indian rail travel

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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Train & Rail Tours in India

• Choose from 28 India tours
• 100+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
• 24/7 customer support

10 best Train & Rail India tour packages

Compiled by

Steff India travel expert at TourRadar

Golden Triangle Tour with Train/Rail Ride - Taj Mahal and Train Ride 5 days

Golden triangle on wheels indian railways, explore beauty of taj mahal 10 hours from delhi by gatiman train, rajasthan wildlife tour: ranthambore national park by train - 5 days, train tour: 5 days golden triangle tour with 4 nights accomodation, amritsar tour from delhi by shatabdi train, journey through time: exploring india's heritage by satabdi train, taj mahal & agra private tour for 2 days by express train, mumbai to goa tour by train [6 days], private taj mahal and agra tour by express train.

• In-depth Cultural
• Train & Rail
• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year
• Gaze in awe at one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• Experience the hustle and bustle of downtown Delhi
• Marvel at the stunning architectural wonders of Agra

“Very well organized tour. All guides and drivers were good.”

• Discover the pink city of Jaipur
• See the best of India by train
• Marvel at the beautiful Taj Mahal

• Tour the historic Agra Fort
• Explore the Taj Mahal with a local guide
• Enjoy breakfast on the Gatiman Express

“Awesome Ranthambore Jungle Safari, an experience to remember for a lifetime!” Raman, traveled in January 2022

• Spot tigers on safaris in Ranthambore
• Explore architectural wonders in Delhi
• Enjoy diverse Indian foods at Dilli Haat

“This itineray is packed with amazing tours sightseeing and activities. He goes above and beyond to ensure satisfaction.” Bebi Abadeen, traveled in March 2024

• Explore Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar
• Witness the grandeur of Agra Fort and Baby Taj
• Discover Jaipur's Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal

“The tour was well-organized and everything went smoothly from start to finish. The Golden Temple was a sight to behold.” Bredan F, traveled in March 2024

• Start your journey with a train to Amritsar
• Witness the ceremonial at Wagha Border
• Explore the Golden Temple by night and day

• Witness the sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra
• Visit Gwalior Fort and Orchha's ancient temples
• Explore Delhi's historic sites and vibrant culture

“The tour was excellent. Everything was perfect.” deshdeep upadhaya, traveled in May 2019

• Catch the Gatimaan Express to Agra
• Discover the Ghost City of Fatehpur Sikri
• Explore the historic Agra Fort

• Explore Mumbai's Gateway of India arch
• Tour a local spice plantation in Goa
• Visit the haunting Towers of Silence

“So well organized and great pick up service, and then the tour itself so smooth and interesting.” ROBIN KLYMOW, traveled in June 2023

• Shop in Agra's vibrant markets
• Visit the intricate Baby Taj

More about India

Discover TourRadar

India's best train trips are a journey to the soul of the subcontinent

Mar 11, 2022 • 8 min read

Traveling by train in India is an intense, exhilarating experience © Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images

No trip to India would be complete without a ride on one of the country's 13,000 daily passenger trains. India's railways are the lifeblood of the nation – the veins and arteries that keep the country’s heart beating, snaking into nooks and crannies that no plane could ever reach, and keeping 1.38 billion people connected with friends and family.

From 10-minute commuter hops to epic four-day journeys across the subcontinent, there’s a train ride to suit every travel need and every budget. Penny-priced local trains transport millions across big cities such as Delhi , Kolkata and Mumbai , while lavish luxury locos offer the chance to roll around the country in style.

With the windows down and doors flung open, India's trains offer a peek into the everyday workings of Indian life, crawling through dusty villages, winding up the lush slopes of forest-clad mountains and skimming beautiful coasts, bringing visitors within touching distance of drying laundry and coconut groves.

Onboard, you’ll find a microcosm of Indian society spread across eight different classes, from politicians and businessmen living it up in air-conditioned compartments to laborers sitting cross-legged on simple wooden benches. Affordable and relatively easy to book online, trains are also the most atmospheric way to explore India . Traveling by train is also a smart way to save money on hotels, with comfortable sleeper services connecting major cities nightly and meals often included in the ticket price.

Whether you're a committed rail enthusiast, or just dipping in a toe for the experience, here are the best train journeys in India.

The Deccan Odyssey 

Best luxury journey.

Start – New Delhi; End – Mumbai; Distance – 1524km (947 miles); Duration – 7 nights 8 days

Standing out amongst the thousands of passenger trains that traverse the country every day, India's luxury trains roll languorously between major cities, their polished engines and gleaming livery glinting in the sun. For those who can afford it, it's the only way to travel.

Rail aficionados sing the praises of the extravagant Maharajas’ Express , which comes with personal butlers, bejeweled dinner plates and onboard bathtubs, but a more affordable option is the Deccan Odyssey . This luxe service runs from the Indian capital to Ranthambore National Park , the Taj Mahal in Agra and Jaipur and Udaipur , continuing to Vadodara and the World Heritage Sites of Ellora and Ajanta before arriving in Mumbai eight days later.

Less a train ride, more a cruise on wheels, this elegant train rumbles through the night, with passengers waking in a brand new city every day, to be met by coaches offering local tours. However, it’s perfectly acceptable to sit out the organized excursions and explore by yourself on foot or by taxi, or just pull out a paperback and enjoy the peace and quiet on board.

Mandovi Express

Best all-round rail experience.

Start – Mumbai CST; End – Madgaon Junction; Distance – 581km (361 miles); Duration – 11hrs 50mins

With the Sahyadri Hills rising on the left and the Arabian Sea sparkling on the right, the Konkan Railway is a textbook example of Indian railway engineering excellence. Flash floods, landslides and collapsed tunnels all failed to hinder the construction of this trunk line from Mumbai's famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj station (CST) to the beaches of Goa .

While numerous trains weave along this coastal route, the Mandovi Express stands out as a national treasure thanks to its scenic views and the legions of hawkers who wander the aisles vending freshly fried pakoras (vegetable fritters), hot samosas (fried savory pastries) and biryani in clay pots.

Eschew the air-conditioned carriages with tinted windows that obscure the views, and opt for a seat in third or general class, where a warm salty breeze wafts through the bars of open windows. With no glass between you and the scenery, you’ll get the best out of the experience, as the train navigates more than 2000 bridges and 92 tunnels, with coconut trees bending in the foreground and rivers gushing beneath the sleepers.

Darjeeling Toy Train

Best for families and steam enthusiasts.

Start – New Jalpaiguri; End – Darjeeling; Distance – 84km (52 miles); Duration – 7hrs 20mins

Since the late 19th century, this dainty little "toy train" has been trundling slowly uphill to the Bengali hill station of Darjeeling . Seven hours after leaving the base of the hills, this pint-sized loco wails arrives in a cloud of steam and dark smoke, offering a trip back to an earlier century. Trucks and carts creep to a halt to allow the train to wind across Hill Cart Road, where the carriages glide so close to shop fronts that you can almost reach out and touch the piles of apples.

Built by the British colonial government, the railway was originally used to transport tea and rice down to the plains, but it’s now Unesco World Heritage listed and more commonly packed with holidaying families singing Hindi movie songs and cheering at particularly thrilling sections of track such as the Batasia Loop.

Every day, the train zig-zags uphill from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) through thick groves of bamboo and pine, working its way around rich green tea plantations before hooting into Darjeeling. The main service is usually pulled by a diesel engine, but two-hour joy rides chug from Darjeeling to Ghum and back tugged by steam locos. On a clear day, you may even spot the sun-kissed summit of  8586m (28,169 ft) Mt Khangchendzonga hovering on the horizon. 

The Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express

Best train ride for serious rail enthusiasts.

Start – Dibrugarh; End – Kanniyakumari; Distance – 4154km (2581 miles); Duration: 74hrs 35mins

Leaving once a week on Saturdays, this is one epic train ride, taking passengers from Upper Assam in the northeast corner of the country all the way to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu , at the southernmost tip of India – the point where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. Making 57 stops in eight different states, this multi-day odyssey is a deep immersion into the verve and spirit of India's railways.

For the perfect combination of charm and comfort, book into a 2AC sleeper carriage – with open, four-berth compartments – and lie between clean white sheets watching students playing cards, mothers rocking babies in cradles tied from saris, and friends chatting over hot vadas (lentil-flour fritters) and endless cups of chai (sweet Indian tea). Take the opportunity to stroll up and down the 16 carriages to experience a microcosm of Indian society, and keep plenty of small denomination notes to hand for snacks, as hawkers rarely have change for big bills.

Island Express

Best for a quick taste of the indian rail experience.

Start – Thiruvananthapuram; End – Kanniyakumari; Distance – 87km/54 miles; Duration – 3hrs 20mins

By Indian standards, the Island Express is barely a local hop, but it’s a magical trip that takes passengers into the dewy depths of Kerala . For less than a dollar, passengers can stake out a window seat on this quiet country service that squeezes through the backwaters between Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, passing villages of sugar-pink houses and tiny whitewashed churches.

Waterlogged paddy fields roll by, skinny palms bend as if bowing, and the steam from the kitchens of trackside houses drifts through the open doors. You’ll want to sit right up against the windows (or in the open doorways) to snap photos of children playing street cricket, elderly men in dhotis (white sarongs) smoking rolled-leaf cigarettes and bullock carts rumbling alongside the rail tracks. Just watch out for the stray branches that thwack against the sides of the train, leaving broken twigs scattered up the aisles and tiny flowers scattered underfoot.

Pune–Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express

Best train trip for a first-time overnight ride.

Start – Pune; End – New Delhi; Distance – 1515km (941 miles); Duration – 19hrs 35mins

India’s sleeper trains vary widely when it comes to levels of comfort, with many services creeping along at a snail's pace and stopping noisily at local stations through the night – a definite hindrance to sleep! However, Duronto Express trains only stop at a tiny number of stations en route, using some of the country’s fastest trains, and they offer excellent meals and high standards of onboard service.

Recognizable by their bright green and yellow color scheme, these sleek and modernized trains are perfect for first-time night-riders looking to sample the Indian railway experience without the rough edges. Departing Pune just after 11am every day, the train speeds past rushing rivers, stretches of deserts, small mountains and serene villages.

There's much excitement in the middle of the day as lunch arrives on red plastic trays. Expect tomato soup with a breadstick and butter followed by foil-wrapped chapatis, steamed rice, dal, chicken curry, yogurt and pickles – and a small tub of vanilla ice cream for dessert. The meals loaded in Pune are the tastiest of the ride, but you'll also get a satisfying dinner and breakfast before rolling into Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station, close to Humayun's Tomb .

You may also like: How to get around in India, from Goa’s beaches to the high Himalayas Visiting the Taj Mahal: plan the perfect trip to India's iconic monument When to go to India: the best times to visit for amazing experiences

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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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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)

Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

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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Everything you need to know about overnight trains in India

I watched my favorite Wes Anderson movie, The Darjeeling Limited, on repeat prior to my first trip to India more than two years ago.

The camera pans across lush landscapes as the train with three troubled brothers slowly snakes through the Eastern Himalayas. Remember that scene where the impeccably dressed steward brings the brothers sweet lime juice on a silver tray, and they sip while sitting on opulent orange upholstery? The movie is absolute eye candy.

My overnight train journeys, both solo and as part of Intrepid’s South India Revealed trip, looked nothing like the cinematic masterpiece. They were, however, equally quirky and rewarding immersive experiences, and I would gladly take the train again (now that I’m prepared).

Here’s what to expect on your own rail adventures across India .

You’ll make new friends

There’s a chance you’ll be sharing a compartment with local travelers of either gender. Our group met a variety of passengers along the way, including a professional web developer who was traveling for work and a young couple on holiday. Part of my group took the North India Revealed trip before I met up with them in the south and told me about their shared meals and late-night conversation with a family sharing the quarters. While it sometimes feels exhausting to take long trains, it’s hard to turn down homemade desserts!

The thing all these experiences with local travelers had in common was a genuine interest in our journey across India and the desire to learn where we were all from. Fellow train travelers always have the best food tips for each city, too!

Put your misgivings aside

The ambiance on Indian trains falls somewhere on a sliding scale of slightly tattered to dorm room drab. With vinyl seats, metal walls and fluorescent lighting, it’s definitely not a design marvel, but I ended up getting a decent night’s sleep as the beds are actually quite sturdy.

The accommodations aren’t spotless, but they aren’t dirty, either. You’ll be provided with clean sheets that come in paper packets, blankets, and a pillow. Many of the seasoned travelers I met chose to bring their own cocoon-style travel sheet.

“Be ready for delays for a number of reasons – fog is a pretty common one. And remember a chain and padlock (there are bars beneath the seats where you can lock up your bag). Also, don’t use the toilets when the train is stationary!” Vital train tips from Ashish Verma, former Intrepid Travel Contracting Manager in India

Learn more about overnight train journeys in other parts of the world

Don’t expect privacy

Unlike European sleeper cars, there are no doors to each compartment, nor are there curtains that slide in front of the bunks. The vinyl seats fold down to convert each seating area to a 6-bunk compartment with three bunks on each side. Think of it more like an open-air sleeping cube. Passengers will be walking up and down the aisle at the far end of the beds.

You’ll want to sleep in comfy yet modest clothing. A t-shirt and yoga pants are fine, and you’ll see plenty of local men sleeping in jeans and sweatshirts and ladies in comfy shirts or tunics paired with traditional pants called salwars, which can be tight like leggings or loose like pajamas.

What’s to eat?

There is no cafe cart. Ask your guide about what bring before you arrive at the station, or even what will be available to eat at the station. Our amazing guide, Usha, who was not only a travel pro but a provider of great food advice, prepped us before each journey, alerting us to which stations had good street food and which ones were bare bones. It’s easy to pick up bananas, chips, water and a last-minute cup of chai before boarding the train. Some even had vendors making fresh takeaway.

On extra hot days, most in our group indulged in ice cream bars (look for the small freezers where they sell cold water) as our pre-train sweet treat.

Bring a sweatshirt

Yes, India is often hot and it seems crazy to pack such a bulky item in your luggage, especially if you’re limited to just a backpack. Train cars with AC – which is how you’ll travel on an Intrepid trip – can get cold, especially if you are on the top bunk near the fan.

First time in India? Learn more about what to pack

Sleep early and bring earplugs

Once you and the group board, it’s best to get settled and get to sleep earlier rather than later. First, there are no individual bunk lights, just one big overhead light, so you can’t customize it to your liking. Second, the chai wallahs start gliding through the aisles early (around 6 am) to hawk their hot tea – and they aren’t quiet about it.

In addition, the train will make stops throughout the night, letting passengers on and off and it might get noisy. The earplugs will help offset the sporadic commotion throughout the night.

Let’s talk toilets

Sleeper trains have toilets at the end of each car. Most have 3 bathrooms – 2 Indian-style squat toilets and 1 Western-style seated (drop) toilet. Attendants come through and clean throughout the journey. It won’t be the cleanest bathroom ever, but I’ve experienced worse at roadside stops during my travels. I’m going to admit, me and a few of the other ladies on our trip ran to the bathroom as soon as we boarded to scope out the situation – that’s when we pulled together a communal bathroom supply bag with toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes.

Put on shoes to visit the bathroom (the floors are often hosed down and wet) and bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer, though there are sinks. Most importantly, don’t avoid drinking water during the journey simply because you want to avoid the WC. It’s hot throughout most of the year in India and you’ll risk dehydration. Our guide, Usha, warned that dehydration, not Delhi belly, is the reason they most often need to seek medical attention for guests.

Overnight train survival kit :

• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Flip flops or slippers
• Sleeping sheet
• Deck of cards, book or writing journal (anything non-digital) to pass the time

Luggage stays with you

There is room under the bottom bunk to store your luggage. You’ll be able to squeeze a carry-on, large duffle, or 60-70 liter backpack under the seat. Large, traditional suitcases don’t fit so well. Nor will that kind of luggage fit in a tuk-tuk, which you’ll take almost daily in India. So be a smart traveler, and opt for luggage you can easily carry.

“Don’t carry too much cash on overnight trains and don’t leave any electronic gadgets unattended. Money belts should not be visible to anyone and expensive jewelry should not be worn! Safety tips from Ashish Verma, former Intrepid Travel Contracting Manager in India

What’s available on the train?

• No dining car, but vendors will come by selling a limited supply of water, packaged snacks, tea and (instant) coffee.
• Yes, there are electrical outlets, but there are only 2 in a compartment of 6 beds .
• No wi-fi, so bring a book
• Yes, sheets, blankets, and pillows are provided for each passenger .
• Hand sinks are in the WC but there are no showers .

Check out Intrepid’s range of small group rail trips.

Experience your first overnight train on a small group adventure

(Image credits from top to bottom: Intrepid Travel, Kristin Amico x2, Intrepid Travel, Kristin Amico x2, Intrepid Travel.)

Kristin Amico

In early 2017 I quit my full-time job, gave up my Boston apartment, sold most of my belongings, and bought a one-way ticket overseas. I'm currently spending a year living nomadically and eating my way across Europe and Asia. My food and travel writing has appeared on Intrepid Travel, Fodor's, Paste Magazine, and The Kitchn. Follow my adventure on Instagram @Kristinamico.

