Travel in India
I shall be travelling in India around Christmas and New Year. I am looking to book several overnight trains. I have used cleartrip successfully before but now theres this added hassle of registration. I followed maninseat61's instructions earlier so I hope i get the mobile code I need.I have read on other post it can take weeks - if so an alternative plan is needed. I take it you can hire a driver. This would be a last resort. Is this easy to do in say Delhi and what would it cost to hire a driver to go from Delhi to Varanaseri?
Many Thanks
2
Hey ....if u want2 meet new people n have friendly chat with indian people then trains will be good.... Trains are more cheaper and better way to trvl instead of buses//hiring a taxi.... but yes flight wud be much better... train will take 13hrs atleast from delhi and flight wud be only 2hrs ....train will cost approx 400rs & flight u can get dat online....5
Naw, I just hate fighting to get trains. And then, when you figure my usual weekend trip to Udaipur - train (when running and not during monsoon at all) takes 12 hours and the slowest bus takes 5 1/2, and costs me Rs150. Hmmm.The bus I DON´T recommend is the rotten Paolo night bus from Hampi to Goa. They know when the trains are full and jack up the price AND it´s just a crummy ride anyway. That and dropping you in the middle of nowhere (well, I know where it is) in Margao at 4am.
6
Fly instead but firstI would suggest that your first call in Delhi is the Tourist booking office upstairs above the main one at new Delhi station., ignoring every tout that offers to do anything for you - IT IS OPEN
The booking office staff are extremely helpful - you may get a seat on the next train and you'll be able to book ahead to your next stop, maybe khajuthao and Orccha or direct Agra. Even waitlisted in Sleeper class means that you can board that train and give 40Rs to a coolie to find you a seat.
7
As far as I know, you cannot book train tickets before 3 months of departure. Don't know what kind of hassle you experienced, but seems that nowadays you need to have an Indian mobile no. to book train tickets (great, when you're a foreigner!). Don't hire a taxi, it will be too costly, you will have to pay for the return of the taxi to its basis. Then you better book a flight, will be cheaper. But do it on time, you're travelling in peak season.Private buses go everywhere. Someday, someone will even read this advice
Yes Pirate, I know. But I still prefer travelling by car, gives one a lot of freedom, or, if necessary, take a flight..ah, well....luxury horse I suppose...:-)...
Enjoy!
9
...the hordes of people in deep physical pain..Ah, well...when travelling by bus, they will litteraly be in deep physical pain,..small seats, too crowded...
Just teasing Pirate, don't mind...
Right about the trains. And flights...as long as (s)he doesn't book Kingfisher/AirIndia, there's a good chance the flight will actually..fly..
Enjoy!
11
Please do not take it as an advertising. But, I apparently met a guy who runs a Travel Business and they book train tickets without advances and once his guests are in India, they pay the money to him by paying some extra costIf forum member wants, I can get his details.
13
haha well said Pirate. But to tell you Kingfisher is very soon making a grand comeback. Well this guy is a small time agent who just needs to make some money and help people who are traveling to India. But on my other post in LP / TP regarding the same, I received huge sarcasm. Hence its better to avoid it.
