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Welcome to the grand journey of unparalleled luxury and elegance: Maharajas Express Train in India.

Awards & Accolades

Quick Query

Pan india journeys.

Heritage of India

• 6 Nights/7 Days
• Mumbai - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Bikaner - Jaipur - Ranthambhore - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra – Delhi

Indian Splendour

• Delhi - Agra - Ranthambhore - Jaipur - Bikaner - Jodhpur – Udaipur - Mumbai

Treasures of India

• 3 Nights/4 Days
• Delhi-Agra-Ranthambhore- Jaipur-Delhi

Indian Panorama

• Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambhore - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Orchha- Khajuraho- - Varanasi – Delhi

Why travel on the Maharajas Express?

Unparalleled luxury, renowned service, world-renowned cuisine, timely & convenient, rave reviews., view the maharajas express journey, maharajas express tour key features.

• Cultural immersions with services of veteran tour director.
• Pre-planned itinerary with choice of optional executions and spa at hotels.
• All inclusive-package including all meals, entrance fees and complimentary house wines, spirits and beers.
• Two multi-cuisine fine dining restaurants with option for personalised meals according to dietary preference.
• 1 Premium Lounge Saloon and 1 Bar cum Gaming Saloon, replete with bookings and board games.
• Round-the-clock valet service.

Maharajas Express Cabins

The 14 carriages of the Maharajas Express train boast of luxury cabins and suites which can accommodate up to 88 guests. The saloons are adorned with rich tapestry, linen, upholstery, wall-to-wall carpeting, semi-precious stones, and antiques. There are four cabin types to choose from.

Deluxe Cabin

Junior Suite

Presidential Suite

Maharajas express reviews.

"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."

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

"Very well organized throughout the trip."

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

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

"You stated at the beginning that we would be treated like kings and you kept your word. Colorful and magical. We are sad to leave but take with us many wonderful memories. Thank you very much."

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

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

"Maharajas’ Express is absolutely the best way to see hard to reach places, Best way to experience Incredible India"

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

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

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

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

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

"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"

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

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

"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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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"

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

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

Start Planning Your Trip Now and Get Special Offers! Get Upto 10% OFF on limited departs, hurry!

The Maharajas Express luxury train rate has different ticket prices, depending on cabin and journey type.

It starts from US$ 9780 per couple for Treasures of India 3 night journey in a deluxe cabin and can go up to US$ 49,780 for a couple in the presidential suite on a 6 Nights journey. Taxes extra.

In INR the amount of the Maharajas Express ticket price will be same as the dollar amount converted into INR as per prevailing exchange rate on the date of payment. In case of part-payment the convert INR amount will also vary as per exchange rate on the RBI website.

Maharajas Express runs of four different routes in India. Three journeys are of 6 Nights & one journey is for 3 nights.

The destinations include Agra, Bharatpur, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Varanasi, Khajuraho

The Maharajas Express in India has been deemed as the best luxury train by at various travel awards and renowned publications.

It starts and stops at Safdargung Railway Station, New Delhi; located in Chanakyapuri, near Leela Palace Hotel.

In Mumbai, it starts and stops at Chatrapati Shivaji Railway Station.

You can book the Maharajas Express train by submitting an enquiry by filling up the form or sending a direct mail/text/call with your requirement. We will confirm the availability. And then you may pay through bank transfer or credit card through a link. 

If you directly apply on the operator i.e. IRCTC website, they will ask you to buy through one of their appointed agent. We, as Royal Indian Trains are one of their contracted agents with global selling rights.

Yes. The price, date and route will depend on a lot of factors but a custom journey can be made.

Although an official wedding has not happened yet. The Maharajas Express luxury train is open to organising a wedding.

Yes, you can book the whole train. We have chartered the luxury train multiple times in the past. A custom itinerary is also 

You can but you will have to pay the whole amount.

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Deccan Odyssey

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THE DECCAN ODYSSEY | LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL

Welcome to luxury train travel in India! Embark on a voyage across the magnificent landscapes and territories of India. Sail into an age of romance and royalty, discover the soul of this incredible country. From world heritage sites, forts and palaces to an array of cultural experiences crafted exclusively for you. Select from 6 great rail journeys in India on board the Deccan Odyssey and rediscover the art of elegant train traveling.

DECCAN ODYSSEY LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEYS

India’s very own Blue Train, the Deccan Odyssey luxury train in India, is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities to offer a lavish and pampering ride to the guests.

Destinations

With 6 tastefully crafted journeys, the Deccan Odyssey travels to some of the most prominent destinations across India in Maharashtra, Rajasthan & Gujarat.

Heritage, spirituality, golden triangle, forts & palaces, sand dunes, wildlife and an array of world heritage sites; the Deccan Odyssey journey is truly enlightening.

The Deccan Odyssey luxury train tours are packages without baggage. All 6 journeys come inclusive of accommodation, dining, sightseeing and more.

Get ready for an experience of a lifetime, planning a journey into the world of luxury train travel with Deccan Odyssey.

Deccan Odyssey - Luxury Train in India

Introduced in 2005 with the aim of promoting tourism in Maharashtra, Deccan Odyssey is a collaboration between the Indian Railway and the State Government of Maharashtra. This luxurious train covers the tourist spots of Maharashtra and lets travelers get a glimpse of the state’s rich cultural heritage. There are 6 journeys of the Deccan Odyssey train; each with a unique name.

Deccan Odyssey offers all the luxuries to the passengers in the centrally air-conditioned train. The well-furnished Deluxe Cabins and Suite Cabins with attached bathrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and provide lavish rides to the passengers. Other onboard facilities include Dining Car, Saloon, Bar Lounge, Mini Gymnasium, Conference Hall, and Ayurvedic Spa. This royal ride is like a five-star hotel with all the comforts of the wheel. Some striking features of the Deccan Odyssey include 21 coaches containing 12 passenger cars, one conference car, 2 dining cars, 2 generators, luggage cars, 2 staff cars, 1 spa car, and 1 bar car.

All 6 journeys come inclusive of luxury accommodation, dining, sightseeing, and more. It is a perfect way to rediscover the art of elegant train traveling.

Destinations Covered By Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train

During the Deccan Odyssey train journey you will get the opportunity to explore the popular tourist attractions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka. You will get glimpses of lush paddy fields, quaint villages, beautiful countryside, and breathtaking landscapes during the train travel. The 6 distinct journeys offered by Deccan Odyssey Train are namely –

• Indian Odyssey
• Indian Sojourn
• Maharashtra Splendor
• Cultural Odyssey
• Heritage Odyssey
• Maharashtra Wild Trail

This luxury train is a pride of the Central Indian Railway and takes its guests to Jaipur, Kolhapur, Daulatabad, Nasik, Ajanta Caves, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and Kutch. During the train journey, delight in the mystic beauty of these tourist destinations. Enjoy the enchanting beauty of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Goa, and Pune. Other popular places to explore during the Deccan Odyssey train journey include Mumbai, Agra, Sawai Madhopur, Delhi, Badami, Shirdi, Vadodara, Bijapur, and Ahmedabad.

Travel through the majestic and lustrous Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, and Konkan region. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient temples, historical monuments, and national parks. Enjoy the exhilarating wildlife safari at Pench National Park, Tadoba National Park, and Gir Forest. Marvel at the Ajanta Ellora caves and ruins of Hampi. Savor the lip-smacking cuisines of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and the best seafood in Goa. The journey becomes even more enthralling as the Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train journey is a perfect amalgamation of the cultural heritage and luxuries of travel.

How to Book Deccan Odyssey Luxury Trains?

You can book a Deccan Odyssey Train with us at Indian Luxury Trains without hassle. Our tariff includes onboard accommodation, sightseeing tours, scrumptious meals, and entry fees for monuments or palaces. You can check the booking policies that can assist you in planning your journey onboard the Deccan Odyssey. Discover India’s best popular states while enjoying all the comforts and luxuries with our Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train journey.

Let your true self emerge as you discover the best of Southern splendor with our amazing deals and offers on Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train. Get the opportunity to meet new people and gain life experiences. Also, experience the culture, beauty, and history of Central India in its purest form. We provide an easy-to-quick approach to reserve your seats on the Deccan Odyssey train.

Finalize your departure dates and proceed with booking on our website. Keep in mind that the train is operational from September to May only. So plan accordingly. Deccan Odyssey train has 6 meticulously crafted journeys of 7 nights and 8 days. All the journeys start from Mumbai except Indian Odyssey, which starts from Delhi and ends in Mumbai.

Choose the journey from the list of Deccan Odyssey Luxury trains and then fill out the inquiry form available on our website. Complete the information about the passenger name, journey date, and number of cabins. Once you fill in your details, you will soon receive a call from our train travel expert, who will guide you with all the information and assist you with completing the booking.

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Experience The Finest Travel, Food and Lifestyle Stories Around The World

Top 9 Luxury Trains In India With Detailed Itineraries And Prices

Written By Yukti Lunawat.

Train journeys are always enriching and memorable but the experience reaches a whole new level when the heritage of India is explored in luxurious trains that boasts the country’s royal past and grandeur.

India has had a history of luxury trains running across the country. These give a very opulent experience. Each of such trains have something new and different to offer. Each train provides a different experience.

Here is a list of 9 luxury trains in India. Read on to find out more about India’s Luxury Trains!

1. The Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey came on the tracks on 16 th November 2004, when it was inaugurated after multiple changes to its design.

The Taj Group of Hotels also joined hands to provide a 5-star experience to its guests, but this time on wheels. It is a brainchild of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). 

It took inspiration from the travelling style of kings and rulers of ancient India, but the designs are more modern now. 

The amenities they offer is nothing short of a 5-star experience. They provide regal class cabins, multi-cuisine restaurants, a sitting lounge, a high-tech conference car and a rejuvenating health spa.

It strives to make every day a memorable experience for travellers. The high-tech facilities make the journey all the more unique and exclusive. 

Itineraries of the Deccan Odyssey

It has an itinerary for 6 different routes. The 6 routes are named the Maharashtra Splendor, , Jewels of the Deccan , Maharashtra Wild Trail , Hidden Treasures of Gujarat, Indian Odyssey and Indian Sojourn .

The Deccan Odyssey operates from October to April and the duration for all 6 routes is 7 nights, 8 days . It takes you to some of the most fascinating destinations in India. 

Maharashtra Splendor:

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Nashik, Day 3 – Aurangabad – Ellora Cave, Day 4 – Jalgaon – Ajanta Caves, Day 5 – Kolhapur, Day 6 – Goa, Day 7 – Sindhudurg, Day 8 – Mumbai.

Jewels of the Deccan :

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Bijapur, Day 3 – Aihole – Pattadakal, Day 4 – Hampi, Day 5 – Hyderabad, Day 6 – Aurangabad – Ellora Caves, Day 7 – Ajanta Caves, Day 8 – Mumbai.

Maharashtra Wild Trail :

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Aurangabad – Ellora Caves, Day 3 – Aurangabad, Day 4 – Ramtek (Pench National Park), Day 5 – Tadoba, Day 6 – Jalgaon – Ajanta Caves, Day 7 – Nashik, Day 8 – Mumbai.

Hidden Treasures of Gujarat :

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Vadodara, Day 3 – Palitana, Day 4 – Sasan Gir (Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary) – Somnath, Day 5 – Little Rann of Kutch, Day 6 – Modhera – Patan, Day 7 – Nashik, Day 8 – Mumbai.

Indian Odyssey :

Day 1 – Delhi, Day 2 – Sawai Madhopur – Ranthambore National Park, Day 3 – Agra, Day 4 – Jaipur, Day 5 – Udaipur, Day 6 – Vadodara, Day 7 – Aurangabad – Ellora Caves, Day 8 – Mumbai.

Indian Sojourn :

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Vadodara, Day 3 – Udaipur, Day 4 – Jodhpur, Day 5 – Agra, Day 6 – Sawai Madhopur – Ranthambore National Park, Day 7 – Jaipur, Day 8 – New Delhi.

Deccan Odyssey Tariff 2021-2022 & 2022-2023

2. Palace On Wheels

It is also known as ‘India’s Original Luxury Train’. It is voted as the fourth best luxury train in the world. The basic concept of this luxury train is travelling overnight in comfortable AC sleeping coaches and group sightseeing during the day in AC buses.

These were prominent features of this train even when it was the first of its kind and they still hold true. During the British reign, rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India used to travel in these coaches.

In 1981-82, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways launched a special heritage tourist train for providing a unique memorable experience to the tourists visiting Rajasthan. 