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How to Book a Train Ticket in India (For Foreigners)

• Post author By Karl Rock
• Post date April 6, 2023
• 4 Comments on How to Book a Train Ticket in India (For Foreigners)

Travelling by train in India can be an exciting and affordable way to explore the country’s diverse landscapes and culture. However, as a foreigner, it can be overwhelming to navigate the Indian Railway system.

In this blog post, we’ll cover how foreigners can book train tickets in India, including how to book under the foreigner quota and the Tatkal system. We’ll also detail ten issues to be aware of when travelling by train in India.

How long in advance do train ticket bookings open?

Indian railway ticket bookings open 120 days before the date of travel. This means you can book your train tickets up to four months before your planned travel date.

Additionally, some long-distance trains have a quota for foreign tourists, which allows them to book tickets up to 365 days in advance, subject to availability.

How to book a ticket under the General Quota

A train ticket in India can be booked online or at the railway station ticket counter.

To book a ticket you must create an account on the Indian Railways booking website and enter your travel details, such as the departure and destination stations, date of travel, and class of travel.

Payment can be made via various online options, including debit/credit card or net banking.

Alternatively, you can visit the railway station ticket counter and purchase your ticket in person. Be sure to bring a valid ID, as it may be required to book your ticket.

It’s advisable to book your tickets well in advance, especially during peak travel times, as trains in India can get very busy, and seats can fill up quickly.

Booking under the Foreign Tourist Quota

Foreign tourists visiting India can use the foreigner quota to book train tickets up to 365 days in advance.

To book under the foreigner quota, visit the Indian Railways website and select the “Foreign Tourist Quota” option.

You must provide your passport details and personal information to create an account.

Search for the train and the travel date you wish to book, select your preferred class of travel and the number of passengers and proceed to payment.

After completing the payment, you will receive a confirmation message with your booking details.

The IRCTC has also released their own PDF explaining the process of booking under the Foreign Tourist Quota .

Can train tickets be rescheduled (preponed or postponed)?

E-tickets bought online cannot be rescheduled. You must cancel your ticket and rebook.

However, physical tickets bought from a booking counter at a railway station can be rescheduled once. To reschedule, you must visit a rail reservation centre at a train station.

How to find the foreign tourist quota on the Indian Railways website

The foreign tourist quota is a little hidden on the Indian Railways website; here’s how to find it.

Booking under the Tatkal Quota

The Tatkal system allows passengers to book train tickets at the last minute, usually one day before the travel date.

To book under the Tatkal system, visit the Indian Railways website or the railway station ticket counter.

Tatkal tickets are subject to availability and can sell out quickly, especially during peak travel times.

The fare for Tatkal tickets is usually higher than that for regular tickets.

What are the bathrooms like on Indian trains?

Bathrooms on Indian trains can vary in condition and cleanliness depending on the train and class of travel. In general, Indian trains have two types of toilets: a squat and a western seat.

However, it’s worth noting that the conditions of the bathrooms on Indian trains can be challenging, especially on long journeys.

The bathrooms can become dirty, and the water supply may be limited.

It’s essential to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser and to use the bathrooms with caution.

What are the different train classes?

Indian Railways offers a variety of classes for passengers to choose from, each with its own set of amenities and price points.

Here’s a brief overview of the different classes in Indian Railways:

• AC First Class (1A): The most expensive and luxurious class on Indian Railways, AC First Class provides private cabins with lockable doors, comfortable beds, and exclusive access to a personal attendant. It is available only on a few select trains.
• AC 2 Tier (2A): AC 2 Tier provides private berths with curtains for privacy and air-conditioning. It has two tiers of sleeping arrangements, with a lower and an upper berth.
• AC 3 Tier (3A): AC 3 Tier provides sleeping arrangements with three tiers of berths, with a lower, middle, and upper berth. Each compartment is air-conditioned and has curtains for privacy.
• Sleeper Class (SL): Sleeper Class is a non-air-conditioned class that provides sleeping arrangements with three tiers of berths, similar to AC 3 Tier. It is the most popular and affordable class in Indian Railways.
• General Class (GN): General Class is the most basic and cheapest class on Indian Railways. It is a non-reserved class, where passengers sit on wooden or cushioned benches.
• Executive Class Chair Car (EC): Executive Class Chair Car is a premium class with reclining chairs and air-conditioning. It is available only on select trains, usually for short-distance journeys.
• Chair Car (CC): Chair Car is a class that provides comfortable chairs and air-conditioning, usually for short-distance journeys.

It’s important to note that the availability of different classes varies by train and route. Passengers can choose their preferred class based on their budget, comfort preferences, and the length of their journey.

10 Issues to be aware of when travelling by train in India

• Be prepared for long journeys: Train journeys in India can be long and may require overnight travel, so be sure to pack accordingly.
• Book your tickets in advance: Popular train routes and travel dates can sell out quickly, so booking your tickets well in advance is advisable.
• Beware of scams: There are many scams associated with train travel in India, including touts selling fake tickets and people stealing luggage on crowded trains.
• Carry a valid ID: A valid ID, such as a passport or Aadhaar card, is required to book train tickets in India.
• Be prepared for delays: Train delays are common in India, so plan accordingly and bring snacks and water.
• Check your train schedule: Trains can arrive at odd hours, so double-check the train schedule before travelling.
• Be mindful of your belongings: Keep an eye on your belongings and be wary of pickpockets and theft on crowded trains.
• Be respectful of local customs: Indian trains can be crowded and noisy, so be respectful of local customs and etiquette.
• Be prepared for different types of trains: There are different types of trains in India, ranging from local commuter trains to long-distance express trains, so be prepared for different kinds of journeys.
• Carry cash: Many train stations and vendors on the train only accept cash, so be sure to carry enough cash for your journey.

What are the luggage limits on trains?

There are no baggage limits on Indian trains, but it’s advisable to keep your luggage secure and within reach. You can also store your luggage in the storage compartments above the seats.

How to keep your valuables safe on train trips

You can use a lock and chain to chain your bags underneath the seats while sleeping. For my valuables, I have them in a backpack and sleep with that next to my pillow.

What are the different types of train tickets?

In Indian Railways, waitlist and confirmed tickets are two types of tickets passengers can book for a train journey.

Here’s a brief explanation of each:

• Waitlist tickets: A waitlist ticket is a type of ticket that is issued when all the available seats or berths on a train have been booked. Passengers who book a waitlist ticket are placed on a waiting list, and their ticket is not confirmed until there are cancellations or additional coaches are added to the train. Waitlisted tickets are designated with a WL followed by a number, indicating the passenger’s position on the waiting list.
• Confirmed tickets: A confirmed ticket is issued when a seat or berth is available on the train at the time of booking. Passengers who book a confirmed ticket have a guaranteed seat or berth on the train. Confirmed tickets are designated with a CNF status on the reservation chart.

Passengers with waitlist tickets can check their PNR status online to see if their ticket has been confirmed or if they are still on the waiting list.

If the ticket is not confirmed, the passenger is not allowed to board the train. However, if the ticket is confirmed, the passenger can board the train and occupy the designated seat or berth.

What are reservation charts, and when are they released?

Indian Railway reservation charts are physical or electronic documents that contain important information about the passengers who have reserved seats or berths on a train.

The charts contain details such as the passenger’s name, age, gender, seat or berth number, coach number, and other relevant information.

Passengers can check the charts to know if their reservation has been confirmed and to find their seat, berth number, and coach number.

These days important information like your coach and seat numbers are sent in an SMS a few hours before the train departs. So you probably won’t even need to check the reservation charts online.

These charts are prepared by the railway authorities a few hours before the scheduled departure of the train and are posted at the railway station.

In the case of electronic charts, passengers can check the information online through the Indian Railways website or mobile application. Electronic charts are usually available a few hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

In conclusion, travelling by train in India can be an unforgettable experience for foreign tourists. Following these tips, foreigners can easily book train tickets in India, navigate the Indian Railways system, and enjoy a comfortable and safe journey across the country.

Enjoy your trip, and drop any questions in the comments.

• Tags Best of India , India , Trains , Travel Safety

By Karl Rock

Karl Rock, is a Hindi speaking Kiwi ex-pat who take viewers behind the scenes of incredible India and its neighbours. He has visited every state and union territory in India, and its culturally similar neighbours – Pakistan and Bangladesh, and aims to make others fall in love with India and the subcontinent.

4 replies on “How to Book a Train Ticket in India (For Foreigners)”

Hi Karl, I’m trying to book a train ticket in India from NZ and am hitting a brick wall. When registering on the IR website, I could only give a NZ number as I don’t have an Indian mobile. Then while trying to book a ticket, the system won’t proceed until I give a +91 mobile number! Any idea how one gets around this?

Try Foreign tourist quota account, and also check out Make my trip website, else put in a Indian mobile number of any of your friends in India.

Hi Karl, I just love your India blog. I’m a British Indian used to travelling in India. Your blogs confirm everything I’ve experienced and it’s comforting to know that I’m having equally good experience of India. Off course this includes having relations there too. This is the first time I’m travelling around India on the train and want to experience the new semi-bullet trains like the Vande Bharat. This blog has focused my mind and now I have secured three confirmed journeys, around Maharastra and Gujarat. Only one tiny issue you might be able to help with. I tried to book seats for my wife and myself, one window and an Isle seat on the Vande Bharat train using the IRCTC website. On completing the booking I find that both of us have been allocated isle seats in different places. Any suggestion how this can be amended.

Hi would like to know whether an Indian can book for foreigners without opting the foreign quota

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Worried about taking the train in India? Don’t be. Here’s our complete guide.

• By Sarah Steiner
• Updated On April 15, 2024

Have you even really been to India if you haven’t taken an Indian train? Train travel in India is more than just a means of transport.  It truly is part of the culture and experience of travel in India. 

The India train network spans 63,000 km of rail routes and 6,800 stations so it’s fairly safe to say you can travel between almost any two destinations in India by train.

I’m going to detail an entire travel guide to India trains below. But the first piece of advice I have to share is simply; take the train.

Don’t be afraid of taking trains in India.  Don’t be worried they’re crowded or that you might not understand where to get on or off.  Taking a train in India is an entire experience. 

• Where to start?  
• Booking tickets  
• Classes of train travel
• How much does it cost?  

Car and carriage numbering

• Facilities on board
• Indian train stations

Train travel in India with kids

• Questions (and answers) about train travel in India
• Download the right apps  

Do you need an advance reservation for train travel in India?

Yes, you definitely need a reservation for train travel in India.  Trains often get booked out weeks or even months in advance.  

It used to be common that some trains had a reserved Foreign Tourist Quota (seats reserved for tourists making last minute reservations to important destinations) but with the advancement of online bookings this can’t be counted on.  I recommend making your booking as far in advance as possible.  

Booking tickets for train travel in India

Because trains in India get booked in advance I recommend buying tickets online before you travel. 

If you have a contact or friend in India it might be easier to book through them ahead of time.  Otherwise there are essentially 3 options for you to book train travel in India: 

• Go to a railway station and  book in person  when you arrive
• Book online  directly  from Indian Railways  at the IRCTC website   www.irctc.co.in
• Book online through  third party 12GoAsia . 

Booking  online through ticketing agency  12go.asia  is without doubt the easiest and most straightforward option .  

This is the option we used to book all our train travel in India. But I will detail both online options below. 

Online option 1: Book online directly from Indian Railways IRCTC website

This is not the most straightforward option but once you are registered you’ll have access to all routes, trains, classes and ticket types at a lower cost than booking through a third party.  (This is a less reviewed way of booking train travel in India as up until 2016 IRCTC did not accept international credit cards).  

However (in theory) it works now from overseas.  

• First you need to register an account with IRCTC. Go to  www.irctc.co.in  and click  REGISTER  top right. Enter the details to create an account.
• Choose a username and enter your mobile number with country code (it will now accept international country codes). 
• Check your emails for the Online Rail Ticket Reservation User Registration Confirmation.  Click the link to activate your account and enter your chosen ID and password to log in.  
• Fill in the destination and boarding point along with the date of desired journey.  
• Check the list of times and options for different classes of train travel and select your choice.  A new window opens for filling the required passenger details.  
• Make your payment through the preferred payment gateway. 
• Check your emails for a message of confirmation and your electronic ticket details.  

Online option 2: Book through 12GoAsia

This is the quickest and most reliable booking option we have found.  Albeit you do need to pay a bit extra for the booking fee.  But for sure the ease of service and reliability of this option makes it worth it. 

The website is very straightforward. Enter your destination details and desired date of journey and the different timing options and classes will be displayed if available.  

Your electronic ticket will be emailed to you.  

This is all you need to show at the train station and/or to the guard or attendant on board. 

Understanding  classes  of train travel in India

There are 8 classes of seats and accommodation to purchase for train travel in India. Not all of them are available on every train.  

We have tried nearly all classes now and can recommend different options for distances and comfort (and adventure) around India.  

These are the train classes listed below in descending order according to price per fare. 

First  Class  (1A)

This is the most expensive class of train travel in India.  There are 4-berth cabins and 2-berth coupes available on popular routes.  The main difference between this class and 2-Tier AC is that First Class has a lockable cabin door for complete privacy. 

Second AC / 2-Tier AC (2A)

A comfortable class for overnight travel.  

2-Tier AC has 4 berths per cabin with bedding provided.  The only shortfall on 2A class is that it lacks a lockable door on the cabin (a curtain is provided instead). 

Third AC / 3-Tier AC (3A)

Air-conditioned coach cabin with 64 berths per carriage.  The bottom berth is folded down during the day (with 3 numbers above each seating space) for seated travel.  Bedding is provided.  

Sleeper Class (SL)

The most common class of train travel in India. Sleeper (SL) has regular sleeping coaches with three berths vertically facing each other but without any air conditioning.

This is probably our favourite train travel experience in India.  I would recommend Sleeper for an early morning and short distance journey purely for the experience. 

AC Executive chair class (EC)

A seated air-conditioned class with four seats in a row and spacious seating and legroom.  AC Executive Chair Class is now only found on the popular  Shatabdi Express ,  Vande Bharat Express  & Tejas Express  trains. 

Seated AC / AC Chair Car (CC)

Air-conditioned coach with five seats in a row. 

General / Second Class Seats (2S, II)

Open plan cars with wooden or padded plastic seats.  This is the most basic and cheapest class of travel (recommended for short daytime journeys when you’re feeling up for it).  Seats are often non-reserved so you will need to join the rush on entering 2S…  

How much does it cost to ride trains in India? 

Fares vary for train travel in India depending on class and distance (obviously).  And ticket prices will also be higher booking through a third party (like 12GoAsia).  

Here are example ticket prices for the popular 3-hour(ish) train journey New Delhi to Agra : 

• First Class (1A): 1510 INR
• Extended AC Chair (EC): 1285 INR
• 2-Tier AC (2a): 945 INR
• 3-Tier AC (3A): 740 INR
• AC Chair Class (CC): 640 INR
• Sleeper (SL): 242 INR

Navigating Indian train stations

This almost warrants documenting as an entire adventure in itself.  Navigating Indian train stations can be intense. But there are also smaller stations and stops where you will be offered help and food and a place to sit (even if you weren’t looking for it).

For us, we started off this trip departing from Kolkata Railway Station (Howrah) which is enormous.  But it functions like clockwork with systems that have been improved upon and working for decades.  (Albeit that is if you can find your name on the typewriter-printed paper charts pinned to wall to allocate seating!).  

Smaller stations (like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer etc) give you a bit of breathing room to understand how an Indian train station functions. 

There are ticket booking lines, electronic arrival and departure screens, an enquiry booth, security checks, shops and stalls, bathrooms, waiting rooms and the sound of chai wallahs making their call.  

And there is often a waiting room for customers booked in any of the AC classes.  This will be signposted but otherwise ask at an enquiry counter (or any security guard will point you in the right direction).  It is sometimes called a ‘retiring room’… 

This is important.  (Learn from our mistakes here).  Coaches/carriages on longer distance Indian trains are numbered according to class like this: 

• AC1 : Car H1, H2, H3 (1, 2 and 3 are the number of coaches of that class on the train)
• 2A/2-Tier:  Car A1, A2, A3 etc.
• 3A/3-Tier:  Car B1, B2, B3 etc.
• AC Chair Car:  Car C1, C2, C3 etc.
• Sleeper/SL:  Car S1, S2, S3 etc. 

So for example, if you have booked a 3-Tier AC ticket your booking status will show: 

• B2/25/Lower

Where B2 is the car number and 25 is the seat number (lower berth).

Each carriage/car is labelled on the outside with the according number (eg. B1 or B2) and some stations have electronic boards above the platform to let you know which car is lined up at that spot on the platform. 

We underestimated the importance of getting on the correct train car in Jodhpur on our first trip. We saw ‘2-Tier’ and just jumped on.  The  Ranikhet Express  has over 24 carriages and it’s a long way to run with two backpacks on and two kids in tow to find your correct car as the train signal is sounding!  

Check your ticket ahead of time and determine your  Car Number , Class  and  Seat .

Travelling in India with kids adds to the adventure.  You need to have your wits about you navigating busy train stations (but that’s pretty standard advice for travel with children in general).  

There is a discount for purchasing a child ticket on Indian trains, but unless your child is very young (and small in size) I recommend booking a full ticket and entire berth or seat.  

Plan ahead and bring snacks and water.  There are stops along the way and attendants selling small juices, water and food as you go.  But it’s a given rule to always be prepared with snacks for the kids. 

