Tiruvanamalai >Srinagar - fly or train, delhi or not?

single canadian man, 30 years, fit - with backpack
staying on the low side of expenses if possible, but if the train is OK and interesting and cheap, then that is OK.
also, wouldn't mind seeing delhi - otherwise will miss it.
- in no rush, unless train is horrifically slow (what would be difference?)

namaste'

It's 55 hours on a train from Katpadi to Jammu.

Katpadi is a big junction just north of Vellore, and this train only departs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, it also departs at 07:00.

You'd have to get a bus from Jammu to Srinagar.

Thanks Steven, that is good to know.
but holy crap, that is a long train!
Tell me, does it have sleeper cabins, a/c, decent food etc?
Frankly, if it is even close to comfortable, and the price is good, i would prefere to see India a bit like this. Do you know the price? Also, any idea of the price for the plane from somewhere close to Tiruvanamalai to Srinagar or Delhi?

Thanks so much for your time and attention.

namaste

Look in the train info thread and you'll find loads of links to tell you all about each class on the train, no it doesn't have cabins, yes it has AC, and I hate train food.

Katpadi to Jammu will cost: -

2-tier air con = Rs 2210
3-tier air con = Rs 1571
Sleeper Class = Rs 569

Flight prices depend on how far in advance you book, you'd have to fly Chennai-Delhi-Srinagar, try www.ixigo.com for flight prices and times.

Thanks again.
I will look in the train posting that you mentioned.

Love the look of those Indian prices!

have a great day

namaste

I love the trains and think that they are a great way of experiencing India, plus more eco friendly. So my preference would be to do the trip via a train. The Himsagar express runs through the entire country from South to North, and myself have been planning to do this trip since some time. I am quite sure it would be a nice experience.

Delhi is definitely worth seeing as it is a very historically rich city, but u just have to take care of the numerous touts and cheats over there.