In September 2017, new train carriages were introduced on the Palace on Wheels luxury train, that are more spacious in size & now guests have the option to book Deluxe or Super Deluxe Cabins.

The train might be from ancient times, but it provides all modern amenities like wi-fi, mini pantry, music channel, a safe, wall to wall carpeting, etc. each cabin has a personal attendant, called khidmatgar. There are Two Resto-Bar lounges and an ayurvedic spa facility on the train. 

Itinerary of the Palace On Wheels

It is an 8-day tour that starts from New Delhi, every Wednesday.

Day 1 – Delhi, Day 2 – Jaipur, Day 3 – Sawai Madhopur – Chittaurgarh, Day 4 – Udaipur, Day 5 – Jaisalmer, Day 6 – Jodhpur, Day 7 – Bharatpur – Agra Cantonment, Day 8 – New Delhi.

Single- INR 48,620 – 64,600 per person per night.

Double- INR 37,400 – 48,620 per person per night.

Super Deluxe Suite- INR 1,00,980 – 1,34,640 per suite per night.

3. Golden Chariot

If you wish to see Southern India in a luxurious style, you should take a ride on the Golden Chariot. It gives an experience of a thrilling adventure across Karnataka with KSTDC specially designed with upbeat activities in mind for the Next Generation. It connects famous tourist spots in Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, as well as Pondicherry . 

The Golden Chariot has 44 cabins in 11 coaches that are named after dynasties that ruled the region: Kadamba, Hoysala, Rashtrakuta, Ganga, Chalukya, Bahamani, Adil Shahi, Sangama, Satavahana, Yadukula and Vijayanagar. 

It has two restaurants, a lounge bar, a conference room, a gym and spa facilities. It also provides an internet connection via a USB stick and satellite antenna that provides live television service in the cabins. It was also awarded as ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Train’ in the year 2013.

Itineraries of the Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot offers two travel itineraries – Pride of the South and Splendor of the South. The train runs from October to March and every trip is 7 nights, 8 days .

Pride of the South:

Day 1 – Bengaluru, Day 2 – Mysore, Day 3 – Nagarhole National Park, Day 4 – Hassan, Belur and Halebidu, Day 5 – Hospet and Hampi, Day 6 – Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami, Day 7 – Goa, Day 8 – Bengaluru.

Splendor of the South:

Day 1 – Bengaluru, Day 2 – Chennai, Day 3 – Pondicherry, Day 4 – Thanjavur, Day 5 – Madurai, Day 6 – Thiruvananthapuram, Day 7 – Alleypey and Kochi, Day 8 – Bengaluru.

For Indian nationals only

Single occupancy: INR 93,372 per person per night, Total (6 Nights) – INR 5,60,230

Double occupancy: INR 53,355 per person per night, Total (6 Nights) – INR 3,20,130

For International travellers

Single occupancy: USD 1,225 per person per night, Total (6 Nights) – USD 7,350.

Double occupancy: USD 700 per person per night, Total (6 Nights) – USD 4,200

4. Mahaparinirvan Express- Buddhist Circuit Special Train

Mahaparinirvan Express is a popular IRCTC Buddhist tourist train. It takes its passengers on a journey full of teaching and learnings from the Buddhist scriptures. The train has got its name from Buddha’s final teachings, the Mahaparinirvana Sutra.

This special train is a revamped version of the Rajdhani Express and offers various types of cabins choices for the traveller to enjoy the journey in. Mahaparinirvan Express starts its journey from Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi after which it reaches Gaya the next morning.

After exploring the Mahabodhi temple, Niranjana river and other sites in Gaya the train heads to Rajgir and Nalanda. Kushinagar, where Buddha preached his first sermon is the next stop after Rajgir and Nalanada.

After Kushinagar, the train reaches Varanasi and then to Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini after which it gears up to take its tourists to the town of Sravasti. From Sravasti, the train heads to Agra to treat it’s onboaders to the view of the magnificient Taj Mahal and then makes its final stop at Delhi.

Itinerary of the Mahaparinirvan Express – Buddhist Circuit Train Tour

Day 1 – Delhi – Gaya, Day 2 – Gaya – Bodhgaya, Day 3 – Bodhgaya – Nalanda – Rajgir – Gaya – Varanasi, Day 4 – Varanasi – Sarnath – Gorakhpur, Day 5 – Nautanwa – Lumbini, Day 6 – Lumbini – Kushinagar – Gorakhpur, Day 7 – Balrampur – Sravasti – Balrampur – Agra, Day 8 – Agra – Delhi.

Note: As this trip includes a day’s tour in Nepal, foreign nationals would require to procure a Nepali visa which can be easily obtained at the border. Also, foreign tourists needs to ensure having multiple entry Indian visas so that the return to India is smooth and hassle free.

For Indian Nationals Only

AC – First Class – INR 12,580 per person per night, Total (7 Nights)- INR 88,060.

AC – Two Tier – INR 10,290 per person per night, Total (7 Nights)- INR 72,030.

For International Travellers

AC – First Class – INR 165 per person per night, Total (7 Nights)- USD 1,155.

AC – Two Tier – USD 135 per person per night, Total (7 Nights)- USD 945.

5. Royal Orient Train

The Royal Orient Train is the oldest luxury train in India and is entrusted with an abundance that stimulates the sense of royalty. This luxury train’s theme is like that of Palace on Wheels.

The train started as a joint venture between the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat and the Indian Railways in 1994-95. They are also set to give their passengers the true taste of luxury and grandeur.

The highlight of this train is its royal richness, which provides the essence of the Raj culture. Journey by this train is an amalgamation of chivalry and unimaginable opulence. 

The cabins are designed in a palatial way. The hospitality professionals are very well-trained. They also have a multi-cuisine restaurant with a bar. Spacious baths, library, and other services that you would normally expect at any 5-star hotel are available on wheels. 

Sightseeing tours and desert safaris add to the unique and memorable experience. 

Itinerary of the Royal Orient Train

The train offers a journey of 7 nights / 8 days .

Day 1 – Delhi, Day 2 – Chittaurgarh – Udaipur, Day 3 – Junagarh – Veraval, Day 4 – Sasangir – Dilwara, Day 5 – Palitana – Sarkhej, Day 6 – Ahmedabad, Day 7 – Jaipur.

Price – INR 9,000 to INR 24,000 per day.

6. Heritage On Wheels

Heritage on Wheels is one of the oldest luxury trains in India. It takes you through the rich culture and traditions of Rajasthan.

If you wish to live like a queen or a king, you should get on board this train. You will travel back in time, not in a time machine, but this time on wheels! 

Some of the popular attractions that one can see when travelling on the Heritage on Wheels are Bikaner, Tal Shekhawati and Jaipur . In Bikaner, it covers Junagarh Fort, Haat, Camel Safari, Lalgarh Palace, National Research Centre. 

You will go to Laxmangarh Fort, Goenka Haveli, Sikar, Churu, Mandawa, Nawalgarh when in Tal Chhapar & Shekhawati. Some of the famous tourist attractions such as Hawa Mahal, Amber Palace, City Palace, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur will also be part of your royal experience. 

Even though Heritage on Wheels is one of the most expensive luxury trains in India, the kind of experience, grandeur and hospitality it offers to its guests is worth every penny.

Itinerary of the Heritage On Wheels

The tour is for 4 Nights/5 Days.

Day 1 – Delhi, Day 2 – Bikaner, Day 3 – Jaipur, Day 4 – Dholpur – Agra, Day 5 – Delhi

Single- INR 36,627 or USD 500 Per Night

Double – INR 21,976 USD 300 Per Person Per Night

Triple – INR 18,313 USD 250 Per Person Per Night

7. Maharaja’s Express

Not everyone is royalty, but everyone can definitely experience it. Maharajas’ Express is known to recreate the lifestyle of the Royal Era. This Indian Luxury Train has four cabins – the Deluxe Cabin, the Presidential Suite, the Suite and the Junior Suite.

It also offers shorter trips to places across Rajasthan. Indian Maharaja Train has 14 Guest Carriages named Moti (Pearl), Manik (Ruby), Heera (Diamond), Panna (Emerald), Neelam (Blue Sapphire), etc.

Anyone who travels on this train will be able to experience the rich cultural diversification of our country, India. The journey will be something that every traveller will cherish for a lifetime. 

Maharajas’ Express is all about giving luxurious facilities to its passengers. They provide highly professional butler services, spacious cabins, jewel-studded beds with attached bathrooms.

It also has amenities like Wi-Fi, Telephone, LCD, DVD players, basic toiletries in Bathrooms, Electronic safety Deposit and much more. They have also received various prestigious awards for their gracious hospitality. 

Itineraries of the Maharaja’s Express

It has an itinerary for 4 different routes. The 4 routes are named the Indian Splendor, , Indian Panorama , Heritage Of India and Treasures of India .

Indian Splendor : (6 nights/7 days)

Day 1 – Delhi, Day 2 – Agra, Day 3 – Jaipur, Day 4 – Bikaner, Day 5 – Jodhpur, Day 6 – Udaipur, Day 7 – Mumbai.

Indian Panorama : (6 nights/7 days)

Day 1 – Delhi – Jaipur, Day 2 – Jaipur, Day 3 – Ranthambore – Fatehpur Sikri, Day 4 – Agra, Day 5 – Orchha – Khajuraho, Day 6 – Varanasi, Day 7 – Delhi.

Heritage Of India : (6 nights/7 days)

Day 1 – Mumbai, Day 2 – Udaipur, Day 3 – Jodhpur, Day 4 – Bikaner, Day 5 – Jaipur, Day 6 – Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore National Park) – Agra, Day 7 – Agra – Delhi.

Treasures of India : (3 nights/4 days)

Day 1 – Delhi – Agra, Day 2 – Agra – Ranthambore, Day 3 – Jaipur, Day 4 – Delhi.

8. Fairy Queen Express

The Fairy Queen is the oldest working Steam Locomotive in the world. It was built in 1855. It has its own charm as it rambles through to Alwar in Rajasthan.

With a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records and a recipient of the National Tourism Award, Fairy Queen easily makes it to the list of most luxurious trains in India.

It was certified as the world’s oldest working locomotive by the Guinness Book of World Records. With many such laurels to its name, one should definitely take a ride on this train. 

The Steam Express is a 60-seater air-conditioned chair car. It has been designed with large glass windows which give a frontal view of the Locomotive.

If you wish to enjoy the scenic beauty en route, you can comfortably sit in the beautiful lounge and make the most of the view. There is a well-stocked up and maintained pantry for onboard catering. The guests can enjoy a host of cultural events that are organized in the evening. 

Itinerary of the Fairy Queen Express

The tour package is for 1 Night/2 Days . 

It runs from October to March and takes you through popular places like the Lake Palace, Sariska National Park and Alwar Museum.

Day 1 – Delhi Cantonment Railway Station – Alwar Station (Overnight stay at a hotel), Day 2 – Visit To Sariska National Park – Return To Hotel – Alwar Station – Delhi.

Price : INR 12,375

9. Royal Rajasthan On Wheels

The most expensive luxury train in India is also the best train to explore India on. The journey of this royal train is for 7 day/8 nights and starts from Safdarjung railway station, New Delhi.

The express then travels to Jodhpur on Day 2, Udaipur and Chittaurgarh on Day 3, Ranthambore National Park and Jaipur on Day 4, Khajuraho on Day 5, Varanasi and Sarnath on Day 6, Agra on Day 7 and then finally reaches Delhi on Day 8. In this journey all the popular and spectacular sights of Rajasthan is covered along with experiencing the royal luxury of Rajasthan.

There are 14 luxury cabins on Royal Rajasthan on wheels. The cabins are divided as Deluxe cabins and Super Deluxe cabins and they have all the amenities that can be imagined off. There is also a royal spa for tourists to be able to enjoy and relax through the entire spellbinding journey.

Itinerary of the Royal Rajasthan On Wheels

The tour package is of 7 Nights/8 Days .

Day 1 – New Delhi, Day 2 – Jodhpur, Day 3 – Udaipur – Chittaurgarh, Day 4- Sawai Madhopur – Jaipur, Day 5- Khajuraho, Day 6 – Varanasi, Day 7 – Agra, Day 8 – New Delhi.

Deluxe Cabin On Single Ocupancy: INR 3,63,300 (Indian Nationals), USD 6,055 (Foreign Nationals).

Deluxe Cabin on Double Occupancy: INR 5,46,000 (Indian Nationals), USD 9,100 (Foreign Nationals).

Super Deluxe Cabin On Single Occupancy: INR 7,56,000 (Indian Nationals), USD 12,600 (Foreign Nationals).