Bring toilet paper and wet-wipes or soap to make efforts for hygiene even on Indian trains.  Little hands touch all kinds of things and it will give you peace of mind to know you are at least making all attempts to keep things as hygienic as possible. 

What about food on long trains?

On long distance trains there will often be the option to purchase the food-included option when buying your ticket online.  But don’t panic it you can’t see this option available.  

There aren’t restaurant of buffet cars on Indian Railways but on long distance trains there are plenty of train attendants who will come to your cabin or car and ask if you would like to order food.  

The attendant may come by with the box of food for breakfast (our experience travelling long distance train Kolkata to Mumbai).  And for lunch and dinner the attendant will come by earlier and take your order. 

It is not expensive and will likely have a veg/non-veg option to choose from. 

For snacks, drinks, water and chai on the popular routes the attendants come through the cars regularly selling different options for a few rupees.

What are the facilities like?

As above, the facilities available on different train lines and in stations are varied depending on which class you are travelling.  And which train station you are stopping at. 

In our experience, the AC classes (1A, 2AC, 3AC) have two toilets in each carriage.  One western style toilet and one squat toilet.  There should be water to wash your hands but unless you are in First Class there almost definitely won’t be toilet paper provided. (Plan ahead with that one). 

Train stations also have varied toilet facilities, waiting rooms and shops selling everything from wet-wipes to water and colouring-in books for kids.  

It really depends on the size of city and station.  But if you have any doubts or questions, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help. 

What are the toilets like?

I’m not going to lie.  We were nervous about this aspect of train travel in India but I can honestly say the toilet experience turned out to be better/less-disappointing than we dared anticipate.  (Perhaps we are getting concerningly more seasoned?!). 

Train toilet facilities are pretty much as expected.  Basic but functional and varying by class and capacity.  

Each carriage has 1-2 toilets and in 1A and 2A there is often one western option.  There isn’t likely soap and/or toilet paper (be prepared with that).  But because tickets are pre-purchased in the AC carriages and seating is assigned there isn’t a problem of over-crowding.  

And thankfully(?) because of this and due to the fact that the toilets are so basic they are usually in reasonably sanitary condition.

Can you leave the train to buy water and snacks? 

This always a worry.  In theory the latest IXIGO app should indicate how long a stop will be at a station.  But we found it more reliable the old fashioned way and asked the nearest guard (or passenger) if we had time to run and grab snacks. 

Otherwise don’t stress yourself about missing the train or being left behind in the middle of rural India somewhere.  Each train we have travelled on has friendly chai wallah’s that will sound out their call throughout the train, “ Chai, chai, pani, chai… ”.  

Just go with what is on offer and enjoy the adventure!

Recharging mobiles and devices

There are shaver sockets in 1A, 2A and 3A sleeper cars which can be used to recharge mobile phones and devices.  

The sockets sometimes do work…

What are the beds and sheets like? 

In 1A, 2A and 3A fresh sheets and pillowcases are provided for anything above a medium distance journey.  They have been bleached and pressed to perfection and come packaged per passenger in a paper bag.  

The beds are basic berths as the pictures depict.  It’s hot up on the top bunk in Sleeper Class but in AC the temperature is controlled and it is a comfortable way to travel. 

The bed length is standard and long enough (even for us as tall NZ-travellers) to sleep comfortably.  And there is ample storage under the bottom bunk for luggage. 

Do the trains run on time?

India has a massive railway network and many different types of train (local, express, long-distance) so punctuality can’t always be relied on.  Perhaps we were lucky, but in our experience each of the trains we have taken departed right on time.  

The IXIGO app is useful for checking the status of your train departure.  

How do you know where to get off?

Station nameboards are clearly shown at every station.  If you have service on your mobile you can check ahead on Google Maps (I called this the old fashioned way before we braved the app).  But the app actually has an alarm that can be set to warn you when your station is coming up. 

Otherwise, ask someone in your carriage.  People are friendly and happy to help.  (The chances are you won’t even have to ask and people will give you a heads up you are nearly at your station).  

Useful apps to download for train travel in India

There are many (far too many) different apps for train travel in India including plenty of third party apps.  We recommend the IRCTC app or Ixigo; both are available for iPhone and android.  

IRCTC Connect

With this app you can check train schedules between destinations and input your PNR to check the status of your booking (and timing of your train).  The app has real-time details of whether your train is running on schedule and will tell you which platform you are departing from. 

IXIGO Indian Rail App

This is the official Rail info app of Ixigo.com travel planner website. It provides most of the information required to plan a train journey in India allowing you to check the trains for your destination, ticket availability etc. You can book tickets on IRCTC from within this Ixigo app for all your train journeys.

Enjoy the adventure that is train travel in India !

The most important tip for train travel in India is simply to enjoy your Indian train travel journey!  

Depending on what sort of experience you are looking for you might find your favourite class of train for travel in India surprises you… 

But regardless of destination and class the journey is an adventure.   You’ll meet locals, try new snacks and you can relax while the Indian countryside rolls on by. 

Enjoy the adventure of train travel in India! 

Where we stayed in India

• Kochi:   Hotel Abad Plaza [good location next to mall with supermarket. Multiple restaurants on site; huge buffet breakfast. Swimming pool. Note this hotel is not in the old city of Kochi ]. 
• Varanasi:   Hotel Temple on Ganges [great location; basic rooms and restaurant. Close to Assi Ghat – good location to explore Varanasi from]. 
• Jaisalmer:   The Wanderlust Guesthouse [AMAZING guest-house! We loved staying here and can highly recommend. Great rooms; rooftop restaurant overlooking the fort; awesome camel safaris!
• New Delhi:   Hotel Hari Piorko [good location in the heart of the Main Bazaar, Delhi; close to restaurants and train station. No view from rooms]. 

• Kolkata:   Hotel Golden Palace  [close to New Market with very friendly service and a great in-house room service restaurant]. 
• Mumbai:   Gulf Hotel [good location in Colaba few mins walk to Gateway of India. Basic rooms (and very old elevator) and very basic breakfast included. Also  lots  of (questionably so?) mirrors]. 
• Jodhpur:   Raj Mandir Boutique Homestay  [good location in Blue City, spacious room with small balcony inside Haveli style home. Tiny little doors, lots of unique decor and artefacts].
• Jaipur:  Jaipur Haveli  [incredible old haveli home in heart of Jaipur. Highly recommend; beautiful rooms; great attention to detail and very friendly staff and owners]. 
• Agra:   Aman Homestay  [very friendly family-run homestay with rooftop views of The Taj Mahal. Great rickshaw driver service and home cooked meals].
• Delhi:  Smyle Inn  [extremely basic hotel in small back alley. Very friendly, helpful staff and simple breakfast included. Just off Main Bazaar]. 

More about travel planning for India and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com  – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. 
• Hostelworld – The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world. 
• Skyscanner   – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing  – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads   – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before riding those trains in India!

Read more from travel in South Asia

• Taking an overnight train in Pakistan from Islamabad to Karachi. 
• How to apply for a Pakistan e-Visa: And can you use it at the Wagah Border?
• Crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan. 
• Pakistan with kids: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan. 
• Money in India: Using ATM’s, withdrawing and carrying your money safely.
• How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
• Our complete packing list for travel in India. 

Hi! We are the Steiners. We’re a family from New Zealand with a love of travel and adventure – especially where it takes us off the beaten track!

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5 thoughts on “Worried about taking the train in India? Don’t be. Here’s our complete guide.”

Very clear and easy to follow advice, thank you

Thanks Jonathan 🙂

CC class in a train stands for AC Chair Car. It is a type of train car that features seats arranged in rows, similar to those found in an airplane. These seats might not lean back, and they might not have their own screens.CC class is usually found in long distance trains and is considered as a more comfortable option compared to other classes like general compartment or sleeper. https://www.letsdiskuss.com/what-is-cc-class-in-a-train

Thank you for your clear information ….from an Indian abroad travelling all around India by train very shortly. Much appreciated

I love train travel. It’s a great feeling to watch that scenery slowly, I will take your suggestions into consideration, I read your article with pleasure .

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Global Gallivanting

The ultimate guide to train travel in india: including how to book train tickets from abroad..

My Ultimate Guide to Train Travel in India

The best way to travel India is by the vast, and great value, Indian Railways network and traveling on Indian railways is an essential Indian bucket list experience in itself.

However, this massive system can be confusing to navigate at first and tickets can get booked up way in advance and can be difficult to book from abroad.

But never fear, read on and I’ll explain everything you need to know in this ultimate guide to train travel in India including how to book train tickets in India (even from abroad) and all the tips you need for traveling by train in India

I’ve been traveling around India independently, on a budget, and mostly as a solo female traveler since 2013. In my ultimate guide to train travel in India I’ll introduce you to Indian Railways and guide you through how to book train tickets in India.

As Indian trains get fully booked weeks and months in advance, I will also show you how to book train tickets in India in advance even from abroad to ensure a smooth trip.

I will explain all the different ticket types and 8 classes found on Indian Railways. Do you need to know what a Taktal ticket is? What is the different between AC2 and AC3? Should you join a Wait List? Is sleeper class really that bad? All the answers are here…

I’ve also written down all my tips for traveling by rail in India and answered your questions and queries about how to find your seat, food, safety, scams and of course the state of the toilets on Indian trains!

It’s a long post (Indian Railways is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world after all!) so grab a chai and settle down and I’ll explain all you need to know about train travel in India!

Indian Rail Travel Explained

India is a huge country with an amazing diversity of sights but vast distances mean that when planning a trip to India you need to give some thought about how you are going to get around.

India offers multiple ways to get around (albeit often slowly) this massive sub continent, you can get transport to pretty much every corner of India for a very affordable price, but you need patience because getting anywhere in India always takes  longer than you think.

My main advice is always to take it slow – Everything seems to take a lot longer than you think and trying to cram too much in often leads to a stressful and frustrating trip that is hard to enjoy.

Read More: 5 Common mistakes travellers often make when visiting India for the 1st time

Why take the train instead of the bus?

Train travel is very popular because the roads in India are often poor, traffic can be chaotic and buses rickety so the best way to get around the huge and diverse country of India is by train.

Of course, you could take the bus – buses in India range from bone shakers that you can’t believe are still in one piece and running to ‘delux AC’ buses that are just about reasonably comfortable.

Still, taking the train is so much more comfortable in India and the scenery is usually better. After a  nightmare sleeper bus ride ( it was like being in a coffin on a roller coaster) from Mumbai to Goa on my first trip to India I always prefer train travel in India now, especially on longer journeys.

The Indian railways network is one of the largest in the world and stretches to almost every corner of this amazing and diverse country and ticket fares are incredibly good value. With over 63,000 km of rail routes and 6,800 stations you can get to pretty much every town or city in India by rail.

Indian Railways is the third biggest passenger rail network in the world (after Russia and China) and the busiest in terms of passengers. About 23 million people travel regularly by train in India and Indian Railways employs over 1.5 million staff making it one of the world’s biggest employers.

There are over 10,000 locomotives with over 67,ooo passenger coaches covering over 66,0o0 Kms across the country. If you laid out all the railway tracks in India in one straight line they would circle the earth about 1.5 times!

Indian train journeys don’t get boring, you’ll see all sorts going on both inside and outside the train and its a unique and culturally immersive experience that you won’t want to miss.

But in the world’s most densely populated country seats on Indian trains sell out fast , especially for popular routes in the peak tourist season you can find trains booked up weeks or even months ahead which could put a real delay on your travel plans! Which means arranging your train tickets should be on your ‘to do’ list as you prepare for your trip to India. 

Read More India travel blogs:

• My Complete Guide to Planning your First Trip to India
• My complete guide to getting a tourist visa for India

How to book train tickets for Indian railways in advance?

As train travel in India is so popular I always advise people to book their train tickets in advance , there are many ways that you can book a train ticket in India but if you are expecting to be able to arrive and hop on and hop off then you will be disappointed.

You will need a reservation for all Indian Railways long distance trains , except if traveling in unreserved second class which I wouldn’t recommend (although it’s often not as bad as you this! …)

There are several ways that you can buy an Indian train ticket  – online, at a travel agency or Indian Railways booking counter.

Update! You can now also book some (but not all routes are available)  Indian Railway tickets online at Bookaway

Due to the high demand for train travel in India tickets for Indian trains can be booked up to 120 days in advance.

To make your trip to India more enjoyable and less stressful I recommend you book your tickets in advance, especially if you have a limited amount of time to spend traveling India and a packed itinerary of places you want to see.

If you want to find out the earliest date that a train is available you can look on www.indianrail.gov.in and click ‘Availability at major stations’ then ‘Earliest date of available berths’ you can see the next date on which berths are available on key trains leaving each of the most important stations.

So now you can see why you need to book train tickets in advance! But booking trains from outside India is not so easy….

Where to book tickets for Indian trains:

Use a travel agent like india someday.

The easiest way by far to book train tickets from abroad is by using the services of a travel agent. India Someday are expert trip planners, and I’ve had great experiences travelling with them before so now I always use  India Someday to book my train tickets. They charge a small service fee but it takes away all the hassle and stress of booking train tickets and ensure you get the right trains to make your trip run smoothly.

India Someday can also help with all aspect of planning a trip around India, advising on the best routes to take, accommodation and all transport options. Global Gallivanting readers can also get 5% off the trip planning fee by using the code GLOBALGALLIVANTING5 when enquiring. Contact them through their website.

IRCTC Website

Online reservations can be made on the official government IRCTC Online Passenger Reservation website . I don’t find the IRCTC website very user friendly. It is slow and temperamental – often the service is unavailable although sometimes if you keep trying it will work eventually.

It’s also not so simple to use – first you need to know the number of the train you want to book instead of being able to search and book by destination (and importantly checking availability) and it also does not accept most foreign cards and can be hassle to set up an account without an Indian mobile number.( see here how to get an Indian sim card )

A much easier way to arrange your train travel in India and book trains, even from abroad, is to use a website like Cleartrip.com to search and book trains.

Their website is much more user friendly and easier to use. There is even an app you can get on your phone and, once your account is set up, this is probably the simplest way to book trains – it’s actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it!

Most importantly you can pay with an international card . However they do charge a small service fee and not all trains are displayed, you can now book Taktal tickets online but you can’t book the Foreign Tourist Quota through these websites.

How to set up a Clear Trip Account

To set up a Clear Trip account IRCTC has insisted that you must also sign up for an IRCTC account. When you register with Clear Trip it will set both accounts up for you, but IRCTC requires an Indian mobile phone number.

This makes it a little difficult to set up the account before you arrive in India but it is possible – you  can set up a Clear Trip account before you arrive without an Indian mobile number but, as with most things in India, patience and persistence are required.

Read More: How to get a local sim card in India

Read More: My Mumbai Travel Guide: The best places to visit, stay and eat.

To set up a Clear Trip account go through the normal process to set up an account, where it asks you to enter an Indian mobile number and zip code you will need to just make these up.

To make up an Indian mobile number it’s 10 digits and usually starts with 9, but you can’t use a mobile number that has already been used before so you might have to try a few combinations.

Then make up a numerical zip code (doesn’t work if you put in a UK style postcode) but make sure you change your country from India to UK or US or wherever and then finish the registration.

Then you should get an confirmation email with an Email OTP (Email One Time Password).  Now send an email back to IRCTC customer care, attach a scan of your passport, quote your IRCTC user name and ask them to send you the SMS OTP by email.

It could take a few days or you may have to chase them for a while. Once you get the password then you can verify and activate your account on Clear Trip and enter the Email or SMS OTP and then you are ready to book train tickets and enjoy train travel in India!

There is more detailed information of this process on the really useful website – the Man in Seat 61 

It’s a bit annoying but train travel in India really is the best way to travel here and so it’s worth it to book in advance and avoid the hassles of trying to get train tickets once you arrive.

Once you’ve got your Clear Trip account set up and the app on your phone it’s actually pretty easy to book train tickets! Just search the trains on the route you want to go, check the availability of the trains and book. Your ticket details will also be saved on the app and you can show it to the conductor – this is how I book most of my train travel in India.

Use a travel agency or ask a friend

If you have a friend in India you could ask them to book the train tickets for you and forward you the ticket by email. If not, if you want to avoid hassle and don’t mind paying a bit more you could ask a reputable travel agency or a train travel specialist to sort out your train bookings.

I recently traveled through North India for 12 days and used a great company called India Someday  to help plan my itinerary and book trains and homestays along the way ( read about it here )

India Someday are a young, energetic and resourceful travel company based in Mumbai (Bombay) who are experts on India and can assist you in booking trains and other transport as part of planning a complete well thought out, personalized trip to India.

They even offer Global Gallivanting readers 5% off just use the code GLOBALGALLIVANTING5.  Contact them through the India Someday website. 

Read More: My review of traveling with India Someday

Read More: Tips for women traveling in India

If you prefer your train travel in India to be more luxurious then there are even some ultra luxury tourist train routes in India , escorted group trips by train and rail passes.

There is an IndRail Pass option where you can buy the pass and ask them to make all the reservations you want to go with it, free of charge.

However, I’ve never tried this as I prefer to stay flexible and travel slow. Using a rail pass would most likely be more expensive than booking point to point tickets and to get your money’s worth you would have to have quite rushed and busy itinerary that was all pre booked. I

f you only had a short time to explore India and wanted to have everything pre arranged then this might be an option.

