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.

It was a wonderful article.

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

I miss India so much after reading this.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 .

india is worth missing

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.

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.

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