4 weeks North India in October - itinerary advice

machadinha

That is, indeed, one way to look at it, and it'll certainly be easier and more managable than walking around some metropolis yes (although I'd personally allocate just a little more time to getting out of my entry point).

I never traveled in anything but Sleeper Class, slept like a rose and never had any problem with it. Friends have had some knickknacks gone, including a camera that can only have gone out the window except it didn't fit through the bars Take note during the chaos of entering and settling down in your carriage at a station, this is when it's easy to have petty thieves hop on and off and being distracted and have your stuff gone, a common trick. And don't keep your daypack near the (open) window. But in short, I wouldn't advise against it, others do; depends on your being able to rough it a little I guess.

Visibility seems to be a concern in the higher classes yes, again, I've no experience with it. But could be a good reason to opt for Sleeper. None of this is to contradict Incitatus btw, we just all have our own preferences. Maybe I should note I was younger and hence perhaps more flexible in the above too.

Another thread you might want to read: Advice on 37 hour train ride.
On women on (Sleeper) trains: Solo Woman on Overnight Sleeper Train?

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paladin

I sympahtise with your not wanting to plan everything in advance, of course. And yet you seem to know where you want to go and how long you want to spend in these places. Where the trains are concerned, why not book sleepers to various places in advance? This is the best way not to waste time, and personally I think you'd be a bit silly not to book some of these trips in advance. You must know that vast numbers of Indians book things in advance, of course, and should reckon that as a result you may find yourselves out of luck when you decide impromptu to try to get on one. My wife and I found that a company in London that functions as an official (or semi-offical?) India Rail Rep. does marvelous work: SD Enterprises, Ltd., 103 Wembley Park Drive; Wembley, Middelsex HA9 8HG Tel: 020 8903 3411; or www.indiarail.co.uk. They have booked literally dozens of trains for us on two trips of three months each; and apart from grinding delays on the platform--no fault of theirs--the bookings were perfect. They know the routes, the trains, and they're wonderfully efficient.

steven_ber

I agree about S. D. Enterprises, a great company, but I spoke to them a short while ago and they no longer do Sleeper Class Indrail passes (they still do Air con and First Class Indrail passes).

I'd love to work in their office for a while, I could learn a lot from them.

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mikeinSomerset

Thanks again York - I have started looking closely at the rail web sites & some bits are falling into place - cheers

machadinha

And ps again, another handy thread: The value for money class in Train.

Most of this is linked to already in that thread of all train threads, Train information