Read More: The perfect route and itinerary for backpacking India

Tips for booking train tickets in India

Train travel in India, like everything else in India, always throws up some surprises, here are a few more tips and things you should be aware of when traveling by train in India.

Whether you use IRCTC or an app like Clear Trip the Indian railways online booking service closes for maintenance each day between 23:30-00:30 Indian time ( 18:00-19:00 GMT)

Sometimes the system is overloaded with visitors or just randomly won’t work, shows an error or no trains available – as with everything in India be patient and persistent, refresh the screen and keep trying and it should work in the end!

The system only shows direct train routes. If your search does not come with any train then maybe it is because there is not a direct train to your destination the system cannot calculate a journey where you have to change trains, you have to find a station where you can change and make the booking separately as 2 tickets.

Most places in India have 2 names – the old colonial names and the newer more ‘Indianised’ names. If you are having trouble with the destination try the other spelling! Usually it uses the Indian name but sometimes, for example Trivandrum is still used instead of Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru uses the old name Bangalore.

Also, sometimes the name of the railway station is not necessarily the same name of the city. For example, the main railway station (and one of the busiest) in Kolkata/Calcutta is called Howrah so you would need to type this in.

Also, many major cities have more than one train station – a search for trains from Mumbai will bring up stations like Lokmanya Tilak, Navi Mumbai or Thane which are actually pretty far away from the main re where travelers stay.

The main station in Mumbai is CST, in Delhi the main station is New Delhi, but there are also many others. For Goa, the main train station is Madgaon/ Margao.

For stress free train travel in India and to book trains you will need to first have a little geographical knowledge of India, to help you you can can check the Indian Railways Trains at a Glance timetable. 

Read More: 8 useful apps to make traveling by train in India easier 

How to get a train ticket at the station in India

The main stations in big cities and tourist centres, such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi (and 24hrs at Delhi International Airport)  have a separate booking office for foreign travellers called an International Tourist Bureau that you will need to visit if you want to get a last minute ticket from the foreign tourist quota.

Make sure you bring your passport, visa and cash and make sure you go to the right one! Don’t believe anyone that comes up to you claiming that it has closed, moved, burnt down, all trains are cancelled or whatever else! This is a scam to get you to go to their travel agency which may or may not even be able to provide the services but will certainly over charge you!

There is a list of stations with an International Tourist Bureau at www.indianrail.gov.in under the Information and International Tourist tabs. You could try your luck at a smaller station that has an international tourist reservation bureau as it may be less hassle and less waiting.

Either way, to apply for a tourist quota ticket you cannot get these online, you will need to go in, fill out a form showing where you want to go, show your passport and visa, wait and hope that there is a ticket available in the next couple of days for where you want to travel to.

You can only pay in cash with US dollars, UK pounds, Euros, or Indian rupees and you may need to show an encashment certificate, ATM receipt or something that shows that you obtained this cash in a proper, legal way.

Read More: My Mysore Travel Guide: The best places to visit, stay and eat

So now you know how to book your ticket, read on to know which class to book…

Indian Railway Classes Explained

When you are booking train tickets in India, first you will need to understand what class you want to travel and what type of ticket you have.

The array of  8 classes on Indian trains  can seem bewildering at first, although only a selection of these classes will be available on any given train, but let me break it down for you:

(AC1 or 1A) – Air conditioned first class

These can be sleepers or executive chair class and are a comfortable way to travel with lockable compartments in 2 or 4 berths available. However, there are not many carriages of these class and they are not found on every train. Also, the price is double the cost of AC2 and often comparable to a domestic flight.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 2,640  ( £26 / US$40 )

(AC2 or 2A) – Air conditioned 2-tier

AC2 is a comfortable and relatively clean way to travel and favoured by most middle class families. AC carriages (and the non air conditioned sleeper carriages) with upper, middle and lower bunks arranged in bays of six on one side of the aisle, and along the coach wall in bays of two (upper and lower) on the other side of the aisle. The bench style padded seats convert into bunks at night.

In the AC carriages, pillows, sheets and blankets are provided for overnight journeys and you also get plug sockets. On AC trains the windows are sealed and tinted this means not so much dust gets in so they are cleaner than sleeper class but the windows are often quite dirty so not good for gazing out at the countryside or taking photos. It’s also a good idea to take a fleece or jumper for the AC carriages too as sometimes I find these too cold.

The main difference between AC2 and AC3 is that there are only 2 levels of bunks instead of 3, so it feels a bit less crowded, and that AC2 has individual berth lights curtains allowing for a bit of privacy.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 1,580 ( £15 / US$ 25 )

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

AC3 is very similar to AC2 with an open plan and air conditioned carriage with three tiers of bunks instead of 2 and is slightly cheaper. Bedding and plug sockets are provided and the windows are sealed but there are no privacy curtains. Normally the AC carriages are a bit cleaner and the berths are better padded than in sleeper class.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 1,120 ( £11 / US$ 17 )

(SL) Sleeper Class

Sleeper class coaches make up the majority of carriages on most long distance Indian trains and this is how most Indians travel.

The bunks are similar to those mentioned before in the AC carriages expect that, instead of air conditioning, there are fans and the windows are open providing a cool breeze and a good view of the countryside that’s better for taking photos!

The windows are fitted with bars to keep out intruders and have shutters you can bring down if it rains. There is also no bedding provided and it’s pretty grubby so you will probably want to bring your own sheet or sleeping bag.

When traveling in the winter (the best time to travel in India)  I find that I don’t need air conditioning – actually the AC is often too cold for me and the temperature in sleeper class once the train is moving is not too hot (actually sometimes in the North it can be a bit chilly)

I usually use sleeper class in the winter although I do prefer to take an AC carriage in the hotter months or if I’m traveling alone on a long journey over night.

Riding the rails is an essential experience for anyone visiting India and the atmosphere in sleeper class is always more vibrant.   You will often find that families want to talk to you and share their food with you. There are also hawkers coming along the train all the time selling food, drinks and a whole array of other items to the background soundtrack of tinny Bollywood tunes played from mobile phones, the rhythmic clack clack of the rails and the cries of “chai, chai, chai , coffee, coffee, coffee.” You can also buy food from the stations as sellers can pass it through the windows to you.

As all berths have to have a reservation the carriage should not be too crowded but sometimes people do still try their luck and the open windows do mean more noise and dust comes into the carriage but traveling in sleeper class gives you a better insight into Indian life both on and off the train.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 420 ( £ 4 / US$ 6 )

Read More: 30 Incredible experiences you can only have in India!

You might also find:

(EC) – AC Executive chair class and (CC) AC Chair class

These classes are a comfortable and air conditioned good choice for day time journeys.  There are also newer, modern fast trains like the Rajdhani Express (long distance)  and Shatabi Express (day time) on important routes for example Delhi to Mumbai that are very comfortable and faster than the older, normal trains. Food and drinks are sometimes included in the fare and served at your seat.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 950 ( £ 9 / US$ 14 )

First class (FC)

The traditional non-air-con 1st class coaches with lockable compartments but these are quite rare now.

(2S) Second Class Sitting

Open plan and non air conditioned cars with wooden or padded plastic seats. Fine for shorter day time journeys and most seats can be reserved but there are usually a couple of carriages like this that don’t need a reservation although I wouldn’t recommend joining the scrum in the unreserved carriages.

Example price from Mumbai to Goa – Rs 250 ( £2.50 / US$ 3.80)

Luxury, Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express Trains

If you are traveling shorter distances between major metro cities, popular tourist destinations or important pilgrimage sites you could book a seat on one of the newer and faster air conditioned Shatabdi or Rajdhani express trains.

There are only 2 classes and only seats not sleepers and the trains do not stop at so many places and the price is higher but these trains will get you where you need to go quicker and more comfortably. Refreshments are also often served on the train and are included in the price.

There is a new high speed train that connects New Delhi to Agra for the Taj Mahal in only 99 mins. Read more here  The Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express takes 126 minutes to reach Agra from Delhi.

There are also new ultra luxury train tours you can take in India like The Deccan Express – the most luxurious train in India

There is also a new modern double decker train called the Tejas Express that has just started traveling the Mumbai – Goa route. Read more here…

Indian Train tickets explained

So once you’ve decided which class of carriage is most suitable for you, you can book your ticket. Like the classes, there is also a bewildering array ticket types for Indian trains.

Here is an explanation to the ticket types and acronyms that you will find when booking train tickets in India:

As train seats often get booked up far in advance if you see availability then book it while you can! Don’t wait and come back to it in a few days it may be gone and you can always cancel if you change your mind!

If your ticket says CNF then congratulations! You have a confirmed seat on a train!

RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) and Waitlist (WL) tickets

Once a train is fully booked with confirmed reservations (CNF) next tickets are sold as ‘Reservation Against Cancellation’ (RAC) and then after that passengers are put on the Waitlist.

If you have an RAC ticket, you  are  allowed to travel on that train you just don’t have a specific seat booked until someone cancels and then you are promoted from RAC to CNF (confirmed). If no one cancels you can still get on the train and you should be given somewhere to sit but maybe not a sleeping berth.

If you are on the waiting list you still have to pay for your ticket but unless you are promoted to RAC or CNF before departure you are not allowed to travel. If you are not promoted to a confirmed seat then your fare will be refunded.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Goa 

Sounds risky but I’ve done this many time with a waiting list of 15 – 20 or below and always got on the train. You will find that 24 hours before the train is due to depart many people cancel and you should get a text/ email saying that your ticket is confirmed and showing your seat number.

I’ve seen waitlists of over 300 but I wouldn’t bother to join them but  I take an RAC or WL ticket under 20 and have a good track record of getting a confirmed ticket.

You can check the status of your booking on  www.indianrail.gov.in/pnr_Enq.html  or if you booked with Clear Trip enter the PNR number on your booking. If you have the Clear Trip app you can also check PNR status on there and any movement should be sent to you in a text. Don’t give up hope too soon if you are on the waitlist – most of the movement happens the day before departure.

With both of these options there is no guarantee that you will get seats together with your travel companions although it is likely that a family will all cancel together therefore giving you their seats together.

Tatkal (CK) Quotas

Tatkal is Hindi for  immediate . There some tickets on key trains that are held back for emergencies and available to book one day before departure and sold with an extra charge. For trains where there is no tourist quota you could try booking at Tatkal ticket. You can book these online from 10am one day before the departure but as the website is temperamental it’s best to go in and try to make the booking.

With Cleartrip you can book tickets from the General quota and the Tatkal quota for travel the following day but you  cannot  book Foreign Tourist quota tickets. You can also cannot buy more than 10 tickets per month. You cannot amend or change a booking but you can cancel it online and you get the majority of the ticket price refunded.

Tourist Quota Tickets

On many popular trains there’s a special (but small) Foreign Tourist quota which gives foreigners a chance to get on a train!  The tourist quota is not available on every train and there are only a couple of tickets available. So hoping for tourist quota tickets can be risky, if you know your itinerary then it’s much better to book your trains in advance.

With tourist quota tickets you will probably still have to wait a couple of days, it does not guarantee a seat on a train and cannot be booked online meaning you have to go and wait around at the ticket booking office (possibly for a few hours) and hope you can get on a train. Tourist quota tickets can be paid for in US Dollars, pounds sterling, or rupees but you may need to show an exchange certificate or ATM receipt.

Read More: 7 Reasons why traveling in India isn’t as difficult as you might think

More Tips for traveling India by train

Arrive with good time at the station to find your platform and seat.

Indian train stations can be huge, chaotic places and departure platforms can sometimes change at the last minute so arrive at the train station with plenty of time to find your train.

Your train, coach and berth number will be printed on your ticket and you can check the train number on a board to find out the platform.

Announcements are made in Hindi, English and the local language and reservation lists are posted on the notice board at each station and on the train door too and you can check your name is listed.

Indian trains are also really long, on the platform are markers to show where each train carriage should arrive and each carriage is also labelled.

Your carriage number and seat number is on your ticket for example S6 means the 6 th  carriage in sleeper class. B1 is the 1 st  AC3 carriage, A1 is the first AC2 and H1 would be first class AC. Usually the higher classes are at the front of the train don’t leave yourself sprinting down the platform trying to find your carriage with your backpack on.

Once on the train you won’t be able to cross between carriages of different classes so you would have to wait until  the next station if you got on in the wrong class.

Showing your ticket

When traveling by train in India all passengers are required to show their ticket and passport to the train conductor. Tickets cannot be sent overseas or picked up at the station but Cleartrip issues e-tickets, emailed to you to download and you can also see your tickets in the ‘Trips’ section of the app.

Until recently it was necessary to physically print out the tickets (annoying!) but since Feb 2015 I’ve had no problems simply showing the conductor the booking made on my phone in the app or downloaded email ticket along with my passport.

Toilets on Indian Trains

One of the biggest concerns about train travel in India is the toilets! Going to the toilet on any train is never the most pleasant experience and on Indian railways it is not different. There are toilets and wash basins at the end of every carriage with both squat and western options. Neither of which are that clean but not totally unbearable.

There is usually no toilet paper, soap or water but most travellers in India take tissues and hand sanitizer everywhere with them. Be careful you don’t drop anything out of your pocket onto the track too!  I haven’t travelled in 1 st  class but found that the conditions or the toilets in the AC classes are not that much better than sleeper class.

Food and Drink on Indian Trains

Indian Railways do not always have buffet or restaurant cars on the trains but some sort of food is always available. Hawkers regularly pass through the cars selling all kinds of food and drinks among other things for a few rupees (keep lots of 10 rupee notes handy for train journeys as they often don’t have change and most things are 10 or 20 rupees)

You can also order food from the attendant (veg or non veg) and it will be served to your seat. It’s cheap but I often find the train food is not great and the hygiene can be suspect so I often prefer to take snacks on with me.

There are also often many hawkers at the stations selling food, some stations even have local specialties, sometimes you can even call a restaurant and ask them to deliver to the train – Dominos is even staring to deliver pizzas to trains!

Expect to be late

I joke that Indian Railways must have an unbroken record of never having a train arrive on time but seriously I’ve never been on one that arrives on time so I allow plenty of time for delays. Time is a more flexible concept in India! Allow extra time for your train to be delayed by a couple of hours and chill out – India will teach you to be more patient and you will get there eventually!

The further the train is from the source (the start) the more likely it is to be late. These trains travel over many days all across the country so it’s no surprise that they often get held back. You can check the train running status online if your train will be late at   www.trainenquiry.com  or look on  www.erail.in  enter the train number to see how late yesterday’s train arrived to get an idea.

Also be aware that train travel in India can take a long time, India is a huge country and most of the trains travel pretty slowly and stop a lot – the journey from Kerala (Trivandrum)  to Delhi could take over 50 hours –  that’s over 2 full days (and maybe more if it is delayed) Domestic flights are not cheap but could be an option if you don’t want to spend 2 days on a train! I use  Skyscanner  to check for the cheapest deals if I need to save time.

How safe are Indian trains?

Train travel in India is one of the safer ways to travel however there are accidents on Indian Railways, the network is huge, aging and derailments do happen, although there has been a big drop in serious incidents since in the early 1990s and traveling by train is still safer than traveling by road!

Apart from accidents, train travel in India is usually pretty safe even for women travelling alone. In the lower classes you may encounter many stares of attention from other passengers but most of the time they are just curious. Foreigners traveling in the higher classes attract less attention and may feel safer because the other passengers are generally more educated but overall you are unlikely to have any problems at all.

On overnight train journeys women should book the upper bunk to avoid any potential wandering hands and also you can go and sleep without having to wait for other passengers to want to sleep.  Women should take advantage of the special ladies carriages wherever available (usually on local commuter trains) and take advantage of ladies queues and of course, dress conservatively.  If I travel on my own overnight I prefer to go for a higher class and book an AC carriage rather than a sleeper one but generally trains are pretty safe.  See more tips for women traveling in India here. 

Take care of your luggage though, theft is not common but it can happen if the opportunity is there although I’ve never had any problems. It’s  good to sleep with your valuables on you, perhaps in a money belt. You can also chain your bags underneath the seats so they are not easy to grab and run off with when the train reaches a station although this has never happened to me or anyone I know.

Scams and Hassles on Indian trains to be aware of

Unfortunately India has more than it’s fair share of scams and hassle for a traveller to contend and train travel in India is not without its share of scams but you should soon get to realise who is genuine and just ignore touts, hawkers and other scammers. When you disembark after a long train journey in a new destination you are at your most vulnerable and will most likely to accosted with many offers of taxis, tours and hotels.

I always try to get a train that arrives in daylight wherever possible because I feel safer when dealing with these touts and of course it’s easier to find accommodation.  Most of these offers will be over priced or a commission racket. The best way to deal with these is to just ignore all the touts and anyone that comes up to you, don’t engage at all and keep on walking confidently to find the official  pre paid taxi or rickshaw stand  (most big stations have them)

Failing that get out of the vicinity of the train station and just hail down a regular rickshaw who is just going about his normal business instead of preying on tourists and you are more likely to get a decent price and get taken straight to your hotel. It’s a good idea to know a landmark near your accommodation as more often than not the rickshaw driver will not know where it is although he may stop and ask people on the street as he goes along to help him find the place.

