Do you need train information?

steven_ber

Hi ahilyabhai & welcome to indiamike.com

The Shatabdi trains only run on a select few routes, Delhi - Jaipur/Ajmer and also Delhi - Kota (Jan- Shatabdi) being the only one's in Rajasthan.

You are right about the Delhi - Jaisalmer train, though the times have now changed slightly: -

Train 4059 departs Delhi (Sarai Rohilla) daily at 18:00 and gets to Jaisalmer at 12:45 the following day. (no need to change trains)

3A (3AC) = Rs 883 for an adult.


I would advise you to stick with 3A whilst travelling with 3 young kids, a few reasons for this: -

You want to do this part during the day, this can be difficult in Sleeper Class (the only class in most parts of Rajasthan without darkened windows), in Sleeper class, the outside doors are open for lots of the time, often with nobody sitting there, combine this with having to make sure the kids aren’t putting their alms through the bars that replace the windows, it could be a nervous trip.

During the day, there will often be extra people getting onto a Sleeper Class carriage, making it quite crowded, this does not happen in 3A.

Even when your travelling in 3A, you can walk down to a Sleeper class carriage take a seat (when available), or stand back from an open door so the kids can look outside, I would imagine that the railway attendant in your 3A carriage would prevent you opening the outside door if you had kids with you.

You can still see out of the windows if you travel in 3A., especially if you clean the inside and outside of the window, (if you hold your child firmly, they should be able to clean the outside whilst the train is moving, though generally it's easier to do this before the train departs. )


The direct train to Jaipur (train 4060) departs Jaisalmer at 16:15 and gets to Jaipur at 05:15 (3A = Rs 690)

Other than that, you will have to take the overnight train to Jodhpur then change trains to get to Jaipur.

Train 4809 departs Jaisalmer at 23:15 and gets to Jodhpur at 05:15 (3A = Rs 399)

Jodhpur is a nice place.

Train 4854 (M, Th, Sa.) and train 4864 (Tu, W, F, Su.) departs Jodhpur at 07:00 and gets to Jaipur at 13:00 (3A = Rs 420)

Check out Jasvilas hotel in Jaipur, it would be a good place for the kids and the owners will adjust their menu to give food the kids will enjoy, the swimming pool is a bit of a plus too.

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ahilyabhai

Hi Steven - thanks for this - so sounds like I take the overnight train 4059 from Delhi, and book us sleeping accomodation in Sleeper class 3A, and judging by your times I am infact going to need another overnight train rather than daytime back from Jaisalmer to Jaipur, so same class again. (is this right?) I checked the hotel link - it looks ideal - many thanks for your tip.

steven_ber

Forget Sleeper class 3A. (2 different classes of accommodation)

There is 3-tier air conditioned class (3A) (sometimes referred to as 3AC)(There are berths in these for you to sleep (and sit during the daytime).

Then there is Sleeper class (SL) (no air conditioning), less room that 3A, much cheaper, can be dirty.

There is only one train that travels all the way from Jaisalmer to Jaipur without having to change, there are no others that 'connect' in any way.

If you do not take the direct train from Jaisalmer to Jaipur, you will have to take another train to Jodhpur, get off the train and take a different one to Jaipur. there are train suggestions in the quote below.

One train I deliberately left out is a daytime train from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur (terminating at Jodhpur).

Train 1JPJ departs Jaisalmer daily at 06:45 and gets to Jodhpur at 14:15, this train only has second class (not air-con) unreserved accommodation, this is the next step down from SL class and the cheapest form of travel, if you manage to get a seat, keep it, don't get up.

Detailed information including photos of the above classes of accommodation

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

Indianmom

Hi !
My family which including 3 kids planning a trip to sikkim in June by train. Which is the best route and which places do U recommend seeing in Sikkim. Any Hotel suggestions or other travel tips would be appreciated too.
Thxs

SHIMLA

There is a direct train from Mumbai to New Jalpaiguri, the 5645 Dadar-Guwahati Express, which covers the distance of 2239kms. in 42.5 hours ! However, this reaches NJP at an odd hour:02=20.

From NJP its a rough 4 hours drive (125kms.) to Gangtok.

You can of course fly Mumbai- Kolkata; Kolkata-Bagdogra and then by road to Gangtok.

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steven_ber

Shimla's suggestion is probably the best option as it's direct, but there is another option, though changing trains with 3 kids would be an adventure in itself.

If you leave Mumbai on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday, the following option is possible.

Train 2951 departs Mumbai Central at 16:55 and gets to New Delhi station at 09:55 the following morning.

Train 2424 departs New Delhi station at 14:00 and gets to New Jalpaiguri at 11:10 the following morning.

Total journey time = 42.25 hours.


In June you would need to travel in one of the air-conditioned classes.

