1... Calcutta to Varanasi + 2. ...Varanasi to Goa

emgordon

I would like to know where I can book these two trips by train please. I live in the UK. Also, how long will both these journeys take on the train? Is 2nd class sleeper the most comfortable? emgordon

steven_ber

Hello emgordon and welcome to indiamike.com

Calcutta - Varanasi = 12 hours.
Varanasi to Goa = about 32 - 36 hours.

2nd class sleeper (SL) is the lowest bookable class for long distance trains, and not a good option for your first visit to India.

Next is 3-tier air con (3A), then 2-tier air con (2A), then Air con First Class (1A).

You can book train tickets via the http://www.irctc.co.in/ website, though there are no direct trains between Varanasi and Goa, have a look at a map or a guidebook to find somewhere in between, then we can advise you of your train options.

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Train information.

emgordon

Thank you for your quick reply. As time might be tight, are there direct flights from Varanasi to Goa and approx. what would the cost be?

steven_ber

There are no flights from Varanasi to Goa, you'd have to fly via Delhi or Mumbai.

emgordon

Thankyou.
We will already be in India as we have a big Programme at an Ashram in Rikhia. So, from Calcutta, I am wanting to travel by train on approx 16th Dec. to Varanasi where we would like to stay for 2 or 3 days, the duration of which depends on train times and length of journey TO Varanasi and then from Varanasi to Goa where we must be on Dec. 23rd. as we have a hotel booked. Basically we have from Dec 16th to Dec 23rd for this part of the adventure so it might be tight..
I would like to travel by train across the country and I don't mind a change anywhere as long as it is quick and easy. So, can you give me some advise please as to the best route etc?
Is 2nd AC better than just 2nd class? Which would you travel?
I have spent 6 months travelling in India but it was 10 yrs ago so I expect things have changed. I must ensure an easy flow as this time in India is for a very special occasion..
Many thanks again. Elisabeth G

steven_ber

Do you need to go back to Calcutta?

You can get a direct train to Varanasi from Jasidih Jn (about 20 Kms from the Ashram).

Train 3049 departs Jasidih Jn daily at 20:46 and gets to Varanasi at 08:25 (this train unfortunately only has non-air con Sleeper Class)

Train 3005 departs Jasidih Jn daily at 23:41 and gets to Varanasi at 09:11 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

The Ashram can advise you better, but from newspaper reports I read, this isn't a great part of the country to be out after dark, or to travel in Sleeper Class, if you do take train 3005, use 2 or 3 tier air con and make sure you get an escort to the station, but as I said, the ashram can give better advise.

Both trains start from Calcutta so should be running close to time.

emgordon

Great....thats very helpful indeed. The Ashram is in Deoghar and my 2 daughters live and work there so they will sort out travel to and from Calcutta but its the remainder of our trip I must sort out!!!
So, its a 12 hr. train journey to Varanasi and can be done in one day.
Then, Varanasi to Goa.....I believe its takes about 32-36 hrs. Which trains would you suggest as we won't mind where we have to change...the shortest wait between trains would obviously be best for us to save wasting time.
Thanks.

emgordon

By the way...no....we don't need to return to Calcutta before going on to Varanasi. I think J Junction is the station where we arrive from Calcutta when we go the Ashram?? It would be perfect if we didn't have to return to Calcutta again.

steven_ber

The route that would seem the most direct from Varanasi to Goa would be via Mumbai, but I'm really not comfortable with the connections, most are too tight given that the train from Mumbai could easily be a couple of hours late, if you're happy to spend several hours in Mumbai (if your train arrives on time) there are many options, but the only one I can find that avoids a long wait is......

Train 2321 departs Mughal Sarai (16kms from Varanasi) at 08:30 and gets to Dadar at 10:59 the following day (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.), (this train also calls at Kalyan at 10:05)

It will take about 40 minutes to get from Dadar station to Lokmanya Tilak station by local trains. (both are stations in Mumbai)

Train 2619 departs Lokmanya Tilak at 14:05 (then Thane at 14:30) and gets to Madgaon at 00:10 and Cancona (for Palolam) at 00:48. (2A, 3A, SL.)

Not great arrival times in Goa.

But if you do choose this option and the train to Mumbai is running late, you can get a local train from Kalyan to Thane, it will probably take 30-40 minutes to get to Thane from Kalyan.

