indian railway journey

The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

Train travel in india.

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The best way to see India is at ground level on the incredible Indian railway system, not from 35,000 feet.  Experience the bustle of Indian railway stations and a comfortable journey on an Indian express train with the tea seller's cry of Chai, chai, garam chai wafting down the aisle.  Forget media images of crowded local trains with people sitting on the roof.  In an AC Chair Car or AC1 or AC2 sleeper on an express, all seats & berths are reserved and it’s safe, civilised, inexpensive & comfortable.  Even journeys such as Mumbai to Delhi or Delhi to Jaisalmer can be covered time-effectively by overnight sleeper, centre to centre, saving a hotel bill too.  Book Indian train tickets online at 12go.asia

Useful country information

Train routes & maps.

India's passenger rail network is the third biggest in the world after Russia and China, with 63,000 km of rail routes and 6,800 stations.  In terms of passenger kilometres, it's the biggest in the world.  Indian Railways are the world's biggest employer, with over 1.5 million staff.

The trains in India go almost everywhere, and it's generally safe to assume that you can travel between any two Indian cities or major towns by train, the length and breadth of the country.

Most of India's rail network is broad gauge with rails 5' 6" apart, wider than standard gauge (4' 8½") used in Europe, allowing Indian trains to be wider than European trains.  Parts of the country such as Rajasthan used to be served by an extensive metre-gauge network, but most metre-gauge routes have now been converted to broad gauge.  A few hill railway such as Kalka-Simla and New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling use narrow gauge, either 2' or 2' 6".

For an Indian railways route map see surveyofindia.gov.in/files/Railway map_Eng_C.jpg (please let me know if this stops working).

Also try www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/india-railway-map.htm , or indiarailinfo.com/atlas .

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How to check train times & fares

It can be easiest to check train schedules & fares for the main tourist routes at agency website 12go.asia , this can also sell you a ticket, hassle-free.

For train times & fares for any journey in India use www.indianrail.gov.in .

This is one of the various official Indian Railways websites, an amazing site but a little bewildering, not helped by there being another official site, www.indianrailways.gov.in .  It's a good training course for your travels in India.

To check train times, look for Reserved Train Between Stations at the top of their home page.

To check fares, first find a train and note the train number, then click Fare enquiry at the top of their home page.

To check availability over various dates, first find a train and note the train number, then click Seat availability at the top of their home page.

Or download an app for your phone.  There are many apps to choose from, the official IRCTC apps seem unavailable outside India so try these 3rd-party apps for checking Indian train times on the go.  They're ad-heavy, but they work, I find Ixigo the best.

Indian Rail IRCTC for iPhone or Indian Rail IRCTC for Android .

Ixigo for iPhone or Ixigo for Android .

Trains at a Glance

You can buy the famous Trains at a Glance timetable booklet for 100 rupees at any station bookstall - it makes a great souvenir.  It shows times in printed form for most major stations on all the main routes.  Very useful!

Or download it for a small fee from www.irctctourism.com/gallery/tag.html .

Or download for free at indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,537   Important: If it says Error 404 Page Not Found, simply set your VPN to India and it will work.  This is why people need a VPN !

Tips for checking Indian train times

Which station in which city .

Kashmir originally had no rail connection, but a line to Srinagar and beyond has now been completed with more under construction.  The line heads through tough terrain, and features the highest railway bridge in the world.  Srinagar's station code is SINA (not to be confused with another smaller Srinagar in Rajasthan with station code SNAR).

Khajuraho (a much-visited temple complex) now has a station, station code KURJ.  There's a daily overnight train called the Kurukshetra-Khajuraho Express leaving New Delhi station at 18:20, picking up at Agra Cantonment around 21:35 and arriving in Khajuraho at 08:00 next morning.  It  returns from Khajuraho at 18:35 arriving New Delhi at 08:45.

Example train times

Example fares from delhi.

£1 = 105 Rupees, €1 = 90 Rupees, $1 = 82 Rupees.

Shatabdi Express = Premier daytime train, special fare payable, meals included.

Rajdhani Express = Premier overnight train, special fare payable, meals included.

Child fares on Indian trains since 2016:   Children aged 0 to 4 inclusive travel free.  Children aged 5 to 11 inclusive travel at half fare if they do not take up a reserved seat or berth, but as from April 2016 they must pay the adult fare if they travel with their own reserved seat or berth.  I do not recommend that any child aged 5 to 11 travels without their own seat or berth in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair car or Sleeper Class, so this effectively means you must now pay the adult fare for children aged 5 and over.  Children aged 12 and over pay the adult fare in all cases.

Classes explained

Which class to choose.

Above, a typical long-distance express or mail train with older carriages (not a premier Rajdhani or Duronto express).  You can just make out 3 cars in the centre of the train with different windows.  These are the AC cars, perhaps one AC1, one AC2 & one AC3 car.  The rest of the train is Sleeper class.  Courtesy of Albert Höchst.

Types of train

Which train to choose.

Executive Chair (EC) class on a Vande Bharat Express.  These are India's most modern trains, capable of 160 km/h (100 mph) & used at up to 130 km/h (80 mph).  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vande_Bharat_Express .  Photos courtesy of Nonstop Eurotrip , see video of Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat Express .

AVL, CNF, RAC & Waitlist

You need a reservation to travel on Indian long-distance trains, you can't just turn up and hop on.  Reservations are fully computerised using the world's largest computer reservation system.  Trains get fully-booked weeks in advance, so buy tickets as far ahead as possible.

When do bookings open?

Bookings for most Indian long-distance trains currently open 120 days before departure.

It was 60 days until 2008, when it was experimentally extended to 90 days, then it was experimentally extended even further to 120 days in 2012, reduced again to 60 days in 2013 to make ticket 'scalping' by agencies harder, but restored to 120 days as from 1 April 2015. 

Some short-distance inter-city trains may open for bookings less than this, for example Delhi-Kalka & Kalka-Simla may open only 30 days or in some cases just 15 days ahead.

The remarkable Indian Railways system

Indian Railways have a unique system with 4 possible statuses for seats/berths/bookings:

AVL = Available , these are seats or berths that are unsold and available for booking.

CNF = Confirmed .  When you book an available seat or berth, your PNR status (Personal Name Record) becomes CNF, confirmed.  You're safely booked on the train with a specific seat or berth.

RAC = Reservation Against Cancellation .  When all the seats or berths on a train in a given class have been sold, a certain number of tickets in that class are sold as Reservation Against Cancellation, or RAC.

WL = Waitlist .  When all the RAC places have been sold, further prospective passengers can buy Waitlist (WL) tickets.

If you go to www.indianrail.gov.in & click Seat availability you can see how many seats remain available in each class on a given train.

For example, today is 26 January, let's say I want to go from Delhi to Kolkata on the best train, the overnight Howrah Rajdhani in AC 2-tier. Tomorrow's train is fully-booked in AC2 and shown as NOT AVAILABLE.  I can buy Waitlisted tickets for this train on 28 and 29 January.  I can buy RAC tickets on any day between 30 January & 5 February and if I buy those I can definitely board the train and travel with (in practice) maybe a 90% chance of ending up with a berth to myself.  The first day on which AC 2-tier is shown as AVL so I can buy a ticket and instantly get a confirmed berth is 6 February.  The Foreign Tourist quota would help me here, there are 7 or 8 FT quota places shown as AVL every day from 27 January onwards, but I'll explain that in the quotas section .

Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC)

With an RAC ticket, you're allowed to board the train and travel.  Whatever happens, you know you're safely booked on that train.  So if you're offered an RAC ticket you should take it, even though you won't have a specific seat or berth number at this stage.

In the vast majority of cases, one of the confirmed passengers will cancel or unsold tickets will be left in one of the more obscure quotas on departure day and you'll be promoted from RAC to CNF with a confirmed seat or berth on the train.

Your name will then be shown against a specific seat or berth number on the reservation list pinned on the notice board at the boarding station on the day of travel when the train is charted , or you can check your PNR (Personal Name Record) status online .  A waitlisted passenger will be promoted from WL to RAC in your place.

In the unlikely event that nobody cancels, you'll be given a place to sit (but not a berth) in a carriage of the class you've booked.  For example, two RAC passengers might be given seats on a bunk that would normally be for one person.  In most cases, at least one of the confirmed passengers will fail to show up for the train and the on-board staff will allocate their berth to the passenger holding ticket RAC1.  The passenger holding ticket RAC2 will then be left with a berth to themselves, solving two RAC passengers' problems!  In the worst case scenario, if there were no no-shows the RAC passengers would have to sit up all night or take turns using the berth to snooze, but in practice this seldom happens.  Like I said, if an RAC place is available, you should take it.

A downside of buying RAC tickets as a couple, family or small group is that you might be split up, because you get the places freed up when people cancel or which are left when tickets remain unsold in special quotas.  But there's usually only one or two AC2 or AC3 cars on a given train, so in those classes you probably won't be far apart.

Incidentally, RAC tickets exist in AC2, AC3 & SL, but not in AC1, EC, CC or FC.  In AC1, EC, CC & FC, passengers are always CNF or WL.

Waitlist (WL)

With a WL ticket you cannot travel, unless you are promoted to RAC or CNF before departure.

Each WL ticket has two numbers at any given moment in time, for example WL10/WL3.

The first number is the ticket's original Waitlist number.  In this example, WL10 means you bought the Number 10 Waitlist ticket allocated to this train, 10th in the queue when the train opened for booking.  This number won't change, even if you are promoted to a confirmed place (CNF), your ticket will always be WL10 and shown as such on the reservation list.

The second number is your current position in the queue, this number will reduce as people cancel.  On websites & apps that show only one WL number rather than two, this is the number it shows.  In this example WL10/WL3 means that 7 people have already cancelled and you are now 3rd in line for promotion to RAC.  If 3 more people cancel, you'll be promoted to RAC and can travel.

If more people cancel you may even be promoted to CNF with a confirmed seat or berth.  With a low-numbered WL ticket you've a good chance of this happening.  For example, one traveller reports having Waitlisted places between WL1 and WL10 on numerous trips, and always successfully got promoted to CNF with a confirmed place on the train, usually in the 24 hours before departure as that's when all the movement takes place from tickets in unsold quotas being used to reduce the number of WL & RAC passengers.

Keep checking your PNR status online .  Even if you're only promoted to RAC, you can at least travel.  If the train is charted and you're still only Waitlisted, then you can't travel and your fare will automatically be refunded, less a minor clerkage fee.

How likely is a given WL ticket to be confirmed?

There are now several websites that claim to predict how likely it is that a given WL ticket will be confirmed and allow you on the train, based on historical data.  Try entering your PNR into trainman.in , or use it to see what the current availability of a given train is, and how likely it is that if you bought WL tickets they'd be confirmed by departure.

The Vikalp scheme (ATAS)

There's yet another process to help Waitlisted passengers.  When you buy a WL ticket, you may be asked if you want to opt in to the Vikalp scheme, also known as Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme or ATAS.  Vikalp is Hindi for option .

If you tick the Vikalp box, you're offered a selection of possible alternative trains and you can choose which of these you'd be willing to take if you can't get a berth on the train you've booked.  Then, if you are still Waitlisted (WL) when your original train is charted (so you can't travel on it), and if space is available in the same class on one of your chosen alternative trains, you'll be given a confirmed (CNF) berth on that instead.

An alternative train is one between the same or similar origin & destination leaving between 30 minutes & 72 hours after your original choice of train.  For example, a train leaving from Old Delhi or Delhi H.Nizamudin might be considered alternatives to a train from New Delhi.

If there are several of you on one PNR, either all of you will be given places on an alternative train or none of you will, so don't worry, you won't be split up.  However, once you opt in to Vikalp, you can't opt out again.  And if you are transferred to a CNF place on an alternative train and decide you don't want it, you can cancel but only in line with the terms & conditions of a CNF place, which means a partial refund less the CNF cancellation fees (as an unsuccessful Waitlisted passenger on your original train you'd normally have been refunded almost all of your money).

Charting is the process of drawing up the final passenger list for each carriage of a given train, allocating names to berths.  The list is posted on the reservations notice board at stations or you can check your PNR status online .

During this process, any unsold tickets in quotas such as handicapped, military or parliamentary are released, freeing up places so RAC passengers can be moved up to Confirmed (CNF) and WL passengers to RAC or CNF.  So if you have a WL ticket and haven't already been promoted to RAC or CNF as passengers cancel, this is when you discover whether or not you're on the train.

It's also at this point that specific berth numbers are allocated to AC1 sleeper passengers, which is why you can't choose between an AC1 2-berth coupé and an AC1 4-berth compartment when you book.

Charting for trains leaving their origin station between 12:00 & 23:00 takes place around 4 hours before departure from that station.

Charting for trains leaving their origin between 23:00 & 12:00 takes place 19:00-21:00 Monday-Saturday or 13:00-15:00 Sundays & holidays.

How to check your current status

You can confirm your current PNR (Personal Name Record) status as WL, RAC or CNF at www.indianrail.gov.in/pnr_Enq.html or using one of the apps suggested above , by entering the PNR number shown on your ticket.

Remember that things can change even on the day of departure, most movement happens shortly before departure, when the train is charted.

When you buy a ticket, it comes from a specific quota.  A quota is simply an allocation of tickets for a particular type of traveller such as  senior, handicapped, military or government, on each train in each class.  By default, tickets come from the General quota.

General (GN) quota

Remote location (rl) & pooled (pq) quotas, handicapped, senior & ladies quotas.

The Senior quota is only for Indian seniors so don't use this if you're not Indian.

The Ladies quota only exists in Sleeper class & AC3, it gets you berths in one small bay reserved for women, it's hardly worth bothering with.

The Lower Berth quota is for anyone with mobility issues who can't use the ladder to the upper berths, so absolutely needs a lower. 

When a train is charted and the final reservation list is compiled, any unsold seats or berths in these quotas will be freed up used to reduce the RAC/Waitlist, promoting RAC passengers to CNF and WL passengers to RAC and (once all RAC passengers are confirmed) CNF.

Foreign Tourist (FT) quota

Many important trains have a small Foreign Tourist (FT) quota of seats or berths available only to foreign tourists.  The purpose of the FT quota is to allow foreign tourists to book trains at short notice notice when the General quota is fully-booked.

It's not a foolproof way to travel around India without pre-booking:  There's an FT quota on only 200 trains a day out of some 9,000 trains, and the quota might be just 2 places, seldom more than 12, in one or two specific classes, typically AC1 & AC2 or CC.  So even using the FT quota, you may have to wait a day or so before there is a berth available to your chosen destination in your chosen class.

For example, today is 25 January, the earliest date for which AC2 tickets available from the General quota on the Delhi-Varanasi Swatantrtwa Express is 11 February. But if I look at the Foreign Tourist quota, although there are no tickets today, there are two tickets available in AC2 tomorrow, and on each of the following few days.

If you buy an FT quota ticket at a ticket office or tourist reservation centre, you must pay in US Dollars, pounds sterling, or rupees backed by an exchange certificate proving they've come from a bank or bureau de change in exchange for foreign currency.  Rupees backed by an ATM receipt and foreign bank card are usually sufficient.  You can now book tickets from the Foreign Tourist quota when booking online .

Let's be clear, as a foreign tourist, you don't have to book from the FT quota.  Anyone of any nationality can book from the General quota whenever it's available.  And FT tickets are a little more expensive than tickets from the General quota, too.

Indeed, if there are still seats available in the General quota when you book, you shouldn't use the FT quota .  Because later on when the train is fully-booked, some other overseas visitors may urgently need those precious few FT places, desperate to get a train back to Delhi for their flight home.  If you used up all the FT places weeks ahead when you didn't need to, those travellers may be stranded!

Tatkal (TQ & PT) quotas

To allow travel at short notice on trains that are often fully-booked weeks before departure, Indian Railways introduced a system called Tatkal (Hindi for immediate ).  A number of tickets on key trains are held back and released at 10:00 one day before departure (originally 72 hours before departure, reduced to 2 days back in 2009 and just 1 day in 2011).  They are sold with a Tatkal fee of 10% of the fare in 2nd class or 30% in all other classes.  There are in fact two Tatkal quotas, regular Tatkal (TQ quota) with fixed fares, and Premium Tatkal (PT quota) with variable fares that increase with demand.  Tatkal places can also be booked online .  If there are seats available in the Foreign Tourist quota then the Tatkal quota may be irrelevant for you, if not, the Tatkal system can be useful.

How to buy tickets online

Indian trains often get fully-booked weeks in advance as demand usually exceeds supply.  So if you have a fixed itinerary and limited time you should buy tickets in advance before you get to India.

I recommend ticketing agency 12go.asia as option 1 for good reason:  It's hassle-free, even though it only does the principle trains on the routes usually requested by visitors.  It only sells confirmed tickets, it doesn't sell RAC or WL places.  It happily accepts overseas credit cards.

However, for complete access to all routes, trains, ticket types & quotas including Waitlisted & RAC , you must face the challenge of registering with the official Indian Railways booking website irctc.co.in, which is option 2.  I provide detailed instructions below.  Be warned, the process may drive you nuts.  Some people give up, others manage it in the end, but once registered you can book anything.

Option 1, buy at 12go.asia

I recommend ticketing agency 12go.asia as the quickest & easiest way to buy tickets for the principal trains and routes used by tourists, it makes booking trains as easy as booking flights.

You can check prices & availability online, pay with an international credit card and get the same e-ticket you'd get if you booked directly with irctc.co.in, but without the frustration of having to create an account and register with irctc.co.in.

Booking opens 120 days ahead , although some short-distance inter-city trains have a shorter booking horizon.  You can't buy tickets before reservations open.  Indian trains get fully booked weeks ahead, so book as far ahead as you can to be sure of a place.

How it works

12go.asia 's system shows fares & availability in real time, taken from IRCTC's system.  You select your train & class and click to buy.  Tickets are then manually secured by 12go staff using IRCTC's business-to-business booking system.

You can choose to see prices & pay in Indian Rupees, USD, GBP, Euros & several other currencies.

Limitations

12go.asia sells tickets for all the major routes of interest to visitors, but not between every possible station.  For that you need irctc.co.in.

Option 2, buy at www.irctc.co.in

You can buy train tickets direct from Indian Railways at the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in .

Registering to use www.irctc.co.in is a time-consuming and frustrating process, but once registered you'll have access to all routes, trains, classes & ticket types.

Irctc.co.in has accepted overseas (non-Indian) credit cards since 2016, although it occasionally goes through periods when international cards don't seem to be accepted, just to keep everyone on their toes.  You must select the payment option which mentions International cards powered by PayU at the payment stage.

How to register for an IRCTC account

Go to www.irctc.co.in and click REGISTER top right.

Now enter the details to create an account.

Choose a username , some trial and error may be needed.

Enter your mobile phone number - your home country's international dialling code goes in the box marked ISD (this box says '91' until you have changed India to your own country in the box above).  The ISD for the UK is '44'.  Then enter your mobile phone number without any leading '0'.

Pin code means postcode .  Use 123456 as it won't accept UK-style postcodes.  Under Post Office , just enter your city & phone number again.

Payment problems paying the SMS verification fee

Just after I test-registered they imposed a fee for sending the OTP to a non-Indian mobile.  A few people have had credit card acceptance problems in paying this fee, but others find paying the fee works fine.  Again, I don't know why, but it could be problems with your own bank detecting and blocking a 'suspicious'  foreign transaction.  Give them a call!

How to buy tickets at www.irctc.co.in

When you click to see availability on a particular train, you will see places shown as AVL , RAC or WL , see the explanation of Reservation Against Cancellation & Waitlisting here .

AVL = Available , this means there are tickets available for confirmed seats or berths on that train. 

RAC = Reservation Against Cancellation , this means that the train is theoretically full, but Reservation Against Cancellation tickets are available for that train which allow you to board and be allocated a berth by the conductor.  So if you only see RAC tickets available, my advice is to go ahead and book, you'll still be able to travel on that train.

Tip:  Download the IRCTC app for your phone.   Download the IRCTC Rail Connect app for iPhone (if it's available in your region, it may not be) or IRCTC Rail Connect app for Android onto your phone.  You'll probably find you can't buy tickets with overseas credit cards using the app, but tickets bought online at the IRCTC website will show up in the app and can be shown to the conductor.  You can check train times, and see the current status of your booking if you are waitlisted or RAC.  Feedback appreciated .  I recommend some other apps that are available outside India in the travel tips section .

Option 3, Cleartrip.com, Makemytrip.com , Ixigo.com

How to buy tickets at the station.

The main stations in big cities and tourist centres such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi have an International Tourist Bureau where foreign travellers can book trains away from the crowds and queues at the normal booking office.  There is also a 24-hour rail booking office at Delhi International Airport.

For a list of stations with an International Tourist Bureau & opening times, see www.indianrail.gov.in , select Information then International Tourist .

New Delhi International Tourist Bureau ( temporarily closed )

U pdate 2024:   The New Delhi International Tourist Bureau remains temporarily closed due to the pandemic and low numbers of tourists.  A notice directs tourists to the international tourist counter at the Rail Reservation Centre 300m down the road, see the section below .

When open, the International Tourist Bureau at New Delhi railway station makes it easy for foreign visitors to buy tickets.  They could often sell you places out of the tourist quota, even when a train is fully-booked for Indian passengers.  Before the pandemic, it was normally open 06:00-23:00 every day, it's now temporarily closed.

How to find it

Enter New Delhi main station entrance on the Paharganj side (shown in the photo below left), veer slightly to the left and go up one flight of stairs to find yourself outside the International Tourist Bureau, as shown in the photo below right.  It's above platform 1.  If it doesn't look like the photo below, it isn't the real International tourist office.

New Delhi international tourist counter

Mumbai csmt, formerly bombay victoria terminus.

A station to rival London's St Pancras, Mumbai CSMT is an attraction in its own right.  Completed in 1887, its full title is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or (officially) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, station code CSMT .  Known as Bombay Victoria Terminus until 1996 and still known as 'VT' by many, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Terminus .

Foreign Tourist Counter:   At Mumbai CSMT you can easily buy tickets from the foreign tourist quota at the Foreign Tourist counter, counter 4 downstairs in the Reservation Centre at CSMT.  It moved from counter 20 upstairs in 2018, please let me know if it changes again.

Tips for train travel in India

Checking your reservation.

The reservation system is very efficient and the days of finding your reserved berth already occupied by several passengers are long gone.  Your train, coach & berth number will be printed on your ticket - unless you're travelling in AC1 in which case the reservation list with your allocated berth numbers is only compiled a 2-4 hours before departure.

Reservation lists for each class in each long-distance train are posted on the notice board at each station about two hours before departure, showing the name, age and sex of each passenger reserved in each berth in each coach.  The age and sex help the ticket inspector identify that the right passenger is in the right berth.  A reservation list for each coach used to be pasted next to the entrance door on the train itself, but this is no longer done.

If you need to check your reservation, you can do so on your phone or laptop by entering your PNR (= booking reference) a PNR status-checking website such as www.railyatri.in/pnr-status or etrain.info/in , or using one of the Indian railways apps.