Super Deluxe Cabin On Double Occupancy: INR 7,56,000 (Indian Nationals), USD 12,600 (Foreign Nationals).

If you are bored of the traditional beach or hill-station holidays and want a different experience altogether, you should explore these luxury trains. They have been a part of our heritage, tradition and history. You will not regret spending time on the wheels.

They offer every luxury, adventure and experience that you would normally expect on a holiday. The hospitality that is provided here will surpass your expectations, time and again.

If you wish to ‘live life king size’ in the true sense, get on the train and don’t be surprised when you take back a suitcase (rather a coach) full of memories!

Also Read: Top 15 Workation Destinations and Resorts in India

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is a contributor at The Strong Traveller . She is a 2nd year student and works tirelessly to succeed in all her endeavors. She relishes the opportunity to learn about new cultures through travel, food and art. Writing and painting allow her to express her creativity, while reading affords her the chance to explore a new adventure every time she picks up a book, especially handy in the context of a pandemic.

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6 thoughts on “ top 9 luxury trains in india with detailed itineraries and prices ”.

I never would’ve thought about luxury trains as something I’d ever be interested in but these all look fantastic and oh so lovely. And the itinerary of the trips sound fantastic too. Definitely one day!

Thanks Ab for reading. We thought it would be really amazing to share some details of Luxury trains in India. We’re so glad you liked it!

Wow, what incredible trains to travel in! Such a great post and very informative!

Thank you for reading. So glad that you liked our post! 🙂

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Luxury Trains in India not just take you to places, but they get you there in style. Presenting a seamless fusion of the romance of a bygone era with contemporary finesse, luxury train journeys in India offer unparalleled ways to explore the true essence of Indian culture. These elite trains cater to tourists who wish to experience the rich cultural heritage in the lap of opulence.

This luxury train comes with massive grandeur, mind-blowing interiors, stringent security, and lavish affairs. Embark your journey with matchless comfort onboard with Indian Luxury Trains (ILT). Indian Luxury Trains (ILT) is India’s first luxury train travel portal that brings together all luxury trains operating across India on a single platform.

Maharaja Express

The Golden Chariot

Deccan Odyssey

Latest train reviews.

My Experience

Overall, the trip was a great experience. The tours and the guides were excellent. You could perhaps not charge for soft drinks and beer..... charge a one-time fee and include these items. It will make you look good and not cheap.

Maharajas Express

"Really the Maharajas Express is covering the most prominent tourist destinations such as India's capital Delhi, City of Nawabs "Lucknow", flim city "Mumbai", Agra's “Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Jaipur etc. It could become an exciting tour."

Brilliant Staff & Experience

Each and every staff gave us exemplary service! The Chef and his crew were absolutely fantastic, and so were the tour guides.

Luxury Train Travel in India - A Magnificent Journey into India's Resplendent Panorama

Step onboard the Luxury Trains in India, and enter a world overflowing in opulence, while exuding an aura which transports you back to the days of Maharajas. Discover the various charms of India even as you experience the magnificent hospitality and lose yourself in the arms of comfort onboard….

India’s tryst with luxury rail journeys commenced with the introduction of Palace on Wheels train in 1982, and since then, luxury trains have achieved one milestone after another. As the guest, relaxed in his personal cabin, takes a sip of a heady cocktail and stares outside at the breathtaking scenery greeting his eyes, he realizes the incredibility of it all.

Indian Luxury Trains (ILT) holds the distinction of being India’s first luxury train travel portal which brings together all luxury trains operating across India on a single platform. The luxury trains of India, namely Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, The Golden Chariot, The Fairy Queen, Maha Parinirvan Express and Palace on Wheels let you embark on a fascinating journey to discover the heritage of India. When it comes to experiencing luxury train travels in India, you can be rest assured that we deliver outstanding service and travel expertise to our customers. Besides, this is the one-stop window for getting access to information like latest news, reviews, details of train facilities, schedules, tariff, journeys, photos and videos. Moreover, we also assist you with your bookings and other formalities through our authorized agents and affiliates. Our expertly crafted tour packages take you to the most enchanting destinations, while being surrounded by the choicest of comforts.

Luxury Trains in India

The renowned luxury trains of India, namely Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, The Golden Chariot, and Maharajas’ Express, welcome you to embark on a beguiling journey to discover the rich heritage of India.

A grand version of a blue limousine, the Deccan Odyssey train includes all the flavors, traditions, and authenticity of India. With its royal carriages, take a closer look at the lives of local people at several Indian destinations. Begin your rail journey to explore the royal palaces, historical monuments, sandy beaches, ancient caves, and other religious sites.

History –  Maharashtra Tourism Rail Corporation (MTDC) after taking inspiration from the royal carriages used by Indian royals, brought Deccan Odyssey to life. MTDC Deccan Odyssey took its first journey on 16 January 2004 and since then, this deluxe train has never failed to impress its guests with top-notch services and warm hospitality.

Journeys –   Maharashtra Splendor ,  Indian Odyssey ,  Indian Sojourn ,  Hidden Treasures of Gujarat ,  Jewels of the Deccan , and  Maharashtra Wild Trail

Destinations Covered –  The Deccan Odyssey train route covers major Indian destinations with its 6 carefully designed itineraries covering destinations in and around Mumbai, cities in North and South India, places in the Deccan plateau, Indian Wildlife, and the best of Gujarat.

Duration –  All the Deccan Odyssey journeys will take 7 Nights/ 8 Days to complete.

Awards & Recognitions –  In 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, Deccan Odyssey won the World Travel Awards under the category ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Train’. It also won the ‘TTJ Jury Choice Award’ under the category of Excellence and Innovation in 2016. And in 2017, it was awarded the ‘TTJ Jury Choice Award’ under the category of Excellence and Innovation.

A famous luxury train journey in India, The Golden Chariot offers you the opportunity to live through Karnataka’s 1,600 years of history. So, get on this rail journey and unveil the hidden treasures, empires, and lost kingdoms on a ride on this rail journey. A blend of rich culture, palatial architecture, and 19intricately designed coaches, this luxury train will pamper you with world-class services.

History –  The idea of the luxury rail came into development by an MOU signed by Karnataka State Tourism and Development Corporation and the Ministry of Indian Railways in the year 2002. The name Golden Chariot was given after the iconic stone chariots of Hampi, the ruined temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire.

Journeys –  Pride of Karnataka ,  Jewels of South , and  Glimpses of Karnataka

Destinations Covered –  The Golden Chariot train route takes you to the famous destinations of Southern India and some of the places covered on this journey are Bengaluru, Mysore, Hampi, and Mahabalipuram.

Duration –  While the Golden Chariot train journey ‘Glimpses of Karnataka’ is completed in 3 Nights/ 4 Days, the ‘Jewels of South’ and ‘Pride of Karnataka’ is terminated in 6 Nights/7 Days.

Awards & Recognitions –  In 2017, this luxury train was awarded 7th time with the World Trade Awards (WTA) under the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Train’. It was also recognized by the TTJ Jury Choice Award for Excellence and North India Travel Award for Best Luxury Train in India 2015.

Maharajas’ Express

Maharajas’ Express takes you back to the bygone era whilst maintaining all modern comforts. Designed to recreate the elegance of the carriages used by former Maharajas, the interiors of Maharajas’ Express provide a nostalgic aura. Set off on a luxurious journey in one of the cheapest luxury trains in India and explore the best of India.

History –  Maharajas’ Express was officially launched in March 2010. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) and Cox and Kings India Ltd., made a mutual investment to establish a company named Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd. (RIRTL) to manage the Maharaja Express train.

Journeys –   Treasures of India ,  The Indian Splendor ,  The Indian Panorama , and  The Heritage of India

Destinations Covered –  This luxury rail travel will take you to India’s historical destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Orchha, Gwalior, Bikaner, and more.

Duration –  While Treasures of India Maharajas’ Express takes only 3 nights/4 days to complete, Heritage of India Maharajas Express, Indian Panorama Maharajas Express, and Indian Splendour Maharajas Express ends in 6 nights/7 days.

Awards & Recognitions –  In 2010, Maharajas’ Express won the ‘Best Luxury Train’ at CNBC Awaaz Travel Award. It was the 1st runner up in the Specialist Train Operators Category awarded at Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Travel Award 2011. In 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, this Indian luxury rail was awarded the World Travel Award under the ‘World’s Leading Luxury Train’. Lastly, Maharajas’ Express acquired the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Award in 2015 and 2016.

FAQs of Luxury Train 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 .

You can also buy the famous Trains at a Glance timetable booklet for 100 rupees at any station bookstall (it makes a great souvenir), or click here to download the pages you need for free .  This shows times in printed form for most major stations on all the main routes.

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 April 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 (@S).

E = executive chair class (EC).

G & J are used for AC 3-tier & Air-conditioned Chair class on Garib Rath trains.

H = air-conditioned 1st class (1A).

HA = composite coach, half AC1, half AC2.

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.

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.

Or the Shalimar Express on Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun leaving Jaipur 17:45 arriving Jaisalmer 05:30 next morning, 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 Shalimar Express leaving Jaisalmer at 23:25 on Mon, Wed, Thus, Sat and arriving at Old Delhi at 16:50 next day. AC1, AC2, AC3, sleeper class.  Spend the 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 12:10 arriving Simla at 17:20 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 toy train leaving Simla at 18:05 arriving Kalka at 22:40. 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.

...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.

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.

Prices range from $2,750 for a 7-night 8-day tour around key cities in Rajasthan such as Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Udaipur & Jodhpur with all meals, off-train tours and on-board accommodation included. 

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.  From $3,580 per person.  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.  From around $4,130 per person for two people sharing, $5,775 single occupancy for the least expensive suites.  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, starting at around $4,095 per person for two people sharing or from $5,229 single occupancy.

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 an 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 & Trips in India

25 train & rail tour packages in india with 104 reviews.

In-depth Cultural Family Train & Rail Sightseeing Historical Christmas & New Year +4

Golden Triangle on Wheels Indian Railways

"Our hotels were all very good and in good locations. We would certainly recommend Yolo Tours/ Tour Radar to anyone who wants to see India in depth!" Gayle, traveled in July 2019

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

Safari Family Wildlife Tiger Train & Rail Christmas & New Year +2

Rajasthan Wildlife Tour: Ranthambore National Park by Train - 5 Days

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

Taj Mahal & Agra Private Tour for 2 Days by Express Train

"He pleasantly welcomed me to Agra with a beautiful flower garland and was very professional and polite." Kristien, traveled in March 2024

• 10% deposit on some dates

Amritsar Tour From Delhi By Shatabdi Train

"The convenience of traveling by train offered a comfortable and efficient way to reach Amritsar, allowing me to relax and enjoy the scenic journey." Leonardo, traveled in April 2024

Train Tour: 5 Days Golden Triangle Tour with 4 Nights Accomodation

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

Journey Through Time: Exploring India's Heritage by Satabdi Train

New Delhi to Rajasthan with Goa by Rail 14 Days

"The trip was very well planned, with all the destinations and trains we took booked and specified before we left." Paul, traveled in November 2019

In-depth Cultural Train & Rail Sightseeing Historical Christmas & New Year +4

14 Days Rajasthan Tour By Local Trains

From Delhi: Taj Mahal Private Tour By Gatiman Express Train

"It was a good day. Highly recommended." Jack, traveled in September 2022

What people love about Train & Rail Tours in India

The idea of travelling by train to different cities and getting picked up by different tour guides was a great idea. Tour guides had different strengths and weaknesses. Overall good experience although a little on the pricy side.

Awesome Ranthambore Jungle Safari, an experience to remember for a lifetime !

