with crud and
a funk odor...but they give you clean sheets and you can
hide away in the top bunk and read without feeling self-
conscious. It is really kind of comfy and snug and there is
a convenient reading lamp. They also are secluded by a
locking door. Bring a Sony discman and magazines.
What I used is a bicycle cable lock with a padlock. You
wrap it around your pack through as many loops as possible
to deter cutting away by knife. If they cut it they would
end up with a shredded pack. You would then be back from
the bathroom before they were finished cutting. The padlock
can also be used on hotel doors to eliminate the
possibility of duplicate keys.
I did take an uncrowded non-aircon 1st class that wasn't
too bad once while I was there. You could look through the
window bars at the lush passing scenery of Kerala. Remember
though, these cars can be like hot, steamy tropical cattle
cars. Just bring your money and irreplaceables while going
to the bathroom onboard and be alert. If you go 2nd class
sleeper (as suggested above) on some of the trains I took,
you will suffer and regret it - trust me - and you will
have a constant fear for your pack. You should be alright
otherwise.
I think the same person wrote the two posts above, about not
being Indian which necessarily equates as not knowing
anything about India. What total rubbish. You don't have to
be Indian to experience Indian trains and have a (good)
opinion of them. Whoever you are, how exactly will you know
who to beat as you don't even know what I look lie, or when
I'm planning to return to India?
What is being described by 'Indianer' as 1st class aircon is
actually 2nd-class aircon. He's never been in 1st class
aircon, which is a lot more expensive than he says.
We spent 4 months traveling in India by train, bus, plane,
etc. When we returned home, we watch a PBS special on
Indian trains & never laughed so hard at any TV program. In
India, you take whatever is convenient to get you where
you're going. The mode of transport is immaterial. bob
Depending on where you start your journey, the large train
stations have a separate office for foreigner buying
tickets. You may have to search it out, and wait your turn,
but the will explain the different classes, help map your
trip, book tickets, etc. Very good option for a first time
foreign traveler on Indian trains.
What I like about the 'Lonely Planet' is the enlightened
travelling community I find surrounding it. So finding a
sounding board for posting my experiences is a real release
for me and a pleasure. Unfortunately, this open medium has
been unable to screen out persons of lower motives or
mentalities who would corrupt the integrity of such a forum
with inappropriate slander or personal attacks.
I think the 'Char' impersonator is a sociopathic
borderline personality with serious antisocial tendencies.
This person will probably commit a crime and end up in
jail. If not, then he will be a clot on the fabric of
society. It is a shame that any psychopath with a keyboard
can vandalize this site so easily. Again, I am tired of
wasting eye movement on these exceptionally-adolescent,
juvenile entries and don't want to descend to that level in
consideration of the intelligent, respectable majority
accessing this site. So I suggest 'Char' change her handle
so any 'Char' entries can be ignored. Answering that sicko
is fueling his pernicious ambitions and treating seriously
a person who should be given no attention at all.... Or
even better, prosecuted and legally controlled for criminal
abuse. What we need to do is invent an electronic bullet
that will fry his computer, or at least trace and arrest
him for public nuisance.
Now for that #8 slight. I must thank #8 for reminding me
that the New Delhi to Bombay overnight express was slightly
more expensive at about $80 US. I think it has to do with
the train's speed and the trunk route between cities. Maybe
2nd class is a possibilty on that route. I am a serious,
well-travelled person who tries to give the best helpful
advice to those asking here and take exception to pitiful
hecklers interfering with my attempts at accurate
information and casting unnecessary doubts on such. What I
don't like is the fact that poor Phil is going to have to
sort through the lunatic fringe entries on his way to
deciding what is best for him. The Varanasi to Calcutta 1st
class air-con was $45 US on the express mail train - take
only express or mail trains NEVER local. The Trivandrum to
Cochin was the hot, crowded route where I tried non-aircon.
The anonymous, opinionated interjector suggests that
somehow when I went to the foreign tourist quota office and
negotiated a ticket for 15 minutes and had the Indian
Railways computer spit me out a 1st class air-con ticket
which I then took and boarded the carriage labeled "1st
Class Air-Con" with, as all the cars are marked
accordingly, that I somehow got confused and felt a need to
exaggerate. When you get to India you will see that #8 is a
fatuous instigator and twisted curmudgeon who probably
couldn't afford 1st class and resents anyone who could. But
again, I have fallen into arguing with what is probably a
stupid/crazy person who does not belong on the same board
as me and I apologize for dragging you others into it. Just
understand that I did so out of intentions of accuracy and
assistance to Phil.
Tastes vary according to trip duration, budget,
lifestyles, etc. I was only trying to warn Phil away from
what I saw as incomplete advice. #8, may I suggest next
time you give a polite opinion instead - even if it is
wrong or misleading and not anger people with your
obnoxious, annoying, and unduly contentious comments. You
are the website equivalent of a person who switches
roadsigns or throws tacks on the information highway and
should be treated accordingly. I'm sure you are getting a
sick satisfaction in making me waste my time so thoroughly.
Any rebuttal 'not indianer'? Then again, don't
bother!
Indian trains are fantastic. As previous posts have said,
bring a padlock, chain, walkman and magazines. One thing
though, you say you'll be in northern india for one week.
Bear in mind that the fastest train travel between Delhi
and Bombay or Delhi and calcutta is 18 hours so I'm not
sure you'll cover much ground. India is a big place! If
you have the cash I'd take the train one way and fly the
other. At this time of year I'd head for the hills
instead. Enjoy.
Sorry #8. The board has shifted up 2 slots and has me
nuking your humble suggestions. The cyber-terrorist was #8
when I launched. We really shouldn't respond to imbecilic
prodding anyway. The joke is on him because he is tasting
his own medicine by becoming #6 himself and telling people
that he himself is wrong. How's that for having the tables
turned on you wiseass! I like to think that I blasted him
so badly that his post crumbled down 2 slots.
Yes I highly recommend train travel in India. It's far more
interactive that it is in the west. The the shree joy of
seeing the hustle and bustle on a platform when a train
pulls in should be an experience in itself.
If you are traveling in the Summer buy a Second Class AC
Sleeper Ticket. If you are there in the winter go 1ST Class
Non-AC. Whatever you do make sure to get off on to the
platform when the train stops at one of it's regular stops.
Carry you Wallet etc with you and take a stroll on the
platform. There's nothing like it. Have some hot tea and
Pakoras and browse around the make belief bookstands.
The images are very powerful and you will not forget them in
a hurry. Smell the air filled with woodfires and early
morning fog.
But don't stay couped up in your compartment you'll miss all
the fun. Make good notes.
Hi,
I'm travelling to the Indian subcontinent from mid June
through to the end of August and need some advise on where
to go. I fancy India (especially Rajastan), Nepal and Sri
Lanka but do not know which areas will be particularly
affected by the monsoons. Does anyone have any tips?
Cheers.