Download an app

I recommend downloading an app for your phone.  There are a bewildering number to choose from, some official, some 3rd party.  The official IRCTC apps seem unavailable outside India, so try these:

Indian Rail IRCTC for iPhone or Ixigo for iPhone .

Indian Rail IRCTC for Android or Ixigo for Android .

With these you can:

Check train schedules between any two stations.

Check a train's schedule at each of its calling points.  It also shows the train formation and carriage numbering to help you find your seat or berth.

Check your PNR status to see whether a Waitlisted ticket has become RAC or Confirmed.

Check real-time train running to see if your train is on time.

Check the platform for your train using the Live Station Info button, so you won't have to rely on the station departure displays to find your train.

Set a destination alarm to warn you a certain number of kilometres before your destination.

Luggage on Indian trains

Luggage is not a problem on Indian trains, you take your bags with you onto the train and place them on the overhead racks or underneath the lower berths.

The free luggage allowance is generous:  You can take to 70 Kg in AC1, 50 Kg in AC2, 40 Kg in AC3, AC Chair class or Sleeper class, 35 Kg in 2nd class seats.  Most western travellers are unlikely to exceed that, but if you really need to, you can pay an excess luggage fee and take up to 150 Kg in AC1 or 100 Kg in AC2.  However, the maximum is 40 Kg in AC3 or AC Chair class.

Theft of luggage is rare, but for peace of mind take along a bicycle lock or medium-sized padlock to secure your bags.  In the sleeping-cars, there are wire hoops hanging down underneath the seats to which you can padlock your luggage while you sleep.

Carriage numbers

The carriage numbers shown on tickets, on reservation lists and on the side of each coach consist of a letter and a number, for example H1, A1, A2, B1, B2, S1, S2, S3 and so on.  The letter shows the class of accommodation in that car.

A = air-con 2-tier (2A).

B = air-con 3-tier (3A).

AB = composite coach, half air-con 2-tier, half air-con 3-tier.

C = air-con chair car (CC).

D = non-air-con 2nd class reserved (2S).

E = executive chair class (EC).

G & J are used for AC 3-tier & Air-conditioned Chair class on Garib Rath trains.

GS = General Seating = non-air-con 2nd class unreserved (GN).

H = air-conditioned 1st class (1A).

HA = composite coach, half AC1, half AC2.

M = air-con 3-tier economy (3E).

S = sleeper class (SL).

There's typically just one air-con 1st class sleeper on a given train, so that's usually numbered H1.  If there were two air-con 2-tier cars on a train, those cars would be numbers A1 & A2.  So if you booked an AC2 ticket you'd expect to be given a car number 'A1' or 'A2', if you booked AC1 you'd expect to be in car H1 or HA1.

You may also see EOG = generator car.  PC = pantry car, for catering.  SLR = Second class Luggage Rake, a car with luggage space, guard's compartment and limited 2nd class seating.

How to check train formations & seat maps

Go to www.trainman.in/coach-position and enter the train number or name.  You'll see a diagram of the train formation, and a seat map for each car.

Food and drink on Indian trains

There are no restaurant or buffet cars on Indian Railways, but on long distance trains an attendant will appear in your coach and ask you if you would like to order food.  He will note down your order (usually a choice of 'veg' or 'non-veg') on a bit of paper.  An hour or so later he will reappear with some rice and curry in small foil containers from the kitchen car.  It is not expensive - you can reckon on £2-£3 per meal.  Attendants also regularly pass down each car selling soft drinks, snacks, or excellent hot sweet Indian tea (garam chai) for a few rupees.  On the premier Rajdhani Express trains (linking Delhi with Mumbai, Kolkata, etc.) and the premier daytime Shatabdi Express trains (linking Delhi with Jaipur and Agra, etc.), food is included in the fare, served at your seat.

Pre-order your food from a restaurant of your choice.   Alternatively, there are now several Indian websites that allow you to pre-book food to be delivered to your seat on the train from various vendors along the way.  If you have a confirmed train booking you can go to railrestro.com , enter your PNR, select a vendor you like the sound of who is located at a station where your train calls at a suitable time, and select specific items from their menu to be delivered to you on board the train at that station - reports so far have been very positive, but feedback is always appreciated !

Cleanliness, toilets & crowding

The efficient reservation system means that you can safely forget any pictures you've seen of overcrowded Indian trains with people on the roof or hanging on the side.  These these photos show suburban or local trains, or unreserved 2nd class on long-distance ones.  On fast long-distance trains in AC1, AC2, AC3, or AC Chair Class, all passengers have an assigned seat or sleeping berth so there's no overcrowding.  Don't expect pristine western standards anywhere in India, but you'll find AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC Chair class clean by Indian standards, with both western-style and squat toilets usually in a reasonably sanitary condition, see the train interior photos below.  On the other hand, Sleeper Class gets much grubbier than the AC classes and unreserved passengers can sometimes enter the coaches making it crowded.  2nd class unreserved can be incredibly crowded.  Toilets in sleeper class or basic non-AC 2nd class seats can leave a lot to be desired.

Safety & security

Indian trains are safe to travel on, even for families or women travelling alone, and you are unlikely to have any problems.  As in any busy place anywhere, pickpockets operate at the major stations (for example Delhi and New Delhi), so take care.  Oh, and be prepared:  If anyone tells you that your train is cancelled, that the ticket office has closed or has moved to a travel agency across the road, or your pre-booked hotel has burnt down or been abducted by aliens, please politely ignore them, even if they look 'official', to avoid ending up in a travel agency paying for a car and driver at vast expense, or booking their 'alternative' hotel which of course will luckily have a room available.  These are all well-known scams (yawn...) to get travel agency business, usually obvious to any regular India hand, but first-timers have been known to fall for them.

Do Indian trains run on time?

Indian Railways are generally remarkably efficient, but Indian trains do run late, sometimes hours rather than minutes.  To get a feel for it, why not go to either www.trainenquiry.com or www.erail.in and see how late yesterday's Delhi-Jaisalmer Express arrived, or last Thursday's Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express?  At www.erail.in , select the origin and destination that interests you, and bring up the train list.  Now find the train that you want and click on it.  Now select a date and click the 'train running status' button.  It will show you a table of scheduled times and actual times at each station.  Data is only held for the last few days, not weeks or months ago.  At www.trainenquiry.com , you simply enter the train number or name, then select from a list of possible trains.

Alternatively, these examples from my own travels may give you a feel for the likely delay:  Delhi-Varanasi overnight express spot on time, Bombay-Howrah Mail 1½ hours late, Chennai-Mumbai Chennai Express 40 minutes late, Kolkata-Delhi Rajdhani Express spot on time (Rajdhani Expresses get priority and are pretty punctual), Delhi-Agra Shatabdi Express spot on time (Shatabdi Expresses also get priority and are pretty punctual), Jaisalmer-Delhi Express 2 hours late starting and 3 hours late arriving, Delhi-Kalka-Simla Himalayan Queen spot on time, Varanasi-Agra-Jaipur Marudhar Express 50 minutes late, Chennai-Delhi Grand Trunk Express 1½ hours late.

Recharging mobiles & cameras

There are shaver sockets in most AC1/2/3 sleeper cars and many Indian trains now have power outlets for mobiles and laptops.  However, I never travel without an Anker powerbank which can recharge your phone several times over if you're on the move and can't get to a power outlet.

Other Indian train tips

Bring your own toilet paper.  You'll normally find one western toilet and one squat toilet at one or both ends of the car.  In AC1, AC2, AC Chair Class and even AC3 the toilets are normally reasonably clean by Indian standards, and in full working order.  Sleeper Class and 2nd class toilets may be a different matter!

Make sure you research when to visit India carefully - in summer it can be unbearably hot, and you also want to avoid the monsoon rains.  And in January & February in Northern India that there can be major disruption to road, rail & air due to thick fog, so bear that in mind.

Finally, forewarned is forearmed

In India, if someone asks which hotel you're going to, then announces that this hotel has been flooded, burnt down, or abducted by aliens, they are of course trying to get commission from sending you to another hotel - that's often painfully obvious and it's almost funny!  Smile, ignore them, and persist in walking to your own hotel, which will of course be open as usual.  But similarly, especially at big stations such as New Delhi, if an official-looking person (they may even show you a badge) says your train has been cancelled, or says you can't board without a boarding pass (with an e-ticket you can get on the train, there's no such thing as a boarding pass), smile, ignore them, walk past, and persist until you see the actual departure indicators and get your train.  If necessary, go and see the station master!  Although this has never happened to me, there are occasional reports of travellers being conned into buying new tickets from a nearby travel agency, being sent to a nearby travel agency when they wanted the genuine New Delhi foreigners booking office, or being conned into hiring a private car and driver for hundreds of dollars when they already had trains booked, which of course weren't really cancelled.  So smile, ignore, persist, go and see the departure boards with your own eyes, find and get on your train, and have a giggle about it later!  If you encounter any of this, feedback (and a good laugh) is always appreciated!

The 11 classes on Indian trains

There are 11 classes of accommodation on Indian trains or at least, 11 different class codes in the system.  You can argue that 3E is a variation of 3A, EA a variation of EC and that 2S & GN are the same (both are 2nd class seats, one reserved, the other unreserved).  But that's still 8 classes!

Only a small selection of classes is available on any given train, a typical long-distance train might have one AC1 car, one or two AC2 cars, perhaps an AC3 car, then a long line of 6, 7 or 8 Sleeper class cars and maybe one GN or 2S car at the end.  But it varies, of course.

Here are the classes, in roughly descending order of cost, together with the usual 2 & 3-letter abbreviations.  A request:  If you get any clear interior photos of AC2, AC3 or Sleeper class which would better illustrate these classes, please get in touch !

Air-conditioned first class (AC1 or 1A)

Air-conditioned 2-tier (ac2 or 2a).

AC2 is relatively clean & comfortable, with room to spread out.  It's the class typically used by middle class Indian families and a good choice for most western visitors.   AC2 is found on almost all decent long-distance trains including the premier Rajdhani & Duronto expresses.

AC2 offers padded leatherette seats by day which convert to flat padded bunks at night.  AC2 coaches are open-plan with berths arranged in bays of four on one side of the aisle (two upper, two lower, transverse across the car width), and in bays of two on the other side of the aisle, arranged longitudinally along the coach side above and below the windows.  If you're tall, you should book a transverse berth.

Each bay is curtained off for privacy, and an attendant distributes pillows, clean sheets and blankets in the evening.  Update:  Curtains were removed  as a Covid-19 precaution and may still be absent.

Click for car plans & berth numbering in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class .

Air-conditioned 3-tier (AC3 or 3A)

AC3 has a similar layout to AC2, but instead of upper & lower berths it has 3 tiers of bunks - upper, middle and lower - arranged in bays of six on one side of the aisle, and longitudinal bays of two - upper and lower - along the wall on the other side of the aisle.  As in AC2, an attendant distributes pillows, sheets and blankets in the evening.  Berths convert to seats for daytime use.

With 3 people sitting on each bench seat during the day rather than just 2, it feels a lot more crowded than AC 2-tier, and at night there is less height-space between each bunk - the top bunks are significantly higher up near the ceiling.  AC3 may lack the privacy curtains and individual berth lights usually found in AC2.  As in AC2, you should avoid the longitudinal berths if you are tall.  Still, if you find AC2 fully-booked, most western travellers will find AC3 an acceptable fall-back.  See car plans & berth numbering in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class .  Photos courtesy of Rachel Poschi.

Air-conditioned 3-tier economy (3E)

Executive anubhuti chair car (ea), ac executive chair class (ec).

AC Executive Chair Class is only found on the high-quality Shatabdi Express , Vande Bharat Express & Tejas Express trains.  Seats are arranged 2+2 across the car width, basic pre-packaged food & drink is included in the fare, served at your seat.  It's also known as First AC Chair class.  Seat numbering plan for AC Chair cars .

AC Chair class (CC)

AC Chair class is a good choice for daytime journeys.  Comfortable & air-conditioned, they have seats arranged 2+3 across the car width.  AC Chair Class is found on the Shatabdi Expresses, Vande Bharat Express, the several Tejas Express trains and a number of other inter-city daytime trains, for example Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Kalka for Simla.   Seat numbering plan, AC Chair cars .

Sleeper Class (SL)

This is the way the bulk of the Indian population travels on long-distance trains, but it's also used by many more adventurous backpackers who are prepared to take the rough with the smooth.  The majority of cars on a typical long-distance mail or express train will be sleeper class.

Sleeper class consists of open-plan berths, arranged in bays of 6 bunks (upper, middle and lower) on one side of the aisle, and bays of 2 bunks (upper & lower) along the coach wall on the other side of the aisle.  Bunks fold away to form seating for daytime use.  It's the same basic layout as AC3, but without the air-con and without any privacy curtains.  Bedding is not provided, so bring a sleeping-bag.

Sleeper class is found on almost all long-distance trains except for the premier Rajdhani & Duronto services.  Sleeper class can be crowded (although in theory all berths must be reserved, so it can't get overcrowded), and it's fairly grubby and basic.  On the other hand, you get a better view of the countryside then in AC coaches, where the windows are sealed, tinted and sometimes dirty.  In summer, there are fans on the ceiling and a breeze from the windows.  In winter, wrap up warm at night and take a sleeping bag and fleece, as it can get cold.    Berth numbering system, AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class cars .

1st class (FC)

Traditional non-air-con 1st class has now almost disappeared, as Indian Railways have progressively phased it out in favour of AC 2-tier.  But for the record, ordinary first class consists of non-air-conditioned sleeper coaches with lockable 4-berth and 2-berth compartments, a similar layout to AC1 but without the AC.  Bedding is not provided, and it's much grubbier than AC1, AC2 or AC3 as it's not sealed against the dirt .

2nd class seats (2S = reserved or GN = unreserved)

Open plan cars with wooden or padded plastic seats, sometimes reserved and shown online as 2S, sometimes unreserved and shown online as either GN or II.  Not recommended for long distance overnight journeys (you'll see the huge scrum of Indians all trying to bag a seat in unreserved 2nd class), but quite acceptable for daytime journeys of up to a few hours if you're on a budget.

IndRail pass es:  Discontinued in 2017

Where to go in india.

First-time visitors often wonder where to start in such a vast country and they're sometimes told to tour only a small area, for example stick to Rajasthan or perhaps the beaches of Goa.  But I suggest a bolder approach.  Use the remarkable Indian train network to see a varied cross-section of India's highlights, picking one example from each type of place:  A big city, a colonial hill station, a princely city or two in Rajasthan, then Agra of course for the Taj Mahal, and also Varanasi, the classic Hindu holy city on the Ganges.  This way, you'll see some incredible highlights and complete contrasts, with overnight trains minimising both daytime travelling time and hotel bills.

A suggested itinerary

Here's what I personally consider the best itinerary around Northern India, taking in an amazing variety of classic Indian cities in as little as 2 weeks.  Highlight after highlight in a 2-week itinerary.  If you have longer to spare, add an extra day or two here and there and/or add one more Rajasthani city, Udaipur.

Delhi 1-3 days.  Contrast the bustling old city with Lutyens' gracious New Delhi.

Take the Swatantrta S Express leaving New Delhi at 21:15 arriving Varanasi Junction at 08:05 next morning. AC1, AC2, AC3, Sleeper class.

Varanasi 2-3 days.  Formerly called Benares, Varanasi is the must-see Hindu holy city on the Ganges.  Make sure you stay in a local Indian riverside hotel such as the Hotel Alka , with its terrace overlooking the Ganges.  Western chain hotels are usually located in the new town, well away from all the amazing riverside action.  The Hotel Alka is one of the better hotels in this top riverside location, and eating a Thali on the terrace as the Diwali fireworks went off overhead and Lilly pads with candles drifted down the Ganges was an unforgettable experience.

Take the Marudhar Express from Varanasi Junction around 18:25 arriving Agra Fort at 06:40 next morning. AC2, AC3, Sleeper class.  No AC1.

Agra 2 days, remembering to visit the fantastic deserted royal city of Fatephur Sikhri 30km away by bus or car.  Agra may be the most touristy place in India, but the Taj is utterly beautiful and well worth the tourist tout hassle.  Agra fort and the ‘baby Taj’ are also worth a visit.

Take the Marudhar Express from Agra Fort around 06:45 arriving Jaipur at 11:50 the same day. AC2, AC3, Sleeper class (No AC1).

Jaipur 2-3 days.  The 'Pink City' is one of the most wonderful princely cities in Rajasthan, and indeed in India.

Take the daily Raniket Express leaving Jaipur at 10:10 arriving Jaisalmer at 22:30 the same day, with AC1, AC2, AC3, Sleeper class.

Jaisalmer 2-3 days.  This is Rajasthan’s ultimate fairytale city and one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of India, in the desert close to the Pakistan border.  For many years it had no airport so only those who made the effort got to experience it, although sadly it may now have flights using the military airbase nearby.

Take the Runicha Express leaving Jaisalmer at 19:00 daily, arriving Old Delhi at 10:35 next day. AC1, AC2, AC3, sleeper class.

Spend a day and night in Delhi.

Take the Kalka Shatabdi leaving New Delhi at 07:40 arriving Kalka at 11:40. AC Executive chair class and AC Chair class, meal included served at your seat. Change onto the waiting narrow-gauge Simla toy train leaving Kalka at 11:55 arriving Simla at 16:45 with (non-AC) 1st class, AC Chair class, 2nd class. The journey to Simla by narrow gauge Toy Train is an absolute delight.

Simla 2-3 days.  Cool relaxation and colonial mock-Tudor charm in this lovely Himalayan hill station from the days of the Raj.  The ideal final destination for your trip!  The upmarket colonial-style Clarkes Hotel is wonderful.

Take the Shivalik Deluxe Express toy train leaving Simla at 17:25 arriving Kalka at 22:05. Change onto the mainline Netaji Express leaving Kalka at 23:55 and arriving Old Delhi at 06:00. AC1, AC2, AC3, Sleeper class.

How to book this itinerary

Option 1 is to arrange it all yourself .  First sketch out your itinerary, perhaps using the technique explained here .  Then book each train journey at 12go.asia (hassle-free, although naturally they charge a reasonable agency mark-up) or get yourself registered with IRCTC and book as explained here .  Then book each of your hotels separately using Booking.com .  This is the budget option, if you don't mind the legwork and managing it yourself.

Option 2 is to have it all booked for you, hassle-free .  I've arranged for train specialists Railbookers to offer this exact itinerary as a package, with trains, hotels, transfers (and if you like, your flight to India) all sorted for you.  This costs more than sorting it all out yourself, but it saves a lot of effort (and possible frustration) and as it's then a package, if anything affects one part of the tour Railbookers will sort things out for you.  Their suggested tour can be customised to your own requirements, to spend more or less time in each place.  Railbookers is an ABTA member and holidays including flights are ATOL protected.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk . 

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, see website .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website . ,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., alternative versions.

Alternatively, just pick on big city, one hill station, a couple of cities in Rajasthan, and a couple of places from the 'other' list below and create your own itinerary.  How about:  Kolkata - (overnight sleeper train to New Jalpaiguri then the famous Darjeeling Toy Train) - Darjeeling - Varanasi - (overnight sleeper train) - Agra - (daytime train) - Jaipur - (overnight sleeper train) - Kolkata?

The big cities

The royal cities of rajasthan, old colonial hill stations, other places to see, two personal favourites:  a ride to darjeeling.

A personal favourite is the ride to Darjeeling on the narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalaya Railway (DHR), and a night or two at the wonderful Windamere Hotel .  The DHR is now a UN World Heritage Site.

Travel from Kolkata's Sealdah station to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) on the broad gauge Darjeeling Mail, leaving Sealdah at 22:05 and arriving NJP at 08:15 next morning.  The Darjeeling Mail has AC1, AC2, AC3, sleeper class and 2nd class accommodation.  Then take the connecting DHR 'toy train' up to Darjeeling, leaving NJP at 10:00 daily, arriving Darjeeling at 17:30.  It's a long ride on a narrow gauge train, sometimes next to the hill road, sometimes through jungle, and sometimes through the streets.

You can check the current status of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at www.dhrs.org/page4.html - it has it's ups and downs, if you'll pardon the expression.

Once in Darjeeling, the place to stay is the Windamere Hotel .  Originally a boarding house for bachelor tea planters, it became a hotel in 1939.  Meals are served by white-gloved, turbanned waiters and eaten by candlelight to the sound of Cole Porter tunes on the piano.  Even if you can't afford it, make sure you come along for afternoon tea - probably the best cup of tea you will ever drink.

The daily Toy Train from NJP to Darjeeling on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.  Photos courtesy of Nonstop Eurotrip .

For much of the way, the line runs next to the hill road with wonderful views, at one point it runs around a loop to gain height.  At Kurseong, the train runs through the streets like a tram. Forget the bus, take the toy train.

The wonderful Windamere Hotel , Darjeeling.  Photo courtesy of Nonstop Eurotrip .

...and a ride to Simla.

A little bit more robust than the line to Darjeeling, the similar toy train up to Simla in the Himalayan foothills is the way to reach Simla, once India's summer capital.  Take a fast broad-gauge train from New Delhi to Kalka and change there onto the Toy Train up into the hills.  The train ride to Simla is one of Simla's highlights on its own.  If you get the chance, use the Shivalik Deluxe Express on the way back down from Simla (it connects with the overnight express to New Delhi going forward next day to Kolkata).  The Shivalik Deluxe has plush fabric-covered first class armchairs, and a meal is served at your seat, included in the price.  Although it gets dark as you descend, at stations without electricity the signalmen hand the single-line token to the driver whilst holding burning torches, the shimmering flames lighting up the side of the train.  It's wonderfully atmospheric.

Tours of India by train

The cheapest option is to arrange everything yourself, independently, but this takes time and effort.  If you want a customisable itinerary with all your train tickets, up-market hotels and transfers arranged for you, you can do this through train specialists Railbookers.  Their website has various example itineraries including a one-week Golden Triangle one visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, but have a look at the suggested itinerary above covering Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer & Simla as I think it's the best 2-week itinerary around northern India that you'll find, and I've arranged for Railbookers to offer it.  Railbookers takes good care of their clients and gets very good reviews.

Tourist cruise trains

There are now several luxury cruise trains catering for tourists and offering sightseeing itineraries around Indian cities.  All of these trains are in effect 5 star international hotels on wheels, allowing you to see India in great comfort.  They're not cheap, prices are in the $000s.

The Palace on Wheels

See www.palacesonwheels.com and see the Palace on Wheels video .  This is India's first and most celebrated cruise train, voted as the world's 4th best luxury train by Condé Nast Traveller magazine.  All suites feature private shower & spotlessly clean toilet, TV & CD player, and the train's two elegant restaurant cars offer both Indian and international cuisine.

You can book the Palace on Wheels through recommended train holiday specialist Railbookers who can also arrange flights, hotels and other Indian trains for you.

Other luxury cruise trains

The Palace on Wheels is no longer the only cruise train in India, and it's not even the best.  Others have sprung up, though prices are sky-high.  Be warned that most of these companies quote a rate per night, not for the whole tour!