So, I kind started the tour with a bit of a rough start. My Delhi driver didn't seem to know how to get to the train station, then I felt pressed to take a tuk-tuk that I couldn't afford, to get dropped off. Then was pressed by him to get money from the ATM, which none of the three at the station worked for me. I was feeling pretty skeptical about the tour I had purchased and that I had been thrown out there on my own,but my tour guide in Agra, Faz, quickly decreased my worries and immediately brighted my mood for the rest of the time I spent with him on the tour. He pleasantly welcomed me to Agra with a beautiful flower garland and was very professional and polite. He spoke perfectly clear English and was easy to understand. He clearly has a lot of knowledge, passion and pride in the historical, religious and artistic beauty of the cities sites. He had a lot of special insights and knew best how to plan things. He was great at both offering to take pictures and at taking them, some unique and fun. Additionally, he was very considerate and carried my bag and sweatshirt for me so I could enjoy taking my own pictures and not have to deal with them, such a gentleman. He was very easy to talk to and open to questions. As mentioned earlier, I had cash/ATM issues and he stepped right up until we were able to resolve this, paying for entry fees. Then he was more than patient when this unfortunately took several stops to successfully resolve. I really felt he went above and beyond. He was very kind and understanding, despite my embarrassment that this couldn't get easily resolved. He had an engaging, fun, but very professional quality. I was highly impressed. He's the most delightful and professional guide and I highly recommend him. I was very saddened that I would be getting a new tour guide as he was wonderful. He always wanted to make sure I was enjoying the sites and was feeling good with how things were going. Definitely a top notch professional, highly knowledgeable and great character. I absolutely loved my tour with Faz. I'd give him over 5☆☆☆☆ My guide in Fatehpur sikri, was also quite pleasant. I was only with him for a few hours in the city, but he guided me through things well and was helpful. He had a great knowledge of the area and seemed to enjoy the history. He even helped me get rid of an obnoxious peddler, which was appreciated. I did however feel that he was a bit pushy in a shop we went into and I spent more money than planned/could afford. My driver, Chetan, was always punctual and I had no complaints. Although, he didn't speak much he was always polite and professional when he did. I really appreciated him expertly maunvering through all the crazy traffic. He did amazing. ☆☆☆☆☆ The hotel was fabulous and had a beautiful rooftop pool and spa. You could even see the Taj Mahal from there (just barely through the smoke). The restaurant and breakfast were both good. No complaints at all. The train was fine, not luxury or similar to US. Food was not bad considering it was train food, which I compared to being similar to plane food. Everything was great really, except my drop off in Delhi and my pickup in Delhi were I never connected with the driver and ended having to pay to take a chilly ride in a tuk-tuk. They did try and contact me when I arrived in Delhi (my service is inconsistent),but it would have been better to have this information before Ieft Agra. I believe this would have negated the problem as could directly go where I needed to go. This was done before I left for Agra, why not Delhi. So, the guides, hotel, driver in Agra and train I had no issues. Just a bit with the drop off driver in Delhi and confusion over pickup, but overall good tour.

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8 incredible train journeys in South India

Jul 31, 2023 • 8 min read

The slow, marvelous trains that crisscross South India offer a wonderful way to discover this vast region © MTD_myTravelDiaries / Shutterstock

Trains pass through jade-green forests, misty mountains and gorgeous coastal stretches in lush South India.

Riding the rails is one of the greatest joys of any India adventure, whether you’re trundling high up into the hills aboard a UNESCO-listed miniature train or clattering along the sun-drenched, coast-hugging Konkan Railway.

Down south, landscapes spin from honey-gold beaches and palm-shaded backwaters to jungle-covered hills, gushing waterfalls and sprawling megacities. And there’s no finer way to soak it all up than from the window seat of a clanking train, over a white-paper cup of steaming sweet chai.

Fabulous food is often part of the picture, too, thanks to vendors deftly making their way through carriages at stations, and top-tier tickets that include on-board meals. As you roll across wildly beautiful South India , you’ll see local staples such as potato-stuffed dosas (crispy, thin lentil-and-rice-flour crepes), crispy vadas (fried savory dough) and coconut-rich Keralite stews pop up, while soothing chai and filter coffee inevitably always appear at just the right moment. Certain stations are famous for selling particular regional specialities, and some trains are known for serving superb food. 

Here are eight terrific train journeys that offer a taste of India’s sultry south. 

Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway 

46km (29 miles), 3.5–4.75 hours

South Indian rail thrills don’t get more classic than catching the famous, Unesco-listed “toy train” into northern Tamil Nadu ’s misty Western Ghats . Jade-green tea plantations, lush jungle, rushing waterfalls and far-reaching panoramas jostle for attention as the narrow-gauge, rack-and-pinion steam train rattles up into the Nilgiri Hills from tiny Mettupalayam, zipping through 16 tunnels and across 250 bridges. Eventually, it reaches the hugely popular hill station of Ooty , at 2240m (7350ft). There’s also a stop along the way at Coonoor, the Nilgiris’ second hill station, resting at 1720m (5643ft). First opened in 1899 (and extended to Ooty in 1908), the NMR pulls in an often-lively domestic crowd, with people cheering as tunnels plunge you into darkness. 

The blue-and-cream miniature train leaves for Ooty every day at 7:10am and takes 4.75 hours on the way up; it makes its way back down to Mettupalayam at 2pm, a 3.5-hour journey. The best way to get to Mettupalayam is aboard the nine-hour overnight Nilgiri Express from Chennai Central (or hop on it at Coimbatore , which has an airport), arriving just in time at 6:15am.

Bengaluru (Bangalore) to Gokarna on the Karwar Express

711km (442 miles), 14 hours

Flights link Karnataka ’s lively capital of Bengaluru with the coast in an hour or so – but then you’d be missing out on a spectacular slow-travel jaunt through the lush, biodiverse and unbelievably beautiful Western Ghats en route to Gokarna ’s blissful beaches. Leaving Bengaluru’s Yesvantpur Junction station three days a week at 7am, the Karwar Express follows inland Karnataka’s so-called Green Route, which is known for its wild green forests, dense coffee crops and over 100 bridges. After reaching the low-key coastal town of Mangaluru (Mangalore) , the train follows the coast north to Gokarna Road station, where some of South India’s most magical and relaxed beaches await on the doorstep. 

If you’d prefer an overnight train to the beach, catch the daily Panchaganga Express at 6:50pm from Bengaluru City station, which drops you at Gokarna Road 12 hours later. 

Mumbai to Margao (Madgaon) on the Mandovi Express

765km (475 miles), 12 hours

One of India’s most spectacular railway stations – Mumbai ’s Gothic-style, colonial-era Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus – is the 7:10am starting point for a thrilling coastal adventure south to the golden sands of Goa . Built in the 1990s, the beloved 756km (470-mile) Konkan Railway rushes across 2216 bridges and through almost 100 tunnels, and includes one of the country’s tallest viaducts (a 60m/197ft-high marvel near Ratnagiri). Gaze out on tropical-fruit plantations, rice fields, meandering rivers and electric-green coconut palms as you spin through Maharashtra to land in Margao , southern Goa’s main transport hub, from where there’s easy onward transport to mellow beachy beauties like Palolem and Benaulim. 

But the Mandovi Express isn’t all about the views: it’s also famous for its food, courtesy of a Karnataka-born catering company that delights travelers with samosas, idli-sambar , vadas and other favorites. South of Goa, the Konkan Railway continues through Karnataka almost to the Kerala border. 

Varkala to Kanyakumari on the Island Express

127km (79 miles), four hours

Settle in for a leisurely journey from the golden-black beaches, lively surf-and-yoga scene and holy temples of Varkala , on Kerala ’s south coast, to the southernmost tip of India, in Tamil Nadu. Famous as the place where three seas meet – the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal – laid-back Kanyakumari centers on a revered waterside temple devoted to the Hindu goddess Kumari, a site with an entrancing feel. The beloved Island Express’ 10:55am departure from Varkala means you’ll enjoy southern Kerala’s palm-laced landscapes in all their hazy day-lit beauty. 

Alternatively, you can hop on in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) , three hours from Kanyakumari, or even from as far north as Bengaluru – which involves a 19-hour, 944km (587-mile) overnight spin via Coimbatore, Kochi, Kollam and more. 

Vasco da Gama to Londa on the Goa Express

146km (91 miles), 3.5 hours

The tumbling 603m(1980ft)-high cascade of Dudhsagar Falls (one of India’s tallest waterfalls) is the “wow” moment on any journey between the South Goan port city of Vasco da Gama and Londa, just over the border in Karnataka. Along the way, Goa’s gold-tinged shoreline gives way to the Western Ghats’ Unesco-protected hills, as you dive into the contiguous wildlife-rich Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary . 

The 3pm Goa Express (a daily superfast train) runs north from Vasco da Gama via Londa all the way to Delhi – 2208km (1372 miles), or 39.5  hours away. It also stops in Margao , a handy alternative Goa start point.

Chennai to Hyderabad on the Chennai–Hyderabad Express

715km (444 miles), 13 hours

Wake up to the ancient architectural jewels of Telangana ’s dynamic capital Hyderabad , home to some of India’s most magnificent Islamic buildings, such as the chandelier-lit Chowmahalla Palace , the 16th-century Golconda Fort and the splendid Qutb Shahi Tombs . The fun starts with a 4:45pm daily departure from Chennai Central and a South Indian–style dinner on board as the Chennai–Hyderabad Express inches its way north from Tamil Nadu. You’ll probably start the next day sharing a chat and a sugary chai with your carriage neighbors, watching the countryside morph into an urban metropolis on the slow roll into Hyderabad Deccan station. 

Kochi to Margao on the Netravathi Express

849km (527 miles), 14.75 hours

Also following the Konkan Railway for much of the way, this overnight route zips you north from Kerala’s arty cultural hub Kochi to serene southern Goa. After hopping on at Ernakulam Junction station in Kochi at 1:50pm, Kerala whirls past in a blur of sun-toasted coconut palms. Post-sunset, you’ll travel through coastal Mangaluru and the temple town of Udupi in Karnataka, to (finally!) reach Margao Junction just before sunrise. 

In its full extent, the Netravathi Express links Kerala’s capital Trivandrum with Mumbai – a whopping 30-hour, 1805km (1122-mile) journey. It’s also handy for reaching northern Kerala’s untouristed beaches (around Kannur and Bekal ), and you can pick it up from further south than Kochi if you’re in, say, Alappuzha (Alleppey) or Varkala.

Chennai to Rameswaram on the Rameswaram Express

665km (413 miles), 11 hours

Plodding across the 2km(1.25-mile)-long Pamban Bridge, with the Bay of Bengal swirling below, puts a whole new spin on riding the rails in South India. The bridge links mainland Tamil Nadu to Pamban Island, home to the small pilgrimage town of Rameswaram and the eerie ruins of Dhanushkodi (a once-thriving port destroyed by a 1964 cyclone), and marks the final stretch of a long overnight trip south from Chennai Egmore. 

Known as the Boat Mail Express in the 19th century, this train originally operated as part of a rail-and-ferry route linking Tamil Nadu with neighboring Sri Lanka (then under British rule as Ceylon), until the Pamban Bridge was opened in 1914. It’s also possible to travel by train across from the celebrated temple city of Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu; trains leave throughout the day from Madurai Junction (four hours). 

At the time of writing, rail services across the original century-old Pamban Bridge have been suspended while a new bridge is constructed, after safety concerns arose in 2022. 

How to book trains in South India

The best way to find out about South Indian train services is online via Erail , Indian Railways and/or Seat 61 ; this last resource offers invaluable advice on all things train travel–related in India, including buying tickets. 

Many trains sell out well in advance of their departure date, so it’s best to book as far ahead as possible, ideally online. Long-distance bookings currently open 120 days beforehand. Most comfortable for overnight travels are the reserved air-conditioned classes (1AC, 2AC or 3AC). The easiest way to reserve is through a booking portal such as Cleartrip or 12Go . The IRCTC government website also takes online bookings, but it can be a frustratingly fiddly process. On the ground, major train stations in places like Mumbai and Chennai usually have dedicated ticket counters for foreign travelers. Read more about how to get around India by train here . 

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• 18 Beautiful Train Journeys In India In 2024 That Will Compel You For A Ride!

19 Jan 2023

Planning a vacation rarely encompasses a train expedition nowadays. But if it does, it certainly takes us back to the childhood days when holidaying meant embarking on beautiful train journeys in India . It also meant admiring the changing landscapes as the train passed through towns and villages; playing cards or memory game; chitchatting over warm tea in earthen cups (locally called Kulhad); yummy munchies and lot more! This time round, we take you on some of the most beautiful train routes in India that cover absolutely enthralling and diverse landscapes – steep mountain slopes, narrow valleys, and wide seas.

18 Most Beautiful Train Journeys In India

Go through the list of these most beautiful train rides in India and make sure you head to one of them, the one that you find to be truly out of this world. You will realize the journey is nothing short of a dream. There’s mountains, waterfalls, rivers, plains, deserts and every possible landscape that you can imagine of. They are spread across the northern frontier to the southern frontier. Have a look!