Read More: How to avoid the scams and survive your first time in Delhi.

Also be wary of anyone around places like train and bus stations, airport and major tourist attractions who tell you that where you want to go is closed, moved, burnt down, your train is cancelled or the hotel you want to go to is disgusting, closed, unsafe and that they will help you find an alternative or take you to the tourist information centre or ticket office.

Even if they look ‘official’ and are in uniform (this happened to me and  I got scammed in Delhi ) or you will lend up being taken to an alternative hotel from which they will earn a commission or at some fictitious travel agency or tourist information centre paying a lot of money for a service that may not even exist. I’ve heard of people booking and paying for a whole 2 week tour that turns out to not exist or paying over the odds for a taxi all the way to Varanasi when it was just that the train was delayed. Read more about common scams in India. 

Suburban Trains and Metros

Everyone’s seen those images of famously overcrowded Indian trains with people sitting on the roof and hanging on the side but I’ve never seen anything like that. Riding on the roof is illegal and I’ve never seen anyone doing it, the suburban trains or basic unreserved 2nd class carriages can get busy especially at peak periods, in Mumbai it’s called super dense crush load!

I avoid traveling in those peak hours on local trains but as long as your quick and prepared to barge on a bit taking the local commuter trains in Mumbai can be fun and a cheap and efficient way of getting around the crowded, congested and buzzing city.

Train travel in India is constantly changing and improving. India is rapidly building and introducing metro and rapid transit rail systems in many cities. Delhi’s metro is impressive, Calcutta has had one since 1984 and more metros are also started to operate in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and Jaipur.

What if you like to be flexible and spontaneous?

I hear you! I do as well – I don’t like to have all my travels planed out as you never know what’s going to happen, who you will met, which places you will love and wish to linger longer in and which you will hate and want to leave asap.

You cannot change or amend your booking online though so what I do, as sleeper trains are so cheap,  I often book a couple of options and then cancel the ones I don’t want only losing a tiny bit of money but it allows me to be more flexible.

It’s easy to cancel trains on the Clear Trip app and get a refund up to 4 hours before departure (not a full refund but you get most of it back).

Read More: The perfect route and itinerary for traveling India

Do you have any more questions or tips for train travel in India? Leave a comment below

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Yes please..would be very helpful..as I would like to book train tickets from South Africa.

That would be very helpful please

PDF would be fab 🙂

Super helpful!

I like how thorough many of your articles are. This is helpful not just to foreigners but also Indians.

Thanks so much – glad to hear that! 🙂

Cool, glad its helpful – I will work on making it into a downloadable PDF 🙂

Can we get India train tickets from you?

From me? No, I’m not a travel agent so I can’t use my account to book for other people sorry.

The easiest way is to ask http://www.indiasomeday.com they can book train tickets for you for a small commission. I’ve travelled with them before see more here – http://www.global-gallivanting.com/my-review-of-traveling-with-india-someday/

hope this helps you 🙂

Good to see your love for India and Indian Railways. The blog is surely informative. However, you should be aware of the current updates of Indian Railways. To get updated info, keep a check on http://www.getpnrstatus.co.in

Thanks, glad its been useful

Hi Anna, what do you do about safety when needing to use the toilet if you are travelling solo? Do you have to take your day pack with you and have on your back? Could imagine it would be quite tricky sqatting on a moving train with a day pack on your back. I wouldn’t imagine it’s safe to leave it at your seat? Thanks

Hi Shani, normally I have my valuables in a smaller pack and take it with me to the toilet. I also keep my smaller bag on valuables under my head normally when I’m sleeping. They do have handles to hold on too while squatting on a moving train and they also have some western toilets. You can also bring a chain to chain your bag to the seat but I haven’t had a problem with theft on the train. Hope this helps 🙂 Happy Travels

Just had my 1 year visa approved, flights are now booked but I was dreading the IRCTC registration……… but using your detailed instructions and reading seat61.com I completedthe whole process and received verification codes in less than an hour. Thanks for a fab website Anna. Woohoo, India here I come 🙂

Awesome! So glad my blog helped! Hope you have a great trip!

Nice one you put ample information in your blog, also add this to solve the confusion about waiting list problem In Indian Railway.Thanks http://blog.railyatri.in/decoding-the-myths-about-remote-location-wait-list/

Great blog and awesome pictures indeed. Your tips and suggestions will be certainly useful for many foreign travellers who come to India and want to travel safely.

Thanks, glad its helpful

Great blog Anna,You know more than any other citizens of India.These information are very useful for people using railways.If possible kindly include info regarding dustbins in Indian railways.Many people don’t know that there is a dust bin present in every compartment,It is located below the wash basin. Thanks,

Thanks Laxmikant 🙂

Hi Anna Love your website! We are planning to visit India for the first time this October November and found your fantastic website. You give such amazing all-round advice – superb! We would like to travel mostly by train, so your train piece is just what we need. However, most of the photos don’t come up, especially the ones inside the different compartments. I have tried in several countries and with many different providers, so it might be an instruction problem on your side. Would love to see them, so could you please check this out. Thank you so much for an exceptional website. Kindest regards Crystal and Joerg

Nice Article!!! Thanks for sharing such a amazing article with us, keep it up more.

Ive been travelling in indian trains since i was 1 year old (because i’m from india ) . I dont know why i still half your article .

Nice Blog !! It is a complete guide to the travelers especially foreigners. Food is also a major issue in India while traveling on a train. Call 07827998877 or visit traveler food website to order your food on your seat.

[…] by train in India is the best experience! I will not talk about the many kinds of tickets because other bloggers already covered this topic. But I advise you to book your train tickets in […]

Train travel in India can be an overwhelming experience. It takes meticulous planning ahead of time. We were uniquely blessed to be easily able to travel the complex and far flung vast expanses of perhaps the third largest railroad system in the world. Arguably the most used railway system as well. Without going into detail I can tell you confidently, that it was absolutely splendid! In contrast to that luxury, we also traveled on all four gauges (narrow, meter, broad and standard gauges) of the vast Indian Railways on every known classification. On some stretches the four gauges ran within and concurrently. I don’t know of any other place on the planet where that is so common over long stretches, lol!

The sound of the tracks and bewitching alpine horns as well as the archaic whistle on some old hobbies is etched in my mind. Some of the best quality REM deep sleep I’ve ever experienced was in those wonderful trips. The scenery was exquisite. Whether it was rumbling through megalopolis urban centers or the tranquil expanses of the country side (a veritable diaspora of green farmland, to the dense and foreboding jungles to the serene expanses of the many ocean beaches, the landscape was haunting. Aside from all these we also enjoyed being unhooked from the train next to a private cove with a pond or lake to camp out at. Stuff of dreams that would easily be the envy of many. Uncommon and common experiences to cherish forever.

I have to say I’m compelled to agree, it’s an !incredible !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

Allow our team of local India travel experts to curate your dream trip to India. When you're ready to embark on your adventure, reach out to us , and we'll craft a personalised itinerary just for you.

 Feel free to browse our pre-designed India itineraries for ideas, and remember that all can be tailored to meet your specific needs. For more inspiration, discover some of the best things to do in India , and start planning your trip with The Rough Guide to India . 

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TRAIN TRAVEL IN INDIA – EVERYTHING TRAVELLERS NEED TO KNOW.

Train travel in India has got to be one of the best experiences of journeying the subcontinent. Nothing quite beats sitting by a window, fresh chai in hand, enjoying the scenes of life that pass by. But, the Indian railways system is renowned for being overly complex and sometimes  complicated – so we’re here to help set you up with everything you need to know to enjoy travelling by train in India to the full! 

This post contains compensated  affiliate links, please find out more in our disclosure . Thank you for supporting Soul Travel!

How to Master Indian Train Travel for Foreign Visitors

I tend to subscribe to the belief that you haven’t been to India (let alone experienced India), until you’ve taken a long ride on Indian Railways. The view of this beautiful country is best from a bunk in an overnight train sleeper coach, watching the landscapes roll by and chatting to new-found friends.

There are few better feelings on a journey around India than sitting at a window seat, masala chai in hand, simply watching the varied landscapes of India change, merge and blend before your eyes, or standing near a train doorway early in the morning after an overnight journey feeling the cool fresh breeze on your face.

Travelling by train in India is safe, efficient, comfortable (depending on which class you pick – read below!) and our number one way to get around India. Head over here for some of our must-not-miss favourite train journeys in India !

The third largest employer in the world, mover of 25 million passengers ever day, and owner of the longest railway platform in the word (amongst other trivia), travelling by Indian Railways is an experience not to be missed during your trip to India. 

Train travel in India is many things: But being ‘turn-up-and-go’ is definitely not one of them, and especially not for foreigners travelling in India (although fortunately this is changing – more below). 

Good things come to those who persevere, however and I truly believe that you won’t regret the time and effort put into planning your Indian train journeys. Many Indians depend on train travel to get around the country and the railways are still referred to as India’s lifeline. Given that a population of 1.2 billion people depend on them to get around, you can begin understand why the ticketing system is a little complex. 

Over my trips to India and living here over the last seven years I’ve learnt a lot about how to travel by Indian railways – by trial as much as by error – so much so that locals seem to come up to me on station platforms and ask me for directions! I’m happy to share all my tips with you in this post, along with how train travel in India has changed post Covid-19 .

Planning Train Travel in India 

The first step towards planning your trip to India is working out an approximate itinerary .

This doesn’t mean you have to book all your hotels etc, but do have an idea of which places you want to go to and how long you will have in each place. This will help you pin down which dates you need your Indian Railways tickets for so that you can start to look into specific trains.

You may then need to re-orgnise your itinerary based on availability of trains, or which places are well connected to each other by rail (for example – Jaipur and Udaipur are well connected by train, but there’s no train from Udaipur to Jodhpur (or vice versa). 

The most important point is that you want to book your trains as early as possible – they open up for sale 120 days in advance and ideally you want to be booking your train tickets for your Indian rail journeys 3-4 months out if you can,  especially  if there are holidays such as Christmas, New Year, Diwali etc occurring around that time. 

Not all trains run every day. Some express trains run only certain days of the week. When researching trains you might find information like the below: 

Here you can see some of the many trains that run from Varanasi to Delhi, which days of the week they run on (letters are for days of the week), how long they take and which classes they have. If you want to research train options between cities, a google search will bring up plenty of sites with this info such as indiarailinfo.com. 

Types of Train in India

There are many different types of train in India – even for long distances and know upfront that  not all trains are equal.  Some trains move at twice the speed of others, calling at 20% of the stations. Depending on which train you choose, a journey between two places can take five hours or ten hours – so be careful with which train you book! 

Here are some of the main types of trains that you may come across during your travels in India: 

Overnight Trains:

• Rajdhani Express – The RollsRoyce of Indian express trains (ok, well maybe more like a Volkswagen). These are the fastest and most reliable intercity express trains that run between Delhi and state capitals. They’re a great way to get from Delhi – Mumbai or Delhi – Kolkata (or vice versa) quickly and comfortably. The Rajdhani’s always have priority on the tracks and meals are included on these trains. Rajdhanis are fully air conditioned, but don’t expect red carpets or chandeliers; the interiors are similar to any other air conditioned Indian Railways train. These are also the most expensive trains.  Recommended.
• Garib Rath  – Distinguishable by its olive green and mustard yellow outside livery, the Garib Rath is an all economy Air Conditioned express train, designed to be an affordable option for those who could not afford air conditioned train travel. Runs 1-2 times per week and there are several routes including south from Mumbai to Kerala (which we travelled on and found very comfortable).  Recommended.
• Duronto Express – Duronto means non-stop in Bengali, and these trains were introduced in 2009 as India’s first step towards high speed rail services. They were introduced to be point-to point services with no stops in between (although now some do stop it seems). Generally a great option for long distance travel.  Recommended.
• SuperFast Express  – Possibly the type of train you’ll find yourself on most for inter-city / town travel, sometimes all AC ( referred to as AC SuperFast), or sometimes a mix of Sleeper + AC Classes (SuperFast). These trains are relatively fast and a good way to travel. Recommended.
• Express – A step down from SuperFast Expresses (and indeed the Express name may be aspirational only) these trains tend to stop at more stations and take longer. Generally these are fine too, and may be your only option for less common routes, but are prone to more delays than the above categories of trains.
• Mail Trains / Passenger – the slowest trains, stopping at yet more stations, taking more time, and prone to more delays. Only recommended if this type of train is your only option. 

Daytime Trains:

• Tejas Express – A (relatively) new addition to train travel on selected routes in India, the Tejas Express trains are India’s latest high-speed train travel offering. These trains are new, modern, and are fully air conditioned with automatic closing doors and tv’s in the back of seats in Executive AC class. A novelty for travelling by train in India, but not recommended for those who relish the chance to sit by an open window or door. Given the high ticket price, these trains often have seats left when others are fully booked.
• Shatabdi Express  – These are daytime express trains with seating only (all the above trains have sleeper berths) and cover popular shorter routes like Delhi to Agra, Amritsar and Jaipur. These are good trains which usually run on time and we highly recommend them. All AC.  Recommended.
• Jan Shatabdi –  Like the Shatabdi trains above but with the addition of non-AC chair car class. Slightly slower and cheaper than Shatabdis.  Recommended.
• Local Trains –  These come in a range of forms to the local suburban trains of Mumbai and Kolkata, to state local trains which run between towns and usually offer “General” unreserved seating only. They are usually very busy in cities. Avoid these unless you really want to take the “scenic” route! 

If you want to travel as quickly as possible, research the fastest train for your route. In general the SuperFast trains sell out quickest, I’ve never had any problems getting a Rajdhani ticket, but the cost is about 30% higher than a SuperFast for the same route. 

Some trains are also famous for being late. I used not to believe this, until someone warned me about a particular train and it was 11 hours (yes you read that right) late. So I am now a member of the official India train geek society and check the average punctuality score for trains before booking them – Railyatri.in (another useful site for checking train routes and status) has an “on time score”!

How to Book Indian Railways Train Tickets

There are many ways to book your Indian train tickets. Here are some of the best options: 

Booking Indian Train Tickets From Overseas

This has always been much harder (and at times impossible) than booking Indian train tickets inside India. The issues include not having an Indian phone number, foreign credit cards not being accepted, and no access to the foreign tourist quota. Fortunately – times are a changing, and it’s now easier than it’s every been to nab your Indian train tickets before you even set foot in the motherland! 

Option #1 – The stress-free way with Raj from Train Ticket Please

I used to enjoy booking my own train tickets with my IRCTC account, but on my return to India in October 2021 after Covid, I found that I could no longer use my UK bank cards to pay for my tickets. Most other foreign travellers have reported the same issue, with foreign (non-Indian) bank cards from most countries being rejected.

Enter my saviour and agent, Raj, from Train Ticket Please, who now books all of my tickets, along with arranging ground transportation, domestic flights, drivers and guides. Raj books trains all over India for a small service cost, meaning you don’t have to spend out hours – or days – trying to work out how to register, create an account and book your own tickets on the Indian Railways website, and it’s just done for you!

If you’re short on time and want the least hassle, I recommend booking via him. Contact via Whatsapp: +91 89621 29008 or Email: [email protected] mentioning ‘SOUL TRAVEL’.

Option #2 – Do it yourself with 12Go.Asia

12Go.Asia is one of the leading platforms for booking transport in Asia, and is one of the only international websites to offer Indian train bookings  without having to register for an IRCTC account first.  Which makes it the easiest and quickest option for booking trains in India, and ideal for if you only want to take a couple of journeys / are only in India for a couple of weeks. They don’t have every single journey online yet, but they do have most of the ones you’d want to take as a visitor to India, between the main towns and cities. 

Search and Book Indian trains on 12go here!

How I suggest using 12Go.Asia for booking trains:  

• Conduct a general search on railyatri.in or indiarailinfo.com to check the trains running between your destinations
• Note the train number, station that they leave from and station they arrive at. Most cities have multiple stations and you need to enter the specific departure and arrival station to get the right train results. 
• While booking you can request your preference of upper or lower berth and normally there will be different classes available – see our notes below for recommendations on what to book. 
• Enter your details and pay by international credit card. Bookings are on a request basis so they are not confirmed until you receive the confirmation from 12go.Asia. There’s an option to let them know if you are flexible to travel a day before / after.  Search train journeys in India now ! 

Search & Book Popular Train Journeys in India on 12go

Jaisalmer –> Jodhpur

Jaipur –> Ajmer (Pushkar)

Delhi –> Jodhpur

Agra –> Jaipur

Delhi –> Agra

Mumbai –> Goa (Madgaon)

Goa –> Cochin (Ernakulam)

Delhi –> Varanasi

Delhi –> Haridwar (for Rishikesh)

Option #3 – Sign up for an IRCTC Account & (try to) Book Directly

This option is high risk if you don’t have access to an Indian bank card/credit card – you may go through all the steps to book tickets only to find that your payment cannot be accepted. If in doubt, use one of the previous 2 options.

As of 2022, sadly Cleartrip is no longer offering train bookings via your IRCTC account (which used to be my workaround).

This is the traditional way of booking train tickets and used to be possible, but is now unlikely to work with foreign cards, unless you get lucky. It’s a high investment of time with limited chance of success, so I urge you to use other options especially if it’s just for a couple of journeys. But, if you’re really determined and have Indian friends who are happy to let you use their payment cards, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Sign up for an IRCTC Account. 