Maharaja's Express , see www.the-maharajas.com - See the Maharaja's Express video .  Runs various 3 or 7 night tours from Delhi back to Delhi or between Delhi & Mumbai, via places such as Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Khajuraho.  This train is run by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), originally as a joint venture with Cox & Kings.  Gets very positive feedback, 'ten out of ten' from one correspondent.  You can now book the Maharaja's Express through train holiday specialist www.railbookers.co.uk .

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels , www.royalsrajasthanonwheels.com - See the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels video .  Offers 8-day (7-night) itineraries with weekly departures from Delhi back to Delhi, stopping at Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur, Khajuraho & Varanasi.  Has also had great feedback, and can also be booked through www.railbookers.co.uk .

Golden Chariot , www.goldenchariot.org - see the Golden Chariot video .  A luxury train offering weekly departures from Bangalore for a week-long tour to Goa & southern India.

Deccan Odyssey , www.deccan-odyssey-india.com - see the Deccan Odyssey video .  A luxury train offering weekly departures from Mumbai for a week-long tour to Goa, Pune, and the caves at Ajanta & Ellora.

Indian Maharaja , www.theindianmaharaja.co.in .  Offers 8-day 7-night 'land cruises' between Delhi & Mumbai in either direction on various dates between October & April, with stopovers & tours at Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ellora & Ajanta Caves.

These trains can also be arranged through Railbookers.  On their website, select 'Private trains'.

International trains, buses & ferries

There are international trains to Pakistan & Bangladesh, and buses to Nepal.  Here's a quick summary:

Delhi - Amritsar - Lahore, Pakistan

Take a train from Delhi to Amritsar, there are lots to choose from.  See www.indianrail.gov.in for times & fares. 

Take a bus or taxi the 26km from Amritsar to the India/Pakistan frontier at Atari.  Walk through the border posts to Wagah on the Pakistani side.  You may want to hang around Wagah to see the spectacular ceremony at sunset when the border closes.  Indian and Pakistani guards try to outdo each other with their performances, watched by Indians and Pakistani crowds!

Take another bus or taxi the remaining 20km to Lahore.  Allow plenty of time for this deceptively short journey. 

There used to be a cross-border train, but tension in Kashmir means all India-Pakistan trains are suspended at the moment.

Delhi - Jodhpur - Karachi, Pakistan

A weekly international train called the Thar Express started in February 2006 from Jodhpur to Karachi via the border at Munabao.  But it's currently suspended.

Eastbound:   The Thar Express leaves Karachi every Friday at 23:00, arriving at 'Zero Point' on the Pakistan/India frontier at around 08:00 next morning.  After customs checks, the train goes forward to Munabao on the Indian side, arriving around 11:00.The Indian train departs Munabao at 19:00 after customs formalities, arriving Jodhpur (Bhagat Ki Kothi station) at 23:50 Saturday.

Westbound:   The Thar Express leaves Jodhpur (Bhagat Ki Kothi station, about 4km from the main station) every Saturday morning at 01:00 arriving Munabao at 07:00, leaving Munabao at around 14:30 on Saturdays, reaching Karachi at 02:15 on Sunday morning. 

The sleeper fare from Jodhpur to Munabao/zero point is about Rs170, and from Munabao/zero point to Karachi is about Rs230.  No more information is yet available, but feedback would be appreciated!  The train has one sleeping-car and several economy cars.

Update :  Tension in Kashmir means all India-Pakistan trains are suspended at the moment.

Delhi to Kathmandu, Nepal

It's quite easy, cheap, and an adventure to do this journey overland.  You take an overnight train from New Delhi to Gorakpur, then a bus.  For details, see the Nepal page .

Kolkata to Dhaka, Bangladesh

A new direct train from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Dhaka started in April 2008, see the Bangladesh page .

India to Sri Lanka by ferry

After many years of being cut off from each other (with at least one short-lived attempt to start a ferry service in 2011), a new ferry service started in late 2023, linking Nagapattinam (mainland India) with Kankesanthurai (on Sri Lanka, near Jaffna).

The fast ferry Cheriyapani sails from Nagapattinam (India)  at 07:00 arriving Kankesanthurai (Sri Lanka) at 11:00.

She sails from Kankesanthurai (Sri Lanka) at 13:30 arriving Kankesanthurai (India) at 17:00.

Crossing time 3 hours for the 60 nautical miles.  Service will be suspended during the monsoon season in November-December.

Fare around 8,000 Indian rupees, luggage allowance 40 Kg.

Online booking will be available starting in January 2024, website not yet known.  Until then, call +91 978 987 9971 at least 24 hours in advance. You will be required to send a copy of your passport and visa details via WhatsApp to confirm the booking.

Be careful with e-visas when using this ferry, they will not initially be accepted at these entry points, but may be in future.

India to Burma (Myanmar)

The India/Burma border is closed to foreigners.  It is not possible to travel to Burma overland from India.  For train and river steamer service within Burma, see the Burma page .

India to China

The direct route from India into China is difficult and mountainous, there are no trains, you need some serious permits to be in that part of India, and most if not all border crossings are closed to foreigners.  If you wish to travel this way, do your research before attempting it! 

For most practical purposes, you are better off going from India to Kathmandu in Nepal ( see the Nepal page ), then taking an organised tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa in Tibet ( see the Nepal page ), then a train to Beijing.  For train service within China, including Lhasa to Beijing, see the China page .

Europe to India overland

Europe to india via istanbul, iran, pakistan.

It's possible to travel from Europe to India overland by train and bus via Turkey, Iran & Pakistan, along what in the 1960s & 70s was the hippy train.  However, these days there are serious security problems affecting this route in Turkey, SE Iran & Pakistan.  If you are foolhardy enough to brave these, it takes a minimum of 2-3 weeks and you should consider it as an adventure or expedition rather than a routine way to travel there. 

Administratively, the main issue is getting a tourist visa for Iran - see the London to Iran page for agencies to contact to get one.  Finally, there are major security issues in southeast Iran to be aware of - see the official travel advice for Iran and Pakistan at the British Foreign Office website, www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice .  If you are still interested, see the Europe to India overland page .  I'd suggest planning the trip out carefully before you start to book anything - this may help:  How to plan an itinerary & budget .

Europe to India via Moscow, the Trans-Siberian Railway, Beijing & Lhasa

A safer though somewhat round-about way is London to Moscow by Eurostar and onward trains to Moscow (2 nights, £300, daily departures), Moscow to Beijing via the Trans-Siberian Railway (6 or 7 nights, £500, two per week), Beijing to Lhasa by train (2 nights, £100, daily), then an organised tour by bus from Lhasa to Nepal (7 nights, maybe $400), then bus and train to Delhi .  Again, you may find this helpful:  How to plan an itinerary & budget .  Trains to Russia are suspended due to Covid-19 and now sanctions .

Hotels in India

Personal hotel recommendations, tripadvisor hotel reviews.

www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels.  It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.

Flights to India

Overland travel by train around India is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground!  But if you need a long-haul flight to reach India in the first place.

1)  Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com

2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines.

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think!  See www.loungepass.com

For independent travel, the best guidebook to take is either the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide .  I gave Sarah the Lonely Planet and Karen the Rough Guide and we road-tested both of them head-to-head across India.  The result was a tie, with similarly excellent levels of both practical travel information and historical and cultural background.  I personally prefer the Lonely Planet, but Karen preferred the Rough Guide.  Just make sure you take one of these two guides with you..!  If you buy anything at Amazon through these links, Seat61.com gets a small commission to help support the site.

Buy Lonely Planet India at Amazon.co.uk    Buy Rough Guide India at Amazon.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Also for your reading list

Travel insurance & other tips, always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com .

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Classes of Travel on Indian Railways Trains Explained

Tips to Choose the Class that's Right for You

TripSavvy / Lisa Fasol 

Many different classes of travel can be found on Indian Railways trains, and it can be confusing for those who are unfamiliar with it. Here's an explanation of what can be expected in each class, as well as some tips to help you choose the right class to meet your needs for a comfortable train trip in India .

Unreserved General Class (UR)

Himanshu Khagta/Getty Images

India’s poorest people travel in Unreserved General Class (UR), as well as those who haven't been fortunate enough to secure a ticket in Sleeper Class. Reservations aren’t required and the concept of overcrowding really is taken to a new level. There’s sitting or standing room only, and any spare floor space is occupied by those willing to sleep on it. Most seats are simply wooden benches, although some trains do have padded benches.

• Comfort Rating: Unreserved Class is not recommended for long distance train travel in India.

Second Seating AC (2S)

Reservations are required in Second Seating, or Second Class (2S). 2S is usually found on daytime intercity trains and is a cheap way of traveling. There are three seats on either side of the aisle, and they don't recline. Most of them are cushioned bench-style seats, although some newer carriages have individual seats. There are no sleeping facilities in this class. Carriages are cooled with fans.

• Comfort Rating: Bearable for short distance trips if really necessary. However, carriages are often occupied by passengers who don't have reservations. 

Sleeper Class (SL)

AlxeyPnferov/Getty Images

While most of India's middle class used to travel in Sleeper Class, many have now moved up to AC 3. These days, you'll often find people from General Class (who were unable to get confirmed tickets) flooding over into the Sleeper Class carriages. The carriages are divided into open-plan compartments with six beds in each. The beds are stacked vertically in three tiers on either side of the compartments. During the day, the middle beds must be folded down flat against the compartment walls to allow passengers to sit on the lower beds. Two tiers of beds are also located outside the compartments, along the aisle. Fans on the carriage ceiling provide some cooling, and the windows have bars to keep intruders out as they are usually kept open. The bathrooms have both western and Indian style toilets.

• Comfort Rating: There's no privacy in Sleeper Class, and it's noisy, crowded and dirty (and that includes the toilets). Temperature is also an issue; the carriages can be too hot, or too cold at night in winters. However, some people do prefer to travel in this class so they can interact with Indians from all walks of life, or save money.

Three Tier Air Conditioned Class (3A)

Three Tier Air Conditioned Class, known as 3AC, offers a significant step up in comfort and quietness. The carriages in 3AC are laid out in the same manner as in Sleeper Class. However, the windows are covered with tinted glass that’s unable to be opened, and air-conditioning keeps the carriages cool. Bedding and hand towels are provided to passengers.

• Comfort Rating: Passengers tend to keep to themselves more in 3AC, but privacy is still severely lacking due to the open plan nature of the compartments. Most importantly, the carriages and bathrooms in usually remain much cleaner than those in Sleeper Class.

Two Tier Air Conditioned Class (2AC)

Two Tier Air Conditioned Class, known as 2AC, attracts India’s upper class travelers. There’s much more space, as there are only four beds in each compartment. The beds are stacked vertically in two tiers on either side. Just like in the other classes, there are also two tiers of beds along the aisle outside the compartments. Bedding and towels are also provided, the same as in 3AC.

• Comfort Rating: The best thing about 2AC is the added benefit of privacy curtains on the entrance to each compartment, as well as across each of the beds that run along the aisle. The curtains are usually always kept drawn and this class of accommodation is quite devoid of any interaction.

First Class Air Conditioned (1AC)

First Class Air Conditioned, known as 1AC, is found only on the most popular inter-state train routes. The cost is around double that of 2AC and is comparable to that of flying. Compartments have lockable doors, carpet and either two or four beds, stacked vertically in tiers. The beds are wider than other classes. Sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, and room freshener are also provided. 1AC carriages also have better and cleaner bathrooms, plus shower cubicles.

• Comfort Rating: If comfort and privacy are utmost concerns, choose 1AC. The only problem with 1AC is that it's not possible to specify if you want a two bed or four bed compartment when you book. However, couples are normally allocated accommodations in the two bed compartments, while singles and families are accommodated in the four bed compartments.

Executive Air Conditioned Chair Car (1A)

HeidiFBeal/Getty Images

Executive Class is only found on Shatabdi Express trains, which are premium super fast passenger trains that run between major cities (such as Delhi , Agra and Jaipur), as well as selected Duronto Express trains. It's Indian Railways' version of airline business class. Carriages have only two seats on each side of the aisle. This makes them less crowded, and provides more leg room and luggage space. Better food is also served.

• Comfort Rating: This class is well maintained, clean, and pleasant for a day trip. However, it costs significantly more than Air Conditioned Chair Car (see below). Some people don't think the price difference is worth it. You may be better of paying a bit extra and flying!

Air Conditioned Chair Car (CC)

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Air Conditioned Chair Car carriages (CC) are commonly found on shorter distance Indian Railways trains between major cities, especially those sectors that are frequented by business travelers. The carriages are slightly more crowded than Executive Class. They have three seats on one side of the aisle, and two on the other.

• Comfort Factor: The seats recline, there is overhead space for luggage, and bathrooms tend to be relatively clean. It's a comfortable enough way to travel on day trips.

Second Class on Jan Shatabdi (2S)

Sharell Cook

Different to normal Shatabdi Express premium trains, the Jan Shatabdi is a budget "people's" train. It has both air conditioned (CC) and non air conditioned (2S) chair classes. Travel in 2S on Jan Shatabdi trains offers perhaps the best value for money on Indian Railways.

• Comfort Factor: Unlike 2S on other trains, there are no bench seats. All are padded, individual seats. However, they do not recline like the seats in air conditioned CC class, and this gets uncomfortable after a while.

Indian Railways Travel Tip 1: Choosing Your Berth

The beds are referred to as "berths". Where possible, always try to reserve an upper level one. They don't have to be folded down during the day like the middle level ones, or act as seats for all the passengers like the lower level ones.

The beds located along the aisle outside the main compartments (referred to as "side berths") also offer a bit more personal space, and are less claustrophobic. They're great if you're traveling as a couple. However, they are enclosed at both ends and are shorter than the ones inside the compartments. As a result, they're not recommended for people who're taller than around 5 feet 10 inches.

Indian Railways Travel Tip 2: Choosing Your Class

Travel in Sleeper Class is suitable for those on a tight budget, or those who don't mind roughing it or who want to experience the "real" India. If comfort is more of a concern, then travel in 3AC is a better option. For those who require space and/or privacy, 2AC or 1AC is recommended.

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The 9 most scenic train journeys in India

Air travel may seem more convenient and time-effective, but it cannot replace the undeniable charm of travelling by train. One of the most enjoyable parts of train journeys is sitting by the window and taking in the beauty of the landscape while sipping a hot beverage. In those moments, with hills, forests, brooks and villages rolling by your window, the world slips away, and peace reigns for a little while. If you want to experience this kind of serenity, there are many routes you can take, as India boasts of an extensive railway network. Here’s a look at some of the prettiest train journeys in the country:

Himalayan Queen

Also known as the Kalka-Shimla ‘toy train,’ the Himalayan Queen features in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tracks stretch across the steepest altitude. From your vantage point up high, you will get a glimpse of picturesque pine forests, deep valleys and small towns along the way. This seven-coach train covers a distance of 96km, crossing 82 bridges and 102 tunnels. In 2008, UNESCO added the Kalka-Shimla railway line to its Mountain Railways of India World Heritage site.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this train runs from Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal. As you travel at an altitude of more than 2000m, you will be treated to stunning views of sprawling tea plantations and the breathtaking Mt. Kanchenjunga. The route is famous for its loops, where the train turns in a full circle and thus climbs 20ft higher.

Kashmir Valley Railway

A train passing by the Pulwama district in Kashmir.

On this trip from Jammu to Baramulla, feast your eyes on the snowy mountainscapes of the region. This is actually one of the most challenging tracks built by the Indian Railways. The train passes through many earthquake zones, high-altitude mountain passes and rocky terrains.

Sethu Express

Pamban Bridge

If you don’t want a mountainous journey, choose this train that goes from Chennai to Rameswaram in less than 12 hours. You will get the opportunity to traverse the sea, as the route includes crossing the Pamban Bridge—the second-longest in India—built over the water.  You may recognise it from the 2013 Bollywood film Chennai Express .

Konkan Railway

This iconic railway line mainly connects Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. Get ready to enjoy the varied sights outside your window: the Sahyadri mountains, the Arabian Sea, lakes and waterfalls. A classic choice for travellers going from Mumbai to Goa is the  Mandovi Express . The train travels through 92 tunnels and 2,000 bridges, including the Panvalnadi bridge, which is one of the highest in India. With landscapes covered in lush greenery, a Konkan Railway journey is a treat, especially during the monsoon season.

Goa Express

For an awe-inspiring glimpse of Dudhsagar Falls, take this train from Vasco de Gama in Goa to Londa, Karnataka. It crosses the bridge over that massive waterfall in the early evening, so keep an eye out. The journey is less than 4 hours long and takes you through the charming Western Ghats and serene beaches.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

If you want to travel by the train where the popular song ‘ Chaiya Chaiya’ was filmed,  choose this one from Mettupalayam to Ooty. You will have lots of time to enjoy the gorgeous views of forests and plantations, as this ‘toy’ train takes around 5h to cover 46km. Considered “the  slowest train  in India”, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway has the steepest gradient of any railway line in South Asia, climbing from an elevation of 325m to 2,240m along the way.

Kollam-Sengottai Chord Line

For another amazing south Indian experience, take this train from Kollam Junction in Kerala to Sengottai in Tamil Nadu. You will see moss-covered bridges, untouched forests and Kerala’s cardamom hills. The route also takes you over the Pathimoonnu Kannara Bridge, or the 13 Arch Bridge, which is more than 100 years old.

Bhubaneswar to Brahmapur

Many trains run along this specific route, like the Intercity Express, Prashanti Express, Konark Express and the famous Howrah-Chennai Mail. The most attractive highlight of the journey is Lake Chilika, the second-largest in the country and a popular destination for birdwatchers. As your train passes by, you can often spot different species of birds quenching their thirst in the lake. Don’t forget to sit on the left side of the train going southward to catch the best views.

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10 Best Indian Railway Journeys: A Detailed Guide to Routes and Ideal Travel Times

Step aboard the enchanting realm of Indian railways, a network that doesn’t just connect places, but also hearts, cultures, and a kaleidoscope of breathtaking landscapes. From the soaring Himalayan peaks to the serene backwaters of Kerala, the lush tea gardens of Assam to the sun-kissed beaches of Goa , Indian railways offer a window into the country’s soul. Embarking on these journeys isn’t merely about getting from one point to another; it’s about diving into an ocean of immersive experiences.

Ready for an unforgettable voyage? Join us as we embark on the 10 Best Indian Railway Journeys, your detailed guide to India’s most spectacular train adventures. Hop on and let’s unravel the magic of India, one track at a time!

Table of Contents

Know about the 10 Best Indian Railway Journeys

1. the darjeeling himalayan railway.

Exploring the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: A Picturesque Adventure

Picture a miniature train chugging its way through the winding tracks laid across the lush green Himalayan terrain. That’s the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for you, affectionately termed the “Toy Train”. As you travel, you’re treated to panoramic views of verdant tea plantations, majestic mountains cloaked in mist, and charming hill stations, each more picturesque than the last.

Train Route:

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway covers a distance of approximately 88 kilometers, connecting New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling . It wends its way through scenic towns like Siliguri , Kurseong, and Ghoom, which holds the title of India’s highest railway station. The journey is famous for its unique narrow-gauge tracks, charming loops, and challenging gradients, adding a distinct allure to the experience.

Best Time to Experience:

The best time to embark on this unforgettable journey is from March to May and October to November. During these months, the weather is just right and offers crystal-clear views of the scenic vistas that unfold along the way.

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2. The Konkan Railway

Discover the Konkan Railway: A Coastal Delight in India

Next on our list is the Konkan Railway, a route that beautifully encapsulates the essence of India’s Konkan coast, stretching through Maharashtra , Goa, and Karnataka . This journey takes you through lush greenery, enchanting villages, and sun-kissed beaches, making each moment on this train truly delightful.

Covering a distance of 741 kilometers, the Konkan Railway starts from Mumbai and stretches all the way to Mangalore , punctuated with numerous scenic stops en route. It’s a showcase of the stunning natural beauty of the Konkan region, marked by verdant landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.

To witness the Konkan in all its glory, plan your trip during the monsoon season, from June to September. That’s when the region turns into a lush paradise, and the waterfalls are at their vibrant best.

3. Palace on Wheels Train

Relive the Royal Era with The Palace on Wheels

Next, we’re whisking you away to a world of luxury and grandeur. Welcome aboard the Palace on Wheels, a luxury train that takes you on a royal odyssey through the majestic state of Rajasthan . Decked up with regal splendor and equipped with modern amenities, this train offers a peek into the opulent lifestyles of erstwhile Maharajas.

The Palace on Wheels is a seven-day spectacle that begins and ends in Delhi . Along the way, it touches the royal cities of Jaipur , Jaisalmer , Jodhpur , Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh , Udaipur , and Bharatpur . Its luxurious interiors, gourmet cuisine, and onboard cultural performances create a genuinely palatial experience.

The ideal time to hop onto this royal journey is from October to March when the weather in Rajasthan is pleasant, perfect for exploring its rich architectural heritage, vibrant markets, and iconic forts and palaces.

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4. The Kashmir Railway:

The Kashmir Railway: Your Ticket to Paradise

As we reach the halfway mark, let’s set our sights on the ethereal beauty of the Jammu -Baramulla line, also known as the Kashmir Railway. This rail route is a marvel of engineering, navigating through the enchanting valleys and snow-capped mountains of Kashmir . As the train glides along, you’re treated to awe-inspiring vistas of pristine lakes, verdant meadows, and charming hamlets.

The Kashmir Railway stretches over approximately 345 kilometers from Jammu to Baramulla. This route passes through iconic locations such as Qazigund, Anantnag, and Srinagar , offering breathtaking views of the Himalayas and the mesmerizing Dal Lake .

To truly appreciate the beauty of Kashmir, embark on this journey during the summer months, from May to September, when the weather is pleasant and the valley is in full bloom.

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5. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Ride Through the Blue Mountains with the Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Chugging along the majestic Blue Mountains, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, transports you to a world of enchanting landscapes. With its lush tea estates, mist-covered valleys, and quaint hill stations, this journey is nothing short of magical.

Covering a distance of approximately 46 kilometers, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway connects the town of Mettupalayam to the hill station of Ooty . This journey takes you through 16 tunnels, and over 250 bridges, and offers mesmerizing views of the Nilgiri Hills.

To make the most of this journey, plan your trip between October to June. However, avoid the monsoon season when the region experiences heavy rainfall.

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6. The Mandovi Express

The Mandovi Express: Experience the Serene Charm of Goa

As the Mandovi Express traverses through the tropical paradise of Goa , it’s impossible not to be swept away by the region’s idyllic charm. Goa is synonymous with pristine beaches, swaying palm trees, and vibrant culture, making it a haven for travelers seeking relaxation and fun. The Mandovi Express is your perfect companion for soaking in the laid-back charm of this coastal paradise.

Connecting Mumbai to Goa over approximately 580 kilometers, the Mandovi Express route offers a glimpse into the stunning beauty of the Konkan region, with its scenic landscapes, quaint villages, and picturesque coastal towns.

To experience Goa at its best, hop onto the Mandovi Express between November to February when the weather is pleasant and the region bustles with various festivals and events.

