Cochin-Varanasi Please help me find a good route!

flozimm

Hello everyone,

I will be traveling from Cochin (Kerala) to Varanasi around the 12 August, and I'm short on time (I should meet some people in Varanasi as soon as possible). I tried finding trains with as few stops as possible, but didn't have much success. I've found flights from Cochin to Delhi (ca. 6000 Rs.) and from Cochin to Varanasi (12000 Rs.) but I'm on a budget and these flights are quite expensive. Does anyone know what would be the fastest way from Cochin to Varanasi by train? Or do I not have any choice but to book a flight in order to get there under 3 days? Thanks for your help!

Florian

Baba

Hmmmm. Fly Cochin to Delhi and take a train from there?

__________________
Baba

steven_ber

The whole distance by train will be hard, but if I was to do it, I'd probibly choose the following option.

Train 2625 (Kerala Express) departs Ernakulam Jn (Cochin) daily at 15.40 and gets to Jhansi at 06.30 (nearly 39 hours)

You could then visit Orchha for the day, then....

Train 1107 departs Jhansi daily at 22.30 and gets to Varanasi Jn at 10.50 the next morning.

Try searching different options, remembering the following: -

Delhi-Varanasi is about 12 hours by train and has some very well timed overnight trains.

Mumbai-Varanasi (or Mughal Sarai, 16kms from Varanasi) is 24-26 hours by train.

Look for flights from Cochin to Mumbai or Delhi, try www.ixigo.com (though I'm finding that website slow these days)

For trains try www.erail.in

or for combinations, try www.90di.com (but come back and ask advice on any combination routes, as good as 90di is, it's still just a website, and a human brain is better for complex combinations, or just basik airport-train station times.)

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

mazha

Cochin to Delhi by Rajdhani, and then on to Varanasi by another Rajdhani. If I remember correctly, there is only one direct train, and it takes longer.

See this thread: varanasi to cochin via train? OUCH

steven_ber

Unfortunately, the Rajdhani is taking 5.5 hours longer to reach Delhi than the Kerala express is taking to reach Jhansi, it could be because the Konkan route runs a slower timetable during the monsoon season.

vsp27759

Dear flozimm,

I will be traveling from Cochin (Kerala) to Varanasi around the 12 August, and I'm short on time (I should meet some people in Varanasi as soon as possible).

##I assume you would like to depart from Cochin on 12th August

##Please note that 12th August, is WEDNESDAY.

##Please take 2512 from Ernakulam Junction, which departs at 9.30hrs. and arrives in Itarsi at 22.30 hrs. on Thursdays.

##The 1061/1065 (**daily) departs from Itarsi at 00.25 hrs.(Friday) and arrives in Varanasi at 14.15 hrs. (Friday).

##The total distance would be:
Ernakulam Jn.-Itarsi......2093Kms.
Itarsi-Varanasi............740Kms.
Total.....................2833 Kms.
--
Total journey time........53Hrs.
==========
##The 6359 ERS-BSB Weekly Express, the only direct train in the shortest route travels for 2761 Kms. and consumes 54 Hrs.

vsp27759

##The 2512 goes via Madras between KPD-GDR, amounting to 266 Kms., whereas 6359 goes via Tirupati (199Kms.)
---------
##In all fairness you will get 1061/1065, but these trains travel upto Chaapra/Muzafarpur, much ahead of Varanasi.

##You may also take 1071 Kamayani Express which terminates in Varanasi. But between Itarsi and Katni this travels via Bhopal, amounting to 493 Kms., whereas the direct distance via Jabalpur is 335Kms.

vsp27759

##1071 departs from Itarsi at 00.45 hrs. and arrives in Varanasi at 19.15 hrs.

flozimm

Thanks you very much for your informative reply! I am still hesitating between taking a flight (expensive) or the train, but now I know which ones I would have to take! Much appreciated!
See you,
Florian