The first step is to sign up for an IRCTC account . IRCTC stands for Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Cooperation and is the Government body that oversees all railways in India. As of November 2017 you can now get an IRCTC account with a foreign mobile number (include your country code when signing up). Unfortunately, the “OTP” (One Time Passcode) which is sent via SMS/Text and which you need to validate your account doesn’t always arrive to international numbers. If that happens, your best bet is to try to book with 12go.asia or email Raj at [email protected] as above quoting “Soul Travel”.

With your foreigner account you will also be able to book tickets from the  Foreigner Tourist Quota (more on what that is below) but note that that the quota is only available for 1AC and 2AC classes. Make a note of your ID and password somewhere safe as you’ll need it for whenever you make a booking! 

As a non-Indian national (using a foreign phone number to register) you will need to pay an activation fee of 100 Rupees after activation, on your first login to your account  before you’ll be able to make any bookings. 

There is now a maximum number of train bookings (single journeys) you can make per month per IRCTC id which is six . For additional bookings over six per month per person/ID you’ll need to use an agent or buy at the station. 

Step 2. Booking Tickets with an IRCTC Account on IRCTC website 

Once you have a validated IRCTC Account, you can log in, choose your train, class of travel and preferred bunk (upper / middle / lower – note that you’re not guaranteed to get it), etc.

Login, search for trains between your chosen destinations and preferred class of travel (we recommend searching for train options as above first so you can enter the exact start and end station).

Availability on trains opens up 120 days prior to departure. Many trains get booked up weeks if not months in advance, so this is where having an account well in advance helps. If your train is still available, simply book a confirmed ticket, note your booking number (called a PNR) and away you go! If not, read on…

Step 3. Things to know when booking tickets yourself on IRCTC

When searching for trains you might see statuses like “RAC” “Waitlist” and “Available”. Here’s what they mean: 

Available –  Pretty self explanatory –  you can book a ticket with a confirmed seat. Lucky you! 

RAC  – Reserved against Cancellation. Indian Railways know that not everyone will show up for their train, so they do what they can to make sure the train runs full and “overbook” using RAC tickets (similar to what airlines do really).

With an RAC ticket you CAN board the train  but you are not guaranteed a seat/berth number at the time of booking and may have to share a berth if everyone shows up for the train. Usually, as ticket quotas are released one day prior / up to four hours before the departure of the train, you will be allocated a berth. I have seen some cases where trains were full and some RAC passengers had to sit for long journeys sharing berths, but this is unusual and RAC passengers normally get berths fine.

You should board the class of travel that you paid for – ie if you booked an RAC ticket at the AC3 fare, you should board an AC3 coach. We advise booking RAC for the most popular class such as AC3 tier as there is normally much more of this on a train than say first class. You can see how many people are on RAC tickets already by the number given – eg RAC 23 means there are 23 people on RAC tickets already in front of you. Obviously, the lower the number the better your chances.

WL or Waitlist – That means your train is officially closed to guaranteed bookings. Once the general quota sells out for a train and all RAC tickets have been booked, the train moves on to Waitlist status. You can book a Waitlist ticket but that means you are not confirmed a place on the train and you cannot (officially…) board a train with a Waitlist ticket. 

See more on what we suggest you do if you are issued a Waitlist ticket below! 

Pin this for Later! 

Option #3 – Use a Local Travel Agent

I recommend Raj at Train Ticket Please ([email protected], quote “Soul Travel”), however you can also use other agents you find along your travels – such as through your accommodation, guide or through travel agents in tourist destinations. They will charge a small fee for booking tickets.

TIP: If going with travel agent shops in tourist destinations, check the price and availability of trains yourself on IRCTC first to know availability and pricing. It’s normal to pay a small fee (around 100rs) for booking, but be aware of agents trying to increase ticket prices, or trying to tell you to book first class tickets when there are lower classes available, if you don’t want them.

Travel agents have been known to claim that certain trains are full, or only have First Class tickets left in order to increase their revenue – which is why I recommend using Raj at Train Ticket Please (email above), 12go.asia, or another agent you know/trust.

Option #4 – Buy Your Ticket at a Railway Station in India

Once you are in India, you can turn up at any Railway Station in India and book trains in person (payment is by cash only).

Most Railway stations have someone who speaks English (at a smaller station, ask for the station manager) – and larger Railway stations have ticket windows that are dedicated to train bookings for foreigners. There is also a foreigner quota that is available only in person (or now on IRCTC too but only for certain classes and if you have registered with a foreign mobile number). Try and go to the station to book your tickets at the earliest chance possible, as the trains sell out. Beware anyone trying to point you away from the ticket office and towards their own travel agency (New Delhi is infamous for this!).

Logistics of Train Travel in India

You’ve booked your tickets, congrats! You’re half way there 😉

Now here’s how you go about making sure you get on your train.

To get to the right place on the right train you are going to need: Your train number, compartment number and berth number.

Example: 13015 (Train), B3 (Coach / “Bogie”), 23 (Berth).

How to Find your Platform 

Indian Railways stations vary hugely across the country – some have really great, clear signage and others hardly any. If you’re getting on your train at the start of the route, you should have some time, but if you’re getting on at an intermediate station, you need to make sure you are in the right place as trains are very long and at worst only stop for 2 minutes . 

Make a note of your Train Number (5 digits eg 13015)  as some stations will show trains by numbers rather than destinations. If there is no board with train departures (normally to be found in the main station entrance, waiting room, or on the Footbridge), you can ask the station manager or other railway official. Porters (who wear red shirts) are often a great source of information too – it can be worth paying them to carry your bags and get you to the right place. 

How to Find your Coach on the Train

Once you’ve found your platform, you need to find where to stand on your platform. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT as Indian trains are very long and you need to be in the right place. Normally you will see numbers along the platform on signs such as “10”, “11” etc. These do not correspond to the coach number but are indicators of where the different coaches will stop. Eg B2 may stop at 10, B3 may stop at 11 etc. In northern India I found that there are often electronic indicators along the platform (with red lights) indicating which coach will stop where. However in Southern India I didn’t see these, and there were only signs with (1, 2, 3 etc on). So you then need to work out which number your coach will stop by:

• There are usually announcements in the local language, Hindi, and in ENGLISH so listen out for those. 
• Ask a station official
• Use an app/the internet to check the train composition – google your train number + train composition (or use indiarailinfo.com – where the below screenshot is from) you should get something like the below which shows which number your coach stops by. Most of India’s railway stations now have free, super fast wifi courtesy of Google… 
• As a last resort, stand in the middle of the platform (not either end) and get ready to run as the train comes in! Each coach has a sign in the middle near the top with the coach number on it (eg A1, B2), plus you can easily see which coach are AC vs non AC by the sealed vs unsealed windows. 

How to Find out your Seat + Coach

If you booked a confirmed ticket, you will find your seat plus coach on the ticket. It will give you your coach (called “bogie” in Indian English) number (eg A1, B2, S1) and your seat / berth number (eg 56). 

Note that reservations charts are not finalised until 4 hours before the train departs from its starting point. 

If you are issued a waitlist ticket that then confirms, you can check your seat and coach number in two ways. The easiest way is to use an App (I use one called “Confirmtkt”) where you enter your “PNR” (your ticket number) and it will return you your ticket status, coach and seat/berth number.

You can also send a text message from your mobile phone to 139 with just your PNR (ticket number) on it, and you’ll get an auto reply which looks something like this. Again, this can change up to 4 hours prior to departure, when charting is done, so the best time to do this is within 4 hours of departure of your train. You should get a reply that looks something like this, telling you your coach and berth/seat number.

Classes of Travel on Indian Trains

Train travel in India is famous for having a total of 9 different classes of travel. Worry not though, you won’t have a choice of all 9 on any given train. The choices are essentially First Class / 1AC, 2AC (Two-Tier AC), 3AC (Three-Tier AC), and Sleeper (Non AC). Classes like 2nd (non AC chair cars) or General Class are not recommended for long journeys and are very basic. On Shatabdi express trains there are also Chair Cars (CC – Air Conditioned) and Executive Chair Cars (EC – First Class Air Conditioned).

The main difference between the Air Conditioned Sleeper Classes (from what I’ve experienced – trains can be different) are as follows:

First (1AC) gets you a locking compartment with 2 or 4 of you. It’s not possible to choose the 2 or 4, it’s down to pot luck on the day. Slightly thicker pillows are included but apart from the locking compartment door the rest is the same as 2 or 3AC – in that toilets and washbasins are at the end of of each coach. First is not particularly fancy and costs double the price of 2AC. I was not a fan of my one and only experience in first, mainly as I ended up in a compartment of snorers ( you can read about that one here ).  

On some special Radjhani Express trains, meals are included. It can however be a good option if waiting lists on all other classes are very long and you need to get somewhere. It’s also the class that Indian Ministers and important persons tend to travel. So if you fancy some networking…

2AC  / Two Tier AC (Recommended).  The layout is open plan within the coach and comes with bays of 2 bunks opposite 2 bunks, and a further 2 sideways against the side of the coach. The main advantage of 2AC is that the upper bunk is less high (as the bunks are only 2 high vs the 3 high in 3AC) and there are curtains around each bay of bunks (not individual bunks unless you get the side bunks) to provide some privacy. Bedding (sheet, blanket and pillow) is provided. Toilets are at the end of each coach.

Tip – In 2AC my favourite bunk is side upper. You have a curtain giving you perfect privacy! 

3AC  / Three Tier AC (Recommended).  Same open plan layout as 2AC but with 3 bunks facing 3 (so the top one is a bit of a climb), and there are no curtains. This is the class I travelled in for 90% of my train journeys and I found it to be comfortable. (Solo) women should try and get the top bunk . Bedding is included and it’s pretty clean. In all Air Conditioned classes the windows are of course sealed against the dirt which keeps them warmer in winter / cooler in summer and cleaner.

Tip – In 3AC I always go for the top bunk as for women that is the best option. However it can get pretty chilly as you’re right next to the fan! I recommend bringing an extra scarf or hoodie to help keep you cosy. It’s also quite high up so not recommended if you don’t feel comfortable doing a few acrobatics to get up/down. Unlike in 2AC I don’t recommend the side bunks for single women as everyone gets to have a good look at you as they walk up/down the train.

3 Tier Economy AC / 3E (NOT Recommended). As of 2022, a new sub-type of 3 tier AC has started being introduced, known as 3-Tier AC Economy, 3 Economy, or 3E. This is intended to allow more people to travel in AC classes at a lower price point, however is very cramped and not recommended as it’s more cramped than 3 tier AC (already a lot of people) and more cramped than non AC sleeper (see below. 3E class basically fits in an extra set of berths in each coach compared to   the other classes.

Sleeper (Non AC Sleeper) is basically the same layout of 3AC, but a third of the price, and a lot dirtier. Windows are open so the coaches get hot in summer and cold in winter. Bedding is not provided so bring your own. Everyone warned me about not going in Sleeper class as a foreigner (especially as a solo female). I don’t take sleeper for overnight journeys, however I have taken it for daytime journeys, for which it can be fine and is certainly much better for photography as the windows can be opened. Sleeper can be very hot/cold depending on season. If it’s your first time in India then I recommend starting off in the AC Classes and not sleeper.

Another reason to stay out of (non-AC) sleeper class is that it is subsidised by the Indian government to keep costs low for those who struggle to pay for sleeper class and long-distance railway travel. Sleeper class is hugely in demand and oversubscribed, so for these reasons too I suggest visitors should purchase higher classes of travel, leaving more room in sleeper for those who need it.

2nd Class & General Class  – AVOID these unless you are going for a short hop without your luggage and really want to travel backpacker style. These are coaches with wooden benches for sitting which can be fine in winter for a short journey – I’ve travelled in Goa & Kerala in 2nd Class (which is divided between reserved and un-reserved) for 1-2 hour journeys but definitely wouldn’t attempt it in summer or for longer.

General class is unreserved and can be truly appalling, especially in poorer states of India such as Uttar Pradesh. Anyone who does not have a confirmed reservation has to get in here – do NOT attempt this . (I’ve been in General class once for a 1 hour trip and those travelling in General class do not need tourists joining them, it’s crowded enough!)

What to do When your Train is Full (and all the others)

Worry not. Not just yet anyway. There are some options that do not involve flying or taking the bus to help you get a train ticket when your train (and all others) appear to be full.

Buy A Tatkal Ticket

Tatkal is the name of the service which is a quota of emergency travel tickets that is released at 10am the day before departure of the train for AC Classes (11am for non AC Classes). Make sure you get there ahead of time as there will be a queue! You (or your travel agent or other trusted envoy) need to be at the station before that time to get a spot in the line and fill out a form. You can then likely get a ticket for your desired train, albeit at an extra 30% of the normal price as a “Tatkal Premium”.

It used to be the case that Tatkal tickets could only be booked in person at the station but I have now done this several times via Cleartrip. It’s been really helpful and I’ve managed to get a number of train tickets this way, even though they ended up being a bit more expensive. 

Book a Waitlist Ticket

During my travels in India I’ve had several waitlist tickets, with most of them getting confirmed a few hours before the train left. Once a train is ‘full’ – i.e. standard non Tatkal tickets sold out – then the waitlist will open up and you can book a Waitlist ticket (see above). Then you have Waitlist spots 1 up to a few hundred depending on the popularity of the train. I’ve been on Waitlist 6 and had my spot confirmed, and even up to Waitlist 20. Last year I noticed that waitlists are getting longer and longer as it seems more tickets are being held back to Tatkal to help improve IRCTC’s revenue management…

Often, spots aren’t released until the day of travel (as how many waitlist spots will be confirmed is dependent not only on cancellations but how many tickets are sold in Tatkal (see above). So this can add some uncertainty to your journey.  If you need to travel on that day, it’s better to pay the extra for a confirmed Tatkal ticket.

At the latest, you will find out 4 hours before departure if your seats have been confirmed as this is when the reservation charts are finalised. 

Getting on a Train with a Waitlist Ticket

If you have an RAC ticket you can board the train. If you have a Waitlist Ticket that isn’t confirmed, you’re not allowed to…. But last year we were in that situation and needed to get to Goa on time!

When our tickets from Kerala to Goa were not confirmed we pondered what to do. Tatkal for the next day had already closed, so we decided our best chance was to try and get on the train anyway and negotiate once on board (we bought a “General” ticket from the ticket office before boarding)

We had booked 2AC tickets so we boarded the train at the 2AC compartment. Seeing as it was nighttime and we didn’t know which berths were unoccupied, we stood in the vestibule for a good hour before the TC (Ticket Checker – the one wearing a suit with a big pile of papers on a clipboard) appeared. Ravi then showed him our general tickets and told him of our plight (drawing on me as a clueless foreigner) and eventually we were given two nice berths in 2AC for the remainder of the journey. Seeing as our ticket had been refunded, we paid the TC in cash. Our TC was extremely kind and honest and took less than what we had spent on the original ticket, but normally you can expect to pay a little extra for this kind of “service” (we suggest you negotiate). 

So would I recommend this approach? Not necessarily. If I would have been travelling alone and without an Indian I would have felt pretty uncomfortable standing in the corridor with my luggage for so long, attracting a few looks. You may also encounter unscrupulous Ticket Checkers who will demand a big payment as technically speaking, you are boarding the train without a valid ticket for that class. However, if you really need to be somewhere and don’t mind chancing it, this could be your best bet! Also, you’re not depriving anyone of their seat this way, you’ll only be given a berth if one is empty (so there is a small chance you might have to stand!). 

Get Creative with your “From” Station!

On queueing up to buy a Tatkal ticket from Bikaner to Haridwar, a friendly local stepped in to enquire where I wanted to go. Suspecting “come to my travel agency” stories, I told him anyway and he suggested that I didn’t need to pay extra for a Tatkal ticket, but I could instead buy a ticket from a place called Luni in Rajasthan but “getting on at Bikaner”.

Luni was a small station in the middle of nowhere that not many people travelled from, before Bikaner on the line. But because there are quotas from each station that a train calls at, there were still standard price tickets for sale to my destination as opposed to paying several hundred rupees extra for Tatkal. The ticket office sold this to me without questioning and the ticket inspector on the train seemed quite happy. You can only buy tickets with a different “getting on point” in person.

Safety Tips for Travel on Indian Railways

One of the questions we are asked most often by travellers visiting India is if travelling by train is safe. The straightforward answer: YES! 