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7. Matheran Hill Railway

The Matheran Hill Railway: Your Perfect Retreat in Maharashtra

The Matheran Hill Railway is an eco-friendly, narrow-gauge heritage train that provides a tranquil escape from bustling city life. This train winds its way through dense forests, steep cliffs, and cascading waterfalls, transporting you to the serene hill station of Matheran in Maharashtra .

Covering a distance of approximately 20 kilometers from Neral to Matheran, the Matheran Hill Railway treats you to breathtaking landscapes, including deep gorges, lush greenery, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

The ideal time to hop onto this charming journey is from October to May when the weather is pleasant and the hill station offers a cool respite from the scorching summer heat.

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8. The Kangra Valley Railway

Traversing the Himalayan Foothills with the Kangra Valley Railway

Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh , the Kangra Valley Railway offers a breathtaking journey through lush valleys, terraced fields, and quaint villages. As the train snakes along the scenic route, you’re treated to panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and gushing rivers.

The Kangra Valley Railway connects Pathankot in Punjab to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh, covering a distance of approximately 164 kilometers. This journey showcases the natural beauty of the Kangra Valley, with views of the Dhauladhar Range, tea gardens, and picturesque hamlets.

The best time to experience the Kangra Valley Railway is from March to June and from September to November when the weather is pleasant and the valley is at its scenic best.

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9. The Pamban Bridge

Crossing the Sea on the Pamban Bridge: A Unique Indian Railway Journey

The Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu is a marvel of engineering that connects the island of Rameswaram to the mainland. This journey is unique as the train glides over the sparkling waters of the Palk Strait, offering panoramic views of the vast ocean and surrounding landscapes.

The Pamban Bridge is part of the Southern Railway’s Chennai-Rameswaram line. The train journey takes you from Chennai to Rameswaram, spanning a distance of approximately 600 kilometers. This route offers stunning views of the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar.

To make the most of this journey, plan your trip between October to March when the weather is pleasant and the region is filled with a festive atmosphere.

10. The Golden Chariot:

Luxury on Wheels: Aboard the Golden Chariot in South India

The Golden Chariot is a luxury train that whisks you away on a lavish journey through the historical and cultural wonders of South India . With its opulent interiors, world-class amenities, and carefully curated itineraries, this train offers an immersive experience of the region’s rich heritage and architectural marvels.

The Golden Chariot covers two different itineraries: “Pride of the South” and “Southern Splend”, spanning Karnataka , Kerala , Tamil Nadu , and Puducherry . These journeys showcase iconic landmarks such as Mysore Palace , Hampi , and the backwaters of Kerala .

Experience the grandeur of the Golden Chariot between October to March when the weather in South India is pleasant and the region is vibrant with various cultural festivals.

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Embarking on a railway journey in India is akin to stepping into a treasure trove of diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures, and rich history. Whether you choose to explore the stunning Himalayas, unwind on the sandy beaches of Goa, or indulge in the royal heritage of Rajasthan, Indian railways offer a unique and unforgettable travel experience. So, pack your bags, book your tickets, and get ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure through the 10 best Indian railway journeys.

Relevant Reading:

• Top 5 Most Popular Toy Trains in India
• 9 Most Scenic Routes to Travel By Vistadome Trains In India
• Top 5 Marine National Parks in India
• 12 Famous Cave Paintings in India
• Top 12 Jainism Pilgrimage Sites in India
• Discovering Hidden Gems: Little-Known Facts About India
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• 10 Most Popular Cleanest Rivers in India
• Top 10 Popular Coldest Places in India
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India train tours - 10 best railway journeys

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Get ready for an extraordinary journey by exploring the top 10 best India train tours. These exciting routes combine history and breathtaking scenery seamlessly, promising unforgettable adventures that will leave you in awe of the subcontinent's beauty and heritage.

How to plan a train tour of India

1. darjeeling himalayan railway (jalpaiguri to darjeeling), 2. mandovi express (madgaon to mumbai), 3. himalayan queen (kalka to shimla), 4. the golden chariot (bangalore to goa), 5. dooars voyage (siliguri- newmal – hasimara- alipurduar), 6. maharaja deccan odyssey (mumbai to delhi), 7. jammu mail (jammu to udhampur), 8. matheran hill railway, 9. island express (kanyakumari to trivandrum), 10. mandapam – pamban – rameswaram, best tips for india train tour, planning your india train tour, travel ideas for india, created by local experts.

A Trek Through Ladakh's Markha Valley

Trek through the Markha Valley, taking in the jaw-dropping Himalayan landscape, camp in traditional mountain villages, and discover hilltop monasteries. This unique journey combines the culture of the Buddhist faith with the natural beauty of the mountains and the hustle and bustle of Delhi.

Rajasthan: The Land of Kings

Experience the Land of Kings in luxury.This trip around Rajasthan takes you to Jaipur's palaces, sacred pilgrimage sites and deep into the desert hills. Breathe in the excitement of Delhi and visit the Taj Mahal. Then come nightfall, lay your head to rest in former royal palaces and magical forts.

The Holy City of Varanasi

The flat, sunburnt plains of the Ganges River are India's breadbasket: a densely populated area, it is home to many of the country's greatest sights. See Delhi and all its treasures, then fly to Varanasi, the most sacred stretch of the Ganges and one of India's most intense and atmospheric places.

Indian Wildlife Safari

Meet Bengals, birds, monkeys, leopards and more on an amazing wildlife extravaganza visiting India's famous national parks. Experience the countryside by rail, soak up some culture at the Taj Mahal and Rantahnbore Fort and finish with some shopping and sightseeing in the bustling capital, Dehli.

India: from the Ganges to the Golden Triangle

From Dehli's bustling dusty streets to 'the pink city' of Jaipur and Agra's Taj Mahal, this trip ensures you experience all of India's Golden Triangle highlights. You'll visit sacred Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges and Khajuraho's famous temples too.

Magical Kerala

The intense greens of the Kerala backwaters, overhung by innumerable coconut palms, encapsulate tropical India like nowehere else. Enjoy a lazy cruise on a converted rice barge; visit fragrant spice plantations, explore Cochi and spot local wildlife.

Planning an India train tour is a fascinating journey through a country with diverse cultures and landscapes. Start by deciding on an itinerary by choosing one of India 's many charming cities. Explore the railway routes connecting your chosen cities and look out for popular routes such as the Golden Triangle or the scenic Konkan Railway. 

As you embark on this adventure, immerse yourself in local customs, sample regional cuisine and experience the rich culture of each place. Be flexible and open to the unexpected, as India's true charm often lies in the unplanned moments.

Want to save yourself the trouble of planning? Contact our India travel experts and embark on your journey hassle-free.

Sunrise over Darjeeling, India @ Shutterstock

Completed in 1881, the small-gauge (610mm) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (commonly known as the Toy Train) was designed as an extension of the North Bengal State Railway, climbing from New Jalpaiguri, via Siliguri, for a tortuous 88km up to Darjeeling . 

Given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999, the Toy Train follows the Hill Cart Road, crossing it at regular intervals and even sharing it with traffic. Although no longer an essential mode of transport, the train is certainly a tourist attraction, and currently runs daily from New Jalpaiguri at 8.30am, reaching Darjeeling at 3.35pm. 

Diesel engines are now de rigueur on the long route. Weather permitting, coaches with large viewing windows provide magnificent vistas as the journey progresses and the scenery gradually unfolds; the second class can be fun but crowded. 

Some travellers may find the entire route from Siliguri painfully slow. The section from Kurseong is well worth the time, however; alternatively, you could take the short (“Joy”) ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom.

Ready for your adventure? Don't forget to check our fully customisable India itineraries .

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India © Shutterstock

Mandovi Express is a popular train running between Madgaon (Goa) and Mumbai (Maharashtra). Travelling on this train is a delightful transition through the mesmerising landscapes of the Konkan region and the Western Ghats .

One of the main highlights of the Mandovi Express is the stunning view of the Sahyadri range with its mist-covered peaks and dense forests. As the train passes through the Western Ghats, passengers can see waterfalls cascading down the hillsides.

The train is equipped with comfortable seats, making the journey enjoyable for both tourists and regular passengers. What makes the journey even more attractive is that passengers can savour the taste of local cuisine offered by the vendors on board. It is not for nothing that the train is named "The Food Queen of Konkan Railways".

Mumbai train station, India

The Himalayan Queen is an iconic train that runs on a historic railway line connecting the town of Kalka in the lower reaches of the Himalayas to the charming hill station of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh . This railway journey is renowned for its scenic beauty, unique charm and historical significance.

Ascending to Shimla , the "Queen of the Himalayas" gracefully traverses about a hundred tunnels, passes over numerous arched bridges and makes spectacular loops. Along the way, passengers are treated to breathtaking views of lush green valleys, dense pine forests and quaint hilltop villages. 

The journey includes stops at picturesque stations such as Barog, known for its beautiful gardens, and the legendary Sonwara Bridge, an engineering marvel.

The train itself is a delightful fusion of tradition and modern comfort. It exudes old-world charm, yet provides a comfortable and enjoyable journey with modern conveniences.

Convinced to go? Book this North India train tour: from Delhi to Shimla .

Shimla, India © Shutterstock

If you are in search of a luxury India train tour then Golden Chariot will impress you. It is a luxury train journey from Bangalore , the bustling capital of Karnataka state , to the tropical paradise of Goa on the west coast of India.

Boarding the Golden Chariot, you might think you are entering a palace on wheels. It is a showcase of Indian craftsmanship, adorned with intricate carvings and colourful decor inspired by the rich history and culture of the state of Karnataka.

Passengers are treated royally. There are all the comforts one can dream of on a train: spacious cabins, luxurious dining cars and courteous staff to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

The journey itself encompasses the beauty of South India, featuring UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Hampi, the historic temples at Badami and the serene beaches of Goa.

The train will take you through lush landscapes, quaint villages and bustling markets, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local flavour and traditions of the region.

Dudhsagar Goa Waterfall train, India @ Shutterstock

Voyage of the Dooars is an exciting train journey through the picturesque landscapes of the Dooars region of West Bengal .

Starting from Siliguri, which is the gateway to the northeastern states, the train passes through Newmal, Hasimara and Alipurduar, offering a unique experience in the heart of the eastern Himalayas.

As the train departs from Siliguri, passengers are greeted by the lush tea gardens and dense forests characteristic of the Dooars.

The journey is a visual treat with panoramic views of the rolling hills, wildlife sanctuaries and meandering rivers that dot the region. This route is renowned for its incredible biodiversity, making it a paradise for nature and wildlife lovers.

But travelling through the Dooars is not just about the scenery, it is also about experiencing the vibrant culture and traditions of the locals. Along the way, you can savour the flavours of the local cuisine and see the daily life of the people of the Dooars.

Evening view of Mumbai from Chowpatty Beach, India © Shutterstock

Another luxury India train tour on our list is the Maharaja Deccan Odyssey. This is an upscale rail journey that begins in Mumbai, India's bustling financial capital and proceeds to Delhi , the vibrant heart of the country.

Step aboard the Maharaja Deccan Odyssey and you'll find yourself in a world of extravagance. This royal train is the epitome of luxury: elegantly decorated cabins, gourmet coaches and personalised service that is sure to delight.

During its journey, the train makes stops at some of India's most iconic destinations. You can see the Ajanta and Ellora caves, the magnificent palaces of Udaipur and the holy city of Varanasi. Each stop along the route is a unique insight into India's rich history and diverse culture. 

Qutub Minad in Delhi, India @ Shutterstock

Jammu Mail is a classic railway service with trains, among others, running between the city of Jammu, located in the picturesque state of Jammu and Kashmir , and Udhampur, another famous city in the region. Known for its simplicity and efficiency, this railway route serves as a crucial link between the two locations.

The Jammu Mail may not boast of luxurious cabins or extravagant amenities, but it is a convenient and comfortable mode of transport for passengers. During the journey, one can experience the scenic nature of the Jammu region as the train passes through green landscapes, quaint villages and picturesque countryside.

One of the notable features of this journey is the opportunity to see the enchanting natural beauty of the Shivalik Hills and the foothills of the Himalayas. The train journey offers views of lush forests, tranquil rivers and charming towns along the way.

River in the Mounrains in Jammu, India

The Matheran Hill Railway is a charming narrow gauge train running through the Sahyadri hill range in the state of Maharashtra . This historic railway offers a nostalgic journey from Neral to Matheran, a quaint and picturesque hill station.

Travelling on this route is a delightful way to escape from the bustling cities, embarking on a peaceful journey through dense forests, steep hills and picturesque landscapes. The train covers a distance of about 21 kilometres, passing through dense vegetation and offering spectacular views of the Western Ghats.

The Matheran Hill Railway is known for its heritage charm: vintage locomotives and carriages from a century ago evoke the feeling of a bygone era. The slow-moving train allows travellers to enjoy the ride, cool mountain air and serene surroundings.

One highlight of the journey is the famous One Kiss Tunnel, where the train briefly disappears into darkness and then reappears in the light.

View of Prabalgad Fort and Kalavantin Pinnacle from Matheran, India © Shutterstock

Island Express is a well-known train service between Kanyakumari , the southernmost tip of mainland India, and Trivandrum ( Thiruvananthapuram ), the capital of Kerala . This rail route offers travellers a scenic and convenient means of travel between two prominent points in the southern region of the country.

The Island Express is appreciated for its efficient and convenient connectivity. It offers passengers the opportunity to experience the mesmerising landscapes of southern India. The train route passes through scenic coastal areas, lush green fields and serene villages, allowing one to savour the natural beauty of Kerala and Tamil Nadu .

One of the highlights of the journey is the stunning view of the Arabian Sea as the train approaches Kanyakumari, revealing the merging point of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Row of elephants decorated for the Pooram Festival in Kerala, India @ Shutterstock

The Mandapam-Pamban-Rameswaram railway route is an amazing railway link that serves as a lifeline to the holy island town of Rameswaram, located in the southern part of the state of Tamil Nadu.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of this railway route was the famous Pamban Bridge, the bridge that connects the mainland Mandapam to the island of Rameswaram. The bridge was opened in 1914, but due to wear and tear, the authorities decided to close the bridge and keep it as a historical monument.

The good news is that the authorities have also decided to build a new bridge parallel to the old bridge to connect Mandapam and Rameswaram. It is hoped that travellers and pilgrims will soon be able to enjoy this spectacular route again.

Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge which connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India © Shutterstock

To make the most of planning a train journey in India, we have prepared a list of important tips. From booking your tickets well in advance to understanding the different classes and local customs, these tips will help you navigate the rails with confidence and immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of India.

Book your tickets in advance

Trains in India can be crowded, especially during peak seasons. To secure seats, book your train tickets well in advance through the official website of Indian Railways (IRCTC) or through authorised booking agents.

Choose your coach class wisely

The choice of class depends on your comfort and budget. For long journeys, AC classes are recommended for extra comfort. For short journeys or budget travellers, sleeper or shared classes are suitable.

Pack lightly and securely

Trains can be crowded and storage space is limited. Pack the essentials and keep valuables with you or under a secure lock.

Bring food and water with you

Trains have a food supply, but it's not unreasonable to bring snacks and bottled water, especially on long journeys.

Respect local customs and other passengers

Dress modestly, especially in conservative neighbourhoods. Respect cultural differences and maintain a friendly attitude towards fellow travellers.

Take safety precautions

Beware of pickpockets in crowded train stations. For added security, lock your compartment door at night.

Many railway tracks with trains in India @ Shutterstock

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• 18 Beautiful Train Journeys In India In 2024 That Will Compel You For A Ride!

Planning a vacation rarely encompasses a train expedition nowadays. But if it does, it certainly takes us back to the childhood days when holidaying meant embarking on beautiful train journeys in India . It also meant admiring the changing landscapes as the train passed through towns and villages; playing cards or memory game; chitchatting over warm tea in earthen cups (locally called Kulhad); yummy munchies and lot more! This time round, we take you on some of the most beautiful train routes in India that cover absolutely enthralling and diverse landscapes – steep mountain slopes, narrow valleys, and wide seas.

18 Most Beautiful Train Journeys In India

Go through the list of these most beautiful train rides in India and make sure you head to one of them, the one that you find to be truly out of this world. You will realize the journey is nothing short of a dream. There’s mountains, waterfalls, rivers, plains, deserts and every possible landscape that you can imagine of. They are spread across the northern frontier to the southern frontier. Have a look!

• Jammu – Baramulla
• Pathankot – Jogindernagar
• Kalka – Shimla
• Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
• Mumbai – Goa
• Hubli – Madgaon
• Matheran – Neral
• Karjat – Lonavala
• Ratnagiri – Mangalore
• Mandapam – Rameshwaram
• Mettupalayam – Ooty
• Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley
• Bangalore – Kanyakumari
• Hassan – Mangalore
• Bhubaneshwar – Brahmapur
• New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling
• Alipurduar – Jalpaiguri
• Guwahati – Silchar

1. Jammu – Baramulla

Kashmir Railway Gifts you Travel Charisma

Image Source

The railway track connecting Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla is not only picturesque and enthralling but also one the most challenging railway projects. It is located in the high earthquake intensity zone with undulating and rugged terrain, extreme cold temperature, and is the most beautiful railway route in India .

Train Journey Time : 4 hours

Must Read: 30 Unbelievably Beautiful Places To Visit In Kashmir One Cannot Miss

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2. Pathankot – Jogindernagar

Mystics of Kangra Valley

Image Source If you want to enjoy the thrills of Kangra Valley, the river bridges, deep gorges and exclusive flora, enjoy the pleasant but quite slow ride of 164 km from Pathankot to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. It is not only located at a challenging height, but is also one of the most scenic train routes in India .

Train Journey Time : 8 hours

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3. Kalka – Shimla

A Spellbinding Journey to the Summer Capital

If you want to cherish picturesque valleys, steep pathways and foggy meadows, travel to Shimla in the narrow gauge train. This little toy train, now considered as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, starts from Kalka and travels 96 km upslope through 102 tunnels: (the longest tunnel located at Barog), 82 bridges, deep valleys, steep curves, rolling bends, forests of deodar and rhododendron, pine and oak.

Few trains like Siwalik, Kalka-Shimla, Himalayan Queen, Rail Motor and Siwalik Queen ply on this route. The journey is truly enchanting but at a slow pace as the train ascends the slope rhythmically through stations of Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Tara Devi, Barog, Salogra, Totu, and Summerhill to reach the summer capital. It is one of the best in north Indian and most beautiful train journeys in India .

Train Journey Time : 5 hours

Suggested Read: 53 Best Places To Visit In Shimla On Your Soothing Weekend Getaway!

4. Jaisalmer – Jodhpur

Xerophytic Route

The Rajasthan trip which is otherwise full of colors, can have an extra bright shade if you travel to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur in Delhi Jaisalmer Express. The travel time in the train called the ‘Desert Queen’ takes close to 6 hours to reach the destination.

The journey is not at all monotonous. In fact you see diversified topography like typical desert landscape with xerophytic vegetation, yellow soil, dunes, grazing camels and scattered settlements of the desert inhabitants. The passengers will surely get a feel of the desert safari before reaching the land of the Golden Fort. This is amongst the most beautiful train journeys in India .

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5. Mumbai – Goa

Journey through the Enigmatic Ghats

The journey from Mumbai to Goa intersecting through the gorges of Sahyadari and fringes of Arabian Sea is equally or perhaps the most scenic train rides in India . Mandovi Express, as a part of the Konkan Railway network, travels between Mumbai and Goa.

The route is full of scenic landscapes, ranging from tunnels, bridges, coastal peripheries, steps of Western Ghats (other name for Sahyadari), innumerable small rivers, seasonal streams and lush green meadows. Do not forget to take out your handicam or camera and capture the highlights of one of the stunning and beautiful train journeys in India .

Train Journey Time : 12 hours

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6. Hubli – Madgaon

Vasco da Gama Route

Image Source While travelling from Hubli to Madgaon, experience one of the most thrilling and enchanting train journeys in India. The train passes through the gigantic and most magnificent Dudhsagar waterfalls gushing out from a 300 metres in full vigor.

Once the train reaches the waterfall, you will be amazed at the cascading beauty and force on a thrilling and best train journeys in India. If you decide to enjoy it closely, quickly get down at Londa junction, which is the nearest station to Dudhsagar falls.

Train Journey Time : 10 hours

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7. Matheran – Neral

Heritage of Maharashtra

The narrow gauge railway running between Matheran and Neral passes is one of the best train routes in India. It passes through the rugged terrains of the Ghats and gained immense tourist attraction. This only Heritage railway of Maharashtra running a distance of 20 km is surely included in the list of India’s best train journeys. This is one of the best train routes in India .

Train Journey Time : 2 hours

Suggested Read: Top 38 Weekend Getaways From Mumbai For The Love Of Traveling

8. Karjat – Lonavala

Monsoon Trip

Another line that passes through the Western Ghats is the journey from Karjat to Lonavala through Thakurwadi, Monkey Hills and Khandala. It is the very scenic and one of the best train routes in India known for its mystic nature. Monsoon season is recommended because of the lush green views and beautiful rain scenery that it offers. The ride is pure scenery and being hill stations connected by train, it is the most adventurous way to reach the destinations.

Train Journey Time : 1 hour

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9. Ratnagiri – Mangalore

Charming Konkan Railway

Image Source One of the most mesmerizing railway tracks lies in the Konkan Railway network, in the Ratnagiri to Mangalore sector. The is one of the most scenic train journeys in India which is truly absorbing and wherein the dense forests, mighty Western Ghats, deep tunnels, river bridges, sharp bends and innumerable seasonal streams will leave the travelers spellbound and hypnotized.

Suggested Read: 20 Road Trips During Monsoon In India That Every Biker Ought To Take

10. Mandapam – Rameshwaram

Journey Intersecting the Ocean

Image Source Besides thrill and adventure, train travel from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to Rameshwaram on Pamban Island oozes calm and serenity. It is certainly one of the top ten best Indian train journeys. One of the most beautiful train routes in India, it passes over the second longest bridge of India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that connects mainland India to Pamban Island.

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11. Mettupalayam – Ooty

Voyage in Landscapes of Nilgiris

Image Source Running since 1908, ‘Nilgiri Passenger’ still runs on steam engine, going from Mettupalayam to Ooty. As the train ascends the Nilgiri Mountain, thick pine, oak and eucalyptus forests, bends, curves and tunnels, it moves along Asia’s steepest track with maximum gradient of 8.33 percent. Nilgiri Passenger travels 26 km up the slope in almost 5 hours via stations like Kallar, Adderly, Hillgrove, Kateri, Runneymede, Kateri, Coonoor and Lovedale.

Suggested Read: 25 Mesmerizing Hill Stations In South India That Are A Must Visit

12. Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley

The Tunnel Topography

Image Source The journey from Vishakhapatnam to Araku Valley through innumerable tunnels and sharp loops is quite an interesting one. Started as a mode to transport iron ore and other minerals to Vishakhpatnam from Chhattisgarh, this railway route in India is a treat for the eyes as well as the soul.

Train Journey Time : 3 hours

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13. Bangalore – Kanyakumari

The Malgudi Voyage

Image Source Another scenic journey through the typical landscape of South India – the picturesque villages, plantations, meadows and water bodies is from Bangalore to Kanyakumari. The Island Express travels 944 km in about 19.5 hours and surely take you the land of ‘Malgudi Days’, undoubtedly paving its way to the list of best train journeys in India.