• Jammu – Baramulla
• Pathankot – Jogindernagar
• Kalka – Shimla
• Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
• Mumbai – Goa
• Hubli – Madgaon
• Matheran – Neral
• Karjat – Lonavala
• Ratnagiri – Mangalore
• Mandapam – Rameshwaram
• Mettupalayam – Ooty
• Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley
• Bangalore – Kanyakumari
• Hassan – Mangalore
• Bhubaneshwar – Brahmapur
• New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling
• Alipurduar – Jalpaiguri
• Guwahati – Silchar

1. Jammu – Baramulla

Kashmir Railway Gifts you Travel Charisma

Image Source

The railway track connecting Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla is not only picturesque and enthralling but also one the most challenging railway projects. It is located in the high earthquake intensity zone with undulating and rugged terrain, extreme cold temperature, and is the most beautiful railway route in India .

Train Journey Time : 4 hours

Must Read: 30 Unbelievably Beautiful Places To Visit In Kashmir One Cannot Miss

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2. Pathankot – Jogindernagar

Mystics of Kangra Valley

Image Source If you want to enjoy the thrills of Kangra Valley, the river bridges, deep gorges and exclusive flora, enjoy the pleasant but quite slow ride of 164 km from Pathankot to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. It is not only located at a challenging height, but is also one of the most scenic train routes in India .

Train Journey Time : 8 hours

Suggested Read : 43 Famous Historical Places In India To Visit

3. Kalka – Shimla

A Spellbinding Journey to the Summer Capital

If you want to cherish picturesque valleys, steep pathways and foggy meadows, travel to Shimla in the narrow gauge train. This little toy train, now considered as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, starts from Kalka and travels 96 km upslope through 102 tunnels: (the longest tunnel located at Barog), 82 bridges, deep valleys, steep curves, rolling bends, forests of deodar and rhododendron, pine and oak.

Few trains like Siwalik, Kalka-Shimla, Himalayan Queen, Rail Motor and Siwalik Queen ply on this route. The journey is truly enchanting but at a slow pace as the train ascends the slope rhythmically through stations of Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Tara Devi, Barog, Salogra, Totu, and Summerhill to reach the summer capital. It is one of the best in north Indian and most beautiful train journeys in India .

Train Journey Time : 5 hours

Suggested Read: 53 Best Places To Visit In Shimla On Your Soothing Weekend Getaway!

4. Jaisalmer – Jodhpur

Xerophytic Route

The Rajasthan trip which is otherwise full of colors, can have an extra bright shade if you travel to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur in Delhi Jaisalmer Express. The travel time in the train called the ‘Desert Queen’ takes close to 6 hours to reach the destination.

The journey is not at all monotonous. In fact you see diversified topography like typical desert landscape with xerophytic vegetation, yellow soil, dunes, grazing camels and scattered settlements of the desert inhabitants. The passengers will surely get a feel of the desert safari before reaching the land of the Golden Fort. This is amongst the most beautiful train journeys in India .

Suggested Read : Longest Rivers In India: Know About The Important Water Bodies Of The Country

5. Mumbai – Goa

Journey through the Enigmatic Ghats

The journey from Mumbai to Goa intersecting through the gorges of Sahyadari and fringes of Arabian Sea is equally or perhaps the most scenic train rides in India . Mandovi Express, as a part of the Konkan Railway network, travels between Mumbai and Goa.

The route is full of scenic landscapes, ranging from tunnels, bridges, coastal peripheries, steps of Western Ghats (other name for Sahyadari), innumerable small rivers, seasonal streams and lush green meadows. Do not forget to take out your handicam or camera and capture the highlights of one of the stunning and beautiful train journeys in India .

Train Journey Time : 12 hours

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6. Hubli – Madgaon

Vasco da Gama Route

Image Source While travelling from Hubli to Madgaon, experience one of the most thrilling and enchanting train journeys in India. The train passes through the gigantic and most magnificent Dudhsagar waterfalls gushing out from a 300 metres in full vigor.

Once the train reaches the waterfall, you will be amazed at the cascading beauty and force on a thrilling and best train journeys in India. If you decide to enjoy it closely, quickly get down at Londa junction, which is the nearest station to Dudhsagar falls.

Train Journey Time : 10 hours

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7. Matheran – Neral

Heritage of Maharashtra

The narrow gauge railway running between Matheran and Neral passes is one of the best train routes in India. It passes through the rugged terrains of the Ghats and gained immense tourist attraction. This only Heritage railway of Maharashtra running a distance of 20 km is surely included in the list of India’s best train journeys. This is one of the best train routes in India .

Train Journey Time : 2 hours

Suggested Read: Top 38 Weekend Getaways From Mumbai For The Love Of Traveling

8. Karjat – Lonavala

Monsoon Trip

Another line that passes through the Western Ghats is the journey from Karjat to Lonavala through Thakurwadi, Monkey Hills and Khandala. It is the very scenic and one of the best train routes in India known for its mystic nature. Monsoon season is recommended because of the lush green views and beautiful rain scenery that it offers. The ride is pure scenery and being hill stations connected by train, it is the most adventurous way to reach the destinations.

Train Journey Time : 1 hour

Suggested Read: 21 Hill Stations Near Mumbai To Soothe Your Senses On A Trip

9. Ratnagiri – Mangalore

Charming Konkan Railway

Image Source One of the most mesmerizing railway tracks lies in the Konkan Railway network, in the Ratnagiri to Mangalore sector. The is one of the most scenic train journeys in India which is truly absorbing and wherein the dense forests, mighty Western Ghats, deep tunnels, river bridges, sharp bends and innumerable seasonal streams will leave the travelers spellbound and hypnotized.

Suggested Read: 20 Road Trips During Monsoon In India That Every Biker Ought To Take

10. Mandapam – Rameshwaram

Journey Intersecting the Ocean

Image Source Besides thrill and adventure, train travel from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to Rameshwaram on Pamban Island oozes calm and serenity. It is certainly one of the top ten best Indian train journeys. One of the most beautiful train routes in India, it passes over the second longest bridge of India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that connects mainland India to Pamban Island.

Suggested Read : 15 Offbeat Places In South India That Will Make You Go ‘WOW’ With Natural Beauty!

11. Mettupalayam – Ooty

Voyage in Landscapes of Nilgiris

Image Source Running since 1908, ‘Nilgiri Passenger’ still runs on steam engine, going from Mettupalayam to Ooty. As the train ascends the Nilgiri Mountain, thick pine, oak and eucalyptus forests, bends, curves and tunnels, it moves along Asia’s steepest track with maximum gradient of 8.33 percent. Nilgiri Passenger travels 26 km up the slope in almost 5 hours via stations like Kallar, Adderly, Hillgrove, Kateri, Runneymede, Kateri, Coonoor and Lovedale.

Suggested Read: 25 Mesmerizing Hill Stations In South India That Are A Must Visit

12. Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley

The Tunnel Topography

Image Source The journey from Vishakhapatnam to Araku Valley through innumerable tunnels and sharp loops is quite an interesting one. Started as a mode to transport iron ore and other minerals to Vishakhpatnam from Chhattisgarh, this railway route in India is a treat for the eyes as well as the soul.

Train Journey Time : 3 hours

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13. Bangalore – Kanyakumari

The Malgudi Voyage

Image Source Another scenic journey through the typical landscape of South India – the picturesque villages, plantations, meadows and water bodies is from Bangalore to Kanyakumari. The Island Express travels 944 km in about 19.5 hours and surely take you the land of ‘Malgudi Days’, undoubtedly paving its way to the list of best train journeys in India.

Train Journey Time : 15 hours

Suggested Read: 35 Road Trips From Bangalore You Must Plan With Your Friends

14. Hassan – Mangalore

Magical Malnad

Witness a pleasant train journey through scenic waterfalls, lofty mountains, palm plantations and rice meadows from Hassan to Mangalore. Railway voyage along this stretch of the Malnad region is truly refreshing and perfect delight for travelers.

Train Journey Time : 1 and half hours

Suggested Read : Discover 6 Incredible Rain Forests In India For A Memorable Wildlife Adventure

15. Bhubaneshwar – Brahmapur

The Serene Journey

Image Source Another of most beautiful train journeys in India is from Bhubaneshwar to Brahmapur, with lush green Malyadri on one side and serene Chilika Lake on the other. You may be lucky enough to see lots of migratory birds, so don’t forget your camera. You can capture the glimpse of the best lakes in Odisha while traveling through this train. 

Suggested Read : Mountain Biking In India: 10 Most Thrilling Adventure That Is A Must Try

16. New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling

The Heritage Voyage to the Summer Resort of British Raj

Image Source How good does it feel to ride through hill stations connected by train? A pleasant upslope journey from the foothill region through loops, turns and bends can be experienced from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The 78 km long quaint journey takes almost 8 hours and passes through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow and Batasia Loop.

Though the journey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is sluggish but certainly leisurely. The surrounding hill-valley topography, especially from Ghum (the highest narrow gauge railway station in India) and Batasia Loop, adds extra flavors of delight to your trip.

Train Journey Time : 7 hours

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17. Alipurduar – Jalpaiguri

Jungle Safari on the Wheels

Want to pass through dense forest and see elephants and rhinos while passing by? Plan a train journey in the foothills region of North Bengal. Travelling to Alipurduar, Jayanti, Moorti, Samsing, Baux and Jalpaiguri will take you through the reserve forests of Gorumara, Jaldapara, Mahananda and Buxa while crossing seasonal streamlets.

Suggested Read : 20 Unbelievable Experiences In India That You Must Add On Your Bucket List To Enjoy An Offbeat Escape

18. Guwahati – Silchar

Awes of Assam

Image Source This journey meanders through river Jatinga, lush green Assam Valley, tea plantations and undulating Haflong valley. The route from Guwahati to Silchar via Lumding and Barak Valley makes it one of the most beautiful train journeys in India. The train makes you witness the beauty of hill stations in Assam .

Train Journey Time : 9 hours

Further Read: 23 Types of People You Meet While Travelling in an Indian Train

Aren’t all these beautiful train journeys in India absolutely stunning? If you have more to the list, share us with them in the comments below, and let the word spread. But for now, plan your holiday in India  with TravelTriangle to experience these wonderful train rides. We have no doubt that these rides will sweep you off your feet and make your heart skip a beat.

Disclaimer : TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beautiful Train Journeys In India

Is it safe to travel in Indian trains during COVID times?

You need to follow all the mandatory guidelines mentioned by the authorities to ensure your safety. Wear mask while traveling in train or being at the railway station, avoid crowds and maintain social distancing. Keep sanitizing your hands regularly. You can also carry a disinfectant spray to disinfect your seat and surroundings.

Which is the best train in India?

This is no definite answer to this because of the way you define best. It could be in terms of service or the route it runs on. If you have to pick one, Samjhauta Express would be the best train of India as it connects India and Pakistan displaying the amazing coordination between the two countries with communal tensions. It connects Amritsar with Lahore.

Which is the long-distance train in India?

Vivek Express is the longest distance train in India that connects Dibrugarh in Assam with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The train runs weekly and takes about 79 hours to complete a journey of 4234 km. It has 57 intermediate stoppages. Whoa! Imagine the journey that would be on this train.

Which are the dangerous train routes in India?

Chennai - Rameswaram route is considered to be the most dangerous train route in India. It is ironic because it is also a pilgrimage route. So, your faith in God is put to test when you travel on this train. The 2.3 km long stretch of this train runs over the ocean fighting strong winds and tides that make this journey dangerous and testing.

Which are the best train journeys from Bangalore?

The train journey from Bangalore to Kanyakumari is the most scenic one. Ditch the car ride and take the train instead if you want to enjoy the scenery

Which is the longest rail bridge in India?

The longest rail bridge in India is the Vembanad Rail Bridge that connects Vallarpadam and Edappally in Kerala’s Kochi. The bridge is 4.62 km long and dedicated only to good trains.

Is the Indian railways run by private or public?

The Indian railways is a public railway organization run by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Which is the fastest train in India?

The Vande Bharat Express or Train 18 is currently the fastest train in India with a maximum operational speed of 180 km/h. The average speed of the train is around 102 km/h.

Which railway station has the most number of platforms in India?

Howrah Junction in Kolkata, West Bengal is one of the largest junctions in the country and a perfect bridge between North, South, East and West India. It has 23 platforms that spread in a huge area.