The longer answer: Yes train travel in India is generally very safe and most travellers have good experiences. Indian Railways generally has a good safety record and there are always police / guards on each train should you ever need help. The Railways Minister is also incredibly reactive on twitter! They can be reached at @RailMinIndia

There are a couple of things to be aware of to help make your journey even safer: 

• The main scams around rail travel are around ticketing. Famously, several travel agents pretend to be the “official foreign tourist ticket office” at New Delhi Railway station (ignore them), and touts have been known to single out tourists on platforms, ask for their train # or ticket and then tell them that their train has been cancelled, their ticket is not valid. Sometimes the scams are elaborate but they all revolve around trying to get you to buy a new ticket through them. Just ignore people who approach you at stations – the official ticket checkers will be walking through the trains once you are on and you’ll see all passengers showing their ticket. 
• Train travel in India is safe for solo women, but we recommend you get the top bunk whenever you can for some additional privacy and make sure you are well covered while sleeping – no shorts, vest tops and you can forget the idea of changing into your silk pyjamas… 
• Doors are often open during train journeys – this makes for great photo opportunities but please be careful. Trains go fast and often pass next to poles on the track so do not lean out far or while the train is travelling at speed – hold on at all times if you do stand in the doorway. 
• I’ve read a lot of advice saying to bring a padlock and chain for your luggage, but have personally never used this. I always make sure to keep my small day pack on my top bunk with me (i use it as a pillow, but have also had to leave it unattended on my top bunk when needing the washroom) and keep my main bag with clothes etc down under the seat. I use a cross body purse which never leaves my person with passport, phone and money in. If your bag is full of valuables or you are feeling especially worried about your belongings then by all means bring a padlock and chain. If travelling non-ac sleeper, I’d probably use a chain as sleeper gets more crowded. 

Dispelling Myths about India Train Travel 

Travelling by train in India gets a lot of attention and interest, unsurprisingly! But there are a few myths out there that we’d like to dispel 🙂 

• Not all Indian Trains are late. It’s true that trains can and do run late, but for us that has been the exception rather than the rule. In general if you book the better trains and follow our advice, you’d be unlucky to experience several late trains. 
• People don’t sit on the roof of trains in India. This used to be the case, but back in the 80s and 90s. Indian trains actually travel pretty fast – you’ll see that it would be pretty much impossible to stay on top! 
• Not everybody is out to get you on Indian trains. Many articles warn against leaving your luggage unlocked, keeping your eyes out, not moving without your hand sanitiser, not touching the food, etc etc. Fine, there have been cases where people have had things stolen or got sick, but the overwhelming majority of experiences on Indian trains are good! 

Got an additional myth we should add to this list? Let us know your India train stories in the comments below!

What to Pack for Train Travel in India

I recommend a few essentials that will help make your train trips in India more comfortable! 

• Headphones. Sometimes you just want to retreat to yourself – you don’t need fancy headphones, your regular ones will do fine! 
• An Eyemask – People are often switching lights on and off, so one of these will help you sleep, although personally when I travel alone in the train I don’t use one as I want to be able to see what’s going on if I need to quickly. 
• Hand Sanitiser – Toilets don’t always have soap so this is a must
• A Sleeping Sheet /  Sleeping Bag Liner – If you’re in AC Classes on Sleeper Trains, sheets, a pillow and a blanket are provided. The sheets are usually very clean (they are boil washed after each trip), but if you like to have something of your own that feels familiar to sleep in, we recommend bringing one along. 
• A Power Pack – power points are few and far between on the overnight trains, with most passengers vying to charge their phones! Bring a power pack and make sure it’s charged before your journey (so your phone doesn’t die before your alarm for your stop! 😉 )
• A secure cross-body bag  (purse) to keep your valuables (passport, phone, money) on you at all times.
• A good book! Phone and internet coverage can be spotty, and after a while you may run out of things to talk about. Train journeys are a great time to catch up on reading. 

More India Train Travel Tips! 

Food on Indian Trains – You can eat some amazing food on Indian trains! Food vendors generally get on and off trains with local specialities according to the region you are travelling through, but are remarkably unpredictable as to when they’ll appear, so it’s best to bring some of your own snacks, too. Multiple chai wallahs can walk down the coach in quick succession, only to vanish again for another few hours. Some trains also have pantry cars and food is sold by catering staff walking up and down the train.

The best chai and food is usually sold by vendors getting on the train at stations. Expect samosas in northern India, vada pav in Maharashtra, idli in south India, and wherever you go, there’s always plenty of staple ‘train biryani’.

Many foreigners are reluctant to eat train-food – with different advice being given out about whether it’s a sensible decision to eat or not. Personally I’ve eaten it many many times and had no stomach issues, but if you’ve just arrived in India or have a sensitive tum, you can give it a miss. I recommend you take provisions with you in case there’s not food around when you’re hungry 🙂 

You can even order food to your seat now, too using various services – pick a restaurant you like at an upcoming station and tuck in! 

Make sure you Wake Up for your Stop! 

Don’t expect anyone to come and wake you up for your stop – set an alarm and keep it where you can hear it – as the railway staff don’t wake people up, and you need to be at the door waiting for your stop if it’s a station where the train only stops for a couple of minutes.

The Indian (Squat) Toilets are Usually Cleaner…

In most coaches there’s a choice between “western” and Indian toilets. I usually always go for the Indian squat variety as they tend to be cleaner! The Western style ones tend to have dirty footprints on the seat (go figure). Toilet paper is not provided so if you’re not happy with water, bring tissues (these go straight on to the track unfortunately so use water if you can). I recommend bringing hand sanitiser or liquid soap too as the soap often seems to run out or was never there to begin with…

Stay up to date with the status of your ticket (and train). 

Train punctuality is getting better – the days of trains being 10 hours late (such as I’ve experienced a few years back) are mostly gone. More common is for trains to get an hour or two late, often in winter due to fog in north India, or during monsoon when there’s heavy rains. You can check the ‘running status’ of your train on this website. If a train says it’s about an hour late, it’s best still to go to the station on time, as trains often make up late time in the middle of their route.

Plan the rest of your Journey

Due to the long distances, trains often arrive or leave in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning. Whenever this happens I recommend having pre-arranged transportation / a pickup waiting for you to/from your hotel – we definitely don’t recommend taking a rickshaw in the middle of the night to solo travellers. You can give your train number to anyone picking you up to keep on track if your train is delayed 🙂 . 

Chat with your  neighbours!

My favourite place for making new friends in India… is on long train journeys! There’s not much to do and locals are often curious about foreigners travelling – many love to speak English with foreigners and you’ll learn so much about travel habits and culture in English through engaging in friendly conversation.

Remember it’s about the Journey, not the Destination. 

One thing’s for sure if you travel by train in India – you’ll go back home with stories to tell. Train travel can be hot, crowded, delayed, but it can also be the most wonderful way to experience this beautiful country, meet its people and experience all of India’s perfect contradictions. So relax, go with the flow and watch scenes of India unfold!

India Train Travel FAQ’s

Can i book train tickets as a foreigner outside of india how.

Yes! There are a couple of options. You can either register for an IRCTC account with a foreign mobile number and buy tickets directly there, or the much easier option is to book tickets directly here online . 12go offer the most popular routes in India and accept foreign credit cards with no need to create an Indian Railways account. See our “How to book tickets” section above in the guide for full details.

What’s the Best Class to Travel on Indian Trains?

Should i eat the food on indian trains.

Many travellers (including us) eat food on Indian trains and have absolutely no problems, while others have got sick or upset stomachs. If you’ve just arrived in India and haven’t got used to the food yet, we recommend taking it easy and bringing food from your hotel / a restaurant for the journey. Otherwise, tuck in!

Is it true that Indian Railways are Always Late?

On my first trip to India, someone told me that the lateness of trains is measured not in hours but quarter, half or full day late! There’s no denying that some trains do get (very) delayed in India, but i’ve found this to be the exception not the rule. Many trains run on time, especially the higher-tier express trains. Fog can cause delays in northern India during winter months, whereas monsoon rains in southern India can cause delays and cancellations too. Just ensure you have some extra food for your journey and leave plenty of buffer time in your planning.

Is Train Travel in India safe for (solo) Women?

Have you travelled in India by train? Got extra tips to share from your experiences? Let us know in the comments below!

Planning (solo) female travel by train in India? Read my safe train travel tips for women here!

Read More about Travel in India on Soul Travel: 

First Time India: How to Prepare and What to Expect

Agra Travel Guide – Experiencing Agra Beyond the Taj

What to Wear in India  

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Maharajas Express

Incredible India’s Ultra Luxury Train 7-time winner of ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’ Award

Palace On Wheels

A Week In Wonderland

Deccan Odyssey

Blue Limousine on Wheels

Welcome to the best way to discover India in luxury.

Royal Indian Trains is an Indian luxury train travel portal where you can discover, explore and enquire about the luxurious and offbeat rail journeys that India has to offer. Each luxury train has it’s own experience and charm on offer with their unique brand of hospitality, amenities and destinations.

Why Choose Luxury Trains in India?

Experienced staff and personnel ensure that safety measures and precautions are in place.

Comfortable

No other mode of transportation match up to the opulence of Indian Luxury Trains.

A well planned itinerary coupled with a strategically connected rail network helps you see various destinations in India in a short span of time.

Luxury Trains

Maharajas' Express

Winner of the “World’s leading luxury train” award 5 times in a row has six different journeys to offer across India.

Palace on wheels

India’s original luxury train takes you for “a week in wonderland” covering Rajasthan and Taj Mahal.

Choose from six different circuits to travel on Western India’s Luxury Train.

Buddhist Train Tour

Welcome aboard the Buddhist Circuit Special train tour, to discover the path to enlightenment in abode of Lord Buddha!

What people say about us

We love Travelling on Luxury trains. This has been one of our best train Journeys. The Itinerary is good, the logistics of getting to our day trips has been outstanding. It makes us want to come back.

May Tiampo, Vancouver, Canada

17 - 24 Nov 2012

While I know this trip is more popular with retirees, it proved a wonderful family trip as well

Karen Holmberg, UK

The organization of the tour was excellent. We really felt like kings and queens

Mitchell Muntner, New York, USA

03 - 10 Oct 2012

Thank you for the fabulous experience of Incredible India

Manuel Mourao, Spain

20 - 28 Oct 2012

This experience is definitely better than the Royal Scotsman,and has been equal to Orient Express, if not better.

Taylor, New Jersey, USA

20 - 27 Oct 2012

The entire journey was and will be an unforgettable experience. If I was a poet, I would be probably set this entire fabulous experience in beautiful poetry

Judith Moorthy, Queensland, Australia

06 - 13 Oct 2012

We have never received better service in any place around the world, thank you very much.

17 - 24 Feb 2012

The Service, the creative programming and overall mix of activities fulfilled the mantra of "incredible India

The organization of the boarding/de-boarding, tour vehicles and guides are all integrated very well

Clarence M Bishop

Oregon, USA

An extremely luxurious way to travel - a bit over the top with the red carpets!! a very memorable enjoyable trip, thank you

David & Susie Burall

West Sussex, UK

The attention to detail, the variety of activities, fabulous service has impressed the most during our stay at Maharajas' Express

Stephanie Campbell & Jankopic

Stephanie Campbell & Jankopic, Los Angeles, USA

19 - 30 Jan 2012

Beautiful palaces, kindliness of Indian people and the train staff had impressed us during our stay at Maharajas' Express

Hendrika Kuijlars & Marcel Jacobs, Schilde

We had a fantastic time, it was an amazing experience, keep up the good work & would like to see you all on another adventure

Nili & Amit Mistry

The tour had some amazing experiences, the warm greetings we have received both on & off board was memorable

Ann Clivette & Arthur Taylor

Chef was excellent & the whole trip lived upto our expectations. We loved the trip & all the staff were excellent

Nancy & John Rumler, Victoria

It is once in a lifetime experience and want to remember as one of the best trips, a big thank you to all

Kirti & Paresh Shah

Middlesex, UK

Food & Service was excellent. We enjoyed ourselves and hope to have the chance to travel on the Maharajas Express again in the future

Ju Yin & Lee Yu Fang Chang

Thank you all for the wonderful time. This was the best experience will never be forgotten. Thank you once again.

Bipin & Eila Pabari, UK

18 - 25 Feb 2012

My family and I had an amazing first time experience in India only enhanced by the wonderful care, attention and service from all the staff of the Maharajas Express

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Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Maharajas Express is a brilliant way to see marvelous parts of India in a short space of time

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We were able to experience a wide array of sites, our valet did a great job in taking care of us

Diane & Nick Partsch

The staff were very polite and always willing to help. The ease of being able to visit such a selection of different places & landscapes was possible due to Maharajas' Express

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Service and food was great and all is perfect, thank you so much

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The attention to detail, attentiveness & friendliness of staff, the quality of drivers and guides were excellent

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The extremely courteous, Polite and pleasant staff were the Hallmark of Maharajas' Express

Ella Gupta, Delhi, India

15 - 21 Jan 2012

Lovely attitude of staff, Attention to detail.Great Carnival atmosphere on-board

Lionel & Laura Mill, London, UK

14 - 21 Jan 2012

The whole trip was good & we would definitely recommend Maharajas' Express to our friends

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Incredible India delights plus you transported us like jewels in you crown. A total pleasure in superb style.

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Everything about Maharajas Express was excellent

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11 - 18 Feb 2012

Fletcher, Surrey

Very good venues & side trips, all staff courteous, attentive & professional, always helpful

Anne & Stephen Hayes

New South Wales, Australia

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Pay for one and your companion pays 50% only. Special Discount for Indians.

Here’s Why More Indian Passengers are Opting for Nonstop International Travel — India Report

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

September 18th, 2024 at 11:00 PM EDT

Indian travelers' growing demand for nonstop flights is a big win for local airlines, but they’ve got a tough road ahead. Middle Eastern and European carriers aren’t backing down without a fight.

Bulbul Dhawan

• What changes have been introduced in Australia's Work and Holiday Visa program for Indian nationals?
• What functionalities will the new Indian Railways superapp offer, and how could it impact the online travel market in India?
• What are the recent developments in Air India's international flight routes, specifically to Kuala Lumpur?

Select a question above or ask something else

• Indian passengers are increasingly opting for direct international flights, with a 2 million increase in direct passengers from 2019 to 2023.
• Australia is introducing a ballot system for the high-demand Work and Holiday Visa for Indian nationals.
• EaseMyTrip has entered the medical tourism market by acquiring stakes in Pflege Home Healthcare and Rollins International.

More Indian passengers are choosing direct international flights, with a significant increase in direct flights driven by airlines like IndiGo and Air India. In other travel news, Australia has introduced a ballot system for its Work and Holiday Visa due to high demand, and EaseMyTrip has ventured into the medical tourism market by acquiring stakes in two healthcare companies.

The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

More Indian passengers are opting for direct international flights, according to aviation consultancy firm OAG. The firm compared data from 2019 with 2023, and found that even though India’s international air traffic last year was 600,000 lesser than 2019, the number of passengers flying directly to their destination increased by 2 million. 

On the other hand, passengers making indirect trips declined by 2.5 million. The firm attributed the growth to more international flights by IndiGo and Air India, along with the introduction of international connectivity by new Indian carrier — Akasa. More international airlines operating the Indian market have also led to increased direct connectivity and more options for Indian travelers. 

India’s largest carrier IndiGo, which recently placed its first-ever order for widebody aircraft, plans to offer  nonstop connectivity from major Indian airports to global destinations .

Talking at the Skift India Summit this year , Air India CEO Campbell Wilson made a case for direct connectivity, “It may not be convenient to get on a flight for three or four hours, land in the wee hours of the morning, sit in an airport for an hour and a half or two hours or three hours or longer, and then get on another flight to get to Europe when you could have gone nonstop in eight-and-a-half hours.”

At a recent event, Suman Billa, additional secretary with India’s Tourism Ministry, said more direct flights between India and U.S. would not only make the market more cost competitive for people, but would also add to the convenience of traveling.

A May report by credit rating agency CRISIL pointed out that Indian airlines will account for half of the country’s international passenger traffic by fiscal 2027-28. 

Australia Opens Up Ballot System for Work and Holiday Visa from India

Australia will be introducing a ballot system for nationals of 3 countries, including India, applying for the Work and Holiday Visa 2024-25 program year. The system is being introduced to manage the high demand Australia is receiving from these countries. 

Who can apply? The Work and Holiday Visa is meant for individuals aged 18 to 30 years who can stay in Australia and work alongside in the country. Those with the visa can continue to work and stay for a year, and then renew it two more times if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. 

Australia’s New Rules for Visas: First-time applicants for the visa will need to register through the new ballot system, which will then randomly select applicants for the visa process. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs clarified that the ballot system will not impact the current and previous holders of the visa. 

Australia agreed to offer 1,000 Work and Holiday Visas every year to Indian nationals under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 2022.

The new ballot system makes it a little complex for applicants to get their visas, even as the same number of visas will remain available. It has been announced at a time when the world has been trying to reduce visa restrictions or complications. Australia itself introduced a new tourist visa application process which eliminated the need for travelers to submit their passports, making the process simpler and more transparent for applicants.

EaseMyTrip Forays Into Medical Tourism

Online travel agency EaseMyTrip has entered the medical tourism segment by acquiring stakes in Pflege Home Healthcare and Rollins International. The company acquired a 49% stake in Pflege and a 30% stake in Rollins. 

Nishant Piiti, CEO of EaseMyTrip, said, “With the growing demand for accessible, quality healthcare services, this acquisition was necessary to meet the evolving needs of travelers seeking wellness and medical solutions.”

The medical tourism industry in India has an estimated value of $10.4 billion in 2024, according to market research firm Future Market Insights . This figure is expected to increase over 17% every year to reach nearly $51 billion by 2034.

Air India Begins Daily Delhi-Kuala Lumpur Flights

Air India on Monday commenced daily direct service between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The airline operated an Airbus A320neo aircraft on the route. This is Air India’s sixth destination in the Southeast Asian region. 

