Pathankot or Chakki Bank??

ainebrophy

Hi
Just reading through a few threads and i'm still not sure whether to get a train from Delhi to Pathankot or Chakki Bank. We aarive in Delhi the 14th Mar at 4am but we hope to get a train up to Dharmasala the same day, which route would be quicker. Also is it a local bus we get from the train station up to Dharmasala or can we get a taxi straight to McLeod? Would you advise booking a hotel or could we just arrive and decided then. Last question how cold can we expect it to be?

Thanks

steven_ber

I've not been to Pathankot, so I'll leave others to give info.

Chakki Bank is the station used by the fast trains.

Nearly all trains going close to Pathankot are going up to Jammu, Chakki Bank is on the mainline to Jammu, trains need to go from the mainline to Pathankot if they want to use Pathankot station, so only the slower trains do this, but I think it's only 3kms between the 2 stations.

(If Indian Railways can cover the whole of a train's route and keep the average speed to higher that 55km per hour, the train gets a 'Superfast' status, and Indian Railways can charge everyone a 'Superfast charge', that's why trains sometimes only use satellite stations instead of going into the centre of cities, all Superfast trains have a 4 digit train number that begins with a 2.)

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Train information.

ainebrophy

HI

Does anyone know if you can get a train from Chakki Bank or Pathankot to Pushkar or Jaisalmer?

steven_ber

Where else are you going?

Do you prefer overnight trains?

Are you happy going to an unknown place to wait for a train late at night?

Train 2414, Daily, Chakki Bank 20.10, Ajmer (for Pushkar) 12.40 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

Train 9224, Daily, Pathankot 11.05, Bikaner 00.45 (2A, SL.)

Then bus or train to Jaisalmer.

ainebrophy

Well the route we are hoping to do is Dharmasala - Jaisalmer- pushkar- Jaipur (Agra day trip) but we might head to Haridwar/ Rishikesh also. We have 2 weeks to cover up North. don't mind overnight trains or waiting in some unknown place as long as its safe.

steven_ber

I edited the above post.

Considering the timescale, how important is Dharamsala? (because it will cost you some other destinations, in other words, you could fit all the rest if you didn't include Dharamsala, and even include Jodhpur)

Indizen

Both stations are in the same city, just a few km apart.
PTK station: The main line comes to a dead end. So the engine goes to the back and the train actually reverses, so if your bogey also changes position. This process takes half an hor or so.
That is why most trains to Jammu do not call at PTK.
Only 3 trains from Delhi to Jammu go into the "city" station (PTK) which is opposite the bus stand.
1 Jammu Mail
2 Shalimar
3 Hatia/Tata Express

Autorickshaws are available outside Chakki Bank station for the ride into town - around 4 km or so.

ainebrophy

It wasn't in our original plan but following recommendations we decided to include it. Pushkar is only on the list if we can fit it in. So you reckon we'd have to drop a destination? The problem is now deciding which!

Indizen

In case you wish to travel on the Kangra valley narrow gauge trains, the starting station is Pathankot. For Dharamsala you need to get off at Kangra station/ Kangra Road.
There are many buses from Pathankot to Dharamsala. The bus stand is across the road from Pathankot station and 4 -5 km from Chakki Bank.
Maruti van taxis are available for Mcleodganj.

steven_ber

The above train also calls at Jaipur at 10:00.

So, Delhi, then overnight bus to Dharamsala (to save time), then the above train to Jaipur, overnight train to Jaisalmer, daytime or short overnight train to Jodhpur, overnight train to Agra, then to Delhi.

Haridwar/Rishikesh, I loved this area, and Dharamsala would have to be something really special to be worth the extra travel to get to/from Dharamsala (from Delhi), over the easier Haridwar/Rishikesh destination.

But anyway.

From Dharamsala - to Chakki Bank, then train 4610, daily, Chakki Bank 20.30, Rishikesh 07.45 (2A, 3A, SL.)

then Train 9106, daily, Haridwar 15.25, Jaipur 04.30 (and Ajmer 07:25) (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

From Jaipur, overnight train to Jaisalmer, daytime or short overnight train to Jodhpur, overnight train to Agra, then to Delhi.

If Ajmer, then an afternoon train to Jodhpur, daytime or overnight train to Jaisalmer, overnight train to Jaisalmer, then Agra and Delhi.

There are also overnight trains (and daytime fast trains) to Haridwar from Delhi.

You couldn't fit Dharamsala, Haridwar/Rishikesh and Jaisalmer in the same short trip, to be honest, any 2 of them would be difficult, if hills are your thing, forget Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, though Jaisalmer is (to me) one of the must see places in India.

dcamrass1

last year jeep from chaki bank to mcloud ganj was 16 00 rps for the jeep seats nine 90 Km.was waiting for the night train to arrive - think around 04.30