Indian trains

Do not take malaria pills. Drink Indian made liquor occasionally ( or more often ).
If you are in transit nobody will check your luggage in UAR. You are in transit. ( but I may be wrong on this one). However, my first comment is correct.

Just make sure that any Med's that you have are in your carry on and clearly marked with your name on them as it appears on your passport, and it would help to have a back up prescription from your practitioner, and you should have no problems....

well, there is Malaria in Bombay. I would not listen to your pharmacist or #1 but consult a reliable travel clinic.

Most internet information indicates widespread malaris in india below 2000m

Check the WHO website or CDC in the US (or other country's equivolant) for malaria info. This is where a travel clinic will end up checking anyway.

malaria in India

I spent six months in India and did not take malaria pills, and did not suffer from malaria. There does seem to be mosquitos in South India though and I did see them after dark on the outskirts of Chennai. Mostly they would be in a more tropical setting. Where you are going, mostly north India, I don't think there will be a problem. If you can not figure out the train schedule wait until you get to Delhi or Mumbai, and go to the train station in person and book and pay for your ticket there, otherwise from a travel agent in your hotel. However its faster if you go yourself. The travel agent will take a day or more to get your your ticket whereas if you do it yourself it is immediate. There are special lines for foreigners in the larger cities and I am told that a certain number of seats are reserved for foreigners. I never went in that line however. If you are over 60, there is a big discount, but you have to ask for it. Have a wonderful time in India. Its an attitude. Have fun.

Malaria!!

This map from the UK NHS is authoritative and quite clear as to risk.

India Malaria Risk

The decision as whether you do or do not take malaria prophylaxis remains yours. If you can be scrupulous about anti-mosquito precautions you probably don't need prophylactics.

If you do decide to take something - I'd use doxycycline. It's effective, cheap and available everywhere within India.

Docmike

There appears to be only one direct Mumbai- Udaipur train and then its only thrice a week
2995 BDTS AII UDZ EX BANDRA TERMINUS 15:45 UDAIPUR CITY 08:50
It appears to be the last few carriages of a train to Ajmer that break off at Chittor.

As I recall the direct route was an old metre gauge affair that stopped at every tiny town and platform in southern Rajasthan (very nice if you have the time). Its likely its been abandoned or in the process of upgrading.

Buses do the run in 6 or so hours and the fight is nice.

As for UAE and their drugs policy. If you have any sort of chronic health problem a letter from your doctor with a contact number solves all problems except 50kg of heroin. Anny doctor treating you while oerseas will greatly appreciate it.

I am travelling for the first time to India in June as a solo female. I found a good open-jaw ticket, flying into Kolkata and out of Delhi and I am hoping to travel by train to Delhi. Does anyone know approximate cost of this route (any other details are welcome)? Any suggestions on which city to stay in longer or any places to stop along the way? Would it be better to fly in/out of the same city? (economically, safety-wise, weather-wise, etc) I will be in India for the entire month. Any suggestions to better aclimatize once I'm there? Thanks!