Female traveller

kalighat

Hi!

I'm a lone female traveller who will be travelling to India in October. Intend to start in Delhi then to the East to Kolkata. Following are questions that I you guys can help me out with.

1) Is it true that if I were to make advance train bookings (let's say from foreign booking office at the Delhi station)and if I pay in Rupees, encashment certs or bank exchange certs are requiered (are they the same?). What if I do not have them? Can I still go to the normal train counter to make bookings for my other train trips? Or is it only for single trips?
2) I intend to go from Agra to Khajuraho. Have been informed that I have 2 options. One is a 10 hrs bus trip from Agra to Khaj. My question is, is this bus safe (heard that luggages can go missing). Has anyone ever travelled on this bus (I'm not sure whether this is a Deluxe bus or whether this is a local bus)? If it is alright, then it is better then the other option which is a train to Jhansi then a bus onwards to Khaj. However, if the direct bus is not advisable, does anybody have any idea as to whether there are buses from Jhansi to Khaj after 1:00 p.m.? This is as the train arrives in Jhansi at 12:30.
3) Does anybody know what the Satna train station is like? Is it safe for female travellers at about 4:00a.m. in the morning? This is as I would need to make an overnight trip here to catch the train to Varanasi (from Khaj).
4) If I had limited time, out of the 3 places (i.e. Udaipur, Jaipur and Khajuraho) which would you recommend that I could most probably give it a miss?

Thanks!

bijapuri

As far as being safe, if you have enough street smarts to walk around any major city in these modern times without getting assaulted or swindled, you will most likely be OK in India. You have a far less chance of being assaulted. Alas, you have a far greater chance of being ANNOYED, and BADGERED, with an occasionsl pinch on the bum thrown in. Most fenmale travelers catch on fast and have few problems.

usually encashment receipts aren't asked for in IR booking stations unless you are trying to use the foreigners cue.

From Agra, the same fast train that goes from Delhi to there in the early morning continues on to Gwalior and then Jhansi. Well, it used to, might check. Lots of fast trains do, anyway.From Jhansi it's a much shorter bus ride, and you might find some like minded travelers with whom you can split a taxi. BTW. Gwalior and Jhansi are of interest in their own right.

At 4 AM in ANY station, go to the asssistant station masters office, or the first railway official you see, (cheap black jackets) and ask him (never seen a female one in 32 years) where you can wait for your train in safety. They will most likely point you to the waiting room. Some stns have ladies waiting rooms.

I would miss Jaipur.

Good luck, let us know you it went!

BiJ

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wonderwomanusa

As a foreigner, you should be able to use the "first-class ladies waiting room" even if you are travelling in another class. I've never been refused this courtesy.

Since it's forbidden to bring Indian rupees into India, there's no reason why you shouldn't have encashment certificates -- you have to change your money somewhere and there's no black market any longer, so keep the exchange receipts or the receipt the ATM gives you.

I, too, would skip Jaipur -- or leave it to dead last.

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steven_ber

There is a train (2A, SL) from Agra Cantt to Mahoba (50 km from Khaj.), however, it only runs on Mondays and the departure time is 03:50, a good arrival time though 10:22 am. it has 2 - tier air-con Rs 703, Sleeper Class (not air-con) Rs 172.

If you go via Jhansi it would be a shame to miss Orchha (9 km from Jhansi), It is said to be a really nice place, also, you have a better chance of a shared taxi/jeep from Orchha to Khaj.

There is a well timed, overnight train from Mahoba to Varanasi, it departs Mahoba at 22:35 (daily) and gets to Varanasi at 10:25, It has an old First Class (FC) non air con carriage for Rs 712, and Sleeper Class for Rs 238. (train number 1107)

For a detailed description (including photos) of the different classes of accommodation on Indian trains click on the following link.

THE MAN IN SEAT 61.