Proposed Journey (Delhi - Kolkata - Siliguri - Delhi)

papertiger

The trip comes out to roughly 3500 miles, which, if I was doing a CJT, would only give me 24 days to see everything. Is this right?

I guess I might have to buy regular tickets since I've got over six weeks.

steven_ber

Simple answer - Yes.

However nothing is as simple as that.

I could easily make a CJT to accomodate this route and last for 6 weeks.

You hint that you want to go to other places, but thats all you do.

There is useful info to be had from this website, but you have to give some info, I've searched through your profile and your other posts, and can't find anything to help me answer this question fully.

I could have done a long reply, suggesting a route, ideal trains, full costs etc...... only to find that you don't want to go to some of the places suggested and that you have less than a week to book the CJT.

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Train information.

papertiger

I was hoping you'd reply, though I didn't expect you to be able to extend my CJT to 6 weeks.

Full Detail:

Arrive April 13th in Delhi...
Jaipur
Agra
Varanasi
Sasaram (1/2 day stop)
Gaya
- to Bodh Gaya, I plan on being here May 13th
Kolkata
Siliguri
Darjeeling (via toy train, if possible)
Sikkim
..and finally back to Delhi to depart on June 7th.

I left out Jaisalmer and Puri since they were out of the way for a CJT, but I would like to visit them, if possible.

Some ideals/restraints:
- ~3 days in most places (enough to see the sunset and sunrise), except..
- Delhi, Bodh Gaya, Kolkata, and Sikkim
- May 13th for Bodh Gaya
- late May for trekking in Sikkim

I'm taking the whole thing pretty easy, and would like to keep it flexible. Part of me wishes I never found out about this forum, and would land and feel out the country myself, completely unadulterated.

However, with $20 a day, and such a pricey air ticket, I think some planning is needed.

Thank you, Steve.

btw, I never noticed there was an itinerary forum until today. Would a moderator mind moving this thread there?

steven_ber

Sorry papertiger, it would take 2 - 3 days for the station master to agree to issue the Circular Journey Ticket, even if you could get availability on all your trains.

You've left it too late.

papertiger

Hi Steven, what do you mean that I left it too late? I'll be bumming around Delhi for a week or more, so there should be some time, right?

I'm still curious how you can squeeze out more days from that CJT since most places don't extend the mileage of it.

steven_ber

You can try, but time isn't on your side regarding reservations.

Adding distance adds days.



Adding Jaisalmer may be possible (if you come back via Ajmer).

The rules for CJT's are so vague that you're almost at the mercy of the station master, for example, you're not allowed to use the same stretch of railway track twice, unless there is no alternative (e.g. Jodhpur to Jaisalmer), the problem is (if including Jaisalmer) you'd be using a smallish section of track near Jaipur twice.

So what have we got......

Delhi - Jaisalmer = Kms 921
Jaisalmer - Jodhpur = Kms 300
Jodhpur - Ajmer = Kms 244
Ajmer - Jaipur = Kms 106
Jaipur - Agra = Kms 241
Agra - Varanasi = Kms 607 (or 648)
Varanasi - Gaya (via Sasaram) = Kms 221
Gaya - Bhubaneshwar = Kms 744
Bhubaneshwar to Calcutta = 437 Kms
Calcutta - New Jalpaiguri = Kms 586
New Jalpaiguri - Delhi = Kms 1503

Total = Kms 5910 = 44 days


Now, there is a problem, too many stops, however, there is an additional rule that comes in handy sometimes, if you stop at a place for less than 24 hours it's not classed as a break of journey. (You are allowed a maximum of 8 breaks of journey)

You could see Agra on a separate day trip from Delhi, then go direct from Jaipur to Varanasi (By direct overnight train).

You could also arrive in the evening at Jodhpur and get the morning train to Ajmer, this would be less than 24 hours, it would be a pity though, Jodhpur is a great place, alternatively you could get the morning train to Ajmer, then a train on the same day to Jaipur.

You need to make 2 changes to the above Itinerary; The Agra one is a good change, then either the quick stop at Jodhpur, or Ajmer.


A quick calculation of the savings (don't quote me, I'm really short of time)...... (not including reservation or Superfast charges)

Delhi - Jaisalmer = (3A = Rs 804, SL = Rs 286)
Jaisalmer - Jodhpur = (3A = Rs 348, SL = Rs 124)
Jodhpur - Ajmer = (3A = Rs 300, SL = Rs 107)
Ajmer - Jaipur = (3A = Rs 183, SL = Rs 60)
Jaipur - Agra = (3A = Rs 300, SL = Rs 107)
Agra - Varanasi = (3A = Rs 627, SL = Rs 223)
Varanasi - Gaya (via Sasaram) = (3A = Rs 280, SL = Rs 100)
Gaya - Bhubaneshwar = (3A = Rs 700, SL = Rs 250)
Bhubaneshwar to Calcutta = (3A = Rs 468, SL = Rs 167)
Calcutta - New Jalpaiguri = (3A = Rs 584, SL = Rs 208)
New Jalpaiguri - Delhi = (3A = Rs 1081, SL = Rs 385)

Total =

3A = Rs 5711
SL = Rs 2017


Using a CJT would cost (without reservation and Superfast charge)

3A = Rs 3040
SL = Rs 1082

anindya911

Hi Papertiger

Sorry to kinda inform you that as this the peak time for domestic travel, train reservations will be more than a heck of problem. The trains run full and tickets booked out on the day of opening, i.e. 60 days advance.
Though you can try Tatkal reservation (3 days advance) or Tourist quota.

Best of Luck!

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