Travel Tips- Train travel in India

Worried about how you'll eat or what the bathrooms will be like? The thought of being stuck on a long distance Indian Railways , sometimes for days at a time, can be quite alarming.

Here are some tips for train travel in India to make your trip on Indian Railways as enjoyable as possible.

Bhartiya-Rail

• Spend time looking out the windows or carriage door. The ever changing landscape provides a rare and hassle free view everyday life in India.

• If you're the talkative type, you won't have a shortage of people to chat to. Finding out as much information as possible about their traveling companions is the number one way that Indians pass the time on these train trips. By western standards, their questions can be quite intrusive. You should feel free to ask the same questions back. Your companions will be pleased you've taken an interest in them and you may receive some fascinating answers.

• If you have special dietary requirements, bring food with you. Meals are usually provided on board most long distance trains, however the food served by Indian Railways is hardly inspiring. Choices are limited (usually to biriyani and thali) and don't cater to Western tastes. Someone from the catering department will come and take your order in advance for these meals.

• Food and drink vendors will also make their way through the compartments, mostly in sleeper class but also in the air conditioned classes. Make sure you carry lots of small change for your purchases. It's possible to buy food on the platforms when the train stops, but don't count on a station arriving at mealtimes.

• Be prepared to go to bed early. Indians love to sleep when they have nothing better to do and most people will start retiring for the night around 9.30 p.m.

• If you're a light sleeper, bring some earplugs or headphones. There's guaranteed to be at least one loud snorer in each compartment. That adds up to around a dozen of them in each carriage!

• The busiest time in the bathrooms is in the morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., so either get up early or sleep late.

• There's not much difference in the standard of the toilets in the sleeper and air conditioned classes, however it's the cleanliness that sets them apart. The sleeper class toilets rapidly become filthy, while the toilets in the air conditioned classes manage to retain some sort of respectability.

• There are two toilets, shared by both males and females, and a washbasin at the end of each carriage. Some are western style sit down toilets, and the others squat toilets. If you can manage them, the squat toilets can often be the cleanest and most hygienic option.

• Bring anti-bacterial hand wipes and toilet paper. You'll find them both very handy to have.

• Don't leave your luggage unsecured or your valuables on display. Your traveling companions may be honest, but thieves sometimes enter the carriages at night. Bring a padlock and chain as you'll find facilities for fastening your luggage in your compartment.

You may want to buy famous Train at a Glance book to know more about Indian Railway while Traveling 

Famous-Train-at-a-Glance-Book

Essential HINDI phrases for travellers

Travellers will find that most people associated with the tourism industry in India speak or at least understand English. Standard Hindi is the official language of India and is the most widely spoken of India’s scheduled languages. It is spoken mainly in northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar. It can be useful to learn Hindi to help enhance your travels.  Here is a handy list of keywords and phrases that will help you have a comfortable stay in India.

1. WHILE SHOPPING:

How much?: Kitney ka?

It’s very expensive: Bahut mehnga hain.

Lower the price a little: Thoda kum kardo.

Don’t want: Nahi chahye.

Thank you: Shukriya/Dhanyavaad

2. WHILE DINING:

I want … : Mujhe…chahye

Salt: Namak

Is it vegetarian?: Yeh shakahaari hain?

What’s in it?: Ismey kya hain?

How much time will it take?: Kitna time lagega?

It’s cold: Thanda hain.

Don’t make it too spicy: mirchi kam.

Don’t add ice: Baraf nahi/matt daalna.

3. WHILE TRAVELING:

Drive to…: … chaliye.

Drive faster: Jaldi chalaiye

Drive slower: Dheere chalaiye

Stop: Rukye.

Where is…: ….kahan hain?

How far is…: ….kitni dur hain?

How much (money) till…?: …tak kitne lagenge?

What time?: Kitne baje?

4. NUMBERS:

1. Ek

2. Do

3. Teen

4. Chaar

5. Paanch

6. Chhe

7. Saat

8. Aath

9. Nau

10. Dus

Most authentic destinations for Indian Crafts

Indian craft has been widely accepted around the world as the epitome of creativity and has been applauded for the usage of indigenous materials. Instead of picking up-charged souvenirs from emporiums and urban shops, visit the point of generation. Indian handicrafts range from colourful textiles, intricate jewellery, paintings to curios. It is also a great way to understand the lives of actual artisans and the authentic processes they use to represent their art.

Some of the most authentic destinations for photo-opportunities and a learning experience are below:

Tie and Dye in Rajasthan

Rajasthan embodies the spirit of a colourful nation entirely by itself. Apart from the community’s own vibrant dressing, the famous tie and dye fabrics are world renowned. The end product is also known as ‘bandhini’ at times. To see the artisans at work, one does not have to go too far out in the villages. Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Ajmer are the important centres of this ancient form of design on fabric. You can find plenty of options for only fabric or skirts and other Indian dresses.