Train Journey Time : 15 hours

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14. Hassan – Mangalore

Magical Malnad

Witness a pleasant train journey through scenic waterfalls, lofty mountains, palm plantations and rice meadows from Hassan to Mangalore. Railway voyage along this stretch of the Malnad region is truly refreshing and perfect delight for travelers.

Train Journey Time : 1 and half hours

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15. Bhubaneshwar – Brahmapur

The Serene Journey

Image Source Another of most beautiful train journeys in India is from Bhubaneshwar to Brahmapur, with lush green Malyadri on one side and serene Chilika Lake on the other. You may be lucky enough to see lots of migratory birds, so don’t forget your camera. You can capture the glimpse of the best lakes in Odisha while traveling through this train. 

Suggested Read : Mountain Biking In India: 10 Most Thrilling Adventure That Is A Must Try

16. New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling

The Heritage Voyage to the Summer Resort of British Raj

Image Source How good does it feel to ride through hill stations connected by train? A pleasant upslope journey from the foothill region through loops, turns and bends can be experienced from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The 78 km long quaint journey takes almost 8 hours and passes through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow and Batasia Loop.

Though the journey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is sluggish but certainly leisurely. The surrounding hill-valley topography, especially from Ghum (the highest narrow gauge railway station in India) and Batasia Loop, adds extra flavors of delight to your trip.

Train Journey Time : 7 hours

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17. Alipurduar – Jalpaiguri

Jungle Safari on the Wheels

Want to pass through dense forest and see elephants and rhinos while passing by? Plan a train journey in the foothills region of North Bengal. Travelling to Alipurduar, Jayanti, Moorti, Samsing, Baux and Jalpaiguri will take you through the reserve forests of Gorumara, Jaldapara, Mahananda and Buxa while crossing seasonal streamlets.

Suggested Read : 20 Unbelievable Experiences In India That You Must Add On Your Bucket List To Enjoy An Offbeat Escape

18. Guwahati – Silchar

Awes of Assam

Image Source This journey meanders through river Jatinga, lush green Assam Valley, tea plantations and undulating Haflong valley. The route from Guwahati to Silchar via Lumding and Barak Valley makes it one of the most beautiful train journeys in India. The train makes you witness the beauty of hill stations in Assam .

Train Journey Time : 9 hours

Further Read: 23 Types of People You Meet While Travelling in an Indian Train

Aren’t all these beautiful train journeys in India absolutely stunning? If you have more to the list, share us with them in the comments below, and let the word spread. But for now, plan your holiday in India  with TravelTriangle to experience these wonderful train rides. We have no doubt that these rides will sweep you off your feet and make your heart skip a beat.

Disclaimer : TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beautiful Train Journeys In India

Is it safe to travel in Indian trains during COVID times?

You need to follow all the mandatory guidelines mentioned by the authorities to ensure your safety. Wear mask while traveling in train or being at the railway station, avoid crowds and maintain social distancing. Keep sanitizing your hands regularly. You can also carry a disinfectant spray to disinfect your seat and surroundings.

Which is the best train in India?

This is no definite answer to this because of the way you define best. It could be in terms of service or the route it runs on. If you have to pick one, Samjhauta Express would be the best train of India as it connects India and Pakistan displaying the amazing coordination between the two countries with communal tensions. It connects Amritsar with Lahore.

Which is the long-distance train in India?

Vivek Express is the longest distance train in India that connects Dibrugarh in Assam with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The train runs weekly and takes about 79 hours to complete a journey of 4234 km. It has 57 intermediate stoppages. Whoa! Imagine the journey that would be on this train.

Which are the dangerous train routes in India?

Chennai - Rameswaram route is considered to be the most dangerous train route in India. It is ironic because it is also a pilgrimage route. So, your faith in God is put to test when you travel on this train. The 2.3 km long stretch of this train runs over the ocean fighting strong winds and tides that make this journey dangerous and testing.

Which are the best train journeys from Bangalore?

The train journey from Bangalore to Kanyakumari is the most scenic one. Ditch the car ride and take the train instead if you want to enjoy the scenery

Which is the longest rail bridge in India?

The longest rail bridge in India is the Vembanad Rail Bridge that connects Vallarpadam and Edappally in Kerala’s Kochi. The bridge is 4.62 km long and dedicated only to good trains.

Is the Indian railways run by private or public?

The Indian railways is a public railway organization run by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Which is the fastest train in India?

The Vande Bharat Express or Train 18 is currently the fastest train in India with a maximum operational speed of 180 km/h. The average speed of the train is around 102 km/h.

Which railway station has the most number of platforms in India?

Howrah Junction in Kolkata, West Bengal is one of the largest junctions in the country and a perfect bridge between North, South, East and West India. It has 23 platforms that spread in a huge area.

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Sukanya Sen

A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.

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Rail travel in India

• 2.1.1 Regular trains
• 2.1.2 Mountain trains
• 2.1.3 Luxury trains
• 2.2.1 Long-distance
• 2.2.2 Short-distance
• 2.2.3 Other classes
• 2.3.1 Suburban railway
• 2.3.2 Trams
• 2.3.3 Metros and monorails
• 2.3.4 Rapid rail
• 4 Schedules
• 5.1 E-ticketing
• 5.2 Counter booking
• 5.4 Booking tips
• 5.5 Non-confirmed accommodation
• 5.6 Tatkal quota
• 5.7 Foreign tourist quota
• 6.1 Scenic routes
• 8 Eat and drink
• 9.1 In the train
• 9.2 In the station
• 10 Stay safe

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The rail network of India is the third largest in the world, and the rail system is efficient, if not always on schedule. Tracks running well over 60,000 km help connect over 7,500 stations, ferrying nearly 20 million people every day. Although distances in India are long and Indian trains aren't the world's best, travelling on them can add a fascinating new dimension to a visitor's experience. There is virtually no better way to make friends with the local people and see the spectacular and diverse Indian countryside. On many routes the railways are the fastest and cheapest way to get around.

All trains in the national system in India are operated by the government-run Indian Railways (IR).

India's first commercial railway service began on 16th April 1853 at 3:35PM on its first run between Bori Bunder (in Mumbai , present-day Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Thane . On 15 August 1854, Eastern India's first passenger train ran from Howrah (near Kolkata ) to Hooghly . Back then, most railways in India were built by different private companies, and all of them were taken over by the government in 1944.

There used to be several different track gauges across the country. However, since 1992, most tracks are converted to broad gauge ( 1,676   mm or 5   ft 6.0   in ). Still, you can enjoy the narrow-gauge "toy trains" in mountainous areas (see #Mountain trains below).

There are a variety of trains in India, depending on the route you travel and whether you travel during the day or overnight. The more expensive and luxurious trains are as a rule air-conditioned, stop only at major stations, only have reserved seats or beds and in general offer passengers more space. In contrast, the cheaper services are slower, often have no air-conditioning and include non-reserved compartments. With a wide range of trains and accommodation types, you have the choice of travelling in a first-class compartment comparable to first class in a western country, in a more down-to-earth (and likely more adventurous) way or something in between. If you are looking for a really luxurious experience, there are several luxury trains touring popular destinations around India.

The IR uses two types of coaches. ICF coaches were the mainstay of IR passenger services. As they were developed in the 1950s, they were rather antiqued and have interior facilities worn-out. LHB coaches, which were developed in the 2000s, are largely air-conditioned (except Deen Dayalu coaches) and have better interior facilities. LHB coaches are often identified with its red and grey or blue and grey colours. In general, LHB coaches are more comfortable than ICF coaches. As of 2023, Rajdhani Express, Tejas Express and Shatabdi Express trains use LHB coaches, Duronto Express and Jan Shatabdi Express trains vary, Vande Bharat Express trains have their own coaches and the rest are most likely using ICF coaches.

IR has some newer coaches (usually updated chair cars) and faster services (listed below) that make riding the rails more appealing compared to flying. These trains tend to be more comfortable and faster than other trains, however, they aren't as common as other services.

Regular trains

All regular trains in India are either superfast express, express/mail, fast passenger, passenger or local/EMU trains. Don't get too excited by the term superfast ; it merely means that the train has an average speed of at least 55 km/h, and therefore the "superfast surcharge" is added to the ticket price. Also, many regular trains are named with Hindi words, so translations are provided along with the train's name. The broad hierarchy from luxurious to normal is as follows:

• Rajdhani Express ("Capital Express") — These are fully air-conditioned overnight trains, with only AC sleeper accommodation, that run between the national capital ( New Delhi ) and regional state capitals. They are Indian Railways' most luxurious trains. All meals are provided. With a top speed of 130 km/h, Rajdhani Express trains are the fastest long-distance trains of India and almost always on schedule. They get priority over other trains on their respective routes.
• Vande Bharat Express ("Praise India Express") — These are fully air-conditioned semi-high-speed, intercity, EMU trains, operated by the Indian Railways on 41 routes as of 2024. These are among the fastest and most luxurious trains of Indian Railways, and have seats only (no sleeper coaches). For example, with a journey time of 8 hours, the New Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train to connect these two important cities; all other trains take at least 12 hours on this route.
• Tejas Express ("Brilliance Express") — These are semi-high speed fully air-conditioned trains running on 4 routes as of 2024. It features modern onboard facilities with doors which are operated automatically. Tejas Express are seat-only trains which run during the day.
• Shatabdi Express ("Century Express") — These are fast, daytime intercity trains that connect important cities in a region, for example two adjacent states' capitals, and returning to their origin station the same day. These are fully air-conditioned trains offering sitting accommodation (no sleepers). They are among the fastest trains in India, and run on 21 routes as of 2024.
• AC First Class (1A) with 2-berth and 4-berth lockable coupes
• AC 2-tier (2A) with open bays (4 berths/bay + 2 berths on the other side of the aisle of each bay)
• AC 3-tier (3A) with open bays (6 berths/bay + 2 berths on the other side of the aisle of each bay)
• Sleeper Class (SL) with open bays (6 berths/bay + 2 berths on the other side of the aisle of each bay)
• Garib Rath Express ("Poor's Chariot Express") — These are fully air-conditioned superfast overnight trains, having both sitting and sleeper accommodations, that offer more seats per coach at a lower fare. These are not as punctual as other trains mentioned above and not as luxurious. The priority it gets in Indian Railways is also lower than the trains mentioned above.
• The trains mentioned above are fully reserved trains . They do not have unreserved/general compartments (see below).
• Jan Shatabdi Express ("People's Century Express") — These are superfast daytime intercity trains offering both air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned and unreserved sitting accommodation. Jan Shatabdi Express are usually very punctual, and are intended to be an economical version of the Shatabdi Express. While their route priority is below all the trains mentioned above, they still have higher priority than all the trains lower on this list. There are 27 active services as of 2024.
• Express and Mail — These trains have both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned carriages, including both sitting and sleeper accommodation, and stops at major railway stations.
• Fast Passenger — These trains have only non-air-conditioned carriages,including both unreserved sitting (mostly) and sleeper (sometimes) accommodation. They stop at almost all stations on their route.
• Passenger — These trains have only non-air-conditioned carriages offering only unreserved sitting accommodation.
• Local or EMU — These trains offer both sitting accommodation as well as standing room and grab rails and operate within and around big cities. Local trains are often part of a suburban railway network.

Mountain trains

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) — Winding its way over the steep and torturous foothills of the Himalayas, the "toy train" takes six hours to cover the 83   km (52   mi) distance from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Station in Siliguri to Darjeeling . Completed in 1883, the railway follows the road (and mostly shares the same bed) and uses an interesting system of reverses (the trains climbs into a sliding and then goes into reverse to climb up the next section of the hill, sort of like a sideways V) and loops (the track loops around and crosses itself) to navigate the steep climb. Batasia Loop , at a tor point near Darjeeling just beyond the town of Ghum, is the most famous because of its great views.
• Kalka–Shimla Railway — The railway from Kalka to Shimla was completed in 1903, the final stage in the connection of Calcutta (Kolkata), then the winter capital of British India, with Simla, then the summer capital. The 96   km (60   mi) railway line runs through the magnificent scenery of the Shivalik Hills, up valleys ringed by high mountains, across 864 stone bridges built like Roman viaducts, and through 107 tunnels, the longest 1,144   m (3,753   ft) in length.
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) — The steepest mountain railway in India, the NMR climbs the 6,159   ft (1,877   m) from Mettupalayam to Udhagmandalam (Ooty) over a distance of 46   km (29   mi) , with gradients of 1:12 in some stretches. Completed in 1899, it is the only railway in India to use a rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient. The train passes through 16 tunnels, over 250 bridges and around 205 sharp curves, with the breathtaking scenery of the Nilgiri Hills visible all along the way.
• Kangra Valley Railway (KVR) — This narrow-gauge, British-built train, also called Kangra Toy Train , from 1929 crawls 128 km from Pathankot main station through stunning scenery to Jogindernagar (6 hr) via Palampur and Kangra (93 km, 4 hr, ₹20) (near Dharamsala ). About six daily departures of slow, often packed second class trains make the trip. (The luxury Kangra Queen service is no more.) Some head only to the penultimate stop of Baijnath Paprola, though all serve the main towns of interest: Kangra and Palampur.

Luxury trains

One of the luxurious ways to explore the most prominent tourist destinations and attractions in India is to opt for luxury train travel . The history of luxury train travel in India dates back to the days of the maharajas who used to travel in opulent personal carriages. In 1982, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation launched the Palace on Wheels in collaboration with Indian Railways to revive the art of elegant traveling in India. The Palace on Wheels was launched to promote tourism in Rajasthan and cater exclusively to the overseas traveler and offer them a hassle free, all-inclusive and opulent option of traveling to the royal destinations in Rajasthan. Nowadays there are a total of 6 luxury trains plying different routes and offering a total of 11 pre-packaged itineraries.

• The Palace on Wheels — Although the history of luxury train travelling in India dates back to the time of maharajas during the days of British Raj, the modern history of this mode of transport dates back to 1982 with the introduction of India’s first luxury train. It was introduced as a joint venture of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways to promote Rajasthan as a global tourist destination. The venture turned out to be a great success among overseas travellers and a few decades later more such train journeys followed. The Palace on Wheels does an eight-day loop from New Delhi with stops and tours in Jaipur , Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Udaipur , Jaisalmer , Jodhpur , Bharatpur , and Agra . The train is equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, dining cars, bar & sitting lounge, guest cabins with attached bathroom and even a spa. The all-inclusive prices of the Palace on Wheels start from US$340 per person per night on triple occupancy basis in the off-peak season and US$450 for the same in peak season (October–March).

• Maharajas' Express — Latest luxury train in India, Maharajas' Express is touted as the India’s answer to the Orient Express. This luxury tourist train offers 5 itineraries 3 of which are pan-Indian tours and 2 are golden triangle tours. The Maharajas’ Express journeys are named the Heritage of India, the Indian Splendor, the Indian Panorama, Gems of India and Treasures of India. Maharajas Express also happens to be one of the costliest luxury tourist train rides in the world with fare starting from US$3580 per person per journey and reaching as high as US $22000 per person per journey for Presidential Suite.

India has seven classes of train travel to choose from. Not all classes are available on all trains: for example, chair cars are usually found only on short-distance daytime trains and higher-speed trains, while the sleeper classes are only found on overnight services.

Long-distance

• AC First Class (1A) , the most comfortable class to travel in, includes lockable four-berth and two-berth (coupe) compartments. The carriages are clean (and carpeted) and the toilets the cleanest of any on Indian trains. Sheets, pillows and blankets are provided and an attendant makes the beds at night. AC First Class carriages are usually found only on important overnight trains and are the most expensive class.
• AC 2 Tier (2A) Passengers sleep on four berths in an open cabin or on two berths that are positioned lengthwise along the side of the carriage. Each cabin has a curtain for privacy and each side berth has its own curtain for privacy. There are four toilets, two at each end of the carriage, and usually include a mix of western and eastern style toilets, spottily provided with toilet paper. An attendant brings around blankets, sheets and pillows.
• AC 3 Tier (3A) is similar to 2 Tier, the significant differences being the additional middle-bunk in the cabins (but not on the sides). Curtains may be present in each cabin for privacy and each side berth has its own curtain for privacy similar to AC 2 Tier coach. This can make it uncomfortable to sit up straight during the morning if the person in the middle-bunk is a heavy sleeper. An attendant brings around sheets, blankets, and pillows in the evening. Because there are more people around, AC 3 Tier tends to be noisier than AC 2 Tier.
• AC 3 Tier Economy (3E) is generally found in Garib Raths and a few Durontos - it is similar to AC 3 Tier but with the presence of a middle berth on the side too making it 9 berths in a bay. Denoted by "G". 3E is cheaper compared to 3A.
• Sleeper (SL) is the way most Indians travel and is an inexpensive way to get around the country. Berths are arranged in the same pattern as AC 3 Tier, six berths in a cabin and two along the side of the carriage, but there is no air-conditioning. The downside is that it can be hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable inside. The toilets are sometimes dirty and you may find yourself sharing your cabin with passengers without a reservation. For the adventurous, this is the way to see India.

For typical layouts of the different classes, you can refer to these unofficial diagrams .

Short-distance

With the new coaches and services that were made and established in the last few years, the quality of these "daytime" coaches can vary immensely, even in the same class.

• Anubhuthi (EA) is available on a few Shatabdis. It is essentially a modernized version of EC ( see below ), with new coaches that have updated seats with a screen for each passenger. It is similar to Tejas Express chair cars.
• Executive Chair Car (EC) is only available on Vande Bharats and some Shatabdis and Durontos. It is extremely comfortable, and is the most comfortable way to travel during the daytime.
• AC Chair Car (CC) , found on most daytime intercity trains, is also quite comfortable, but the seats are not as wide as EC. It is advisable to travel on this class wherever possible, as 2S ( see below ) can get quite crowded, particularly on busy routes.
• Second seater (2S) , available on most daytime intercity trains, is reserved seating in carriages without air-conditioning. Seats are comfortably padded, but the heat and dust outside can make it an uncomfortable ride in summer. Also, it is usually used by the passengers with a "general" ticket and use the seats by paying the fine (usually ₹20) to the TTE. There is a very good chance that you may end up in a seat with four people which is actually meant for 3. Also, if you find that there are too many empty seats while booking online, don't expect the compartment to be empty.

Other classes

• Vistadome — these are glass roof coaches, available in some scenic routes. These coaches provide panoramic views of certain tourist attractions. The fares are usually equivalent to EC. There are three types of Vistadome coaches, Vistadome Chair Car ( VC ), Vistadome Non AC ( VS ) and Vistadome AC ( EV ).
• Unreserved ( UR ) or General ( GEN ) — these have padded seats but the carriages are often packed with people sitting on the aisles and luggage racks. Not an advisable way to travel, even for short distances, except for the exceptionally tough and the curious that are in it for the experience alone.
• Ladies — if you are a solo female and taking the train, look for the compartment labelled "Ladies" or "Men Not Allowed" to enjoy a more comfortable and hopefully less crowded ride.
• For Disabled or Divyangjan — these are available at both ends of a train and they are reserved for passengers with disabilities.

Intracity services

The larger cities in India are generally served by more than one railway station. Most trains might halt at only one station, while others may stop at two to three.

Suburban railway

Suburban railways, often known as "local trains", are often crowded but are generally the fastest and cheapest way to get around cities which have them. They use the existing broad-gauge network and usually get less importance than express trains. Those who are not accustomed to it are advised not to travel in those trains as it might be quite troublesome for them to alight from the train at the correct station after pushing through a large crowd of other commuters. IR runs suburban trains in Chennai , Delhi , Hyderabad , Kolkata , Mumbai and Pune .

Tram systems in India were built by the British in Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), Cawnpore (Kanpur) and Madras (Chennai). As of 2023, only the Kolkata trams remain and all other cities have phased out trams. Although appreciated for being emissions-free, they are not very popular due to their slow speeds.

Metros and monorails

Major metropolitan cities in India have rapid transit systems, which are popularly known as "metros" in India. They have their own railway lines separate from the broad-gauge network. As of 2023, Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Chennai , Delhi , Gurgaon , Hyderabad , Jaipur , Kanpur , Kochi , Kolkata , Lucknow , Mumbai , Nagpur , Noida and Pune are served by metro systems. Except Kolkata, all other metros are not operated by IR. Delhi Metro is the largest metro system which connects to a few other cities nearby.

Mumbai is also served by a 20-km monorail line and it is the only city in India with a monorail system. Although other Indian cities had planned monorail projects, most of them were converted to other transport projects as the Mumbai Monorail has faced multiple issues.

Semi-high-speed regional trains, popularly known as "rapid rail", operate between a large urban area and a nearby smaller city. Like metros, they also have their own railway lines separate from the broad-gauge network. As of 2024, the Sahibabad–Duhai stretch of the Delhi – Meerut rapid rail is operational, and the trains used on that line are called Namo Bharat.

There are different types of railway stations in India, from a large station where you can find trains from all major cities, to a single platform by a rail track where even local trains don't stop at all. Most major stations are in the centres of respective cities or villages, although some newer stations are built at the fringes of cities.

All railway stations in India have signs in English and Hindi , mentioning the station name and details of facilities at the station. Most stations also have signs in other languages, which are usually the local languages used around the area. For example, the stations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have signs in English, Hindi and Urdu , while the stations in Tamil Nadu have signs in English, Hindi and Tamil .

The announcements of trains are performed in the languages used in the stations, and depending on the station, the English announcements are performed initially or finally. If you are still in doubt, asking around might be a bit of a problem because of the language barrier. In such circumstances, and in case of an emergency of any sort, contact the station master or the station superintendent for assistance. All station masters and superintendents speak English and will help you out.

Major railway stations offer a standard set of facilities including cloak rooms to leave your luggage (slow and bureaucratic but cheap and reasonably safe; you must lock your own bag and show a ticket), First class waiting rooms (no touts or beggars), a computerised reservation office for advance bookings and a booking office for unreserved/same-day tickets. Restaurant facilities vary widely.

Several railway stations also have touchscreen kiosks which help you track your train (real-time running information) and also provide a host of other details regarding bookings, schedules etc.

Before booking a ticket, do visit the Indian Railways website on Fare Enquiry for information including finding a train, fare and ticket availability.

You can also get the whole schedule online of a train here . A list of trains operating between two stations can be found here after clicking the Trains B/w Stations option at the top right.

Alternatively, you can get a copy of Trains At A Glance , the national rail timetable, from any railway station. This is updated every July and remains valid until the end of the next June. It allows you to choose the best train for your needs, and find the name and number of the train for your destination. However, this is a general guide and does not contain a detailed list of all stations, neither does it contain every train on a route. A more specific guide depending on the "rail zone" is available at important stations on that zone. For example, a detailed guide on trains plying in Western India (i.e. the Western Zonal Timetable) will be available at all major railway stations in Western India.

This private webpages like India Rail Info , Confirmtkt Trainman etc. also lets you search for trains, fares and ticket availability and route maps (no account necessary). Only use this site for your information, but always book online tickets, etc. via the official webpage (IRCTC) as stated under Ticketing .

