India is known for its intricate train routes, there are thousands of trains and lakhs of people traveling by train simultaneously and all this is well co-ordinated. But there are a few things one needs to keep in mind before doing a train journey in India. Starting with booking the tickets to things to keep in mind while boarding … some basic points that would just make your trip better and easier.
Try and book in advance, but as travelers go things change plans change and hence that might not always work out, so booking tickets on the go could be a hazard as most trains are filled. So plan on weekdays so that the chance of getting confirmed births is higher. You can book your tickets in three ways one is the old school way – to go to the ticket counter and booking, where you will have to bear with long queues and fill up forms with details. You can also book Tatkal [ Immediate ticket booking – which is charged extra] which opens two days prior the day of departure.
The other way is t o book E-tickets, while booking e-tickets always bear in mind that if it is in waiting list and doesn’t get cleared the ticket is invalid and hence you will be thought to be traveling without a ticket. So ensure that you have a confirmed birth. So booking in Tatkal [ Immediate ticket booking – which is charged extra] in e-ticket is the best way, but Tatkal opens only 2 days prior to the day of departure.
The third way is to get it booked by travel agents, this could cost a bit more but is always easier and hassle free as they have some reserved quota which they can a lot to you.
The next set of tips are for safety.
Indian trains have loads of people all running here and there and loads of stops and very little security, so one should always keep these things in mind.
1. Carry cameras, costly equipments, laptops and cash separately and wear those bags on you at all times, or leave it with your co-traveler, don’t leave it around near the window and trust no one.
2. Put all your clothes and gadgets in plastic bags and then keep it in your bag, as the trains could be very dirty or the floors could be wet. This way it will also make sure no insects enter your clothes or gadgets.
3. Always carry hand sanitizers, toilet paper and your medicines. Except for drinks and flammable items there are no restrictions in trains.
4. Carry cotton pants and T-shirts, or even kurtas, even if you are traveling to a place with low degrees of temperature you will more than likely pass through regions which are hot, hence its always important to carry both light cotton wear and warm wear to most places.
5. Smoking and drinking is prohibited and you could fined if found smoking or drinking.
6. Food given on most trains is not that great, its always advisable to carry bread and suitable spreads, also note that some of the train stops are long and so you can actually get down and buy some good food from the station. So just look at the list of stops before heading on the journey.
7. Carry a pair of slip-ons /hawai slippers to wear inside the train, its way more comfortable and easy.
8. Go through this site for any concerns http://www.indianrail.gov.in/
Parinitha Konanur
Parinitha Konanur
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