Indian buses

don't worry, it will all work out. apologies for the poor attempt at humour - i am just trying to encourage you to "go with the flow" - it will make coping with india much easier for you if you don't expect things to be as they are at home.

You may be able to book a train once you are in India (there are seats reserved for tourists called foreign tourist quota). If not, you have no option but to take the bus. Theft of luggage from the secure area is very rare - keep your valuables in your hand luggage, and close to you.

good luck, and enjoy your trip

With a large suitcase, you can only afford to travel in luxury/semi luxury buses. In these buses, not much of an issue and the attendant will take care of putting it at the right place.

Local bus will be a problem, both for you and the poor suitcase, and there is no security of that, unless you just stay on it all the time.

We all have been there some times, and the disgusting/confusing glare is enough to put us in our places.

Some state buses now have toilets in them. Karnataka State Transport Corporation was the pioneer in this I guess, with chemical toilets introduced last year. http://www.ksrtc.in/site/airavatbliss. A news clipping (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle3655889.ece) shows it as 'emergency toilet' even though I am yet to make out what 'emergency' stands for. In Tamil Nadu is following suit it seems (http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ets-setc-buses). So, looking forward to more comfortable bus services.