There is no question that the best way to see the beautiful country of India is by train. Trains in India aren’t like the overcrowded ones you see on the media, they are perfectly safe and seats are reserved on long distance trains in an AC chair of AC1 or AC2 sleeper. It is also more cost effective to use a sleeper train, as it saves you the cost of a hotel room and it is far cheaper than a plane.

Train Routes

India has the third largest passenger rail network in the entire world, best by only Russia and China, at 63,000 km do rail routes and 6,800 railroad stations. In terms of passenger kilometers, it is the largest in the world. The trains will take you almost anywhere in the country. You can travel between basically any two Indian cities or major towns in India by train. Here is a map of the Indian Railways network.

Some popular train routes for tourists include Goa Express, the route from Vasco de Gama (Goa) to Londa (Karnataka). This route travels past the Goan beaches and bright pink blossoms for a beautiful view. It then cuts through the jungle hugging the mountain with some great views of beautiful waterfalls. As you approach Londa be prepared for a red clay layout with an ominous glow as the sun sets.

Another popular train route is the Himalayan Queen route, travelling from Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). This route is famous for its 102 tunnels, 87 bridges, and 900 curves. As you approach Shimla you will notice tiny red flower orchards and beautiful post-monsoon waterfalls. You may even see cows lingering on the track.

How to Check Train Times and Fares in India

The simplest way to check the times and fares of trains in India is to visit the official Indian Railways Website at www.indianrail.gov.in. When using this site you will need to look for ‘Trains Between Imp. Stations’ at the very top of the page. This will show you all of the schedules and fares between the most important Indian destinations. If there isn’t a direct train, you will need to find a destination in between and switch trains to reach your destination. The map can help you determine what city you will need to switch trains in. Be aware that some of the city names are different in India than the familiar English names. For example, Bombay is Mumbai, Calcutta is Kolkata, and Madras is Chennai.

Making a Reservation

You will need to make a reservation to aboard any long distance Indian train. These days, reservations are completely computerized so you can easily make a reservation on the website. It is important to make your reservation ahead of time. Trains in India get booked quickly, sometimes weeks or even months in advance. Make your reservation as soon as you know what train you will be taking up to 60 days in advance.

Foreign Tourist Quota

Fortunately, there is a special Foreign Tourist quota that gives tourists and IndRail pass holders special treatment. Although the Foreign Tourist quota isn’t very high, it is great for tourists who may need to book at late notice. If a train is fully booked, it may still have one or two Foreign Tourist seats or berths. This is not dependable though as not very many trains carry the Foreign Tourist quota. If you are trying to purchase a Foreign Tourist ticket, you will need to pay in person with U.S. Dollars or have proof of currency exchange. You cannot book a Foreign Tourist ticket online.

Reservation Against Cancellation Tickets

If a train is fully booked with confirmed reservations or CNF tickets, you may be able to purchase a “Reservation Against Cancellation” or RAC ticket. An RAC ticket allows you to board the train no matter what, it just doesn’t guarantee you an actual berth or sear unless someone else decides to cancel. In the majority of cases, someone will cancel and the first RAC ticker holder in line will be promoted to CNF with a confirmed seat. If you are not lucky enough to be promoted, usually there will be a spot to sit for RAC ticket holders. If there is not, you may have to sit up all night, but at least you get to your destination. You can check the latest status of your reservation online at the website pnrstatus.in by entering the 10-digit PNR number on the ticket, or on the notice board at the train station the day of travel.

Wait-List Tickets

After all of the RAC tickets have been sold, further prospective travels have the option to get a wait-list ticket, or WL. WL tickets are not able to travel unless they are promoted to RAC or CNF before the train departs. Every time a CNF cancels, a RAC ticket takes it’s place, and a WL gets promoted to an RAC and is able to board the train. To check your ticket status online, go to the website mentioned above, enter your PNR number on your ticket and it will show you the status of your ticket.

Tatkal Tickets

If you are traveling on short notice, there is one other option for getting on a train. A handful of tickets , called Tatkal tickets, are released one day before the train departs at 10:00. These tickets are sold with an extra charge. The tourist quota is a better option but if there is no other way to get on the train, a Tatkal ticket may be worth it.

International Tourist Bureau

The major cities have stations with an International Tourist Bureau, where foreign travelers can book a train away from the crowd at the public booking office. New Dehli, Bombay, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi all have an International Tourist Bureau. There is also an office where you can book a train that is open 24/7 in the Delhi International Airport.

Food and Drinks

On long distance trains, you are usually able to order some food. Typically, the choice is for veg or non-veg curry and rice that comes in a small foil container. This is usually very inexpensive and sometimes even included in the fare. You also can order tea, soft drinks, and snacks for just a few rupees. Avoid vendors who are not official selling snacks and drinks on the train. These snacks may make you sick. Only drink bottled water and eat food from official vendors.

Toilets

Most Indian trains have both squat toilets and western toilets. You may want to bring your own toilet paper with you. The restrooms are relatively clean and sanitary although perhaps not to American standards.

Security and Safety

Indian trains are pretty safe to travel on, even if you have children or are a woman by yourself. If you are travelling by yourself, it is important to always tell someone where you are going and check in. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or give details about your trip or where you are staying. If you are a woman travelling alone, act confidently and ignore inappropriate remarks if you receive any. Never hitchhike or take a ride from a stranger.

Although luggage theft is very rare, you can bring along a bike lock or padlock to secure your bags to the wire hoops underneath the seats for extra security. If anyone tries to tell you that your train has been cancelled and you will need to book a new ticket at their travel agency or your hotel has burned down or been abducted by aliens, ignore them. This is a scam to get you to spend your money at their hotel or travel agency instead. Although this doesn’t happen often, it is important to be aware so you don’t fall for it.

Late Trains

Although Indian railroads are usually efficient, some Indian trains do run late. They can be anywhere from ten minutes late to hours late, so stay up to date on your reservation. You can check the status of your train online if you are worried about your train being late.

Charging Phones and Other Devices

If you are bringing along a cell phone, tablet, camera or other mobile device that needs charging, most sleeper cars come equip with sockets where you can plug your device in to charge over night. You can also get a universal backup battery what can give you up to 96 hours when your phone has a dead battery. You can also use it to charge cameras, iPods, tablets, and other devices.

Traveling in India by train is a wonderful experience that you won’t want to miss. One of the benefits of traveling on the ground rather than traveling by air, besides price of course, is that you can see everything India has to offer. Train is by far the best and most cost effective way to travel in the country of India.

You can check the latest status of your reservation online at the website www.pnrstatus.in by entering the 10-digit PNR number on the ticket, or on the notice board at the train station the day of travel.