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The 9 most scenic train journeys in India

By Tvisha Sharma and Toshita Sahni

Air travel may seem more convenient and time-effective, but it cannot replace the undeniable charm of travelling by train. One of the most enjoyable parts of train journeys is sitting by the window and taking in the beauty of the landscape while sipping a hot beverage. In those moments, with hills, forests, brooks and villages rolling by your window, the world slips away, and peace reigns for a little while. If you want to experience this kind of serenity, there are many routes you can take, as India boasts of an extensive railway network. Here’s a look at some of the prettiest train journeys in the country:

Himalayan Queen

Also known as the Kalka-Shimla ‘toy train,’ the Himalayan Queen features in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tracks stretch across the steepest altitude. From your vantage point up high, you will get a glimpse of picturesque pine forests, deep valleys and small towns along the way. This seven-coach train covers a distance of 96km, crossing 82 bridges and 102 tunnels. In 2008, UNESCO added the Kalka-Shimla railway line to its Mountain Railways of India World Heritage site.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this train runs from Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal. As you travel at an altitude of more than 2000m, you will be treated to stunning views of sprawling tea plantations and the breathtaking Mt. Kanchenjunga. The route is famous for its loops, where the train turns in a full circle and thus climbs 20ft higher.

Kashmir Valley Railway

A train passing by the Pulwama district in Kashmir.

On this trip from Jammu to Baramulla, feast your eyes on the snowy mountainscapes of the region. This is actually one of the most challenging tracks built by the Indian Railways. The train passes through many earthquake zones, high-altitude mountain passes and rocky terrains.

Sethu Express

Pamban Bridge

If you don’t want a mountainous journey, choose this train that goes from Chennai to Rameswaram in less than 12 hours. You will get the opportunity to traverse the sea, as the route includes crossing the Pamban Bridge—the second-longest in India—built over the water.  You may recognise it from the 2013 Bollywood film Chennai Express .

Konkan Railway

By Arundhati Ail

By Diya Kohli

By Condé Nast Traveller

This iconic railway line mainly connects Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. Get ready to enjoy the varied sights outside your window: the Sahyadri mountains, the Arabian Sea, lakes and waterfalls. A classic choice for travellers going from Mumbai to Goa is the  Mandovi Express . The train travels through 92 tunnels and 2,000 bridges, including the Panvalnadi bridge, which is one of the highest in India. With landscapes covered in lush greenery, a Konkan Railway journey is a treat, especially during the monsoon season.

Goa Express

For an awe-inspiring glimpse of Dudhsagar Falls, take this train from Vasco de Gama in Goa to Londa, Karnataka. It crosses the bridge over that massive waterfall in the early evening, so keep an eye out. The journey is less than 4 hours long and takes you through the charming Western Ghats and serene beaches.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

If you want to travel by the train where the popular song ‘ Chaiya Chaiya’ was filmed,  choose this one from Mettupalayam to Ooty. You will have lots of time to enjoy the gorgeous views of forests and plantations, as this ‘toy’ train takes around 5h to cover 46km. Considered “the  slowest train  in India”, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway has the steepest gradient of any railway line in South Asia, climbing from an elevation of 325m to 2,240m along the way.

Kollam-Sengottai Chord Line

For another amazing south Indian experience, take this train from Kollam Junction in Kerala to Sengottai in Tamil Nadu. You will see moss-covered bridges, untouched forests and Kerala’s cardamom hills. The route also takes you over the Pathimoonnu Kannara Bridge, or the 13 Arch Bridge, which is more than 100 years old.

Bhubaneswar to Brahmapur

Many trains run along this specific route, like the Intercity Express, Prashanti Express, Konark Express and the famous Howrah-Chennai Mail. The most attractive highlight of the journey is Lake Chilika, the second-largest in the country and a popular destination for birdwatchers. As your train passes by, you can often spot different species of birds quenching their thirst in the lake. Don’t forget to sit on the left side of the train going southward to catch the best views.

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LUXURY GETAWAYS

5 Luxury Trains in India That Redefine Happy Journeys

Neha Mathur

Last updated: Apr 26, 2024

Author Recommends

While on board the Golden Chariot, don't miss capturing the World Heritage Sites enroute

Indulge in the finest Rajasthani cuisine aboard the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

Be greeted in red-carpet style on the Palace on Wheels. "Khamaghani" means 'Welcome'.

While on tour in the Mahajas' Express, visit heritage palaces, forts and monuments - best of India's heritage properties

Train journeys have come a long way from the times when we carried our own boriya-bistar , heard the usual “ chai garam, garam chai ” sounds of the tea vendor, and drank water from a surahi . Today, in the time of super-fast express trains, let’s explore the most luxurious trains in India that let you travel like royalty. These uber-luxury trains are not just a means of transport, but journeys where you’re in no hurry to reach the destination.

1. The Deccan Odyssey

The very site of the royal blue train makes you feel like you are climbing aboard a noble chariot, going out for an inspection of the conquered lands. This 5 star indulgence on wheels boasts of opulently designed cabins that will leave you awestruck with their grandeur. The train takes you across various routes starting from Mumbai and Delhi, covering some stunning cities and landmarks. Managed by the Taj Group of Hotels, this train is designed to reflect the lives of Maharajas in the 16 th century. An initiative of Maharashtra Tourism, the Deccan Odyssey is the perfect amalgamation of transport and luxury. There is plenty to do aboard the train, from multi-cuisine restaurants serving food presented by expert chefs, to a spa for relaxing massages, along with many other state-of-the-art facilities.

Start From: Mumbai or Delhi

Approximate Tariff: Starting at INR 4.27 Lakh*

Book Your Flight to Mumbai

Read More:   Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2. Maharajas’ Express

Awarded the “World’s Leading Luxury Train” title for 6 consecutive years by the World Travel Awards, The Maharajas’ Express is luxury beyond imagination. Choose from eight grand tours of India, witnessing palaces, forts and heritage properties. The princely train is built with the idea of exploring India’s heritage while on board a palace. The presidential suite on the train would give any premium five star hotel a run for its money, with private lounges, bedrooms, lavish washrooms and a plush dining area.

Start From: Delhi (North), Trivandrum (South)

Approximate Tariff: Starting at INR 3.97 Lakh*

Book Your Flight to Delhi

Read More:   10 Tourist Attractions in Kerala that You Must Visit

3. The Golden Chariot

An initiative by the Karnataka State Tourism Board, The Golden Chariot travels to a number of World Heritage Sites, making its way through the most beautiful natural wonders the country has to offer. These elegantly designed trains are equipped with facilities fit for kings, offer breakfast in bed and mesmerise you with the scenic routes. The aesthetic interiors complement the picturesque terrains through which the train travels. Each of the 11 guest cabins, named after ruling dynasties, are intricately designed with elegant Mysore style furniture. An Ayurveda spa centre, in house fine-dining restaurants, and tastefully maintained ambience of the lounges are just sweet cherries on top of this very delicious cake.

Start From: Bangalore

Approximate Tariff: Starting at INR 16,000 per night*

Book Your Flight to Bangalore

Read More:   Luxury Weekend Getaways: Explore India’s Best UNESCO Sites in Style

4. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

As the name rightly suggests, the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels takes you through the rich heritage of Rajasthan. Experience the Rajput culture of valour and hospitality, and travel through many stunning palaces and fortresses built in the Rajputana region. Upon boarding the train, you are greeted with a grand musical red-carpet welcome, and the warmth of hospitality that one expects from Rajasthani culture. The private cabins are no less than princely abodes, with tastefully decorated interiors, imagery from Rajputana history, all the modern facilities of a luxury hotel, and fine-dining experiences showcasing the most delectable gems from the region.

Start From: Delhi

Approximate Tariff: Starting at INR 3.78 Lakhs*

Read More about Rajasthan: Rajasthan: A Quick and Handy Travel Guide          

5. Palace on Wheels

The original luxury train in India, The Palace on Wheels showed Indians what luxury is all about. With a recent face-lift, the train was once used as transportation by the Nizams of Hyderabad and the kings of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat and others. This was the first heritage luxury train put together by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, and introduced the charm of royal travel to Indians and foreign visitors. Today, this premium train has retained its regal extravagance, and takes travellers through the heart of Rajasthan.

Start From: Jaipur

Approximate Tariff: Starting at INR 3.63 Lakh*

Book Your Flights to Jaipur

Book yourself an exclusive train experience at any of these luxury trains, and travel through India like royalty! 

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Neha Mathur Follow  

A writer. A reader. An observer. A traveler. In no particular order. The path to self discovery has taken Neha from India to Italy, from Bahrain to Dubai and back to India. Her journey has only just begun.

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Sean R | on 08 July 2018

My special lady friend wants to take me in a luxury train for my 50th bday, late 2019. Her parents, who now are in their 70s, live in Canada, near her. They emigrated from Calcutta when they were married. I live in the US. Suggestions? Hopefully romantic, but she makes Everything romantic, even if it isn’t already. Thank you.

Indian Train Tours | on 14 March 2018

Very interesting and informative blog. Thanks for posting this information. Like this Indian Train Tours also offers the Indian Train Tour booking and online reservation. If you are living out of India like England, Italy, Denmark, You can book online Indian Train easily with Indian Train Tours. Visit the given link to know more info:

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The Ultimate Guide to Train Tours in India

Go on a Train Tour to Some of India's Most Popular Destinations

Going on one of the many train tours in India removes the hassle from sightseeing. You'll be taken to some of the country's most popular places and attractions. Better still, there are India train tours for every budget. Read on to find out what's on offer.

Luxury Trains in India

If you have some spare cash, explore India in style on a luxury train tour. It's an excellent way to see the country without having to compromise on comfort. These luxury tourist trains, which offer every indulgence imaginable right down to customized cutlery, inject glamor and romance into seeing some of India's best tourist attractions.

Toy Trains in India

India's toy trains are small trains that run on historic railway lines to various hill stations in India. Although these trains are slow and can take up to eight hours to reach their destinations, the mountain scenery is beautiful, making the journeys really worthwhile.

Desert Circuit Semi Luxury Tourist Train

This train is currently not running. The Desert Circuit tourist train is focused on heritage tourism, by providing an affordable and accessibly way of visiting the desert cities of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Jaipur in Rajasthan. This four night/five day all-inclusive train tour departs from Delhi and covers ancient forts, architecture, and desert culture.

Tiger Express with City of Lakes

This train is currently not running. This special new semi-luxury tourist train aims to create awareness about wildlife in India, particularly tigers. It's a four night/five day all-incusive train tour that visits Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, as well as Chittorgarh fort (widely regarded as the greatest fort in Rajasthan) and Udaipur, the stunning white city of lakes and palaces. It runs from October to March and departs once a month from Delhi.

Mahaparinirvan Express Buddhist Tourist Train

The Mahaparinirvan Express is a special tourist train that takes passengers on a one week spiritual tour through Buddhist India, where Buddhism originated more than 2,500 years ago. The train's sacred journey includes visits all the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, as well as a stop in Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri . It's a fabulous way of going on a pilgrimage without the hassle of organizing it yourself.

Bharat Darshan Tourist Train

The Bharat Darshan train provides an affordable option for people to see the country, as costs are kept as low as possible. There's a wide range of all-inclusive packages to choose from in north and south India. Most are targeted at domestic Indian tourists wishing to visit holy pilgrimage and spiritual sites. The tours on offer change every year and usually run for around 10 nights.

Historic Fairy Queen Steam Express

India's historic Steam Express train (previously the Fairy Queen) is pulled by the "oldest steam locomotive in regular operation in the world". The locomotive dates back to 1854, when it was commissioned by the East Indian Railway Company. The train takes passengers on day trips from Delhi to the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum in Haryana. It runs twice a month from October until April. Passengers get to spend a few hours at the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum before being taken back to Delhi.

India's Steam Express (Fairy Queen) Train: Essential Travel Guide

Guide to Luxury Train Tours of India

Indian Railways Desert Circuit Tourist Train Guide

The Ultimate Guide to the Taj Mahal in India

The Best Day Trips to Take From Delhi

14 Famous Forts and Palaces in India that You Must See

21 Top Attractions and Places to Visit in Gujarat

20 Top Things to Do in Diverse India

Your Ultimate Trip to India: The Complete Guide

Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train to Ooty

India Travel: Issues to Know at Top Tourist Places

Guide to India's Mahaparinirvan Express Buddhist Circuit Train

17 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Rajasthan

16 Best Tourist Destinations in India

Fatehpur Sikri in India: The Complete Guide

Essential Guide to Hiring a Car and Driver in India

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A detailed comparison of the best luxury trains in India

This article was first published in March 2018 and updated in December 2019.  

Can you think of a better way to explore India than on a Luxury Train ? I cannot. Regal train cars, silverware, butlers, red carpets and royal sights. Luxury trains in India are the epitome of travel in the sub-continent and the best way to see the country, much like the Wes Anderson movie about India Darjeeling Limited, but fancier.

Whether you pick the Maharajas Express train or the Palace of Wheels you are definitely in for a real treat . If you are looking to board the world’s most luxurious trains with the highest level of comfort and for the most affordable prices, read on to find out what the best luxury trains in India are.

