Train travel planning - Timings - Fares - Reservations

The best way for touring India is to travel the country by train.

Indian railways have improved so much over the last few years.

Foreign tourists and Non Resident Indians (NRIs) are also offered priority reservation benefits not available to the local Indian population.

As of July 15, 2007 Indian Railways allow foreign tourists to make train reservations up to 360 days in advance. Indian residents however can make train reservations only up to 60 days in advance.

 

Planning your train travel in India can be done right form your home computer now thanks to online booking facility that is now available from anywhere in the world. Now you can also print your own train tickets for Indian railways after paying for them by credit card. For step by step instructions on making online train reservations in India visit 'Online Train Reservations Guide'.

Tourists visiting India can travel to almost every destination in India by train. Travelling on the train also lets tourists interact with the local population for a rich cultural experience. Prices for trains are also quite affordable. Most air-conditioned train coaches are comfortable. With proper advance planning you may be able to skip the need for a hotel also for a night or so by choosing night trains and reaching your destinations in the morning.

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Planning your train travel itinerary

1. To plan your train itinerary log on to the Indian railways website.

2. Check the various trains by using the link 'Trains between Imp Stations'

3. Input the Source and Destination stations for your travel destination.

4. Click 'Get it' and a list of various train choices are displayed. There are three choices here for users, 'Get
    Availability', 'Get Fare' and 'Get Schedule'

5. If you find the train timing and fare suitable and tickets are available for your chosen dates of travel. Then click
    on 'Internet Reservation' to make your  reservations. For step by step online reservation instructions visit our    
    'Online Reservation' page.

The railways website is not very user friendly and some may find it slightly confusing. With a little bit of patience though it does get you where you want to go.

Luxury Trains

India also has some luxury trains that complete tourism packages to different parts of India for periods of three to seven days. These luxury trains allow sightseeing by day and you sleep on the train at  night. The coaches are like rooms of a five star luxury hotel with spacious bathrooms and sleeping areas. Meals on these trains are also included in the price of the ticket. For detailed information on the various luxury trains in India visit our page 'Luxury Trains'.

 Helpful links for train travel planning

To help plan your train travel around India. There is an excellent map of India provided by Indian railways. This map shows the various train routes and stations. The Map also lists places of tourist interest. To view the map use the link 'Railway Map of India'

Indian railways official website address is http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

The online reservations website address is http://www.irctc.co.in/

Are reservations necessary for train travel?

To travel by train in India one needs a ticket for the train as well as a confirmed reservation for a seat or a berth to sleep on if your trip is a overnight one.

On most important trains, such as the 'Shatabdi' and 'Rajdhani' trains. Even if you have a ticket you cannot board the train without a confirmed reservation. Don't just go to the railway station and expect to buy a ticket and board the train.

Please note: There are some trains where passengers can just buy tickets and travel without reservations. However these are slow trains and are packed full.

The chance of getting a place to sit in such trains is almost impossible. Such trains also do not measure up to the class of travel expected by foreign tourists and I would recommend that tourists avoid trains that do not have reserved seating requirements.

Most important trains like the Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains strictly enforce the prior reservation rule.

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