booking trains/flights

Could anyone please tell me how far ahead it is necessary to book flights/train journeys? I want to keep my plans loose but dont want to end up without a seat. I am going to Agra on May 1st and then at some point between 9th and 13th May I am wanting to go by train from Agra to Hyderabad and then fly back to Delhi. If possible I want to leave decision until about a week before. Is this feasable?

Dificult question, but i think the answer depends like always in the number of people that decide to flight the same day as you or take the train. For example other thing you should think about is the fare you want t pay for the plane also, foe example, with spicejet the more yo take to buy the ticket the fare is more expensive...
Trains around Agra are almost always full, i had to go through Tundla wich is about 20 kilometres from Agra..
Dificult question i would say again, hope i helped you!

I think the question is quite easy to answer ! The answer is an emphatic NO! Its NOT feasible to book your trains just a week in advance from anywhere to anywhere in the month of May in India. Please book now(actually 60/30 days in advance of the journey date)!

Another thing that u could perhaps look at is the 'Tatkal' service which I'm sure would be outlined somewhere in http://www.indiamike.com/india/forumdisplay.php?f=10 perhaps this thread could be of help
http://www.indiamike.com/india/showthread.php?t=4305 . In case if u don't get any answers from this another thing u could try is http://irfca.org where in the archives where most of these queries/procedures are explained. Google+irfca.org is answer to almost any queries on Indian railways

Bokign a week in advance is a joke..
u won't get anythign less than RAC 500 or sumthign liek that.
since u'll be travellign around may, i think best is to book abotu 1 1/2 mnth or 2 mntsh in advance..(usually bookings are done not more than 2 mnths in advance..i think so..)

as for teh flights..i dont think u'll have a prob if u hoose to fly down..

dat have u tried the 'Tatkal' service. It's more expensive than the normal fare but in emergencies or even otherwise one can use that. Of course it would make sense for lone to have a more flexible plan as India has the habit of breaking/making new plans.

Thanks.:.. I did consider having an agent in India do the booking for me and have the tickets delivered to the hotel.. but thier prices are way above.. so am back to the drawing board .. so thanks for info.. very helpful.. appreciation...

It's not difficult, you know the day you want to travel to Agra, so book the train NOW and print the ticket on your home computer.

Next, either choose a day to go to Hyderabad by train and book it now (print at home), or fly to Hyderabad and get the train back, I assume you know what day you need to leave Hyderabad.

Oh if only it were that simple!!! I have spent all day trying to book a rail IRTCR I did the registration, AND found the correct codes to put in for HYD and AGRA (HYB and AGA but so slow.. and i waited and waited..
and waited...and I am still waiting.... But I WILL keep trying

Do keep trying only at the right times (from early morning 4am IST to 11pm IST only) between which you can make the bookings or find train related information. I agree sometimes the site is very slow as there are a lot of users all the time and it takes up a lot of server space and time so it slows things down a lot. Hope you get your tickets soon. Best of luck with your tickets and travels in India too. May all your travel dreams come true!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

yup aadil is right about the 4-11 a.m. as well as the no. of concurrent users using the service. Patience has it virtues as all things Indian

yes, I have to keep reminding myself that I am nobody going nowhere.. so whats the rush...patience..patience.. patience...

NDLS = New Delhi
NZM = Hazrat Nizamuddin (also Delhi)

AGC = Agra Cantt

HYB = Hyderabad
SC = Secunderabad (another station for Hyderabad, more trains)

wot.. more stations !!!

well, it gets more complicated by the minute..

Hello All,
This thread has got me a little worried. I was hoping to leave the train ticket purchasing to when I got to India. Although I have 3 months and am very flexible my mother will be with me for only 3 weeks. I was hoping to leave the itinerary loose. As I dig deeper it seems clear that I should buy the tickets to Agra and my next stop out of Delhi at least. In general how far ahead are the trains to major cities booked. Is it imperitive that I purchase major train rides weeks ahead even if I am a bit flexible? The tickets I have in mind are Delhi-Agra-Delhi, Delhi-Varanasi, Varanasi-Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun-Shimla, Shimla-Delhi. Some of these connections might be better by taxi (Dehra-Dun-Shimla except for the toy train). I am open to suggestions. I will be arriving in Delhi on April 4th.
Thanks