The history of luxury trains in India

Train travel has a long history in India where the tracks were laid by the British over a century ago. With such vast territory and the trade interest of the global powers in the 18th and 19th century firmly on the East, rail tracks were the most efficient and fastest way to move merchandise and spices onto the ships that would take them back to the West.

The first commercial train journey in India connected Bombay with Thane and took off in 1851 although the first train actually ran two years earlier. At the time, the tracks were owned by the the British overseas government or the regional rulers, like for example the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Nationalisation began in 1925 and was fully completed after independence, when the government took over all of the remaining lines and re-structured them creating new ones and regrouping or laying new tracks in portions that were then in newly created Pakistan.

Today, as indicated by the Indian Railways knowledge portal , “the Indian Railways manage 65,436 kilometers of tracks, employ 1.3 million people and runs around 19,000 trains daily, of which more than 12,000 are passenger trains, serving 8.4 billion passengers every year”.

So what about luxury trains in India , how did it all start?

The first luxury train to start operations in India was the Palace on Wheels in 1982 which is why most people who have heard of luxury trains in the country will immediately tell you about The Palace on Wheels and may have never heard of any of the others. However, palace on Wheels is not the most luxurious , The Maharajas Express is definitively the most exclusive and highest end luxury train in India although Palace on Wheels was renovated in 1999 and revamped in 2017 again.

Today, there are four luxury trains covering India :

• The Maharajas Express
• The Palace on Wheels
• The Golden Chariot
• The Deccan Odyssey

The best luxury trains in India

Although all the Indian luxury trains are similar in a lot of ways, they are not entirely the same so let’s take a look at each of them first then with a comparison of all the luxury trains in India .

Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels is the oldest and first luxury train in India and is a collaboration between the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways .

The train was launched in 1982 as a means to promote the state of Rajasthan by putting back to use the carriages of the rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India whose trains were abandoned after Independence.

The train was subsequently renovated in 1996 when ensuite bathrooms were added and revamped again in 2017 with new carriages being added with larger suites .

The Palace on Wheels luxury train is the best known of all the luxury trains in India although not the most luxurious. It has been awarded a lot of accolades and is renowned the world over.

Cabin categories and facilities onboard the Palace on Wheels

Although the original Palace on Wheels has only one category of cabin, the revamped one also includes a second category of Super Deluxe cabins which are larger and have double beds.

These cabins also come with their own driver and guide so guests do not have to join the group bus. This was previously only offered on the Maharajas Express .

Onboard, there are two restaurants and one lounge car, a spa and a small gym . Food served is thali style with six small bowls filled with protein of vegetables served with pickles, rice, poppadoms and breads.

Routes and itineraries on the Palace on Wheels

Routes of the Palace on Wheels are usually 7 nights long , departing and returning to Delhi, but you can also buy tickets from Delhi to Jodhpur only for 5 nights. The traditional route covers most of Rajasthan, as it did from its launch.

The itinerary of the Palace on Wheels starts in Delhm, Jaipur , Ranthambhore (which is where people come for an Asian safari to see the endangered Bengal Tiger ), Chittorgarh, Udaipur , Jaisalmer, Jodhpur , Bharatphur, Agra, Delhi.

Check out this review of the Palace on Wheels by Love and Road.

You can also read about the best places to stay in Jaipur ( like Amanbagh ) , Udaipur (like Shiv Niwas Palace ) , or Jodhpur ; and our travel guides to Jaipur , Jodhpur , Udaiper and Jaisalmer .  

Maharajas Express

The Maharajas Express is the epitome of luxury train travel in India . It is the most exclusive and luxurious of all the four luxury trains and offers real comfort in its premium cabins, especially the Presidential Suite which includes two bedrooms and occupies an entire car. The premium category cabins are unique to the Maharajas Express although the newly revamped Palace on Wheels also has a higher category room.

I traveled on the Maharajas Express journey from Mumbai to Delhi a few years ago and it was one of the most fabulous trips I have ever undertaken. You can read some of the things which surprised me with these facts about the Maharajas Express and these extravagant Maharajas Express experiences .

That itinerary is highly recommended as it provides the main highlights of what is India’s most beautiful state all while enjoying true regal hospitality that only a luxury train in India can provide.

The Maharajas Express may not have been the first luxury train in India but it certainly is the most awarded . It has received several accolades and been covered in major publications and for good reason, as it is an exclusive way to explore the country .

The Maharajas Express is owned and managed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited ( IRCTC ), the tourist arm of the Indian railway company, a government owned entity.

Cabin categories and facilities onboard the Maharajas Express

The Maharajas Express has four cabin categories . The Deluxe cabins have double beds and are 120 square feet. They can also be set as twin share.

The Junior Suites are 150 square feet and can also be set as twin or double. They are larger than the deluxe cabins.

Suites are 220 square feet and have their own minibars, lounges with desk tables and sofas and a bathtub, that’s right, a bathtub onboard a luxury train ! Suites have their own private transport and guides when on tour.

Lastly, the largest of all the cabins in any luxury train in the world . The Presidential Suite onboard The Maharajas Express is real decadence. They are 440 square feet and come with two rooms and bathrooms, so they are perfect for families. The Presidential Suite also has a lounge area , a personal butler and dedicated any language private guide and car for the daily tours.

The train has two restaurant cars, two bars, a shop, a gym and a spa . Prices start at $3,850 for the shorter 3 night trips and $5,850 for the 7 night trips per person sharing and can go all the way up to $27,000 for the Presidential Suite accommodating 4 people.

Routes and itineraries on the Maharajas Express

The Maharajas Express offers several itineraries and has recently launched two itineraries in the southern part of the country. These are all of the routes:

• Mumbai – Ajanta – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi
• Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi
• Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Gwalior – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi
• Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Balasinor – Mumbai
• Mumbai – Ratnagiri – Goa – Hampi – Mysore – Ernakulam – Kumarakom – Trivandrum
• Trivandrum – Chettinad –Mahabalipuram – Mysore – Hampi – Goa – Ratnagiri -Mumbai

The itineraries from Mumbai to Delhi or viceversa are some of the best ways to see Rajasthan and they are exactly what I experienced on that first trip to India. I loved visiting the Tipu Sultan Summer Palace in Mysore as well as the extravagant Mysore Palace .

How to book the Maharajas Express : This is the official Maharajas Express website, do not be fooled by all the others who impersonate the official site, this is the only official site so book direct http://www.the-maharajas.com/ .

Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey train is focused mostly on the Maharashtra State of India of which Mumbai is the capital and is managed by a joint venture between Cox & Kings and the Indian Railway Corporation, IRTC.

As mentioned before, the first ever train departed from Mumbai and that is also where the central railway authority of India is based, so it is an historic part of India . The Deccan Odyssey offers a different route to some of the other trains with interesting stops like the vineyards of Nashik or the beaches of Goa.

Cabin categories and facilities onboard the Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey has 21 coaches and 11 of them are dedicated to the guest cabins. There are two restaurants, a bar car, a spa and a gym and there is even a conference cabin for your business needs.

Routes and itineraries on the Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey has a few varied routes covering very different parts of the country, some of which start and end in Mumbai while others end on Delhi. This is the list of journeys:

• Treasures of Gujarat : Mumbai, Vadodara, Palitana, Sasan Gir, Little Rann of Kutch, Modhera, Patan, Nashik, Mumbai
• Maharashtra Splendour : Mumbai, Nashik, Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves, Kolhapur, Goa, Sindhudurg, Mumbai
• Indian Sojour : Mumbai, Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Delhi
• Jewels of the Deccan : Mumbai, Bijapur, Aihole and Pattadakal, Hampi, Hyderabad, Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves, Mumbai
• Indian Odyssey : Delhi, Sawai Madhopur, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Ellora Caves, Mumbai
• Maharashtra Wild Trail : Mumbai, Aurangabad, Ramtek-Pench, Tadoba, Ajanta Caves, Nashik, Mumbai

As you can see, the Deccan Odyssey is a good option if you want to visit some of the remote parts of India which receive few tourists, like Gujarat, or combined some of the most diverse historical trails onboard the Jewels of the Deccan which visits parts as old as Ajanta Caves with Hindu UNESCO listed sites like Hampi or Pattadakal and Mughal strongholds like Hyderabad . This would be an itinerary that would provide very different insights into several historical times in India’s history .

Deccan Odyssey’s wild trail itinerary focuses on wildlife and visits a few of the country’s best wildlife reserves .

Check out this review of the Deccan Odyssey by Journey Wonders.

How to book the Deccan Odyssey : This is the official website of the Deccan Odyssey, make sure to book direct to secure the best prices https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/trains/deccan-odyssey/ .

Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot train is owned by a joint-venture between the Karnataka Tourism Authority and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation ( KSTDC ) and managed by Maple Hotels and Resorts. I loved visiting the gorgeous Temples of Pattadakal in Karnataka . 

The train is touted as the only luxury train in the south of India but actually the Maharajas Express also launched two routes in the south in 2017 and the Deccan Odyssey also runs some journeys through some of the southern states. It is true that the Golden Chariot is indeed focused on the south and has the more comprehensive itineraries , plus the teams are firmly anchored in Karnataka .

The train is perhaps the least luxurious of the four luxury trains in India , although it still is perfectly comfortable and luxurious but there are some small details that make it a small notch below the rest. Alcohol is not included in the rates, every deboarding happens independently without the red carpet performances of the Maharajas Express and there are no premium cabins or private car + driver options. These are all elements which do not deter from the experience but provide a slightly more affordable choice.

Cabin categories and facilities onboard the Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot only has two cabin types , double or twin , both of which are of the same size and are only different in their bedding. The twin cabins can also accommodate three people although given how tight the cabins are they would have to be children not to feel extremely crammed.

The train has a total of 19 coaches , two restaurants that look almost the same, two kitchens , one cooking Indian food and one cooking Western/International food, a spa, a small gym and one bar .

Routes and itineraries on the Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot train offers two routes , The Pride of the South covering Karnataka with a day in Goa and the Southern Splendour covering Tamil Nadu (but doesn’t include its capital of Chennai ) and Kerala .

Both routes depart and return on Mondays but are very different in nature and have barely any overlap so you could go on both and have completely separate journeys .

These are the two routes on Golden Chariot.

• Pride of the South : Bangalore – Mysore – Hassan – Hampi – Badami – Goa – Bangalore
• Southern Splendour : Bangalore – Puducherry – Mahabalipuram – Tanjavur – Kanyakumari – Kovalam – Alappuzha – Kochi – Bangalore

Rates start at $4,300 for triple sharing and $5,000 per person in double sharing.

See my guides for Kochi , Bangalore and Pondicherry (Puducherry) for further information on what to do in these areas.

How to book the Golden Chariot : For more information you can check the detailed review of my Golden Chariot experience . And this is the official website of the Golden Chariot www.goldenchariot.org

Comparison between the best luxury trains in India – which one is the right for you?

Although the four trains are different in some ways and cover various routes, it may be difficult to decide the right one. So let me help you by simplifying the choice with a comparison table between the best luxury trains in India .

However, you may not decide to choose the right luxury train in India based on the trains themselves as they are all equally luxurious, especially for the entry-level standard cabins.

So perhaps the best way to pick a train would be to look at the itinerary that you are most interested in and this will also depend on what type of traveler you are and how many times you have been to India before.

Let me give you some guidance on who each luxury train in India is good for.

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Luxury train journeys through India

Palace on wheels.

By Audley India specialist Alison

Living and working in Mumbai for a number of years, I spent weekends exploring my surroundings by hopping on local trains, sleeper trains and toy trains. In a country that relies on its rail network like no other, it’s little surprise that a range of luxury trains is available for you to tour India from a different perspective.

Choosing to travel in India by luxury train

India specialist Alison singles out some of India’s best luxury trains and explains why they’re an enjoyable way to explore the country.

Join a luxury train tour across India, and you’ll cover more ground than you could by car. You’ll be able to visit far more places and, as most trains travel during the night, won’t feel rushed.

Tours and activities are usually conducted in small groups, and dinners are enjoyed together with your fellow passengers. I’d agree that this wouldn’t suit the more independently minded, but if you’re keen for a little more privacy, some trains provide complimentary private tours if you book a suite or presidential cabin.

Luxury trains in India

The maharajas' express.

Completing its maiden journey in 2010, the Maharajas' Express  is the newest and, in my opinion, most luxurious train running in India. Cabins range from the well-sized deluxe to suites with their own private sitting area. There’s even a presidential suite pulled in its own carriage.

