Trains in India

I am making my third journey to India in a couple of months. I am interested in taking a train from Chennai to Goa...........any tips or hints anyone? I've tried looking online......the India Rail web page is a nightmare for me!!

 

Go to the main station in Chennai. They will most likely have a tourist ticket counter and you should just buy your ticket there.
And usually the people there are really friendly and eager to help you out.
I always take the sleeper class. It is cheap, comfortable enough and you will never be bored.

Make sure to keep your belongings close to you. If you take a night train, go for the upper berth. Specifically ask for it and fill it in on the form you get at the ticket counter.
You have a bit more privacy there and you can take the most important things up there with you.

Happy journey!

 

Thanks for your advice! I'm traveling with two others. Do you know if it's possible to have some kind of arrangement so that we are all together??

 

Yes that is very well possible. Just tell the guy at the ticket counter and he will make sure you are all together.

 

Again my thanks.

Have you done much traveling thru India?

 

Quite a bit. I have been there 3 times, I think over 10 months in total.
I just love India.
What parts of India have you been to?

 

So far I have spent time in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Agra, Chennai and Goa.

Do you have any recommendations? It is my hope to eventually be living there, so I am trying to get a bit of a feel for the whole country.

 

I do not really have any recommendations. It depends on your interests really.
Personally I enjoyed my time in the north. From the northeastern states to the complete northwestern Himalaya area.
And the rest of India I liked too, so it is hard to recommend something really.

And although I really love India, I don't think I could ever live there.

 

Why do you think you could never live there?

 

Because I think it is hard to be part of another culture, you will always be an outsider.

 

the railways in india arent so bad actually.
the online booking is MUCH better than actually going to the station to book tickets. theres ALWAYS a huge crowd at the station to book tickets.
so try getting used to the website.

 

one thing about india. or any other place actually. if its not home, its not going to feel like home unless u make it home. there are a lot of ppl from all over who live here and love the place. its jus how u make urself feel.