Longest train journey, a report.

steven_ber · Sep 26th, 2005, 01:33

A journey into the soul of a nation on a train that links the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean

By K. Sunil Thomas/On board Himsagar Express/Photos by R.S. Iyer

There is no sign of snow as far as the eyes can see in Jammu. The zig-zag outline of peaks visible in the horizon at best looks like an eerie blue speck of vegetation and gravelled terrain. Yet, metaphorically, I am travelling from hima to sagar, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, from the northern vale to land’s end in the south.

I am taking the longest train journey in India, the 6318 Dn Himsagar Express, which scrolls down the nation’s northern-most railhead and hurtles across the country all the way to Kanyakumari. A journey of five days and 4,000 km, covering hundreds of railway stations (halting at 77) and more states than can be counted on one’s fingers. Travelling the way many Indians do—13 million of them a day on 12,000 trains—this could well be my insight into the soul of India.

Full story.

Full schedule and prices.

lonelyaztec · Sep 29th, 2005, 12:14

It was a wonderful article.

bijapuri · Sep 29th, 2005, 12:22

wowzers . . . a better man than I !!!

Vasko · Sep 29th, 2005, 13:23

I miss India so much after reading this.

guerik · Sep 29th, 2005, 13:36

Wouldn't that be fantastic! I did the Delhi - Triv portion earlier this year but would still love to do the whole thing - just have to get up my nerve to go to Kashmir!

AvidTrekker · Sep 29th, 2005, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by guerik

Wouldn't that be fantastic! I did the Delhi - Triv portion earlier this year but would still love to do the whole thing - just have to get up my nerve to go to Kashmir!

Relatively speaking; Jammu has been more safe than Srinagar Valley; even at the height of terrorist activity. Now of course... you won't require the nerve to go to Jammu.... just the intention.

guerik · Oct 4th, 2005, 11:00

I wouldn't be flying in, so the main thing I have to fear now are the roads and bus drivers

SHIMLA · Oct 4th, 2005, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by guerik

I wouldn't be flying in, so the main thing I have to fear now are the roads and bus drivers

I'm afraid I don't understand, guerik; why do you have to fear roads and bus drivers to get to Jammu ? Jammu is on the plains; and can easily be reached by train from Delhi.

guerik · Oct 4th, 2005, 14:24

You'd still have to go through the mountains to get there wouldn't you? Or do you go right out through Punjab and up from there?

kaushiks · Oct 4th, 2005, 16:11

Nope. You take an overnight train to Jammu from Delhi. The hills start only after Udhampur.
I believe they have plans to take the train up till Baramullah over the Sutlej gorge and all. Must be something when thats done.

kiranlal · Oct 4th, 2005, 16:30

Trivandrum Guwahthy is also a very long journey it is sheduled for 4 days but the normal delay in eastern route take this journey, 5 days to complete.
the total kilometers coverd is 3571 in 4 days ,
most intresting feature is it cross over major rivers in india , Krishna Godhavary , Ganges And Brahmaputhra , the night journeyis avoided in northen part of West bengal due to terrorist attacks so the train stops in some station for night .

peter_edward · Oct 4th, 2005, 17:44

india is worth missing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasko

I miss India so much after reading this.

psfb · Oct 6th, 2005, 15:50

Now that would be some journey. I'm not sure I would like to do the whole journey in one go, but it would be nice to do the trip over the period of a few months, stopping as you wanted to for as long as you wanted to.

shahronakm · Aug 20th, 2007, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

A journey into the soul of a nation on a train that links the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean

By K. Sunil Thomas/On board Himsagar Express/Photos by R.S. Iyer

There is no sign of snow as far as the eyes can see in Jammu. The zig-zag outline of peaks visible in the horizon at best looks like an eerie blue speck of vegetation and gravelled terrain. Yet, metaphorically, I am travelling from hima to sagar, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, from the northern vale to land’s end in the south.

