Train - Airline Discounts for Tourists - Travel India Smart
Travel incentives for tourists visiting India
Train travel pass & incentives for tourists
Travel Facilities - Cost of Rail tickets - Benefits for Tourists in India
Regardless of the city tourists initially arrive in India. Many of them
will most probably travel to different cities in India as part of their
planned vacation or business trip.
India is a vast country and for travel within the country to different
Indian cities the main options are the Indian Railways or the various
airlines that operate in India.
Tourists in India have three advantages that can help them plan their
visit in India and perhaps also save them some money.
1. Priority reservation for train
travel.
2. The Indrail Pass for train travel.
3. Visit India Fare for air travel.
Priority Reservation For Train Travel
Tourists have an advantage of getting train reservations on a priority basis if they choose to travel within India on trains.
The Government of India has allotted a special quota of seats especially for foreign visitors travelling within India. This ensures that foreign tourists can get reservations for trains even on the day of travel. The cost of these tickets is also the same as what the local Indians pay. however to avail this facility tourists need to show their passports and pay in foreign currency.
Indrail Pass Unlimited Rail Travel Pass advantage.
For those tourists who have several cities to visit in India and choose to travel by trains, then they have an option to buy a train travel pass called Indrail pass.
The most economical way to see India is to purchase the unlimited rail travel pass called the
Indrail Pass.
The Indrail Pass is available for periods of 7 to 90 days. With this pass you can travel on all trains within the time frame chosen. This can be very useful if tourists have plans to visit several cities in India.
Indrail Pass holder can also travel on the fast trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi. These trains are air conditioned and perhaps the best trains to travel for tourists.
Plan your travels so you can sleep comfortably in the train during the night and arrive in the morning at your destination.
The Indrail Pass is much cheaper than the Visit India airlines Pass. The other difference is that while the Visit India airlines pass does not allow travelling the same route twice the Indrail Pass has no such restrictions.
The Indrail Pass does not permit travel on the Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Heritage on Wheels or the Fairy Queen train.
International Tourist Bureaus are located at various important cities all over India. These provide assistance to the foreign tourists and NRIs regarding enquiries, booking, reservation and travel planning.
Northern Railway Tourist Bureaus are located in the
following cities:
|
KOLKATA |
CHENNAI |
BANGALORE |
AHMEDABAD |
|
SECUNDERABAD |
JAIPUR |
JODHPUR |
VARANASI |
|
NEW DELHI |
AGRA-CANTT. |
AURANGABAD |
MUMBAI |
|
RAMESHWARAM |
VADODARA |
VASCO-DA-GAMA |
√ International Tourist Bureau at New Delhi functions from 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs.
√ Foreign Tourist Rail Reservation Counter is also at the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation office situated at Indira Gandhi International Airport at Arrival Lounge.
√ International Tourist Bureaus issue reserved tickets to the Foreign Tourists and NRIs holding valid passport against payment in US dollars, Pounds, Sterling and in Rupees against Encashment Certificate.
√ These Bureaus also sell Indrail passes which enable a tourist to
travel wherever he likes, whenever he likes and whichever trains he
likes within the validity period. Indrail pass however, does not
guaranty reserved accommodation. (Please be
advised that despite purchasing a Indrail Pass, passengers must get a
confirmed reservation for the train they wish to travel in. Reservations
to Indrail Pass holders are provided free.)
√ The fares of Indrail Passes are in US dollars. Rules are printed on the Indrail passes.
√ The foreign tourists can also purchase Indrail passes from the
General Sales Agents appointed abroad and Rail Travel Agents appointed
in India.
√ A separate foreign tourist quota has been provided in all classes on almost all trains for the facility of the tourists.
√ A tourist can obtain reservations against Indrail passes from any reservation office over Indian Railways.
(Tip: Before purchasing the Indrail Pass plan
your travel routes and try and get the reservations made at the same
time. This will ensure that you have reserved seats for your choice of
travel dates. I personally find that it is better to buy the pass in
India where reservations can be confirmed immediately.)
HOW MUCH DOES INDRAIL PASS COST? Sample fares are listed here:
|
Period of Validity and Fare Structure (Fares
in U.S. dollars) |
||||||
|
Period of validity |
AC Class |
First Class/ AC 2/3 Tier/ AC Chair Car |
Sleeper Class/ Second Class (Non - AC) |
|||
|
|
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
|
1/2 day* |
57 |
29 |
26 |
13 |
11 |
6 |
|
1 day* |
95 |
47 |
43 |
22 |
19 |
10 |
|
2 day* |
160 |
80 |
70 |
35 |
30 |
15 |
|
4 day* |
220 |
110 |
110 |
55 |
50 |
25 |
|
7 day |
270 |
135 |
135 |
68 |
80 |
40 |
|
15 day |
370 |
185 |
185 |
95 |
90 |
45 |
|
21 day* |
396 |
198 |
198 |
99 |
100 |
50 |
|
30 day* |
495 |
248 |
248 |
126 |
125 |
65 |
|
60 day* |
800 |
400 |
400 |
200 |
185 |
95 |
|
90 day* |
1060 |
530 |
530 |
265 |
235 |
120 |
*For
sale only by General Sales Agents
Please note: Fares are subject to
revision
For clarifications regarding use of Indrail passes and facilities to foreign tourists, passengers may contact:
International Tourist Bureau,
New Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi- 110 001
Phone: 91-11-3405156, 3346804, Fax: 91-11-3343050
E-mail: itbnrind@nda.vsnl.net.in
*Source: www.indianrail.gov.in/
For additional information about Indrail Passes is available at the link
below.
Indrail Pass Info
Airlines Pass for travelling within India
Some of the local airlines offer Visit India fares that allow travel for periods of one to three weeks. More information on this is available in the Transportation page where a list is provided of the airlines flying in India and the special discounted fares for tourists offered in the form of 'Visit India' fares. Please check the Flying section under travel options.
Bus tours for travelling within India
No special benefits are available to foreign tourists to travel within India by bus. I personally would stay away from this option. Some luxury busses are available in cities like Delhi for travel to other cities. However if you can use trains or planes avoid long distance bus travel in India.
Most parts of India are safe to travel but common sense and staying alert is always recommended.