The direct train would cost (per adult) : -

Mumbai - New Jalpaiguri

2A = Rs 2267
3A = Rs 1436


Going via Delhi would cost: -

Mumbai - Delhi - New Jalpaiguri

2A = Rs 2210 + 2295 = Rs 4505
3A = Rs 1485 + 1535 = Rs 3020


Doesn't look to good, until you consider: -

1 - A 2-day (48-hour) Indrail pass for 2A (3A same price) would cost US$70 or Rs 3,062 (only Rs795 more than 2A on the direct train).

2 - The 2 trains used on the Delhi route are Rajdhani trains, these are India's premier trains and all meals are included in the price.

3 - The departure and arrival times are better if the Delhi route is used, you should also have a few hours in Delhi to stretch your legs get the paper and a chai.


On the other hand, 3A on the direct route is half the price of an Indrail pass.


Is an Indrail pass worth the money?

Detailed information including photos of the above classes of accommodation

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

ahilyabhai

got it - thanks very much!

steven_ber

Indianmom - Sorry, forget the Delhi option.

I just checked with S. D. Enterprises and found out that a 2-day Indrail pass starts at 00:01 on the first day, and ends at 23:59 of the 2nd. day.

This means that it can't be used for the route I suggested.

caster

[quote=steven_ber]Shimla's suggestion is probably the best option as it's direct, but there is another option, though changing trains with 3 kids would be an adventure in itself.

If you leave Mumbai on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday, the following option is possible.

I differ in the suggested Train route.The better option would be to take a train to Howrah Geetanjali EXP or Gyaneshwari EXP and get on the innumerable options from Howrah or Sealdah.

Leave Mumbai at 06.00 hrs at and reach Howrah at 1330 hrson day 2. Hop on to the Kamrup Express at 1735 hrs and get down at New Jalpaiguri at 0640 hrs. Take a rick or auto to the Siliguri Main bus Terminus(15 to 20mins).There are various options available and the rates are much reasonable for Maruti vans than at the NJP station.

The cheapest option is to take a bus from the Sikkim State Transport bus Stand, just opposite the Main bus stand for Gangtok. The next option is a Shared Jeep option, slightly faster than the bus. With 3 children I would prefer a Maruti Van from across the Bus terminus.

First week of June is OK but later, it starts raining in the hills.

caster

The cost of the Mumbai - Delhi - New Jalpaiguri for 2A or 3A or SL is as quoted if you take separate tickets for Mumbai - Delhi and Delhi- New Jalpaiguri. But if You fill in the reservation form in the following way it saves you a lot of money. So for the same travel route,I would prefer the reservation form to be written as:

-------------------------------------------------------
Train No.& Name:_________ Date of Journey:__________
Class:________ Berths/Seats:____________

From--Mumbai To - New Jalpaiguri
Boarding at:Mumbai Reservation Till: New Delhi

...........
..............
............

Onward/ Return Journey
Train No.________ Date of Journey:________
From: New Delhi To: New Jalpaiguri
.........
..........
The telescopic distance from Mumbai to NJP via Delhi is your actual cost and if you refer to the Rate chart at the back of the Trains at a Glance, you know how much you save.

Indianmom

Thxs for all the replies. I think the howrah option looks good.

caster

While in Gangtok, try the hotels on the higher reaches like Tibet Road, just above the Tourist Info Office. Neednt book in advance, the options are plenty. Personally I prefer the Kanchendzonga view rooms, slightly costlier but you can bargain even in the peak of summer.

Another Tip: If you prefer a car ride from Siliguri, look for a SK (for Sikkim) registration, they are always cheaper than the WB registrations.Maybe petrol is cheaper in Sikkim and these drivers are in a hurry to return back to Gangtok.

While in Sikkim, Gangtok (3days)-Yumthang(2days)-Ravangla(2 days) would be right.

ahilyabhai

Dear Steven

Re: my earlier post about the Delhi-Jaisalmer train - I have managed to register on the irtc site, checked availability etc, (25 left) got as far as the booking form, and then realised that there doesnt seem to be a way of guaranteeing that we (two adults and three young kids) will be in adjacent (vertically and horizontally) berths. I had hoped they would offer numbered berths so that you could select five clustered together - is this not possible? What do others do who are travelling with children? Any suggestions?

beach

Sorry for me bargging in ...

Go ahead and book. As default (if available) the booking will be done to the nearest seats/berths possible. Usually people get seats next to eachother or almost close to it. In any case you can swap your seats inside the train. Usually people (your co passengers) co operate....

The seat no. go far when the reservations are done late (ie. seats are allocated whereever the spare seats are available due to the cancellations). Even in that case also the 'sequence' is maintained....

Just book it, if you are planing to reserve....

ahilyabhai

Brilliant - thanks beach.