Bandhani-Dye-Rajasthani-style

Mysore Silk

Mysore has emerged as one of the key silk centres of the country in the past few decades. If you step away from the glitzy shops in Bangalore and visit the villages towards Mysore, you can follow the entire process while you travel. Right from the cocoons to spinning the silk threads and then weaving. Many indigenous set ups along the Bangalore- Mysore highway will be happy to invite people to have a look. Also, why spend that extra buck in a showroom when you can actually get the most authentic product from the artisan himself.

Silk-Craft-in-Mysore

Stone Sculptures

There are 2 major destinations for stone sculptures in India. One if the famous 7th century town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu and the other Khajurao in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Both are eminent destinations for their sand stone temples constructed with elaborate carvings and details. Here, you can pick up small replicas and statues made in sandstone by the local artisans.

Stone-craft-Mamallapuram

Aranmula Mirrors in Kerala

The Aranmula mirrors of Kerala as one of the most intriguing crafts of the state. This craft is endemic to only one village by the same name and very few households are still in the business of making this wonderful product. The mirror, infact, has no glass element but is a heavily polished alloy which has reflective properties. The village is just off Alleppey and makes for an interesting day trip.

Mirror-craft-Aranmula

Durries and Rugs

Many North Indian states have been long patronised as weaving centres and still produce some of the finest floor rugs of the world. Villages off the city Agra in Uttar Pradesh has adequate business being generated out of hand woven carpets and rugs out of this region. Silk carpets on the other hand are made in Kashmir. Take the help of a local to get access to these villages and see the craft up close.

Carpet-craft-Uttar Pradesh

Thanjavur Paintings in Tamil Nadu

The small town of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu is primarily known for a large temple made by the Chola Kings and paintings of the same name. Based on themes of divine sagas, the paintings date back to 1600 AD. The Thanjavur paintings undergo a complicated process involving wood, cloth, zinc oxide and adhesives. The paintings are finally coated with semi precious stones and adorn many walls at homes and temples.

Painting-craft-Thanjavur

Uttaranchal Stone Jewellery

If you are off from a trek in the lower Himalayas in the state of Uttaranchal, you cannot miss the bold jewellery of Garhwal. Stone and metal are the main components of these elaborate neck pieces and bangles, which are made by the local women of the villages. Another interesting item of marital importance is the humungous ‘nath’ or the nose ring, which is worn by married women.

Stone-Jewellery-Garhwal

The continuous patronage of tourists ensures that local crafts do not fade away by the heavy commercialisation and mass production, giving the artisans a steady livelihood and maintaining age old traditional crafts.

Indian Railways: 5 high Altitude Railway Stations in India

India is home to 5 high altitude railway stations located at higher than 2,000 m and more than 10 station higher than 1,000 m.Tanglang La is a proposed railway station between Bilaspur-Mandi Leh railway line at an elevation of 5,359 m (17,582 ft), will be the highest railway stations in the world. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway,Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and The Kalka Shimla Railway are listed as Mountain Railways of India World Heritage Site.

Ghum - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway @ 2,257 m (7,405 ft)

Ghum is situated in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or toy train,runs between the Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. The narrow gauge railway line and toy train are listed as World Heritage Site and Ghum station is known as India’s highest railway station at an altitude of 2,257 metres and covers a distance of 78 km.

Darjeeling-Himalayan-Railway

Ooty - Nilgiri Mountain Railway @ 2,210 m (7,251 ft)

Ooty or Queen of Hill Stations is the most popular hill station in India, located in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. Nilgiri Mountain Railway line runs between the Mettupalayam or Coimbatore to Ooty and offers most beautiful view of nature and covers a distance of 46 km. Famous Hindi song Chaiyya Chaiyya from film Dil Se was shot on the roof top of Nilgiri Mountain Railway or NMR.

Nilgiri-Mountain-Railway

Shimla - Kalka Shimla Railway @ 2,086 m (6,844 ft)

The capital city of Himachal Pradesh bounded by amazing valleys of Mandi and Kullu is also famous for its Kalka–Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge railway line from Kalka to Shimla. Kalka–Shimla Railway offers breathtaking views of the hills and surrounding villages located in the foothills of the Himalayas and covers a distance of 96 km. The Kalka-Shimla railway route has 806 bridges,103 tunnels and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mountain railways of India.

Kalka–Shimla-Railway

Ahju - Kangra Valley Railway @ 1,291 m (4,236 ft)

Ahju station is located at an elevation of 1,210 meters (3,970 ft) in the Kangra Valley Railway route.The Kangra Valley Railway line lies between the Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas and sub-Himalayan region and runs from Pathankot to Jogindernagar and covers a distance of 164 km.

Kangra-Valley-Railway

Joginder Nagar - Kangra Valley Railway @ 1,189 m (3,901 ft)

Jogindernagar railway station is located in Himachal Pradesh and the last station of the Kangra Valley Railway route. Kangra Valley Railway runs from Pathankot to Jogindernagar and its one of two mountain railways that run in Himachal Pradesh and covers a distance of 164 km.

Joginder Nagar Kangra-Valley-Railway