Booking trains over the busy Xmas period?

Thanks so much! You're amazing.

I think the strategy will be to sit tight and explore the bus and/or driver option later if necessary (if we get nervous and it's close to booking time). I kinda regret not having booked 2AC for this leg, as it is Christmas day and every little comfort helps! Now that I think about it, although Sleeper Class is wide open, I don't really want to be there just yet.

On a related note, we'll be down to two travelers when we make our way to Jaisalmer from Udaipur via Jodhpur. I'm wondering if we should just get a car/driver straight from Udaipur to Jaisalmer, skipping Jodhpur (as it's not high on our list of priorities). Do you have advice on that one?

3A is good, I wouldn't worry about not getting 2A this time, it's a short journey.

I'm the wrong person to advise about skipping Jodhpur, I preferred it to Udaipur (I had New Year's Eve in Udaipur).

But a drive from Jaisalmer to Udaipur would be a bloody long drive for yourself and the driver; you will have to pay for the driver’s accommodation and for the return journey.

We should set up a thread about sharing taxis on this route (esp. Jodhpur - Udaipur) or even someone using the taxi on the return direction.

To save money, and more importantly time (allowing extra time to stop at places along the way), you should get a bus or train from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, then a taxi from there to Udaipur.

I assume you're getting the overnight train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer.....

Actually, we're going from Jaipur to Udaipur (overnight train, I think), then making our way to Jaisalmer. Probably train Udaipur to Jodhpur, overnight there, then morning train to Jaisalmer where we'll spend a few days before somehow making our way to Mumbai (I think we'll be flying from Jodhpur at that point -- this will be the planes, trains and automobiles tour!).

I read your previous post incorrectly.

You must have your reasons for the direction you're travelling, as Jaipur - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur - then direct plane to Mumbai would be the best option.

Udaipur - Jodhpur is the best section for a car & driver as there are no direct trains for this route, there are also other places to see on route (Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh).

Well, we have a reason ... (we started this route for some reason!)... but it's partly that one person is leaving for home after udaipur. She'd have to skip Udaipur and go to Jaisalmer instead. Sounds like you think this would be a better idea!

Then there's New Year's, when the other two of us were going to be in Jaisalmer. That would change things a bit. As you appear less enthusiastic about Udaipur, and you've been there for New Year's, if you were in my shoes, would you talk our third person out of Udaipur in favor of Jaisalmer?

There's also the travel time -- she'll need to get back to Delhi by 12/30 for her return flight. Yes, she's going for a very short time!

Ack, never mind. There's no way she could even spend 24 hours in Jaisalmer without having to do a U-Turn and spend a whole lot more time on the train. The tricky part of all this is the lack of air connections to Jaisalmer!

I see what you mean.

There's nothing wrong with Udaipur, I liked it, I just feel that although it's a great place, it's a little overrated.

But I only had 3 days there and it was at a strange time in my India travels history, it was probably the first place where I decided to try to stand back from everything and watch from a distance.

There seemed so many young foreign female tourists who seemed to me to be trying to find themselves, but there also seemed to be so many locals who were all too aware of this, I guess I spent too much time people watching as I'd started to get bored of temple after temple after fort after fort.

You WILL love the place, it is peaceful charming and interesting as well as beautiful, just ignore me. (ask my ex-wife for details about how best to ignore me, she's an expert).

Hi Steven,
I hope you can help because I have found that the Indian Rail website is not easy to follow! We are looking to take the train to Agra from Delhi in the early morning of Dec 28, returning the following day. It seems the Shatbadi (?) Express is the fastest option, and I had a look at a timetable (couldn't make much sense of it though) but it seems to leave early in the morning. Do you know if this is still correct?

We plan to do a few weeks of travel through Rajasthan by train. Do you think it's best to book in advance from Australia? It seems that late December time is very busy, and potentially we could miss out on reserving seats. Any tips at all on how to proceed would be very much appreciated! The tourist quotas, different travel classes etc etc are all quite confusing to a first time traveller to India.

Do you know of anywhere in Australia that can help with train bookings like what SD does in the UK?

Also, do you have any tips on how to tavel to Mandawa from Delhi (I don't believe there is a train station in Mandawa)?

Sorry for late reply.

Delhi to Agra. (departing Delhi early morning)

Agra to Delhi. (evening departure from Agra)

Train 2001 & 2002 are Shatabdi Expresses (India's premier trains) and E-tickets are an option for these trains.

E-ticketing and Booking Via SMS

There are no General Sales Agents for Indian Railways in Australia, your only option will be too book tickets over the Internet and have them delivered to a hotel in India or pick them up at the reservation centre in Delhi.

Booking Indian Rail tickets from abroad: A Beginner’s Guide. (by Beach)

Booking in advance depends on your flexability, you can book 2 or 3 days ahead and take the chance, there are good bus connections in Rajasthan.

But if you really want trains you may need to book them 7 - 10 days ahead to be sure.

Detailed information including photos of the classes of accommodation on Indian trains.

Knowing the Indian Train. An excellent thread by beach explaining all you need to know about Indian trains.

Train 9733 departs Delhi Sarrai Rohilla daily at 23:00 and calls at Nua (about 13 Kms. from Mandawa) at 05:24.

Air Con First Class = Rs 972
2-tier air con = Rs 535
Sleeper Class (not air con) = Rs 132

I will be traveling by train from Thanjavur to Mysore, and then, Metapalayam to Chennai. A hotel keeper said he will book the trips for me, but I have not heard back yet. It's only been 3 days, but I'm a bit worried. Isn't the high season Dec, Jan, and Feb?

When are you travelling?

The train number in question is 6231 for the mysore Express from Thanjavur (TJ) to Mysore(MYS). a quick check of the availability in 3rd AC(say) is

1 24-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0049
2 25-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0044
3 26-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0049
4 27-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0049
5 28-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0049
6 29-12-2005 AVAILABLE- 0049

A little desperate screaming and yelling on your part to the person who promised you tickets.... :-)

Fares

Class -- 3A
Base Fare 658
Reservation Charges 25
Superfast Charges 0
Other Charges 0
Total Amount 683

A quick place to check

http://www.indianrail.gov.in/acc_avl.html (hat tip to Steven_ber)

thanks. I want to take #6231 on Dec 13, and #2672 on Dec 16.
I have been viewing the "southern railway" website. Both trips are available. My guide book says to go IIAC.
Now that this person in India has been helpful enough to find and suggest the Thanjavur to Mysore trip, and to offer to reserve the tickets, I haven't heard from him in 3 days now. I think I will e-mail him saying that I only have the weekends to work on this, and I'm really getting concerned.

I know that train travel in india is fantastic,,, but on my next trip in jan i have to visit a number of places, and apart from one long train journey i will be flying with Deccan Airways. They are v cheap and prices are applicable to foreigners as well as Indians. Am about to book over the internet - should get an e-ticket. Only 2700R from Kolkata to Mumbai - and only 2.5 hours!

P.S. avoid all other airlines as they cost a fortune for foreigners. and by the way, i cannot seem to book these tickets thru travel agents - they only want to sell me air india etc with big commissions.

I am trying to book tickets for 5 people to take the Konkan railway from mumbai to goa on Dec 30th.

Does anyone know how i can book in advance from North America (we are in San Diego/ NYC/ LA ) ?

I realize internet booking exist but seems like you can not book until 10 days before travel. What is likelyhood that all seats will be taken if i wait until then ?

Any help is appreciated

Thanks

The Indian Rail website allows bookings up to 60 days in advance online.