Teak doors separate your cabin from the corridor, and rooms are decorated with Indian prints and brass trim. Beds are positioned along the length of the train — I could hardly feel any movement as I slept.

The majority of meals are eaten on board. Almost everything, from the croissants at breakfast to the handmade chocolates at dinner, is made from scratch. As we sat down to each meal, the head chef, John Stone, would make his way down the carriage, talking to guests about the food and explaining the finer points of some of the Indian dishes. Hailing from Shimla , he likes to include dishes popular with his family on the comprehensive continental menu.

Maharajas' Express train routes

Five different routes all focus on the northern state of Rajasthan and its surrounding areas, with journeys ranging from three to six nights. I experienced the shortest tour: Treasures of India. Taking just three nights, it’s an ideal taste of luxury train travel without committing to the cost of the longer tours.

I was driven from my Delhi hotel to Safdarjung Railway Station in the southern suburbs of the city. Joining my fellow guests on board, brunch was served as the train set off past housing blocks strung with bright lines of washing and green patches of park. Our first stop was Agra.

It’s difficult to miss the Maharajas' Express as it pulls into a station. Its cherry-red body is decorated with gold patterns, and it’s by far the cleanest train. As it arrived into Agra , local musicians announced our arrival on the platform. I stepped off onto a red carpet to receive a welcoming flower garland. This, I was told, is the protocol for every stop.

Coaches branded with the train’s insignia are the mode of transport for touring Agra. Tours are in groups, but you have headphones to listen to the guide, who speaks through a microphone.

The first day in Agra focuses on visiting its calling card, the Taj Mahal. After an early start and a guided tour, you have time to take photographs and relax in the surrounding gardens.

You go back to the train for lunch, then set out again in the afternoon to tour Agra Fort, home of the Mughal emperors. It’s possible to stand where Shah Jahan, the creator of the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son, within view of his masterpiece. You then return to the train for dinner, and depart for Ranthambhore National Park.

From the train, we drove by 4x4 into the park. We’d been warned that the tigers in Ranthambhore were elusive, and we’d be lucky to glimpse a dash of tail. While we were peering into the bushes at a sambar deer, a female tiger casually walked out in front of us. Everyone suddenly went silent as we watched her nonchalantly survey her territory.

You close your cabin curtains that evening on scraggly jungle and open them the next morning to a cityscape crammed with flat-topped apartments and open-faced shops: Jaipur . 

It’s a jeep ride up to Amber Fort, overlooking the surrounding Aravalli Hills. The tour of the fort guides you through a maze of palace rooms and courtyards, culminating in a visit to the Sheesh Mahal, or ‘chamber of mirrors’. This room is covered by so many gems, mirrors and pieces of painted glass it can be lit by a single candle.

The Express’s itineraries include exclusive experiences it wouldn’t be possible to book otherwise. In Jaipur, we were granted access to Jaipur’s royal family’s private quarters of the City Palace. Entertainment was provided in the gardens before we were taken up to their rooftop terrace for a dinner with views across the city. I managed to glimpse at a few royal rooms along the way.

On the final morning, you awake in Delhi to disembark after a substantial breakfast. The Express’s routes begin or end in Delhi but don’t usually include visiting any of its sites. Although it’s noisy and chaotic, I wouldn’t discount spending a few nights in Delhi before you catch the train. A guided city tour will give a taster of what’s to come.

The Palace on Wheels  feels a little dated, but that’s part of its charm. One of the first luxury trains dedicated to leisure — those that came before were for royalty or dignitaries — it started running in 1982. The General Manager then is still running the train now. On my first night aboard, we were given a short talk on the history of the train: as a passenger, there’s a real sense of becoming part of its heritage.

The train is made up of 14 saloon coaches, each named after a place on the route. On the coach named Kishangarh, a village noted for its Bani Thani miniature paintings, local artists have painted examples of their work. There are also two restaurants, a lounge car and four service cars for staff.

Four cabins fit into each saloon and share a small lounge. Two valets are assigned to each saloon — Opi and Rasjish who looked after me were always keen to recommend their pick of the day’s menu. The deluxe cabins are clad in polished teak and have sash windows and wall hangings. Upgrade to the presidential suite and you’ll also get a private sitting area.

Palace on Wheels route

Departing every Wednesday, the Palace on Wheels follows a set seven night route across north India. For me, the range of wildlife, key highlights and more offbeat rural areas it covers makes it one of the most comprehensive insights into India. Journeying long distances as you sleep, the train halves the amount of time it would take to complete this trip by car.

Arriving at Delhi Railway Station, I boarded the train in the evening, ready for dinner. Food is a white-gloved, silver-service affair. Service can feel a little slow, but this doesn’t seem to matter when you’re surrounded by gilded mirrors and printed wallpaper. With set dining times, you’ll eat alongside your fellow guests each night.

The first few days of the route, visit the fortress city of Jaipur and Ranthambhore National Park . The train then delves further into Rajasthan, starting with Chittorgarh , a fortress town built by the Rajputs, a prominent Indian ruling family.

Look at a map and you’ll find that Chittorgarh is surrounded by nothing but the odd tiny hamlet. A long drive from the nearest city and with only a couple of very basic hotels, it’s rarely visited. After touring the fort — the largest in India — we settled down to watch the evening’s sound and light show. The fort walls are lit with a succession of moving lights as a voice narrates the history of Chittorgarh.

After dinner on board, the train then continues south to Udaipur . A greener city, Udaipur is set around two lakes, protected by the Aravalli Hills. The Lake Palace sits in the middle of Lake Pichola, a once pleasure palace for a young Mughal prince. It’s now one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It isn’t usually possible to visit unless you stay at the hotel, but as train passengers we had the opportunity to dine there.

The fortress city of Jaisalmer , which marks the gateway to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, has no airport and is a dusty seven-hour drive from the nearest city. As part of the Palace on Wheels route, you wake there after an overnight ride from Udaipur. Jaisalmer’s fort is the only lived-in example in India, and a guided tour takes you past local schools, temples and shops squeezed in between the military and palace buildings.

The train then begins its journey back toward Delhi, stopping in Jodhpur , India’s blue city, before heading onward to Bharatpur . Here you’ll visit Ghana National Park , flourishing wetlands that protect thousands of nesting birds. It’s a key route for migratory birds, and you’ll often see Sarus cranes, egrets and waterfowl.

The train’s finale is a visit to Agra and the Taj Mahal, before returning you to Delhi.

The Deccan Odyssey

The Maharashtra Tourist Board conceived the Deccan Odyssey train as a way to encourage visitors to explore alternative, less-visited parts of India. States such as Maharashtra and the Deccan in central India were difficult to travel through, even for the most determined, with few hotels, guides or roads. Setting up a train service swiftly solved the problem.

Running since 2004, the train has been fully refurbished recently. Its light, airy cabins are now furnished with locally sourced fabrics. You’ll find the wooden furniture, under close scrutiny, is veneered rather than carved wood, but everything is clean and fresh. There are two dining cars, a lounge, a spa and a small gym.

Two deluxe cabins occupy each car, with a butler per car providing a personal service. The service on board is very attentive — I enjoyed tea in my cabin each morning — and you’re given a mobile phone preloaded with your butler’s number.

I couldn’t fault the food served on board, enjoying racks of lamb, a traditional Indian thali and far too many desserts. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the chefs take a real pride in their cooking, walking along the dining cars to check how their dishes have been received.

Deccan Odyssey routes

Each of the Deccan Odyssey’s six routes is focused on a hard-to-travel-in part of India. The seven-night Central India route is by far the most leisurely way to reach the remote ancient monuments at Hampi. But, it’s the seven-night Hidden Treasures of Gujarat route which particularly appeals, as it journeys from Mumbai into the rarely visited northwest state of Gujarat.

Touring through Gujarat, you won’t cross big-name sites off your list, but you will see a part of India that has changed very little. In this predominantly tribal state, you’ll be welcomed into the villages of the Agarias and Rabari tribes. Little is known about these farming communities who live on the outskirts of the Rann of Kutch, the largest salt marsh in the world and an otherworldly glowing white landscape stretching as far as you can see.

The salt marsh is slowly being encroached on by the Gir National Park , the last surviving habitat of the Asiatic lion. Slightly smaller than their African counterparts, Asiatic lions have a shorter mane and are speckled with black, giving them an almost silvery tone. As part of the train’s tour, you can take a safari into the park to track the lions; although they’re notoriously cautious, sightings are common.

Completing a circular route back to Mumbai, the train stops at Hindu and Jain temple sites as well as workshops where you can see some of the state’s textile production. Gujarat silk is well-known as one of the finest fabrics produced in India, made into sarees hand-woven with intricate patterns and a popular Indian wedding attire.

Extending your trip

Most of India’s luxury train journeys finish in Delhi or Mumbai, making it easy to extend your trip by jumping on a short flight. If you’re looking for some time to relax, Goa is a direct flight from either city.

You won’t find pristine white-sand beaches but exotic dark-gold sands, dotted with fishing boats, cafés and craft markets. Panjim, now known simply as Goa’s Old Town, was once the capital of the Portuguese Estado da India (State of India). Streets of Portuguese townhouses have been recently restored and painted bright yellow and pink, mango and papaya trees growing out front.

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Start thinking about your experience. These itineraries are simply suggestions for how you could enjoy some of the same experiences as our specialists. They're just for inspiration, because your trip will be created around your particular tastes.

Further reading

• What to do in India: our highlights guide
• India’s toy trains: Shimla, Darjeeling and Ooty
• Choosing the right Indian experience for you
• Food highlights of India: 6 of the best culinary experiences
• More train journey ideas with Audley

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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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Indian railways to introduce a bullet train between Patna-New Delhi; travel time to reduce by 3 hours

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated : Jun 26, 2024, 00:15 IST

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The introduction of a bullet train between Patna and New Delhi will transform travel dynamics, stimulate economic growth, and deepen cultural ties. This landmark achievement promises enhanced connectivity and reduced travel times, … Read more

The introduction of a bullet train between Patna and New Delhi will transform travel dynamics, stimulate economic growth, and deepen cultural ties. This landmark achievement promises enhanced connectivity and reduced travel times, fostering tourism and trade opportunities while revolutionizing the Indian railway sector. Read less

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The introduction of a bullet train between Patna and New Delhi will transform travel dynamics, stimulate economic growth, and deepen cultural ties. This landmark achievement promises enhanced connecti...

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Fact Check: Booking train tickets for others WON’T land you in jail, viral claims are false

India today fact check found that the viral claim about changed rules in ticket booking is false. the irctc has not issued any such notice..

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India Today Fact Check

The IRCTC has not announced any such rule. You can still book tickets for friends and relatives.

If you book train tickets for your friends or relatives with different surnames, can you now end up in jail? This is what a slew of social media posts about Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation or IRCTC are alleging .

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

The train from russia: how a new route can change things for india.

A multimodal route that includes a railway, roadway network and seaports, the INSTC spans 7,200km (4,500 miles) from St. Petersburg to the port of Mumbai in India. The corridor is part of Russia’s push to find new transport routes in light of Western sanctions, which have forced it to shift trade flows from Europe to Asia and the Middle East.

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India likely to get its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train by Independence Day | Details

A few days ago, union railways minister ashwini vaishnaw visited the production site of the vande bharat sleeper train and said that it would be on track in two months. the manufacturing process is in its final stage..

According to sources, Vande Bharat Sleeper Train manufacturing is in its final stage in Bengaluru. There will be a total of 16 coaches in the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Among 16 coaches, 10 will be reserved for Third AC, 4 coaches will be for Second AC, and one coach will be for First AC. Sleeper Vande Bharat Train will also have two Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR) coaches. According to railway sources, the Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run at a speed of 130 KM/hour in the first phase. After this, the speed of the train will be gradually increased to 160 to 220 KM/hour.

Delhi-Mumbai is a high-demand route

Apparently, Railways planned to run the Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Delhi and Mumbai as the railway route is busy and the demand for reservations always remains high. Due to high numbers of commuters, trains, more often than not, remain full on this route leaving many passengers reservation-less. So, running the Vande Bharat Sleeper train on this route will give great relief to the passengers.

Equipped with modern facilities and safety

Equipped with modern facilities, Vande Bharat Sleeper train will travel from Delhi to Mumbai via Bhopal and Surat. A few days ago, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will be on the track within 2 months. This year, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav visited the production site in Bengaluru to review the work of the train set of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train.

Reported by: Anamika Gaur

ALSO READ |  WATCH: Ticketless passengers overcrowd Vande Bharat Express, railways react

Read all the Breaking News Live on indiatvnews.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from India

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