Bhopal to Varanasi

Hi

I will be in Bhopal and want to move on to Varanasi on about 30October. I wonder how best to do this. Will I have to go back to Delhi first, or is there a more direct route from Bhopal.

Also - as Im staying with family in Bhopal I would ideally like to be flexible as to when I travel on, but wonder if, because of Dwali I should book my Varanasi ticket well in advance.

If I have to book in advance - Im thinking of perhaps a India rail pass that I get book here in UK.

Many thanks for your help.

There are 4 direct trains -1 daily , 2 weekly, and 1 - 3 times per week.
Check their times on http://erail.in/

I'd advise you to book in advance- there doesn't seem to be a tourist quota.

I had a quick check last night, one of the weekly trains departs on the 29th, (Bhopal 19:00, Varanasi Jn 11.10) but has no availability (in 2A or 3A). the train runs from Indore to Patna, I'd be really tempted to book this train (6 days before journey date) using the Tatkal quota, you'd have to be ready to book by 08:00 IST or get an agent to do it (telling them they'll get a bonus if they get a confirmed ticket, because they'll need to be first in the queue to stand any chance)

Tatkal wouldn't be cheap as you'd have to pay from Indore (boarding at Bhopal) to Patna (but just get off in Varanasi), then you'd have to add the Tatkal charge, but it would still be cheaper than an Indrail pass as the journey time is over 12 hours so you'd need a 24 hour pass, an Indrail pass can't be used to purchase a Tatkal ticket in advance.

The other trains are poorly timed.

Another option is to go to Itarsi Jn, it's about 90kms south of Bhopal, but has loads more trains, again though, the best timed trains had no availability around the 30th.

I could check other options, but I'd need more info first.

1 - what class?

2 - is Sleeper Class an option? (Sleeper Class details & photos.)

3 - are you travelling alone?

4 - if it's difficult getting a ticket, what other dates can be considered? (give dates in order of preference)

5 - will your local friends be driving you to the station?

Think about that last question, my friend's family insisted on driving me over 70kms to a large train station, it would have been very easy for me to get there myself, I ask the question because I wouldn't suggest a 23:00 departure from Itarsi if your friends then had to drive back to Bhopal after your train departed.

I hope you can book this quickly, or get a friend in India to book it for you today.

The above train (I'll give full details below) can be booked from Bhopal to Patna (just get off at Varanasi), it has 3 berths remaining in 2-tier air con (Rs 1342) and a shortish waitlist in Sleeper Class (Rs 338).

Train 9313 departs Bhopal on 29th at 19:00 and gets to Varanasi Jn at 11:10, you have to book through to Patna station as there's no availability for Bhopal-Varanasi.

Hi Steven

Many thanks for your detailed information - I have just been in touch with my Indian Sister - in Law and also to SD travel Agents in Wembly to see if either can book me a berth on the train. I will post you the outcome. Again my thanks and gratitude.

SD will have to charge you for a 24 hour Indrail pass, that will cost about 3 times the price of the normal ticket.

Also, SD doesn't like booking trains this late, I don't think he books them directly himself, i think he forwards the info to India, then the tickets are booked, this causes delays, and the original availability can very quickly vanish.

Anyway, good luck, I was in Varanasi last November when there was a festival, it was magical.

Dear Dominoes,

##What is the train that runs thrice in a week between Bhopal-Varanasi?

##By the way, if you have 9305 (tri-weekly) in your mind, then it skips Varanasi and proceeds directly to Mughalsarai from Allahabad.
--------------------------
Dear Steven,

Please look at this:
..
You Queried For
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
9305 SHIPRA EXPRESS 31-10-2008 BHOPAL JN MUGHAL SARAI JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A Class -3A
1 31-10-2008 WL 5/WL 5 WL 10/WL 10
2 2-11-2008 WL 4/WL 4 WL 3/WL 3
3 5-11-2008 WL 3/WL 3 WL 7/WL 5
4 7-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0002 AVAILABLE- 0003
5 9-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0004 AVAILABLE- 0004
6 12-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0004 AVAILABLE- 0005
.............
You Queried For
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
9305 SHIPRA EXPRESS 31-10-2008 BHOPAL JN MUGHAL SARAI JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 31-10-2008 WL 10/WL 10 WL 34/WL 32
2 2-11-2008 WL 3/WL 3 AVAILABLE- 0059
3 5-11-2008 WL 7/WL 5 AVAILABLE- 0065
4 7-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0003 AVAILABLE- 0125
5 9-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0004 AVAILABLE- 0120
6 12-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0005 AVAILABLE- 0124
..................

............and at this:
You Queried For
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
1071 KAMAYANI EXPRES 31-10-2008 BHOPAL JN VARANASI JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 31-10-2008 WL 2/WL 2 RAC 6/RAC 6
2 1-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0001 WL 5/WL 5
3 2-11-2008 WL 15/WL 15 AVAILABLE- 0025
4 3-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0009 AVAILABLE- 0045
5 4-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0006 AVAILABLE- 0040
6 5-11-2008 AVAILABLE- 0018 AVAILABLE- 0077
----------------

##I suggest taking a 3AC WL & SL RAC Tickets in 1071 on the night of 30th (**that is early morning of 31st) from Bhopal to Varanasi.

##The RAC Ticket would certainly get confirmed!!!!

##Moreover, 1071 travels less distance (812 Kms.) when compared to 9313 (865Kms.) or 9321 (906Kms.)

Train 1071, Bhopal 03.25, Varanasi 19.15

I didn't even look at that option because tourists just don't use those trains, they'd lose out in 3 different ways: -

1, awful departure time, you'd need a hotel (I know this case is different, but I'm talking in general).

2, a whole day lost on the train, time better spent having a look around somewhere.

3, need to find hotel as soon as train gets to destination.

A long journey has it's benifits if the train is timed well.

Dear Steven,

tourists just don't use those trains, they'd lose out in 3 different ways:

##Agreed.

##But the problem of Railways, in general is, they cannot operate all the trains in a convenient mode only to a particular category of passengers, say, in this case it is BPL-BSB.

##9321 (Sat) and 9313 (Wed), indeed, have got convenient timings for BPL>BSB journey.

##But, when there is no accomodation in the train leaving on 30th and when this departure date cannot be postponed for whatever reason, would it not be worthwhile to take the train on the night of 30th (**early hours of 31st) (OR) should they get stranded in Bhopal upto Saturday, just because this train has got convenient timings?

##In so far as Hotel Accomodation is concerned, all the tourists irrespective of the countries from where they come from, MUST NECESSARILY HAVE SOME LEVERAGE FOR HOTEL ACCOMODATION. For example, if they initially plan for two days, but, at the same time, they must be prepared to spend more for Hotel Accomodation.

##As such, Hotel Accomodation in Bhopal or Varanasi "can" take a back seat, in deciding the train to be taken.

##By the way, kindly calculate the distance/time taken via Itarsi.

##In any case, the OP did not indicate the time at which he can depart from BPL on 30th.