Tickets can be purchased online or from counters at railway stations. If bought online, the ticket can be printed instantly or mailed to you. Availability of tickets depend on when you travel, how early you book and which class you want to travel in. On busy routes and dates you may end up on a waiting list and will get on the train only if there are cancellations, or you may have to travel in a rather uncomfortable general compartment.

It is necessary to reserve tickets in advance in order to travel by any of the classes listed above (except UR/GEN ). Tickets can be booked in two ways, e-ticketing and counter booking.

E-ticketing

An e-ticket (short for electronic ticket ) is a ticket that is booked online and printed instantly. Valid proof of identity (voter ID card/PAN card/Aadhaar card/passport/driving license) of any of the passengers should be produced along with the ticket on the day of the journey. The procedure for booking an e-ticket is as follows:

• Log in to the IRCTC [ dead link ] (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) website. Additionally, there is an official app called IRCTC Rail Connect available in both the Google Play Store and the Apple app Store .
• Log in with your username and password. If it's the first time you're using the site, you need to sign up first, by providing your name, email id, residential address, mobile and occupation (note: they also take mobile numbers from outside India, but the mandatory verification, via a one-time password (OTP), of international numbers does not work reliably).
• In the left section "Plan my Journey", type the station names of the originating and destination stations and select the station codes from the autocomplete list that will appear. Select the date of the journey and press the submit button.
• The page will reload and show you the results. If no results are returned, try different station names (for example, from Agra City to Agra Cantt).
• Results will list available trains ordered by departure time. Ih the last part of each result, there are the classes (for example 1A, 2A, 3A, SL). Click the wished class and, on top, additional information will appear.
• The site will display information for that train, class and day, and will show other times available for that particular day and class for upcoming days. Search for AVAILABLE-XXXX. That means you can book it right now. Other words like WL-XX mean that you can join a waiting list. Click the 'Book now' link. (X refers to the number of seats)
• A Ticket Reservation form will open on the page. Fill in the details and preferences of all the passengers (a maximum of six in a single booking), check the appropriate address box and click on the Next button.
• A copy of your ticket with the details will appear on the screen. Click on the Make Payment button.
• A list of payment options will appear, including Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Choose your preferred payment option. If you are using a foreign credit or debit card, select the option "Payment Gateway / Credit Card" and then "International credit cards - Powered by Atom". Click the Make Payment option.
• The copy of your ticket with the details will reappear on the screen. You can carry the printed copy/SMS sent on your electronic copy on your tablet, mobile phone, laptop etc. as well as a valid proof of identity with you on the day of your journey.
• E-ticket is considered to be the fast, secure and best way to book tickets (especially Tatkal tickets).

Tickets for unreserved trains can be purchased from the Unreserved ticketing system or UTS app available in both Google Play Store and Apple app store .

Counter booking

Tickets are also sold at most railway stations and at Indian Railways' 1000-plus computerised passenger reservation centres located across the country. For reservation at a counter, you need to fill in a paper form and submit it to the clerk at the counter (occasionally, after a long wait in a queue) along with the payment in either cash or by credit card. Credit cards are accepted at most important stations. Counters in the metros and other important cities accept Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress and Diners Card, as well as cards of most Indian banks. There are generally 1 to 3 counters where credit card payment is allowed, depending on the station.

Log in to IRCTC [ dead link ] for details of trains and fares. Alternatively (and especially if you do not have an account yet), you can find trains, fare details and ticket availability on the Indian Railways section on Fare Enquiry .

Despite the numerous types of trains and classes, the fare system is quite logical.

• Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi and Garib Rath Express trains have fixed point-to-point fares. The fare one-way may be slightly more or less than the reverse-fare, due to different catering charges.

There are basically five types of trains on the basis of fare:

• Passenger — slow trains that stop in all stations including very small stations.
• Fast Passenger — passenger trains that skip smaller stations and offer the same fare structure.
• Express and Mail — they stop only at major railway stations and charge higher than Passenger trains.
• Superfast Express — they skip some of the major stations and charge even higher than Express and Mail trains.
• Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express — they are elite trains that offer only air-conditioned coaches. They stop only at selected stations. The fare is quite high because all food is included.

Booking tips

• Avoid travel agents, touts, or anyone else who offers to book your tickets for a fee. It is usually much easier and cheaper to do it yourself.
• If you are booking from abroad, the easiest is to use the online service and print e-tickets at home. E-tickets can also be sent by local courier to addresses in India (not abroad) and most hotels willingly accept delivery if notified in advance.
• Train tickets are in high demand, especially during the summer (April–June) and winter (December–January) breaks. This means that without careful planning, it may be next to impossible to get tickets for long-distance travel (for example from New Delhi to Mumbai). You can book up to 120 days in advance, but during the busy season, the tickets may get sold out quickly. So, plan your journey well in advance.
• Foreign nationals can get tickets from a quota reserved for them. In big cities, you have a specific counter or even a special office for them.
• If you plan to travel in 1A or EC , tickets should be easier to get - they are generally in less demand. However, in view of the increasing tourist population, even those seats are hard to get unless booked at least 5 days in advance.
• If the Indian Railways website seems too daunting, consider using Cleartrip or MakeMyTrip: Both offer comfortable booking for a small fee and will keep you updated on your waitlist status. However, these pages require IRCTC accounts.
• 12Go Asia offers a ticketing service for Indian trains that comes without the need of creating an IRCTC account. However, the service does not cover all the routes in India.

Non-confirmed accommodation

If you do not get a Confirmed (CNF) ticket, you may get one that is Waitlisted (WL) or in the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) status. If you've booked your ticket in advance, it will probably move from WL to RAC status or even to CNF status as time goes by (because of cancellations), so it is a good idea to check it periodically and keep your plans dynamic. Use the 10-digit Passenger Name Record (PNR) number, printed on the top right-hand corner of your ticket, to check the status of your ticket at any point of time। PNR is a record in the database of Indian Railways computer reservation system (IR-CRS) which saves the journey details for a passenger or the group of passengers. The number will read like WL32/WL14 or similar, with the structure being WL (original position)/WL (current position). There are many different ways to check your PNR status among which popular ones are listed below:

• Through websites. Indian Railways is the official portal to check the PNR status online.
• Dialling 139 .
• Through mobile application.
• Reservation status checks using SMS service.
• Railway enquiry or sahyog counters in your nearest railway stations.
• After final chart preparation.

You cannot get on to a reserved compartment if your ticket is waitlisted (you can only enter a General Compartment if available). Waitlisted caught entering the train are treated as non-ticket holders and fined. But if you have an RAC ticket, you are allotted 'sitting' berths i.e. in a Sleeper Coach, you and a fellow RAC ticket-holder share a berth so that both of you can travel sitting instead of sleeping. The Ticket Examiner then allots you a CNF sleeping berth as and when one is available due to last minute cancellations, no-shows etc. Depending on the train, the route and the season you are travelling in, the RAC ticket may get upgraded to CNF either as soon as the journey begins, mid-way through the journey or not at all. If you do not move up past a wait list (WL) ticket before the train leaves, you can apply for a refund, but only up to a maximum of a few hours after the train leaves (3 hours for short journeys, up to 12 hours for long journeys). If you bought your ticket online, a WL tickets receive an automatic refund.

Final berth listing will not be completed until at 4-hours prior to departure. Once the checked list is posted, often final cancellations and government official reservations are re-positioned which allow WL and RAC to move up in the queue. It is also possible that the list moves downward as officials are granted priority seating, and later confirmed seats become non-confirmed. Booking non-confirmed is really a gamble, but more often than not the seat will become available, especially if your earlier in the queue.

If you arrive at the station while still waitlisted, wait until the train arrives. A reservation list will be posted at the beginning of each class or tier. Locate your name according to reservation number. If your name is not listed, your ticket remains non-confirmed.

Tatkal quota

All reserved trains keep a small quota of seats known as Tatkal ( Hindi pronunciation: tuht-kahl, meaning 'immediate', abbreviated as TK ) for sale one day before the departure date. There is an extra charge for these seats. This option is also available at the time of booking online. Even with this extra quota (about 4% of the seats on a train) it can sometimes be difficult to get the train you want when you want it. If you cancel a Tatkal ticket, you won't get any refund. Only four tickets can be booked at time. ID proof is must for Tatkal ticket booking.

Foreign tourist quota

Many important trains also have a foreign tourist quota (abbreviated as FT ) available for foreigners. This is a small number of seats reserved, on some trains, specifically for people traveling to India on a tourist visa. The price is the same, but if the train is full, there's a chance that there will still be FTQ tickets available, and vice versa. There are very few seats available for this quota, so it is best to try for a seat at least 2 or 3 days in advance.

Payment must be in foreign currency, usually US dollars ($) or British pounds (£), or in Indian rupees (₹) backed with adequate proof of foreign exchange conversion (an ATM receipt is usually acceptable). A passport may also be required. Tickets on the foreign tourist quota cannot be booked online.

Enjoy the train, and speak to your fellow passenger. You may meet fascinating, wonderful people. Chai-wallahs and hawkers selling local food and other items roam the carriages and you'll find yourself sharing food and life-stories with the lower-middle-class families travelling with you.

Scenic routes

Other than narrow-gauge and luxury trains, many regular trains run across the spectacular countryside of India. Here are some of the most scenic routes that are operated as part of the regular train network:

• Kashmir Railway (Jammu–Baramulla) — Completed in 2023, the railway line starts from the flatlands of Jammu and ends at the hilly town of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir . It runs across the Pir Panjal hills and crosses the Chenab River with the Chenab Bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world. The route crosses inhospitable terrain, traverse major earthquake zones and be subject to extreme temperatures of cold and heat.
• Konkan Railway (Mumbai–Mangalore) — Completed in 1998, the railway line starts from the bustling cityscape of Mumbai and ends at the coastal city of Mangalore . It runs across the mesmerising Western Ghats from Mumbai to Madgaon , then runs across the western coast up to Mangalore.

There are numerous hawkers selling things in trains and stations. You should check the quality of the product before buying it. There are "One Station One Product" stalls at most railway stations, selling local products.

Eat and drink

Eating and sleeping much depend on the type and class of the train. Cuisine in India is very diverse, and as food is usually prepared on stations the train stops at and served on board, you'll have a chance to experience the local cuisine when you travel! In the lower classes such as Sleeper Class there are often also hawkers selling food.

Hot food is available at mealtimes on almost every train in India. The food is mostly prepared in kitchens at railway stations and then loaded onto the train, either onto a pantry coach attached to the train (on most important trains), or just brought on board by waiters and distributed directly to passengers. In some trains food is cooked in the pantry coach of the train. In most cases, a waiter collects orders an hour or two before mealtimes and if you don't place an order, you may be left out in the cold, or if you are lucky, you can get some food at many railway junctions. However, in trains having a pantry car, breakfast is prepared on board the train and you do not have to place an order beforehand. You can tell which trains have a pantry car because there is a P listed with the classes available in Trains at a Glance . Meals available for lunch and dinner are generally vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis (rice, dal, a vegetable (chicken or fish curries for non-veg thalis), yoghurt (often sour), chapattis and occasionally, a sweet dish) or (veg/egg/chicken) biryani. Chilli chicken (sweet and sour chicken wings with chillis) is often available. Breakfast normally consists of vegetable cutlet and bread, or omelette and bread. Pantry car service always includes the sale of tea, coffee, cold drinks and "namkeen" (chips and other salty snacks). Note that while pantry cars mostly re-distribute food, they do have a small kitchen and, if you're sick of the dal/chapatti that shows up in the thali, it doesn't hurt to visit the pantry car and see if they can rustle up an omlet or some fresh chicken curry with parathas. The quality of food varies, with the fare being better in the South, North and West. The concept of hygiene, taste, and cuisine changes from region to region.

Most pantry cars and restaurants at stations are now managed by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) [ dead link ] . IRCTC provides satisfactory quality and hygienic food aboard trains and at stations. IRCTC kiosks are ubiquitous where one can find snacks, breakfast, packed foods, biscuits, cookies, mineral water etc. At major stations, IRCTC has licensed Comesum to open fine-dine restaurants. There are also Jan Aahaar outlet at many junctions which provide tasty and healthy food at affordable prices.

On Rajdhanis, Vande Bharats, Shatabdis and Durontos, all meals are included in the fare and are served at your seat at mealtimes.

If you are finicky, bring enough food and bottled water for the journey including delays: bananas, bread and chocolate bars are good basics to have. Most important stations will have vendors selling all kinds of edible stuff, but the usual caveats about eating in India apply. Often, snacks and food reflect local specialities.

In the train

Some places in the compartment are better than others for sleeping. In addition, the cheaper trains, often rather crammed, without air conditioning and stopping at every station may not offer an optimal environment for a good night's sleep. If you will stop for the night at a railway station you may not need to worry about finding a hotel room as many stations offer accommodation in retiring rooms.

The top ( UB ) and side upper ( SU ) bunks are best if you are the sort who likes to sleep early or late. The middle ( MB ) and bottom ( LB ) bunks are converted into seating area, so you will be forced to stay awake if everyone else in your compartment wants to stay up. Side lower ( SL ) and upper ( SU ) bunks are a great idea if you want a window seat, but they are a bit smaller than the other bunks, so don't choose them if you are a tall person. Note that 1A and FC classes do not have MB , SL or SU bunks, while 2A does not have MB bunk.

In the station

IR operates two hotels in Delhi and Howrah . Passengers can book independent rooms or dormitories on production of tickets. Known as the Rail Yatri Niwas , the facilities are very basic and the rooms are quite shabby. There is a self-service restaurant.

There are also two Railway Hotels in Puri , Odisha and Ranchi , Jharkhand , which offer far better service than the ones in Delhi and Howrah.

Retiring rooms are available at most major railway stations across the country. They offer basic facilities including a bed, mattress, blankets, drinking water, closet, toilet (and in the case of air-conditioned rooms) and a television. You have to produce a reserved journey ticket in order to be able to book retiring rooms.

Dormitories , both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned, are available at almost all railway stations in India.

• 28.642314 77.220004 1 Rail Yatri Niwas , New Delhi railway station ( metro: New Delhi     2   ), ☏ +91 11 2323-3484 . Dorm ₹145/bed, Single Non-AC ₹265, Double Non-AC ₹385/₹450, Double AC ₹850 . ( updated Sep 2022 )
• 22.58205 88.34245 2 Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas , New Complex, Howrah railway station ( metro: Howrah     2   ), ☏ +91 33 2660-1742 . Contains dormitory, single room, and double room accommodation. First-class passengers can wait in an air-conditioned area with balcony views of the Kolkata skyline and the Howrah Bridge. Dorm ₹100/bed, Double Non-AC ₹350, Double AC ₹550, Triple Non-AC ₹400 . ( updated Oct 2022 )
• 19.807743 85.838029 3 Railway Hotel , Puri railway station , ☏ +91 6752 222-063 , fax : +91 6752 223-005 . Single ₹400/₹600, Double Non-A/C ₹/750/₹1000/₹1200, Double A/C ₹900/₹1500, Triple Non-A/C ₹850/₹1700 . ( updated Sep 2022 )

Always watch your bags , especially in and around train stations. Once on a train, chain and lock your bags to the hooks provided under the lowest bunk, or keep them at your head. Make sure to also lock any exterior pockets (keep your toilet paper, and anything else you'll want on the outside). You can buy chains from chain-and-lock sellers who walk around train stations and trains.

Do not take food or drink from any unknown passenger if they insist to do so. Politely decline their offer. There is a small chance the food or drink may be drugged so they can steal your belongings. Smoking and consumption of alcohol on all trains and at all railway stations is prohibited. There is a steep fine for violation of these rules.

Contrary to common belief, it is uncommon for passengers to sit on the top of crowded trains in India, which is fairly common in Bangladeshi trains. However, Indian trains often leave train carriage doors open , even on high-end train services, so mind your step when passing through doors. It is also common among Indian travellers to board on and alight from moving trains. Such moves are obviously risky and travellers should wait until the train has stopped.

All the non-AC coaches, especially second class/general compartments, can be overcrowded because of local ticketless passengers. Local trains are also overcrowded during rush hours. You may not find an authority to complain. So better to adjust in the situation and try not to argue and complain. AC coaches are fairly safe from this problem.

Free Wi-Fi facilities, known as RailWire, are available at major railway stations.

India has two separate police forces for railway policing, namely the Railway Protection Force ( RPF ) and the Government Railway Police ( GRP ). Crimes that occur on trains and at railway stations should be reported to the GRP, as the RPF has no investigation power.

Don't just look at a map and assume a short trip, it's best to check Trains at a Glance before making your plans.

Restrooms on Indian trains are usually of the squat variety (most carriages have two squat-type and two sit-down type toilets), and are serviceable at best. The cleanliness tends to deteriorate over the duration of a journey, and the toilets may even be broken, but on longer trips toilets are cleaned at intermediate stations. Washbasins are provided both inside and outside the toilets. Shower cubicles are available only on AC First carriages in Rajdhani Express trains.

In all reserved classes, every passenger needs to carry a form of ID , though whether your ID will actually be checked depends on the serving Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE).

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8 incredible train journeys in South India

Jul 31, 2023 • 8 min read

The slow, marvelous trains that crisscross South India offer a wonderful way to discover this vast region © MTD_myTravelDiaries / Shutterstock

Trains pass through jade-green forests, misty mountains and gorgeous coastal stretches in lush South India.

Riding the rails is one of the greatest joys of any India adventure, whether you’re trundling high up into the hills aboard a UNESCO-listed miniature train or clattering along the sun-drenched, coast-hugging Konkan Railway.

Down south, landscapes spin from honey-gold beaches and palm-shaded backwaters to jungle-covered hills, gushing waterfalls and sprawling megacities. And there’s no finer way to soak it all up than from the window seat of a clanking train, over a white-paper cup of steaming sweet chai.

Fabulous food is often part of the picture, too, thanks to vendors deftly making their way through carriages at stations, and top-tier tickets that include on-board meals. As you roll across wildly beautiful South India , you’ll see local staples such as potato-stuffed dosas (crispy, thin lentil-and-rice-flour crepes), crispy vadas (fried savory dough) and coconut-rich Keralite stews pop up, while soothing chai and filter coffee inevitably always appear at just the right moment. Certain stations are famous for selling particular regional specialities, and some trains are known for serving superb food. 

Here are eight terrific train journeys that offer a taste of India’s sultry south. 

Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway 

46km (29 miles), 3.5–4.75 hours

South Indian rail thrills don’t get more classic than catching the famous, Unesco-listed “toy train” into northern Tamil Nadu ’s misty Western Ghats . Jade-green tea plantations, lush jungle, rushing waterfalls and far-reaching panoramas jostle for attention as the narrow-gauge, rack-and-pinion steam train rattles up into the Nilgiri Hills from tiny Mettupalayam, zipping through 16 tunnels and across 250 bridges. Eventually, it reaches the hugely popular hill station of Ooty , at 2240m (7350ft). There’s also a stop along the way at Coonoor, the Nilgiris’ second hill station, resting at 1720m (5643ft). First opened in 1899 (and extended to Ooty in 1908), the NMR pulls in an often-lively domestic crowd, with people cheering as tunnels plunge you into darkness. 

The blue-and-cream miniature train leaves for Ooty every day at 7:10am and takes 4.75 hours on the way up; it makes its way back down to Mettupalayam at 2pm, a 3.5-hour journey. The best way to get to Mettupalayam is aboard the nine-hour overnight Nilgiri Express from Chennai Central (or hop on it at Coimbatore , which has an airport), arriving just in time at 6:15am.

Bengaluru (Bangalore) to Gokarna on the Karwar Express

711km (442 miles), 14 hours

Flights link Karnataka ’s lively capital of Bengaluru with the coast in an hour or so – but then you’d be missing out on a spectacular slow-travel jaunt through the lush, biodiverse and unbelievably beautiful Western Ghats en route to Gokarna ’s blissful beaches. Leaving Bengaluru’s Yesvantpur Junction station three days a week at 7am, the Karwar Express follows inland Karnataka’s so-called Green Route, which is known for its wild green forests, dense coffee crops and over 100 bridges. After reaching the low-key coastal town of Mangaluru (Mangalore) , the train follows the coast north to Gokarna Road station, where some of South India’s most magical and relaxed beaches await on the doorstep. 

If you’d prefer an overnight train to the beach, catch the daily Panchaganga Express at 6:50pm from Bengaluru City station, which drops you at Gokarna Road 12 hours later. 

Mumbai to Margao (Madgaon) on the Mandovi Express

765km (475 miles), 12 hours

One of India’s most spectacular railway stations – Mumbai ’s Gothic-style, colonial-era Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus – is the 7:10am starting point for a thrilling coastal adventure south to the golden sands of Goa . Built in the 1990s, the beloved 756km (470-mile) Konkan Railway rushes across 2216 bridges and through almost 100 tunnels, and includes one of the country’s tallest viaducts (a 60m/197ft-high marvel near Ratnagiri). Gaze out on tropical-fruit plantations, rice fields, meandering rivers and electric-green coconut palms as you spin through Maharashtra to land in Margao , southern Goa’s main transport hub, from where there’s easy onward transport to mellow beachy beauties like Palolem and Benaulim. 

But the Mandovi Express isn’t all about the views: it’s also famous for its food, courtesy of a Karnataka-born catering company that delights travelers with samosas, idli-sambar , vadas and other favorites. South of Goa, the Konkan Railway continues through Karnataka almost to the Kerala border. 

Varkala to Kanyakumari on the Island Express

127km (79 miles), four hours

Settle in for a leisurely journey from the golden-black beaches, lively surf-and-yoga scene and holy temples of Varkala , on Kerala ’s south coast, to the southernmost tip of India, in Tamil Nadu. Famous as the place where three seas meet – the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal – laid-back Kanyakumari centers on a revered waterside temple devoted to the Hindu goddess Kumari, a site with an entrancing feel. The beloved Island Express’ 10:55am departure from Varkala means you’ll enjoy southern Kerala’s palm-laced landscapes in all their hazy day-lit beauty. 

Alternatively, you can hop on in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) , three hours from Kanyakumari, or even from as far north as Bengaluru – which involves a 19-hour, 944km (587-mile) overnight spin via Coimbatore, Kochi, Kollam and more. 

Vasco da Gama to Londa on the Goa Express

146km (91 miles), 3.5 hours

The tumbling 603m(1980ft)-high cascade of Dudhsagar Falls (one of India’s tallest waterfalls) is the “wow” moment on any journey between the South Goan port city of Vasco da Gama and Londa, just over the border in Karnataka. Along the way, Goa’s gold-tinged shoreline gives way to the Western Ghats’ Unesco-protected hills, as you dive into the contiguous wildlife-rich Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary . 

The 3pm Goa Express (a daily superfast train) runs north from Vasco da Gama via Londa all the way to Delhi – 2208km (1372 miles), or 39.5  hours away. It also stops in Margao , a handy alternative Goa start point.

