So you are off to India for the first time and you need to know how to travel around India. Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this post I will cover the best transport options to travel around India, but mostly concentrate on train travel in India – as this is the most popular.

Why Travel India by Train?

If you finally plan a trip to explore India especially for the first time, you need to know the travel options available. On searing the internet, you you could find a number of ways to travel India. These include taxis, motorbikes, cars, planes, tuk-tuks and even camels in some regions. However, the best way to travel around India is by train. Why you ask? These are the main reasons behind it:

• Train travel in India is affordable.
• They are comfortable to travel in, especially when travelling in the higher classes.
• You can reserve tickets in advance for your convenience.

Alternatives to Train Travel in India

There are three main choices of Indian public transportation: air, train and bus.

Bus Travel in India

You could choose bus to travel in India. However, you need to be careful when booking your bus journey to avoid disappointment. Get every detail about the bus as much as possible from the booking agent in advance. You may need to use both private and state transport buses especially in rural areas or small towns to complete your journey.

Travel India by Air

Travelling India by air is another option. India has a good air network to get you from A to B. It is a good option particularly if you are limited for time as India is a big country. It isn’t the cheapest option and you may face inconveniences of wastage of time at the airport, annoying security checks, luggage weight issues and unsatisfactory food! Airlines include Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and IndiGo to name a few.

Travel India by Cabs/Rickshaws/Taxis/Tuk-Tuks

You can take a cab, rickshaw, taxis or tuk-tuks to get around India. You need to bargain well sometimes to get the best price for your journey as some drivers may try to cheat foreign passengers by charging higher amounts.

Travel India by Bike/Cycle/Scooters/Private Cars

In many regions of India like the South coast and Goa, you can hire scooters and motorbikes which is great to explore nearby places. You can also rent a car but may find it frustrating following the road rules. So some people hire private drivers with cars to get them around.

Train Travel Ticketing for Train Travel in India

There are a number of options to book your seat for a journey on any train in India. So before you book a seat consider the class you wish to travel in. There are different seating categories in Indian trains, here is a rundown from higher to lower class of train travel.

AC First Class (1A) – Trains with first class seating options are the most expensive amongst all the categories. The charge is for the different added facilities like personal AC booth, good food choices and special care provided – like you were travelling by air.

AC 2 Tier (2A) – Are you looking to save some of your bucks during train travel in India and at the same time not compromise with comfort? If your response is yes, then use this option! These train coaches have more room to sit up for the passengers since they only possess 2 tiers of AC beds arrangement.

AC 3 Tier (3A) – For the cheapest comfortable seating, you should consider this option as the coach will have a three beds arrangement. It is the lowest level of coach that offers air conditioning facilities. It is usually a quiet and clean environment for travel.

Sleeper Class (SL) – If you want the cheapest option amongst all the classes and do not mind compromising with no air conditioning in your travel coach, then this could be an option. So you can have your bed reserved to sit and lie down for your whole journey but you could face issues like dirtiness and even trespassers. Best to consider the upper class of train carriage!

Buying Your Ticket to Travel on Indian Trains

To buy a ticket for train travel in India head over to Indian Railways as it provides plenty of information on train travel in India plus you can book your ticket online. If wondering if Indian Railways has a rail pass, well you are in luck, Indrail pass is available for NRIs and foreigners who plan to take multiple journeys on Indian trains. Good news if you will be travelling around India visiting many places such as the capital city of Dehli and other cities. Plus visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal or to Goa to spend time on the beach. Maybe doing India’s Golden Triangle is on your plans.

Tips for Travellers during Train Travel in India

Here are some tips for when traveling in India on the trains solo or in a group.

• Always use the Indian Railways official website to book your tickets either months before or on an urgent basis (Tatkal tickets).
• Keep your bags or luggage in your proximity and locked to avoid being stolen.
• Never eat anything shared by an unknown or unidentified person or traveling mate while traveling in a train – you never know if it has some drug to knock you out!
• Eat fresh! You can buy some affordable and tasty snacks, meals or food from the platforms of the different major train stations.
• For solo women travelers to India, if you feel uncomfortable sitting between lots of men, you can ask officials, ticket checkers, or TT for a berth swap. They can help you switch your place on the same or another coach, if another spot is available.

Final Thoughts on Indian Train Travel

Traveling in India without a train is like missing out on something – or so I found. To explore with the benefits, to be safe and enjoy to the fullest train travel in India, ensure to book your journey with one of the largest train networks in the world – Indian Railways. Have you traveled by train in India? I’d love to hear.