I am taking the longest train journey in India, the 6318 Dn Himsagar Express, which scrolls down the nation’s northern-most railhead and hurtles across the country all the way to Kanyakumari. A journey of five days and 4,000 km, covering hundreds of railway stations (halting at 77) and more states than can be counted on one’s fingers. Travelling the way many Indians do—13 million of them a day on 12,000 trains—this could well be my insight into the soul of India.

Full story.

Full schedule and prices.

Just found this thread. The link to Full story is no longer valid. Any other link where I can read the story.

This journey has always been on my mind. But I would like to do it the other way from Kanykumari to Jammu. No First Class Coach a sad thing.

Ronak.

Drews60 · Aug 20th, 2007, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by shahronakm

Just found this thread. The link to Full story is no longer valid. Any other link where I can read the story. Ronak.

Same problem with the link. This looks like a great article, one I'd hate to miss. I'm taking the Delhi - Ernakulam route.

Sep 26th, 2005, 01:33	#1
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,243	Longest train journey, a report. A journey into the soul of a nation on a train that links the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean By K. Sunil Thomas/On board Himsagar Express/Photos by R.S. Iyer There is no sign of snow as far as the eyes can see in Jammu. The zig-zag outline of peaks visible in the horizon at best looks like an eerie blue speck of vegetation and gravelled terrain. Yet, metaphorically, I am travelling from hima to sagar, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, from the northern vale to land’s end in the south. I am taking the longest train journey in India, the 6318 Dn Himsagar Express, which scrolls down the nation’s northern-most railhead and hurtles across the country all the way to Kanyakumari. A journey of five days and 4,000 km, covering hundreds of railway stations (halting at 77) and more states than can be counted on one’s fingers. Travelling the way many Indians do—13 million of them a day on 12,000 trains—this could well be my insight into the soul of India. Full story. Full schedule and prices. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Sep 29th, 2005, 12:14	#2
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	It was a wonderful article. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

Sep 29th, 2005, 12:22	#3
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	wowzers . . . a better man than I !!! __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Oct 4th, 2005, 16:30	#11
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 521	crossing the great Rivers of india Trivandrum Guwahthy is also a very long journey it is sheduled for 4 days but the normal delay in eastern route take this journey, 5 days to complete. the total kilometers coverd is 3571 in 4 days , most intresting feature is it cross over major rivers in india , Krishna Godhavary , Ganges And Brahmaputhra , the night journeyis avoided in northen part of West bengal due to terrorist attacks so the train stops in some station for night . __________________ A big world and small people

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Sep 29th, 2005, 13:23	#4
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 487	I miss India so much after reading this.

Sep 29th, 2005, 13:36	#5
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	Wouldn't that be fantastic! I did the Delhi - Triv portion earlier this year but would still love to do the whole thing - just have to get up my nerve to go to Kashmir!

Oct 4th, 2005, 11:00	#7
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	I wouldn't be flying in, so the main thing I have to fear now are the roads and bus drivers

Oct 4th, 2005, 14:24	#9
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	You'd still have to go through the mountains to get there wouldn't you? Or do you go right out through Punjab and up from there?

Oct 4th, 2005, 16:11	#10
kaushiks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: don't live anymore Posts: 446	Nope. You take an overnight train to Jammu from Delhi. The hills start only after Udhampur. I believe they have plans to take the train up till Baramullah over the Sutlej gorge and all. Must be something when thats done.

Oct 6th, 2005, 15:50	#13
psfb Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 120	Now that would be some journey. I'm not sure I would like to do the whole journey in one go, but it would be nice to do the trip over the period of a few months, stopping as you wanted to for as long as you wanted to.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best train journey in India?	paxnomadic	Indian Railways	2	Jan 8th, 2005 11:06
Indian Train Journey Stories	MonsterMunch	Indian Railways	7	Oct 8th, 2004 06:40
Train journey experiences!!!	maverick	Indian Railways	6	Sep 10th, 2004 11:36
Longest train journey???	lobo	Indian Railways	13	May 2nd, 2004 22:16
Breaking a train journey	Colin	Indian Railways	4	Dec 20th, 2001 08:02

User Name		Remember Me?
Password