Indian Train Experience

One of the great Indian experiences, train travel is integral to the subcontinent. Famously introduced by the British, the Indian railway is a vastly more complicated operation than over could have been envisaged in those days and is said to be the world’s biggest employer. It is said that a railway journey has to be experienced in order to truly understand how India works

For day trains we tend to book 1^st class which is comfortable forwards/backwards facing seats in a carriage with air conditioning and non-opening windows. A meal is generally served too and the carriages are spacious and peaceful. The large windows mean the sightseeing possibilities are excellent. For shorter journeys you may like to take 2^nd class for a really immersive experience (locals will definitely want to chat to you constantly!), but this not generally recommended for journeys over 3 hours in length. Either way, our local representatives will ensure you find your seat on the train and then meet you again at the other end, as you get off the train.

1^st class sleepers for longer journeys are usually booked for overnight journeys. There are 4 berths in each cabin and we can only book the berths that we need (i.e. we can’t make the cabin private – you have to have a passport to book a berth, so if you booked a phantom seat, it wouldn’t confirm and would get sold on). What is certain though is that you will get clean sheets and pillows as the railways are scrupulous about this. Your sleep might be disturbed by the rocking/rolling and stopping but overall it is a special experience as well as a good way of covering large distances at night.

Trains tickets are released 3 months in advance and are booked very quickly. ETG are able to include your train ticket in the itinerary and ensure that you are given the best possible chance of booking your train.