In the first six months of 2024, over 537,000 Indian tourists visited Malaysia. This marked an increase of nearly 90% over the same period last year. The surge in tourists is often attributed to Malaysia’s decision to allow visa-free entry for Indian and Chinese tourists . 

Indian Railways Working on a Superapp

The Indian railway ministry is working on developing a superapp to streamline various railway-related services, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this week. While more details were not shared, he said that the app would include “all services that a passenger might need.” 

Users would be able to book tickets, check PNR status, track trains. 

Last year, a report by travel consultancy firm Videc said that ground transport, including rails and buses, is the driving force behind the online travel market in India. Rail and intercity bus categories accounted for 30% of the total market, it said . The OTA rail market is projected to grow at a 23% annual rate from 2023 to $2.2 billion in 2026. 

South Africa Launches Campaign to Attract 100,000 Indians

South African Tourism has announced the 2024 edition of its Learn South Africa initiative to attract 100,000 Indian travelers by the end of the year. The travel trade workshop will be focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions in the country. 

The tourism body said that there has been a strong uptick in the number of travelers from India, and with the initiative, the country aims to capitalize on this momentum. The workshops will be held in the cities of Chandigarh, Nagpur and Kochi. 

India is among the top three focus markets for South Africa, and it is promoting itself as a leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) destination to Indian travelers to meet its tourism targets.

Skift India Report

India is booming. Discover the subcontinent’s most important travel news here every Tuesday-Thursday.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: air india , airlines , australia , easemytrip , india , india outbound , malaysia , medical tourism , skift india report , south africa , superapp , superapps , travel technology , visa , visas

Photo credit: More Indian passengers are opting for direct international flights. Pixabay from Pexels

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Zomato teams up with Indian Railways for food delivery at 100+ train stations

With food delivery already available in 88 cities, zomato is revolutionising train travel by bringing delicious meals directly to passengers on board..

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Craving gourmet meals during your train journeys? You're in luck! The days of settling for the same old vegetarian and non-vegetarian platters are over. Thanks to a new partnership between Zomato and IRCTC, you can now enjoy a diverse menu delivered directly to your train coach.

Update: @zomato now delivers food directly to your train coach at over 100 railway stations, thanks to our partnership with @IRCTCofficial . We’ve already served 10 lakh orders on trains. Try it on your next journey! pic.twitter.com/gyvawgfLSZ — Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) September 13, 2024

IRCTC is committed to enhance rail passengers' journeys by providing a wider range of quality food options. Through strategic partnerships, we offer variety of quality food, ensuring a satisfying experience onboard our trains. https://t.co/nD27Z90CJE — IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) September 14, 2024

With this service, travellers no longer need to compromise on their meals while on the move. Instead, they can browse the Zomato app, place an order, and enjoy delicious meals delivered right to them. Whether you’re embarking on a long or just a short trip, Zomato’s food delivery in trains ensures you can savour a satisfying meal without any hassle.

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Vande Metro renamed as 'Namo Bharat Rapid Rail' by Indian Railways: Know its key features

Namo bharat rapid rail: the railway ministry emphasised that the vande metro has been designed with state-of-the-art technology and advanced features to serve a wider range of travel needs. the train offers faster journeys between mid-distance cities..

As per the information, the change in name is seen as part of a larger initiative to align infrastructure projects with the "Namo Bharat" vision, which symbolises the broader mission of rapid development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is expected to focus on regional connectivity, offering a faster alternative to traditional trains, and easing congestion on busy city routes. The project is being developed under the larger National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), and its implementation will involve collaboration with various state governments to create high-speed corridors between urban centres.

Key features of 'Namo Bharat Rapid Rail' 

• Namo Bharat Rapid Rail  will have 12 coaches with seating for 1,150 passengers
• It will cover 359 km distance from Bhuj to Ahmedabad in 5:45 hours.
• The train will stop at nine stations.
• For the public, the regular service will start on September 17 from Ahmedabad
• The total journey will cost Rs 455.
• It will have ergonomically designed seats, fully air-conditioned cabins and modular interiors.
• Namo Bharat trains will connect the heart of Ahmedabad with its peripheral cities.
• The Rapid Rail aims to enhance intercity connectivity.

(Input by Anamika Gaur)

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Kaluga city, Russia

The capital city of Kaluga oblast .

Kaluga - Overview

Kaluga is a city located on the banks of the Oka River in the central part of European Russia, about 200 km southwest of the center of Moscow. It is the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast.

The population of Kaluga is about 335,600 (2022), the area - 169 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4842, the postal codes - 248000-248921.

Kaluga city flag

Kaluga city coat of arms.

Kaluga city map, Russia

Kaluga city latest news and posts from our blog:.

11 November, 2023 / Fairy-tale park-courtyard "Vikhlyandiya" in Kozelsk .

26 September, 2018 / St. Paphnutius of Borovsk Monastery .

22 April, 2018 / Shamordino Convent in the Kaluga region .

22 October, 2017 / Museum of the History of Cosmonautics in Kaluga .

15 March, 2017 / Winter in the Art Park Nikola-Lenivets .

More posts..

History of Kaluga

Foundation of kaluga.

According to archaeological research, the first settlements on the territory of present Kaluga arose about 7-9 thousand years ago. From the 7th century AD, the Slavs began to settle in the upper Oka River basin, assimilated the local population, and formed the Vyatichi tribal alliance engaged in arable farming and cattle breeding and actively traded with Mesopotamia and Persia.

The Vyatichi long fought for independence from Kievan Rus and resisted attempts at Christianization. The final conquest of the Vyatichi occurred only after the military campaigns of Vladimir Monomakh at the end of the 11th century. In the 12th century, this region became part of the Chernigov Principality.

Soon after the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, the Principality of Chernigov disintegrated. Since the mid-14th century, this territory became the object of struggle between the Moscow and Lithuanian princes. In 1371, Kaluga was first mentioned among several Lithiuanin border settlements captured by Moscow. From 1372, Kaluga became the possession of Moscow princes.

In 1480, in the immediate vicinity of Kaluga, events unfolded known as The Great Stand on the Ugra River. Ahmed Khan of the Great Horde embarked on a military campaign against Moscow because it refused to pay its tribute. Not daring to force the Oka River near Kolomna, the khan decided to make a roundabout maneuver and invade from the Lithuanian territory, across the Ugra River.

More historical facts…

To prevent this, Ivan III sent troops to Kaluga to protect the banks of the Ugra from invasion. In October, 1480, the khan’s troops were located on the right bank of the Ugra and the Russians were on the left bank. Ahmed’s troops made several attempts to cross the Ugra, but each time they were repulsed by the Moscow cavalry and infantry armed with firearms and cannons. In November, with the onset of cold weather, Ahmed retreated from the Moscow borders. These events put an end to the Mongol yoke over Russia.

Kaluga in the 16th-18th centuries

At the beginning of the 16th century, a line of defense of the southern borders of the Russian state passed through Kaluga. In this century, Kaluga also became a trading town famous for its developed crafts and icon painting art.

In 1619, according to the Russian-Polish truce, the border began to pass near Kaluga. For a while, it again became a border town. In the second decade of the 17th century, as a result of repeated invasions, Kaluga lost most of its population. The villages surrounding it were also abandoned.

In the middle of the 17th century, a new wooden kremlin (fortress) was built in Kaluga replacing the one burned down in 1622. The wooden Kaluga Kremlin, which had lost its significance after Ukraine joined Russia in 1654, burned down in 1700. In the second half of the 17th century, metal production began to develop in Kaluga. One of the first iron foundries in Russia appeared here.

In the 17th-18th centuries, Kaluga was developing as a major trading center on the Oka River. Local merchants traded in bread, hemp, hemp oil, honey, wax, and fish. In 1776, the population of Kaluga was about 17 thousand people. In 1777, the Kaluga Drama Theater was opened and the coat of arms of Kaluga was approved. The town was famous for its crafts made of wood, embroideries, and lace.

Kaluga in the 19th century

In 1812, Kaluga played an important role during the French invasion of Russia. It became the largest rear base of the Russian troops. In October 1812, with no supplies and shelter in burnt Moscow, Napoleon decided to retreat to Smolensk through Kaluga, where he hoped to seize large warehouses of food and fodder.

However, the Russian army blocked the approaches to the town. In the battle near Maloyaroslavets, the Russian army managed to stop the advance of the French troops and forced them to retreat along the already devastated Smolensk road. This accelerated the collapse of the French army.

In the 19th century, an economic decline began in Kaluga. It was caused mainly by two reasons: the shallowing of the Oka and the development of railway transport. By the end of the century, the Oka in the upper reaches ceased to be navigable and trade on it practically stopped. At the same time, the construction of railways led to the emergence of new trading centers with which Kaluga could no longer compete. In 1856, the population of Kaluga was about 31 thousand people.

By the middle of the 19th century, Kaluga turned into a quiet provincial town, which was used as a place of exile for high-ranking prisoners: the last Crimean khan Shahin Girai, the Kazakh khan Aryngazy Abulgaziev, the daughter of the Georgian king Tekla Iraklievna with her sons Vakhtang and Dmitry Orbeliani, and Shamil, the third imam of Chechnya and Dagestan, who surrendered to the Russian authorities after the defeat in the Caucasian war.

Kaluga in the 20th century

In 1914, the population of Kaluga was about 56 thousand people. During the First World War, the city was a large rear and military hospital center of the Russian Empire. After the Civil War ended, the Soviet government took a course towards the development of industrial cities, thanks to which a new stage began in the development of Kaluga. Most of the city’s enterprises worked for the Soviet defense industry.

From 1892 to 1935, the cosmonautics theorist and outstanding inventor Konstantin Tsiolkovsky lived and worked in Kaluga. In 1939, the population of the city was about 90 thousand people.

During the Second World War, the occupation of Kaluga by German troops lasted from October 12 to December 30, 1941. On July 5, 1944, Kaluga Oblast was formed and the city of Kaluga became its administrative center.

After the war, Kaluga developed as a large industrial, scientific, and cultural regional center of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In the 1950s-1960s, active housing construction was carried out. The city center was cleared of dilapidated houses, old streets were expanded and new streets were laid.

In 1967, the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics was opened in Kaluga - the first in the world and the largest in Russia. It was created with the direct participation of Sergey Korolev, Yuri Gagarin and other cosmonauts of the USSR. In 1989, the population of Kaluga was about 312 thousand people.

In 2016, Kaluga was included in the famous tourist route known as the Golden Ring of Russia. Today, Kaluga is a city with a developed infrastructure, a large transport hub, one of the scientific, cultural, economic, and spiritual centers of the Central Federal District of Russia.

Pictures of Kaluga

Kaluga cityscape

Author: Oleg Novikov

On the street in Kaluga

Author: R.Bobkov

The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kaluga

Author: Andrey Dmitriev

Kaluga - Features

There are a lot of versions about the origin of the name of Kaluga. The main version is that it was named after the Kaluzhka River flowing near the original settlement. The name of the river originates from the Russian words “kalyuzha”, “kalyuzhina” meaning “swamp”. The City Day of Kaluga is celebrated on the last Saturday of August.

The climate is temperate continental, winters are snowy and moderately cold, summers are warm and rainy. The average temperature in January is minus 8.6 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 17.7 degrees Celsius.

The city’s economy is based on the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and metalworking, food and light industry, electric power, building materials industry.

The airport of Kaluga offers regular flights to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Kazan.

In the historic center of the city you can see numerous architectural monuments, which form unique ensembles. Kaluga has a lot of preserved churches of the 17th-18th centuries, noble mansions, former merchants’ houses converted into museums.

In one day, you can see almost all the main attractions. Travelers are attracted primarily by its provincial charm, wide streets, and picturesque views from the banks of the Oka River.

Kaluga is often called “the cradle of cosmonautics”, “the city of Tsiolkovsky.” Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the great scientist and founder of theoretical cosmonautics, spent most of his life in Kaluga. His name is immortalized in the names of many urban sites.

In 2000, a motto tape “The Cradle of Cosmonautics” was added to the historical coat of arms of Kaluga with a stylized image of the first artificial Earth satellite.

Main Attractions of Kaluga

The Konstantin Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics - the world’s first and largest space-themed museum in Russia. The unique expositions of this museum reveal the history of aeronautics, aviation, rocket and space technology. The scientific heritage of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is also comprehensively presented here.

The expositions reflect the history of Russian cosmonautics from the first artificial Earth satellite to orbital stations. The museum has the most comprehensive systematic collection of museum items on astronautics in the country, most of which are unique. There is also a modern planetarium here. Akademika Koroleva Street, 2.

The House-Museum of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky . 29 years of Tsiolkovsky’s life were connected with this house located on the outskirts of Kaluga near the Oka River. Here he wrote dozens of important works on aeronautics, aviation, jet propulsion, astronautics, and other scientific problems. All rooms are restored in their original form. Most of the memorial exhibits are genuine, belonging to Tsiolkovsky himself or to members of his family.

Yuri Gagarin, who visited Kaluga shortly after returning from his historical flight to space, wrote the following in the Book of Honorary Visitors of the house-museum: “With great satisfaction and excitement I visited the house, where Konstantin Tsiolkovsky had lived and worked. I am happy that I was the first to fulfill Tsiolkovsky’s dream, to complete the work of many thousands of people, who were preparing the first manned flight into space.” Tsiolkovsky Street, 79.

The Rocket “Vostok” - a duplicate rocket (not a model) of the Gagarin’s “Vostok” rocket. In April 1961, this rocket was also on the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. In case of failure, it would be the next rocket to be sent into space. Akademika Koroleva Street, 2.

Church of Cosmas and Damian (1794). The architecture of this baroque-style church stands out sharply from other Kaluga churches for its restraint, proportionality and grace. Its beautiful towers of an unusual round shape are very unusual and picturesque. Suvorova Street, 177.

Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts . The collection is located in the building of the city estate of the 19th century built in the Empire style - the best example of classical architecture in Kaluga. The department of old Russian art exhibits icons of the 16th-18th centuries, Russian wooden sculptures of the same period.

The collection of Russian art of the 16th-19th centuries presents paintings by A. K. Savrasov, I. I. Shishkin, V. D. Polenov, V. M. Vasnetsov, V. I. Surikov, I. I. Levitan, I. K. Aivazovsky, and other famous artists. Much attention is paid to local painters. The works of foreign artists created in Russia are separately exhibited. There is also a collection of Western European graphics here. Lenina Street, 104.

Gostinyy Dvor (1784-1823) - an architectural complex built in the classical style with decorative elements of old Russian architecture and occupying a whole block in the center of the city. In general, this bright red building is one of the most picturesque buildings in Kaluga and has the status of a monument of federal significance. Lenina Street, 105.

The Regional Museum of Local Lore of Kaluga - one of the oldest local history museums in Russia. The collection consists of a number of exhibitions: “Archeology”, “Wood”, “Documents and Rare Books”, “Precious Metals”, “Painting, Graphics, Sculpture”, “Ceramics, Glass”, “Metal” , “Numismatics”, “Scientific and Natural Collections”, “Weapons, Defensive Arms”, “Other” (household items of the 18th-20th centuries, various figurines of oriental origin, modifications of household appliances of the 20th century), “Fabrics”, “Philately”, “Entomology”, and others. Pushkina Street, 14.

“The House of Masters” - a museum of folk art located in a very picturesque house decorated with wood carvings of the mid-19th century, which is a monument of history and architecture, an object of cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia of federal significance. Grigorov Lane, 9.

The Central Park of Culture and Rest - one of the favorite places for walking and entertainment among residents and visitors of Kaluga located in the historic center of the city. In the central part of the park you can see the Holy Trinity Cathedral (1786-1818) in the architecture of which elements of Italian and Byzantine architecture are intertwined. The park has an observation deck with a magnificent view of the Oka River and the surrounding area. Staryy Torg Square, 4.

The Stone Bridge over the Berezuevsky Ravine - one of the most interesting architectural objects of Kaluga built in the style of Russian classicism in 1785, the oldest stone viaduct in Russia. This is an object of cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia of federal significance. Pushkin Street.

Stone Chambers of Korobov - one of the rare examples of “chamber architecture” of the late 17th century. The building was named after the first owner - Kaluga merchant Kirill Ivanovich Korobov. Today, it houses one of the expositions of the Kaluga Regional Museum of Local Lore. Plekhanova Street, 88.

Kirova Street - the central street of Kaluga with its main attractions and picturesque historical buildings. Today, former mansions are occupied by offices, shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Kaluga city of Russia photos

Sights of kaluga.

Vostok Rocket in Kaluga

Author: Mikhail Ursus

Victory Square in Kaluga

Author: Krymov Dmitry

Church of Cosmas and Damian in Kaluga

The questions of our visitors

The comments of our visitors.

I am originally from Kaluga. I live in USA now, for 14 but for 12 years I lived in Kaluga. It is a nice city with a lot of places to visit and very interesting history of the city and the architecture.

During the summer, the sky is always blue with bright white clouds, which makes for excellent photography!! Food is extremely affordable and there are snack stands or supermarkets on every corner. For the American, unfortunately, there is no such thing sold as iced or cold coffee, like a Dunkin Donuts. They don't even have iced coffee in the McDonald's there. But other than that, everything is great. I wouldn't do any clothes or shoes shopping as most of it is brought from China and is very low quality or is counterfeit.

• Currently 2.92/5

Rating: 2.9 /5 (187 votes cast)