Personally, I don’t like the whole of the above option.

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Have you been to Orchha?

It's said to be a great and relaxing place and is about 11 kms from Jhansi.

Train 1108 departs Varanasi daily at 14:30 and gets to Jhansi at 05:45 (2A, 3A, SL.)

You could probably spend 6 hours (or preferable 30 hours) in Orchha then....

Train 2618 departs Jhansi daily at 15:32 and gets to Thivim (for north Goa) at 17:58 the next day and Madgaon at 19:15 (2A, 3A, SL.)
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Have you seen the Taj Mahal?

Not going to go into any detail here, but there is an overnight train from Varanasi to Agra Fort station, you could spend the day in Agra, then get the evening Taj express departing Agra Cant station at 18:55 and getting to Nizamuddin (Delhi) at 22:05.

Then after a night in a hotel in H.Nizamuddin, the following train runs on the 22nd December.

Train 2450 departs H.Nizamuddin (Saturdays only) at 07:30 and gets to Thivim at 11:48 the next morning and Madgaon at 13:15 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.), this train also calls at other stations in north Goa)


There are also more complex options if you'd prefer to see Ajanta caves on the way from Varanasi to Goa.

You have to be ready to book your trains to Goa 90 days before the train departs, you will be travelling at absolute peak time on the Goa route and these train tickets get snapped up quick, especially from Delhi and Mumbai.

emgordon

Heavens.....it sounds a complete nightmare!! Thankyou so much for all that hard work. It might be a whole lot easier to just fly to both Varanasi and then on to Goa via Bombay or Delhi for example!!!
Are you based in the UK? Do you know of an Agent in the UK who can book internal flights in India for me as I would like to at least have a chat with them. Normal Travel Agents can't seem to arrange that.
Your options look frightening especially considering there are 6of us. I can already sense tempers getting frayed!!! Regards. Elisabeth

emgordon

Hi. My plans are progressing slowly but surely!
However, I am stuck.......horrors.....is it correct that train journeys can not be booked sooner than 90 days before the intended dates of travel???
It is the Christmas period and I've heard that the whole world will want to descend on Goa over the Christmas so I envisage a huge scrabble for tickets!!!!!
Also, I know for a fact that 1000's are going to the Ashram for this particular auspicious programme so will be taking the train from Calcutta. That is exactly why I am wanting to make my plans now. I have booked the hotels but what can you advise re. the trains please?
This is another reason I'm tempted to fly from Varanasi to Goa as I can secure the flights now. emg

steven_ber

There are plenty of trains from Howrah or Sealdah (both in Calcutta) to Jasidih Jn, it's about a 5 hour journey.

At the moment trains can be booked 90 days in advance, it used to be only 60 days in advance but a trial was started to see if 90 days would be better, it's likely to stay at 90 days, but always remember that it may change back.

You should be OK booking all your train tickets in advance, even the Delhi-Goa train, but to be sure, book in the first couple of days booking is allowed.

The Xmas rush for trains (to Goa) isn't anywhere near as busy as the traditional Indian holiday periods, but it's still advisable to book as far in advance as possible, especially as there will be 6 persons travelling together.

S. D. Enterprises in Wembley, London, sell airline tickets, but I've no idea how competitive they are, I've used them for rail passes, they are a busy company, so make sure you know what you want to ask before you call.

What is your full Itinerary? (Just wondering if a rail pass would be worth the money, all tickets booked before they go on sale in India)

emgordon

Hi again. I have been told Varanasi will be very cold in December so we are going to give it a miss.
Therefore, we want to go straight from the Ashram (or Calcutta) over to Goa by the easiest route with as few changes and stop-overs as possible....again 2AC.
What trains and route would you suggest?
Many thanks

steven_ber

What day of the week will you leave the Ashram? (many useful trains are not daily, and some only run one day a week.)

emgordon

We can leave the Ashram on Monday 17th Dec. if 1....Is there is a train from Jasidhi Jn to Calcutta on Monday 17th?
2....I'm told there is a direct train later on the same day.. Monday night to Goa..... down the E coast then across. Is this correct as it sounds PERFECT?
3.....Do I HAVE to wait until 3 mths before to book or is their any other way of booking before then?