Mumbai - Kolkata and back

Swe_Mats

Hello everyone!
I'm planning to go se my father in Singapore this summer and I thought that it would be nice to take a two mouth visit in India as well. My last time is India, and my first, was very exiting. I've been around the world, but the train travels in India is so much fun and intresting. So, this time I'm going to focus on the trainsrides. Please comment if you think I don't have the time (the trip is divided into two one month visits). And please give me advides if there are any more scenic rides on the way.

I have planed the trip as foloows:
Mumbai - Jaipur
Jaipur - New Delhi
New Delhi - Dharamsala (Do I have to change anywhere on this journey)
Dharamsala - Varanasi (Is it possible with a direct train here? or do I have to change in Delhi?
Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling (On the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)
Darjeeling - Gangtok (I am not sure, is it worth visiting Gantok?)
Darjeeling - Dhaka (Can I go to dhaka from north af Bangladesh in an easy way? or is it better to go from Kolkata??
Dhaka - Kolkata.

Then I'm getting back to Kolkata after a short visit in Singapore

Kolkata - Port Blair (I'm not sure of this one either. Is it worth spending 6 day at sea to go to here?)
Port Blair/ Kolkata - Chennai
Chennai - Bangalore
Bangalore - Cochin
Chochin - Madgaon
Madgaon - Hampi (heard that this trips should be beautiful, is it?
Hampi - Madgaon
Madgaon - Mumbai (Also heard that this is a beautiful trip.

Any good advices? Do I have the time to do it? Is it possible to go on the train form the Darjeeling Limited, or is the just a fiction train?

Many thanks
Mats

nayan

Please find my reply below

Swe_Mats

Thanks Nayan!

Where can I cross between India and Bangladesh? I would prefer to do this by train. Is Kolkata - Dakka the only option then?

Is bus the only way to get to Gangtok?

nayan

For train - kolkata - dhaka is only option
look at the news story below.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/107032...ry_7572550.asp

you can get to gangtok by shared jeeps.

vsp27759

Dear Swe Mats,

You need to divide your entire trip in four portions instead of two, and most preferably, it would help you, if it is a circular one.
--------
Kindly decide the date of commencement of your trip and number of days proposed to be spent at each of these places.
----
If you can do this, you will know by yourself whether this looooooooooooong trip within a duration of two months is possible or not.:-)
====
##By the way, you have the powers to carry out as many amendments as possible to your Travel Plan by yourself.
======
Coming back, Dharmashala is NOT Indian Railway system. So, you have to come down to Chandigarh, which is connected to Mughalsarai & Allahabad with daily train service.
==========
Your Plan:

Chennai - Bangalore
Bangalore - Cochin
Chochin - Madgaon
Madgaon - Hampi
Hampi - Madgaon
Madgaon - Mumbai

##To avoid fatigue, this could be modified as
Chennai-Madurai-Trivandrum-Cochin-Bangalore-Hospet (**nearest rail-head for Hampi)-Madgaon-Mumbai. This trip is possible by train. I have added Madurai (**nearest rail-head for Kodaikanal & also famous for Meenakshi Temple)

Swe_Mats

Thanks for the reply vsp27759!

As I said in the beginning, this trip is mainly to go by rail, not to stay at long periods of time at different places. But since I don't know exactly how easy it is to change or how often trains depart from different places, I thought people with more expertise than me, for example you, could help me!

I know it is a long trip, but I have already been to Goa, Kolkata, Varanasi, ND, Mumbai etc etc, but didn't spend much time on the rails. Last time I fell in love with the indian railway system, and after reading about scenic railways here on indiamike, I thought that I wanted to go by train as much as possible this time, and to go through the most beautiful landscape!

If you have any good tips of places to go near my rout, feel free to make a comment, I am more than happy to get advices!

steven_ber

The Dhaka-Kolkata train only runs on Saturdays and Sundays in both directions.

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



Train information.

Swe_Mats

Mumbai - Udaipur
Udaipur - New Delhi
New Delhi - Dharamsala (Delhi - pathankot - Kangra (Kangra Valley railroad) then Bus to dharamsala)
Pathankot - New Delhi
New Delhi - Varanasi
Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)
Darjeeling - Dhaka (Moitree Express)
Dhaka - Kolkata.

Kolkata - Chennai
Chennai - Bangalore
Bangalore - Mysore
Mysore - Cochin
Cochin - Madgaon
Madgaon - Hampi
Hampi - Madgaon
Madgaon - Mumbai

My new questions are:
1. Is it poosible to go by train from Pathankot to Varanasi?
2. Can I go straight from mysore to Cochin by train or do I have to take a bus?