Chennai to Hyderabad on the Chennai–Hyderabad Express

715km (444 miles), 13 hours

Wake up to the ancient architectural jewels of Telangana ’s dynamic capital Hyderabad , home to some of India’s most magnificent Islamic buildings, such as the chandelier-lit Chowmahalla Palace , the 16th-century Golconda Fort and the splendid Qutb Shahi Tombs . The fun starts with a 4:45pm daily departure from Chennai Central and a South Indian–style dinner on board as the Chennai–Hyderabad Express inches its way north from Tamil Nadu. You’ll probably start the next day sharing a chat and a sugary chai with your carriage neighbors, watching the countryside morph into an urban metropolis on the slow roll into Hyderabad Deccan station. 

Kochi to Margao on the Netravathi Express

849km (527 miles), 14.75 hours

Also following the Konkan Railway for much of the way, this overnight route zips you north from Kerala’s arty cultural hub Kochi to serene southern Goa. After hopping on at Ernakulam Junction station in Kochi at 1:50pm, Kerala whirls past in a blur of sun-toasted coconut palms. Post-sunset, you’ll travel through coastal Mangaluru and the temple town of Udupi in Karnataka, to (finally!) reach Margao Junction just before sunrise. 

In its full extent, the Netravathi Express links Kerala’s capital Trivandrum with Mumbai – a whopping 30-hour, 1805km (1122-mile) journey. It’s also handy for reaching northern Kerala’s untouristed beaches (around Kannur and Bekal ), and you can pick it up from further south than Kochi if you’re in, say, Alappuzha (Alleppey) or Varkala.

Chennai to Rameswaram on the Rameswaram Express

665km (413 miles), 11 hours

Plodding across the 2km(1.25-mile)-long Pamban Bridge, with the Bay of Bengal swirling below, puts a whole new spin on riding the rails in South India. The bridge links mainland Tamil Nadu to Pamban Island, home to the small pilgrimage town of Rameswaram and the eerie ruins of Dhanushkodi (a once-thriving port destroyed by a 1964 cyclone), and marks the final stretch of a long overnight trip south from Chennai Egmore. 

Known as the Boat Mail Express in the 19th century, this train originally operated as part of a rail-and-ferry route linking Tamil Nadu with neighboring Sri Lanka (then under British rule as Ceylon), until the Pamban Bridge was opened in 1914. It’s also possible to travel by train across from the celebrated temple city of Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu; trains leave throughout the day from Madurai Junction (four hours). 

At the time of writing, rail services across the original century-old Pamban Bridge have been suspended while a new bridge is constructed, after safety concerns arose in 2022. 

How to book trains in South India

The best way to find out about South Indian train services is online via Erail , Indian Railways and/or Seat 61 ; this last resource offers invaluable advice on all things train travel–related in India, including buying tickets. 

Many trains sell out well in advance of their departure date, so it’s best to book as far ahead as possible, ideally online. Long-distance bookings currently open 120 days beforehand. Most comfortable for overnight travels are the reserved air-conditioned classes (1AC, 2AC or 3AC). The easiest way to reserve is through a booking portal such as Cleartrip or 12Go . The IRCTC government website also takes online bookings, but it can be a frustratingly fiddly process. On the ground, major train stations in places like Mumbai and Chennai usually have dedicated ticket counters for foreign travelers. Read more about how to get around India by train here . 

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10 of the Best Train Journeys in India (and How to Take Them)

One of the quintessential travel experiences in India, you don’t want to miss these: the best train journeys in India from luxury trains, toy trains and “regular” trips, from all around the country!

Choosing the Best Train Journeys in India

We don’t keep it much of a secret that hopping on a train is our favourit-est way to travel, especially in India, where you can be assured of smiles, lots of people, great views, and probably a spot of adventure along the way.

Despite the advent of flying in India, we’d rather take the train any day: It’s much more scenic, fun, is better for the environment, and you’re guaranteed to go home with stories to tell vs sitting in yet another plane.

Choosing this list of our recommended train journeys in India for visitors was not the easiest of tasks – simply because there are so many worthy contenders! And so, we drafted in a little help from other travellers and writers, and asked them to share their best train journeys in India too. We’ve covered toy trains, “regular trains” and luxury trains from all corners of the country to light up your train travel wanderlust.

Planning train travel in India is not always straightforward (we’ve written EVERYTHING you need to know about that over here – so make sure you keep it bookmarked). But fortunately, arranging train travel in India is getting easier, with the advent of online agencies that can book tickets for you without you having to sign up for an IRCTC account: We use and recommend 12go.asia for booking train tickets in India as a foreign traveller.

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Best “Regular” Train Journeys in India

No bells and whistles here, these are some of our favourite “regular” Indian train journeys with great views and more that we recommend taking if you can!

Jan Shatabdi Express from Mumbai to Goa

Does the idea of rolling out of sweaty, busy Mumbai at daybreak and arriving by the sea in Goa in time for your prawn curry for lunch sound appealing? Thought so. Many people fly from Mumbai to Goa, but in our humble opinion they miss the best part.

The train from Mumbai to Goa travels what’s known as the Konkan railway, and it’s actually one of India’s most recent railways. It was thought for decades to be too difficult terrain to build a railway through to connect Mumbai and Panjim, and the British declared it un-feasible and impossible. It was not until 1998 that services fully began, and Mumbai was finally connected to Goa, Karnataka and Kerala on a direct line.

This line winds through the western ghats (hills) in south Maharashtra before entering Goa for the most scenic part of the trip, across rivers and backwaters with glimpses of the ocean.

Many trains ply the route from Mumbai to Madgaon (south central Goa), Thivim (for North Goa) and further south to Canacona. If you travel overnight, you’ll miss the views (the best part of this journey) so we recommend taking the day train if you can, the best of which is the Jan Shatabdi . The Tejas Express is one of the new high-end trains but has sealed windows and automatic sealed doors – so hardly great for photos!

How to take this train: The Jan Shatabdi (12051) leaves Dadar in Mumbai at 05.25 daily, arriving in Madgaon at 13.50. You could also take this journey in reverse from Madgaon to Mumbai which is also beautiful. In winter (Nov-Feb) sit in non-ac chair car class for fresh air and views out of the open windows. At other times, opt for the AC option. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Search and book tickets here for Mumbai – Goa on 12go !

The Deccan Queen from Pune to Mumbai

My first solo train journey in India left quite an imprint on my memory. Clambering on to the Deccan Queen while it was still dark in Pune to begin the 3 hour journey in Mumbai I’d been told that the pantry car (catering) on this train was good, and not to miss the chance to have breakfast.

Happily filled by my masala baked beans on toast (no I didn’t get sick), I happily dozed on the train as the sunlight started to creep in. I woke up to see the train twisting through the dramatic ghats with stunning views out onto the hills of Maharashtra in the morning light. I curse myself to this day for not being quicker with my camera. Just after 10am, the train creeps in to Mumbai’s best known and best-loved railway terminus – CS(M)T (formerly VT), and the heart of south Bombay .

Many trains run the popular route between Pune and Mumbai, but we recommend this one because of a) the morning light against the hills in winter and b) the food. Plus, there’s a certain something about taking a train named after a queen…

How to take this train: The Deccan Queen (12124) leaves Pune at 07.15 and arrives in Mumbai (CST) at 10.25. In winter, you can take non-AC chair car class (2nd Sitting) for mountain air and better views. In hotter months / monsoon we recommend AC. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Search and book tickets here for Pune – Mumbai on 12go!

The Gatimaan Express from Delhi to Agra

Contributed by Soujanya from thespicyjourney.com

Similar to a shatabdi express , The Gatimaan Express is one of the first high-speed trains in India, and is the currently second fastest train in operation in India. It’s a high speed all air-conditioned train that runs between Delhi and Jhansi, stopping at Agra along the way.

The train originates at Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in the south of Delhi, and ends at Jhansi Junction railway station, stopping in-between at the Agra Cantonment Railway Station. It is highly recommended to take this train while going to Agra from New Delhi.

One of the main reasons why the train is preferred is because it’s the fastest train between Delhi and Agra – covering a distance of 188 km in 100 minutes. Secondly, the train is clean, fully air conditioned and there are (free / included) meals served on board by attentive staff, which are fine to eat. There are two classes available for the Gatimaan express which are executive AC tickets priced at INR 1500 and regular AC tickets costing INR 750. The main difference between the two is legspace, and more food in executive class. Regular AC is fine. The train operates on all days, except Fridays (seeing as the Taj is closed on fridays).

How to take this train: The Gatimaan Express (12050) leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi daily except fridays at 08.10, arriving at Agra Cantonment at 09.55. In the reverse direction (train number 12049), the Gatimaan leaves Agra Cantonment at 17.50 and arrives back at Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin at 19.30. Tickets need to be booked in advanced, preferably at least a few days. If this train is fully booked, a good alternative is train #12002 from New Delhi station to Agra.

Search and book tickets here for Delhi – Agra on 12go!

Bangalore to Goa

Contributed by Madhurima of orangewayfarer.com

Because India is a world in itself, different rail routes will give you a taste of different terrain. From window scene to quick snacks, even the taste of Chai differs on Indian train journey. One of the most scenic Indian train journey is the one from Bangalore to Goa.

With cheap airfares and frequent bus service, many people want to make it quick to Goa. I say, slow down. And make the most of spiraling railroad through the Western Ghats, which will gradually descend to the white sandy beaches kissing Arabian sea.

One of the most rewarding rail journeys to Goa is passing the Dudhsagar falls. Come monsoon, the fall regain all her Vigour and stage a fantastic show. Monsoon also means restricted access to Dudhsagar trek, making the rain journey to be the sole chance to view the falls. The train usually slows down as it approached the fall. You’ll be able to see a lot of people peeping out of the window in awe. Dudhsagar (ocean of milk, literally) appears twice, on both sides of the train. But Dudhsagar is short lived. Beyond that, the 10 hours long journey still proves its worth, when the train enters numerous stone tunnels and gradually ascends to a world of mist and lush green verdant valley of the Western Ghats.

How to take this train: There are several trains running from Bangalore to Vasco da Gama in Goa, but to be able to see the falls at Dudhsagar, you want one that arrives in Goa during daylight hours. (The nearest station to where the train passes by the falls is Kulem). Train #17316 from Chennai does that, or train #17603 depending on the day of the week. The falls and scenery are at the most lush during monsoon (July-September). Tickets must be booked in advance.

Search and book tickets from Bangalore to Goa on 12go here!

Odisha, Kendujhar to Bhubaneswar

Contributed by Renuka from Voyager for Life

My favourite train journey was in Odisha, an eastern state of India – from Kendujhargarh to Bhubaneswar. While Kendujhargarh is a small town known for its many waterfalls, Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha. It’s a 5-hour journey in a chair car coach, which is quite comfortable and fun.

The highlight of this train journey is the constant sight of beautiful landscapes that one gets to witness along the way. Although the entire state of Odisha has amazing natural beauty and there are several train routes that you can take to enjoy the scenic landscapes, the Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar route is perhaps the most captivating one. There’s a certain mellow quality about the hills and open fields that you pass by. Since the train departs in the afternoon from Kendujhar and reaches Bhubaneswar towards the evening, there’s a prospect of enjoying an evocative sunset, too.

To make the most of your train journey, ensure to book a window seat! It’s a delightful experience to be glued to the outside view until a  chai  or coffee guy sneaks you out of your daydream, which is not a bad deal either. The coffee that you get to have on this route is fantastic.        

How to take this Train . There are four daily trains, the one coinciding with sunset being the 18415 Barbil – Puri Express. Classes are Chair Car (AC) or second sitting. Tickets are available on the IRCTC website or in person at the station, book a few days before if you can.

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Delhi to Kota, Rajasthan

Contributed by Priyanka of On My Canvas .

Delhi to Kota is one of my train journeys in India that has stayed with me for a long time. As the train leaves the chaotic stations of Delhi, it goes through a range of terrains. The life going on around the small stations in between is enough to make any traveler curious. Houses perched on the roadsides are shaken to the core when the train rambles through the town. Children in the streets, waiting for the train to pass over, wave as it does. 

Getting down at the Mathura junction to get some peda (sweets) isn’t more customary than getting off the train at Bharatpur to get some early taste of the lemony poha (beaten rice) that is typical of Rajasthan. Travelers who visit the Pushkar mela would know all about the poha . 

But after the train crosses further into Rajasthan, it crosses a desert landscape. The landscapes become dry, and vegetation is sparse. Dry winds blow in, but one could only experience the change in these if the coach is non-air conditioned, as scrub and bush surprisingly creeps in, as the train heads further south in India’s desert state .

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The journey was my favorite for it took me from the warmth of my house to the strange city of Kota where I studied as a little girl. Between the comfort of home and hard student life, the train journey was a transit that I wished would never end. And then there were the station snacks that would lure any child to keep going back and forth by train.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous railway journey while enjoying some local snacks on the way, Delhi to Kota is a good one. The journey is special for the sharp contrast between the scenery and the culture of Delhi and Rajasthan.

How to take this train: To get the effect of the changing climate, book a non-ac class such as ‘Sleeper’ or 2S (2nd sitting). The train journey lasts between 6-7 hours, depending on which train you take, and there are many different trains leaving from both New Delhi station (NDLS) and Hazrat Nizamuddin station in the south of Delhi. For a reliable train with a non-air conditioned option, you can take the Jan Shatabdi train #12060 which leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin daily at 13.15.

Search & book tickets from Delhi to Kota here on 12go!

Best Toy Train Journeys in India

Otherwise known as mountain railways of India, India is home to several toy train journeys that were built on narrow gauge, to transport primarily holiday makers to the country’s hill stations to escape the sweltering summer temperatures.

Two of the most famous are the Kalka-Shimla railway and the Darjeeling Himalay railway. Another mountain railway from Srinagar (Kashmir) to Leh (Ladakh) is planned for the future, making it the highest railway in the world, but construction has yet to begin.

Nilgiri Toy Train

Contributed by Sapna from My Simple Sojourn .

The Nilgiri mountain railway is a UNESCO world heritage site. The train runs with steam locomotive engines and its speed varies between 15 to 30 Km. The Nilgiri mountain railway has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%. This railway track has the Abt rack and pinion system to climb this gradient. 

These trains operate between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam. (Ooty). The initial 7 Km journey is through the plains, where you will see the Paddy fields on both sides. Afterward, the train enters the Nilgiri Mountain range and passes through the mountains.

I love this journey because of the scenic beauty. You will see lush green mountains, deep valleys, cross 250 bridges and pass through 16 tunnels in 46 Km. There are several curves and hairpin bends on the way. As the train crosses Coonoor, you will see the beautiful tea gardens on both sides of the track. The toy train journey is an extremely joyous experience. 

There are general class and First class category in this train. The main difference between the two classes is space. In the first-class, you will get more space to sit and keep the luggage in comparison to the general class. Otherwise, both are more or less similar. It is advisable to book the tickets in advance because the train has limited seats, which get filled very fast. Traveling by this train should be on everyone’s list when in the South of India.

How to take this train: Tickets are bookable via the IRCTC website in advance, or in person at one of the stations at least two hours before. The train does get busy, so advance booking is preferable (you’ll need an IRCTC account). Timetable and more info on the route can be found here .

Kalka Shimla Railway

Contributed by Amrita from Tale of 2 Backpackers

Train journeys in India can be a bag of mixed feelings. While some train journeys can be a wonderful experience, others can be quite hectic. Nevertheless, I have always loved train journeys. There is a subtle romanticism and charm in train journeys that I cannot find in other modes of transport. One of my favourite train journeys in India happens to be the Kalka Shimla Railways – the toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla. I had however taken the journey on the other way from Shimla to Kalka after completing the Rupin Pass Trek.

Kalka Shimla Railways was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 as it is quite an engineering feat, considering the fact that it was opened for public in early 1903. This mountain railway runs on narrow-gauge tracks (2 feet tracks). The railway has 988 bridges, 919 curves and 102 tunnels in the 96 km it runs. 

The train journey is an experience of a lifetime. As the slow train chugs through the mountains bridges manoeuvring the curves, there is a feeling of thrill and excitement. Also, the natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh is unmatched. There are 16 stations between Shimla and Kalka. These stations look quaint and like picture postcards, the best one being Barog. The train moves through the forests, villages and some rugged terrain. The railway stations give a feeling of the old colonial days. The six hours train journey through surrounded by pine and forest trees is definitely one of the most pleasant train journeys in India. 

How to take this train : There are several different trains that run from Kalka to Shimla, from regular passenger trains with basic unreserved seating, to tourist trains with vista dome coaches attached. Tickets can be bought up to 120 days in advance via the IRCTC website. This article has a full breakdown of the different trains and comfort levels.

Best Luxury Trains in India

For those looking for the wow factor of life on the rails in India.. the country has some world class luxury trains. If you dream of sipping sweet chai from your full length bed in a private cabin in silk dressing gown… look no further than these!

The Golden Chariot

Contributed by Mar from Once in a Lifetime Journey

The Golden Chariot stands out among the four luxury trains of India as it’s the only one in its category that operates in the south of the country.

The aptly named Pride of the South and Southern Splendor routes are epic and majestic 8-day journeys that pass through some of southern India’s most beautiful places. They both start and end in Bangalore with the former passing through Mysore, Shravanabelagola, Belur, Halebidu, Hampi, Pattadakal, Badami caves and finally Goa. The latter makes stops at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Kerala and so much more.

Rooms are decorated, as well as named, after the different dynasties that ruled Karnataka, for example Ganga, Sangama and so on. Travelers can choose between a twin or double room, which are more suited for couples sharing a single bed. Both have large ensuite bathrooms that are spacious for a train and have enclosed showers. Beds are full length and not the usual fold up types that one finds on other trains in India.

The train even includes a sampling of gym facilities. Food is served in two separate restaurants (dining cars) and there are even two kitchens onboard that feed up to 80 guests at a time – one for Indian cuisine and the other for Western-style cooking. And the food is absolutely delicious, both the large Western menu and the local Karnataka cuisine from the south of India are some of the best you will find.

The best part of the Golden Chariot is the fantastic service, where passengers are treated like royalty. While locals can hop on and off at will, foreigners have to book the entire 8-day journey, but riding in luxury in India’s south is a once in a lifetime experience and is absolutely worth it. 

How to take this train : Tickets/tours can be booked on the Golden Chariot’s website or through select travel agencies.

The Palace on Wheels

Contributed by Natalie from Love and Road .

The Palace on Wheels is a luxury train journey through Rajasthan and Agra: It’s a 7 day trip on board a vintage luxury train that whisks you back in history to a grander era of train travel. On board you will find draped curtains, silver cutlery, and butlers that will take care of everything you need during this luxury adventure.

The Palace on Wheels journey starts in Delhi and every day you will wake up in a new place. Most of the traveling is overnight, so you will arrive fresh and ready to explore a new destination. In every destination, guides and transport will take you to the main attractions, including the most impressive forts in Rajasthan. Along the way you’ll learn about the culture and food of this beautiful part of India. 

The train crew organizes all the activities and entrance fees; you only need to follow the instructions and have fun. The price of the train trip includes all meals; you’ll get breakfast, lunch, and dinner served onboard or in a restaurant/hotel in the destination you are visiting. And every time you go back to the train your butler will be waiting for you with fresh tea/coffee and biscuits. 

Every room has an assigned butler that will organize your schedule, maintain your cabin, and help you with everything you might need or want. The train offers luxury double rooms and standard twin rooms. There are two rooms per carriage, and in the cabins you will find a bed, wardrobe, sitting area, and a private bathroom.

My husband and I loved the Palace on Wheels experience. The hassle-free train journey is perfect for travelers that want to see the best of Rajasthan in a short time and without worrying about booking transportation, hotels, and activities by themselves. 

How to take this train : Tickets/tours can be booked through the Palace on Wheels website and through select travel agencies.

In addition to the above luxury trains, there is also the Maharajas Express which covers a range of classic itineraries in northern India, and the Deccan Odyssey which tours beautiful Maharashtra.

Have you travelled by train in India? Which was your favourite journey? Let us know in the comments below!

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THE DECCAN ODYSSEY | LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL

Welcome to luxury train travel in India! Embark on a voyage across the magnificent landscapes and territories of India. Sail into an age of romance and royalty, discover the soul of this incredible country. From world heritage sites, forts and palaces to an array of cultural experiences crafted exclusively for you. Select from 6 great rail journeys in India on board the Deccan Odyssey and rediscover the art of elegant train traveling.

DECCAN ODYSSEY LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEYS

India’s very own Blue Train, the Deccan Odyssey luxury train in India, is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities to offer a lavish and pampering ride to the guests.

Destinations

With 6 tastefully crafted journeys, the Deccan Odyssey travels to some of the most prominent destinations across India in Maharashtra, Rajasthan & Gujarat.

Heritage, spirituality, golden triangle, forts & palaces, sand dunes, wildlife and an array of world heritage sites; the Deccan Odyssey journey is truly enlightening.

The Deccan Odyssey luxury train tours are packages without baggage. All 6 journeys come inclusive of accommodation, dining, sightseeing and more.

Get ready for an experience of a lifetime, planning a journey into the world of luxury train travel with Deccan Odyssey.

Deccan Odyssey - Luxury Train in India

Introduced in 2005 with the aim of promoting tourism in Maharashtra, Deccan Odyssey is a collaboration between the Indian Railway and the State Government of Maharashtra. This luxurious train covers the tourist spots of Maharashtra and lets travelers get a glimpse of the state’s rich cultural heritage. There are 6 journeys of the Deccan Odyssey train; each with a unique name.

Deccan Odyssey offers all the luxuries to the passengers in the centrally air-conditioned train. The well-furnished Deluxe Cabins and Suite Cabins with attached bathrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and provide lavish rides to the passengers. Other onboard facilities include Dining Car, Saloon, Bar Lounge, Mini Gymnasium, Conference Hall, and Ayurvedic Spa. This royal ride is like a five-star hotel with all the comforts of the wheel. Some striking features of the Deccan Odyssey include 21 coaches containing 12 passenger cars, one conference car, 2 dining cars, 2 generators, luggage cars, 2 staff cars, 1 spa car, and 1 bar car.

All 6 journeys come inclusive of luxury accommodation, dining, sightseeing, and more. It is a perfect way to rediscover the art of elegant train traveling.

Destinations Covered By Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train

During the Deccan Odyssey train journey you will get the opportunity to explore the popular tourist attractions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka. You will get glimpses of lush paddy fields, quaint villages, beautiful countryside, and breathtaking landscapes during the train travel. The 6 distinct journeys offered by Deccan Odyssey Train are namely –

• Indian Odyssey
• Indian Sojourn
• Maharashtra Splendor
• Cultural Odyssey
• Heritage Odyssey
• Maharashtra Wild Trail

This luxury train is a pride of the Central Indian Railway and takes its guests to Jaipur, Kolhapur, Daulatabad, Nasik, Ajanta Caves, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and Kutch. During the train journey, delight in the mystic beauty of these tourist destinations. Enjoy the enchanting beauty of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Goa, and Pune. Other popular places to explore during the Deccan Odyssey train journey include Mumbai, Agra, Sawai Madhopur, Delhi, Badami, Shirdi, Vadodara, Bijapur, and Ahmedabad.

