First India Trip

Don't book ahead... There is no need.. Many trekking companies and guides and they leave any and every day. .... Many climbs you do not need a guide... TRIUND, for example, you don't need one... Just follow the masses. Weekends are chokkablock with Indian tourists who like to climb with loud annoying music.... Great night train from Delhi to Amritsar.. No need to book ahead, just get from the almost always open NDLS railway tourist office upstairs. .. From Amritsar to Dharamsala is an easy public bus.... Have fun

I agree with the above comment. There is no real need to book ahead for a trek.

Hi,
If you want to use Indian trains for travelling. You should book your tickets ASAP if you have decided your dates. As you know India is a populated country and travelling by Indian trains is cheap here. Everyone wants to travel by train here. So in high demand trains, overnight journeys and long-distance journeys, advance booking is a must thing here in India. Booking opens 120 day in advance. If you want to book online tickets by yourself, you need to register into IRCTC, which is quite hectic and it takes some time if one is trying from overseas and without an Indian mobile number. Second way is pay a small fee and use any agent’s service and let him/her book your tickets. He/she will help you in train searching, suggesting best seats and other important things about Indian trains. In Indian trains, there are some classes: AC1st, AC 2, AC3 and sleeper. AC 1st class is best class, but a little expensive and not all the trains have AC 1st class. Then, we have AC 2 tier, which is second best class and then AC 3 tier, which I think is good, affordable class. Normal sleeper (without AC) is not recommended for foreigners. You can travel in sleeper if on a budget travel or if the journey is small, 1 to 3 hours.

Please feel free to ask for any help, question or suggestion.

Raj

With the treks, you're pretty much at the mercy of other tourists who want to trek. You have to wait until you arrive at Manali or whichever other Himalayan place, and then check with tour agencies to see if other tourists have booked treks that you can join. I've joined treks in India that way several times. I agree w/ #1 about the one day trek up to Truind from Mcleod Ganj. It's easy to do on your own, and there are teahouses along the way.

@clanger_88

then McLeod Ganj and do a trek. I have contacted several companies about the trek. The only one to have got back in touch with me say there are no scheduled treks but if I would want to trek alone they would arrange it for me.

Which trek in particular? As others have said, the Triund day hike is something easily done on your own - but you may have something else in mind. It would help if you could tell us.

Any tips about .../trains/

Start here: https://www.seat61.com/India.htm as a useful guide, and come back with any questions.

travelling as a solo female.

Have a look at this post for the links I've provided there:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-indian-subcontinent/india/travel-plans-to-india-in-june-safety?page=1#post_21344561

And also you might want to read this: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/asia/travel-tips-and-articles/77744

http://www.global-gallivanting.com/top-female-bloggers-reveal-why-women-love-traveling-in-india/ and follow the links to some of those blogs.

And a little ebook: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/38731

Lots of general pointers and tips:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/asia/travel-tips-and-articles/76017

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/asia/travel-tips-and-articles/77744

http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/wandertips/india/tips-and-tricks-for-staying-sane-while-solo-in-india/

http://floratheexplorer.com/happy-safe-solo-travelling-india-yourself/

http://www.journeywoman.com/girltalk/india/indeindia.html

Normal sleeper (without AC) is not recommended for foreigners. You can travel in sleeper if on a budget travel or if the journey is small, 1 to 3 hours.

Well, that's really a matter of taste. I always travel in normal sleeper class, even for 40h train ride, and I actually find it more pleasant. Of course, the level of confort if not the same as in AC2 or AC3, but my main grip with AC is that I don't get the chance to enjoy the scenary much. You end up most of the time in coachs with very dark tinted windows that don't let you see much.

I am female and I have traveled much the same route you are considering. Get an IRCTC account, if you want to make changes it will be easy. AC 2 or 3 is fine if overnight train. Read all the info on Seat61, which will describe various classes with photos. Select upper berth. Amritsar to Dharamsala by bus is fine. Enjoy!

Thanks for everyone's responses.
Will set up an IRCTC account and book asap. The website does appear to be quite confusing though. Thank you for the information about train classes. I also read Globalgallivanting's information about classes, which will also be helpful when booking.

I was thinking of doing the Inderhara Pass to Chamba, or something similar. Maybe 5/6 nights. That trek takes in Triund on its first day, but interested in greater exploration of the area. Hopefully as a tonic to the crowds in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur at the start of my trip. I am an experienced hill walker and hiker, used to carrying everything on my back and would just like to have some others to share the experience with.

And finally, @lifesupport, many thanks for the websites. Definitely will need tricks and tips for staying sane on my own for so long!

Hi dear..interesting to see that you want to go for trekking and explore the unexplored of the continent.
Let me I'll be travelling back to my city New Delhi on 18th Sept too and surely if you need any assistance can join in this for your excursions...I am very much local and born and brought up here...
If you need any assistance surely can help you out and plan something together as well for trek and travel few other place...like Taj and Mcleaodganj (best trek is to go Triund or uphill mountain)...
suggest you to be with someone for trek and someone local so that he can take care of you as well in terms of safety and concerns...

don't book anything in advance and can get in touch with me and we can plan this together, have my own vehicle so can easily cover most of it and can split even...we can plan to go to Rajasthan as well by car..and go to jaipur and visit forts and places.....

have wonderful place called "Nainital" for amazing trek and have home stays too with nice Indian food..

let me or ping me back and we can plan trip accordingly..I'll be in India for about a month or so...till Diwali festival so can easily be a good travel companion and a good friend to you dear..

take care
ady