Travel through the majestic and lustrous Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, and Konkan region. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient temples, historical monuments, and national parks. Enjoy the exhilarating wildlife safari at Pench National Park, Tadoba National Park, and Gir Forest. Marvel at the Ajanta Ellora caves and ruins of Hampi. Savor the lip-smacking cuisines of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and the best seafood in Goa. The journey becomes even more enthralling as the Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train journey is a perfect amalgamation of the cultural heritage and luxuries of travel.

How to Book Deccan Odyssey Luxury Trains?

You can book a Deccan Odyssey Train with us at Indian Luxury Trains without hassle. Our tariff includes onboard accommodation, sightseeing tours, scrumptious meals, and entry fees for monuments or palaces. You can check the booking policies that can assist you in planning your journey onboard the Deccan Odyssey. Discover India’s best popular states while enjoying all the comforts and luxuries with our Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train journey.

Let your true self emerge as you discover the best of Southern splendor with our amazing deals and offers on Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train. Get the opportunity to meet new people and gain life experiences. Also, experience the culture, beauty, and history of Central India in its purest form. We provide an easy-to-quick approach to reserve your seats on the Deccan Odyssey train.

Finalize your departure dates and proceed with booking on our website. Keep in mind that the train is operational from September to May only. So plan accordingly. Deccan Odyssey train has 6 meticulously crafted journeys of 7 nights and 8 days. All the journeys start from Mumbai except Indian Odyssey, which starts from Delhi and ends in Mumbai.

Choose the journey from the list of Deccan Odyssey Luxury trains and then fill out the inquiry form available on our website. Complete the information about the passenger name, journey date, and number of cabins. Once you fill in your details, you will soon receive a call from our train travel expert, who will guide you with all the information and assist you with completing the booking.

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The Historian Traveller

A blog about travel, history and photography

How to book Indian trains if you are a tourist

Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Laura

Did you know that with more than 8,000 stations across the country and about 121,000 km of rail routes the Indian Rail Network is the fourth extensive rail system in the world? It’s not your fault if after opening the Indian Railways page for the first time, you had a terrible headache and preferred to opt for a bumpy car ride on one of the Indian dusty roads. In this guide, I will show you how to book trains in India if you are a tourist. This will help you navigate the complicated Indian railways system. Going step by step, you will book your train tickets like a pro! Let’s start!

Table of Contents

Indian railways step by step

Like everything in India, also the Railways website is messy, overwritten and with scammer bans behind the corner. When it came to plan my trip to India , I was exactly in your position. I wanted to book a train trip from New Delhi to Agra and, after some research, I had in front of me two choices: booking a ride with a private taxi costing no less than £60-80 for two people or learning how to book a, way much cheaper, train ticket from abroad. Once you get how the system works, it is not difficult, but this definitely test your patience.

Why I have to travel by train in India?

Lonely Planet states that ” Travelling on an Indian train is a reason to travel all by itself “. This cannot be truer because travelling by train in India can be considered an essential way of experiencing Indian culture. Millions of Indians travel by train every day. In fact, the railway system covers almost the whole country and despite chaotic, it is more reliable than what it appears from a distorted western perspective. There are two basic misconceptions about travel in India by train. The first is that all Indian looks like the one in the photo below…

I still have friends who are convinced I was actually travelling sat on the roof of an Indian train. They simply can’t believe that I never seen anything like this in India, even in the smallest place I visited. The second misconception is that trains in India are unsafe because of Indian people travelling with you.

Reasons why to travel by train in India

FALSE! Indian trains are generally safe, most of the people travelling with you are trying to go to work/reach their families, and their intention is not to harm tourists in any way. It’s true also that if you are travelling in the lower classes (especially at night), I would not recommend leaving your luggage alone (but I would not leave my luggage alone in any other train in the world). Keeping in mind this, there are definitively more advantages than disadvantages in travelling by train.

It’s cheaper

First, it’s cheaper than going with a taxi. A first class ticket from Delhi to Agra will not cost you more than £30. A reliable pre-paid cab will cost you £70-100. There are other much cheaper cabs to hire locally, but their reliability is not granted. If you are a first time visitor, I would not recommend them.

It’s faster

Second, it’s FASTER! A journey by car that would take 4/5 hours may take 2 travelling by train! This will reduce greatly your travelling time and allows you more hours to spend in sightseeing! Third, it’s way more relaxing than travelling by car. India is chaotic and the continuous horning of every single vehicle on the road it’s much more than a necessity for Indian people, it’s a cultural life-style. If for locals and well-travelled tourist, this is OK.

It’s safer

Most of people visiting for the first time India find it unbearable. Imagine travelling by car for 6/7 hours accompanied by that continuous horning! And believe me, this doesn’t stop even in the motorway. Train travelling can give you a little bit of a rest far from the overwhelming Indian chaos and you will be grateful for that after a long journey. Lastly, it’s SAFER! The Indian road safety report of 2023 states than more than 153,972 people were killed in car accidents.

To be honest, after having seen people driving in the wrong direction in the Indian motorway, seen my driver watching a TV series while driving me and Alessio from Mumbai to Pune. This is not a surprise. Indeed, in my twenty days in India, I’ve been involved in one minor crash in Jaipur and it was totally fault of my driver. Don’t get me wrong, it’s ok to travel by taxi for short distances but if you have to move between distant cities, train travelling is the safest way. Better safe than sorry!

Train classes and type of trains

Train classes in India are much more complex than westerners train ones, which generally distinguish between first and economy class. In fact, there are 8 classes on Indian trains of which price is accorded to the quality of the service you will receive on board and the type of coach/seat you choose. When booking your class, this will appear with the two/three acronyms and numbers e.g. AC1/AC2 etc. To know the meaning of these acronyms, read below!

Train classes on Indian trains

• AC Executive chair class (EC) This type of class is not present on every train but you can find it on high speed trains like the Shatabdi Express. Executives and tourists commonly use this. For this reason, booking in advance is very recommended. Food served on board of the train is included in the price and you have the possibility to choose between meat and vegetarian dishes.
• AC Chair class (CC)  Similar to the AC EC, the AC CC class can be found in high-speed trains and has comfortable seats in a air conditioned coach. However, food is not included.
• FC First Class First Class no longer exists in Indian trains, replaced mostly by AC1 coaches. However, if you find the abbreviation FC this means that you will get a first class ticket in a non-air-conditioned coach.
• Sleeper Class (SL ) Sleeper Class can be found in trains covering long distances. There is no air conditioning but ventilation is granted by fans and windows open. Mattress are quite rough so it is suggested to bring a sleeper bag.

Air-conditioned trains

• Air-conditioned first class (AC1 or 1A) This is usually found in trains covering long distances and used by Indian businessmen. It is considered a comfortable class for travelling and seats are organised in 2 and 4 berths and sleeper section.
• Air-conditioned 2-tier (AC2 or 2A) This class is a cheaper version of the AC1. It is still considered a comfortable way of travelling and used mostly by families. You can use berths also as sleeper bunks for longer distances. These are provided with curtains for having a bit of privacy. Two tier indicates the number of bunks for each section of the row.
• Air-conditioned 3-tier (AC3 or 3A) Is more crowded than AC2 because each bay has 3 tiers (up, lower and middle). Curtains are not provided to grant you privacy but tickets are cheaper.
• 2nd class seats (2S)  Coaches are here divided in reserved and not reserved sections. These are generally more crowded than other classes is not recommended for longer journeys because seats are not padded and generally made of wood or plastic.

Type of Trains in India

Because there are more than 20 different types of trains in India but it’s likely you wont use 90% of those. Below you will find only the ones you are more likely to book during your journey across India.

• Tejas Express It has been introduced just a few years ago. It’s the most similar to our western trains. It’s a semi high speed full AC train featuring braille displays, LED TV for each passenger with phone sockets, WiFi and food services. Tickets are about 30% more expensive than the Shatabati fares and at the moment the train covers only the following routes: Mumbai – Magdaon; Chennai – Madurai; Lucknow – New Delhi; Ahmedabad – Mumbai.
• Shatabdi Express is one of the most famous train lines in India for round trips. Tourists use mostly this route (and this is the one I used as well). This is the Bhopal Shatabdi Express (train number 12001/12002) going from New Delhi to Agra in just two hours. The train is quite fast (the second faster in India) and the first class is comfy and safe. Not comparable to our first classes, but I would say a good economy on our trains.
• Rajdhani Express are those trains that connect the Indian main capital to the minor state capitals (E.g. Mumbai-New Delhi). They are air conditioned and considered the fastest trains in India.
• Duronto Express are a category of non-stop long distance trains connecting India’s major state capitals. They are very fast and stop only for technical checks. A most known one is the 12239/12240 Jaipur Duronto Express.
• Suburban rail and Metro connect cites central business districts to their suburbs. You can find these in major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata or Mumbai. They usually stop at every station, and have unreserved seating.

Luxury and Tourist trains

• Mountain railways if you are looking for more adventure and a breathtaking scenery, these trains are the most popular ones and considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the most popular ones there is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway r unning between between Siliguri and Darjeeling at the highest elevation of 2,300 mt.
• Luxury trains there is a variety of luxury trains in India designed exclusively for tourists. These follow itineraries of 7/10 days and include accommodation, tours, food and sometimes even a on board spa! They are usually quite expensive and price ranges from US$ 4,550 to US$ 6,930 for two people. The most known ones are Palace on Wheels, the Deccan Odissey and the Maharajas’ Express . I haven’t personally tried any of these luxury trains but would love to experience them once!

Finding the right timetable for your trip

Giving the high number of trains, the timetable may look quite confusing. A good system to find your train timetable and your platform at the station is to remember the name, number and route of the train. For example, if you are going to Mumbai, you have to look for the number 12952  route NEW DELHI – MUMBAI CENTRAL and type of train Rajdhani Express.  Online, you can check your timetable in these two different websites: Indian Rail, by searching your destination and date. This will show you different trains and times, to check yours you can search it by number or type of train. You will also have a preview of the classes that you can book on a later moment.

Maps of India provides a reliable train time table according to the type of train. If you click on the number of the train, this will show you all the stops the train will make with the expected time of arrival/departure till destination.

Where/when/how do I have to book my tickets?

Before proceeding to book your train tickets, let me explain you what different types of ticket you may find while booking. As for the train classes, also the ticket types are listed per acronyms.

Type of Tickets on Indian Trains

• CNF means “confirmed”  this means that you made it and your seat has been reserved!
• RAC means “reservation against cancellation”. This type of ticket activates when all the reservable seats on the train are fully booked. The system will put you automatically in a Waiting List (WL) and you can still travel with that train but if you don’t get any reservation, you have to search for an unreserved seat. If someone cancels his booking you might be promoted to CNF and get a seat on a specific coach. If the waiting list is very long and you are not accommodated a place your ticket will be refunded.
• Tatkal (CK) means “Immediate” these are generally last-minute tickets for emergency departures. These tickets are not refundable.
• Tourist Quota Tickets some trains (generally the most popular routes) reserve some tickets to tourists. They are usually sold very fast and it is advisable to book them well in advance. I personally used the tourist quota tickets and booked my train ride about three months in advance.

How to book trains in India. When to book a ticket for a trip

Now that you know how distinguish the type of tickets, it’s time to book! If you follow these steps one by one you can make it! First one-million-dollars problem. When do I have to book my train tickets? During high season (Nov-Mar) tickets on EC and AC1 sell fast. If you want to travel on a reserved seat on one of those coaches, my advice is to book as soon as you know your itinerary. Otherwise you may be disappointed. Generally, you can book tickets up to 120 days in advance.

Where to book train tickets in India

Where do I have to book my tickets?  Essentially, there are three ways to book your tickets. Via a travel agent (who will ask you for a commission), in person and online.

• In person. If you are on the go and want to buy a ticket directly at the station check www.indianrail.gov.in for a list of International Tourist Bureaux selling tickets to foreign visitors at the station. These are generally based in big cities like Agra, Delhi or Mumbai but there are possibly other offices around India. Be sure to get to the right office and don’t listen to anyone telling you it’s closed (they are scammers! we will talk about this below). At the counter they will ask for your Visa and Passport. Don’t forget to prepare them! Furthermore, you can only pay in cash! Some offices accept also foreign currencies like Sterling or Dollar but do research prior to bring other type of money.
• Online booking.  You can book your tickets via three different websites. These are Indian Railways , Clear Trip and Make my Trip . I have personally booked my tickets via the Indian Railways website because Make my Trip was asking me an indian telephone number to confirm my booking and at the time I did not have it! In any case, to use Make my Trip you have to register your details with the IRCT (indian railways), and it is much more straightforward to book the tickets with them!

How to book trains in India if you are a tourist. Booking online

If you follow the steps below, booking your online train ticket with IRCT (Indian Railways) will be very easy!

First Step – Registration

Go to the IRCT webpage. This will look like the picture below. Before booking your tickets, you will need to register your details on the “Register” page. Here you will be asked many questions to confirm your identity.

Be patient at this stage of registration. I had some troubles while registering my details and I had to fill the page at least three times but in the end, it did work! Once you completed your registration, you will receive an email with your login details like the one below. This will tell you to login and inform you that for international users there is a registration fee to pay that will confirm your email and mobile number.

Second step – Verify your number and email.

Login with your details via the email you received. The website will ask you now to verify your mobile phone and email. The verification of your mobile phone comes via the OTP (One time password) and the payment of a small fee ( Rs. 100 + GST. / £1,50 circa). You will receive the OTP via sms on the phone and have to insert a 6 digit number in the space suggested on the IRCT page.

Once you have done with the mobile phone and the fee payment, the website will ask you to verify your email with the same method. You will receive an OTP password in your email and you have to insert the six-digit number in the space provided.

Once you insert your OTP on the box you’re done! Congratulation, you are now fully registered on the Indian Railway system and able to book your tickets online! Eureka!

Third step – Book your tickets

Now that you have everything all set up, it’s time to book your journey! First, you have to login into your account. The system is a bit annoying because every time you login it asks you for a OTP or a screen temporary password. Don’t get mad if you can’t login the first time, it’s the system not you!

Choose your tickets

Once you have completed your login, you will see again the initial screen that needs to be filled with your travel request. Search for your destination and date (you can eventually choose your class if you already know it, otherwise you can choose it later). As example for you, I choose a hypothetical New Delhi-Agra trip (which I actually tried by the way!). Once you choose your destination, you will see the screen (pictured below) giving you the following main information: type of class and train you can choose to display on your selection (black box), type of train you can book (red box) and what class is available (yellow box), duration of the journey (blue circle) and type of travel with departure and arrival time (e.g. morning train 6.10-8.10 as shown on grey box).

If you want to check the price of your train, click the blue box on the right and you will see more details about the train selected. Don’t panic when you see what looks like a huge amount of rupees for a ticket. This price converted into your local currency is actually very cheap. For example, 1,000 Rs. are about £11/15$.

If you are happy with the price, class and train for your destination you can proceed to the booking by clicking the box “book now” on the available time and date. This will lead you to the main booking page consisting of three main steps. On the first one, you have to insert your (and all your companions) ID details and choose what type of dish you prefer (if this is included in your ticket). If you are not Indian, you must provide your passport number. On the right of your screen you will continue to see the main details of your train ride.

Complete your reservation

Once you have inserted all your details you will be directed to the second step, which is checking that everything you inserted is correct. At this stage of the booking, you can still amend your information if you made any mistake.

If you are happy with your selection and details, you can proceed to the last step, which is payment! On the payment page, you will find many options that might create confusion if you are a tourist because the payment page is not properly tourist-friendly. Indeed, the Indian Railways accept different methods of payment but the only one YOU can use as a tourist is the one under the category “international cards” this option is hidden under the voice MULTIPLE PAYMENT SERVICE . Ignore all the other options because in the end they accept only Indian debit/credit cards. So, click “multiple payment service” and then INTERNATIONAL CARDS (powered by Atom).

I haven’t tried the other five options in addition to International cards, so I can’t guarantee they work well. Once you will click the Int. card option you will be directed in the actual payment page where you have to insert your credit card details. You can choose to pay in rupees or in your own currency (this option depends on the card you are using) and the process is quick and simple!

Congratulation!!! You’ve made it!! You are officially booked on an Indian train journey! At this point, check your email because you should have received your e-ticket that should look more or less like mine below! Don’t forget to print it out and keep it with you during your journey!

Forth step – At the station, boarding the train

It’s time to depart! Check carefully all the information about your train on the ticket especially about your place/berth/coach. If you are travelling on a long-distance train, your name will be printed out on a list placed out at the train station ticket office (2h before) and on the outside of the train before departure. Here you will find the confirmation of your name and coach (eg. Name- AC1 coach 2 seat/berth etc.).

Actually, I discovered that this system is in use also on short-distance trains. In fact, on the morning of our departure, I found Alessio name and mine on the door of our coach. You must take your ticket and passport with you. A few minutes after departure, an inspector will check that all the details on your passport correspond to his own list (similar to the one published outside the train). Now you can relax and enjoy your journey!

I have to say I was quite satisfied with our train experience in India. The train was clean and in good conditions. We booked on the Executive class, which more or less is like our second class but with a much nicer service! Immediately after boarding we were provided with two bottles of water of 1L each and just ten minutes after leaving we were already been served breakfast! This came in two parts. A first part with tea/coffee, biscuits, marmalade, milk, bread and even cereals! A second part (after about half an hour ride) with some traditional Indian dishes, juice and chapati! What a way to start the morning! Our trip was just a short 2h ride but I was very happy about it!

Issues and troubleshooting while booking.

Recently, the Indian Railways website was renovated with a much more friendly user facade. In fact, it is much simpler to use for a tourist compared to just one year ago. I personally did not have any problems while booking my tickets and verifying my details. However, there might be some issues due to their system that you can face at the time of booking. These are generally not receiving the OTP password to verify your number/email.

Problems are due to their system, so the only solution is continue to try until you get it (concerning your email, you may try to verify different emails and edit later your details from your account). Another error you might face is the “login error”. Despite typing the correct credentials, the system does not recognise them. Once again, persevere! It is their fault not yours, so after two-three attempts you should login successfully! If you have issue during your credit card transaction, this might be your bank that does not approve a foreign transaction. You can verify this by calling their call centre.

How to book trains in India. Bookings via Makemytrip and Cleartrip

Many users prefer to book their tickets throughout Makemytrip and Cleartrip. I personally preferred to book directly with Indian Railways as I don’t like much to proceed with third companies when I have a direct option. Furthermore, even if you want to book with these two companies you MUST register your ID details with Indian Railways anyway (Makemytrip will ask these before booking the tickets) so, to me there is no point in doing all the hard job and switch site when it comes to the easiest part! If you still want to book with these companies, you have first to register and verify an account with IRCT (see Step 1 below), second you have to create a second account with their company and only at the end you can proceed with the booking on their page.

Pro: both websites looks much more tourist-friendly and simple to use after the registration. You can book also other types of transportation, including taxis. Cons: first , you have to register with IRCT anyway so it is much more straightforward to book with them. Second, when I tried to use makemytrip and it did not allow me to book without an Indian phone number, so after a couple of trials I gave up! Furthermore, it looks like they don’t accept foreign credit cards, although I couldn’t verify this personally and things change very quickly. Third, Cleartrip charges additional booking fees you will not find on IRCT. These are usually $0,50 in addition to the ticket price plus a 1.8% credit card fee.

2024 UPDATe: ClearTrip is currently not available for bookings from the UK.

Watch out! Scams at the train stations (and how to avoid them).

India is, unfortunately, famous also for the great number of scams you may encounter while on the road. Stations (especially big ones) are particularly sensitive to frauds and it would be really sad if your well-planned trip, possibly the trip you are dreaming for an entire life, ends up badly because of a scam. We almost got scammed at the New Delhi station and believe me, is not something I wish to anyone. There are various type of scammers at the station. However, the most popular is the fake police man/army man, which is the one I personally encountered.

Before my trip, I read so much about possible scammers, the way they acted and where to find them. I felt smart and well prepared, but reality is another thing. Especially if you travel at early morning/late night when you are not at the top of your faculties and a bit sleepy. This was my experience. Little parenthesis, Indians are obsessed with security. You’ll pass security checks in “airport style” everywhere, even to enter shops at the mall. Stations are, of course, no exception. Closed parenthesis.

The “your train is cancelled” scam

It was around 5.15 in the morning and our train to Agra was at six (it was still very dark outside). We reached the station well in time taking in consideration also that we did not know where to go or what to do precisely. After having spotted the security checks in one corner outside of the main gate, we knew we were on the right entrance.

We approached the security line. When it was our turn to pass the metal detector and scan the baggage, a guy looking like a police officer (who was sitting next to the bag scanner) with an evident badge attached on his jacket, asked for our tickets and passports.

Red flags at the station

It didn’t sound too strange to me as he looked like part of the security team and he was wearing a uniform with a badge. However, I had anyway a red flag alert on in my mind and I gave him just the train tickets (of which I had a copy) trying to take time to “find” the passports. He did not wait too much time after receiving the tickets to state that our train was cancelled that morning and we couldn’t get inside the station because of this reason. Here was the moment I immediately knew he was a scammer!

He did not want to return us our tickets so we started discussing very loudly in front of the security line and I threatened him to call the police in that exact moment. I still don’t remember how, but I was able to take my tickets off his hands and he was still persistently continuing to say that our train was not departing that morning saying “go inside and you’ll see”. We genuinely sent him to hell and continued to the security without problem. Of course, our train was there as expected.

Things that surprised me a lot about this event were: first, the actual security people were watching the scene and did nothing despite knowing exactly what was happening. Second, people (including other French tourists who departed with us from the same hotel) did nothing despite hearing what was happening and possibly (if true) involving them as well. Thanks guys, so nice from you.

How we got out of the scam

Third, no actual police officers were around in or outside the station at that time! So, be extremely careful and take your guard high ALL THE TIME. Never give someone (despite officially looking) your passport or tickets. I had a copy of the tickets for this reason. Don’t trust anyone stating your train is burned, delayed, cancelled or anything else (same thing about hotels! Don’t trust anyone saying your hotel is closed etc.). Moreover, save the police number and your embassy number (just for the very bad cases). We got misled by the guy’s uniform and his position in the security line! In the end, we were lucky. However, I was also sure that our train wasn’t cancelled because I checked on the website before going! Trains are cancelled only in case of technical faults or bad weather conditions (e.g. flooding or heavy fog).

Other types of scams

What happened to us is not the only fraud you might face at the station. Watch out also for the fake ticket office and officer (inside the station) and for taxi drivers bringing you purposely to wrong stations/ fake ticket offices in order to force you going by car (with them or some of their friends) to your destination. If you travel at early morning, I warmly recommend making your hotel arranging a taxi for you and don’t go venturing with the first cab you find! Uber is generally safe in India but if you have trouble booking with them because of the network/ data etc. trust your hotel.

Conclusions

And that’s a wrap! If you have read till here and finished this Indian railways guide step by step, first, THANK YOU! Second, it means that you are very determined in getting these train tickets!! So don’t give up and you’ll manage that! I’ll try to keep this page as updated as possible. If there is any big change, you will find it here!

READ MORE: Discover my guide to Jaipur for your trip to India here!

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