You can’t get disappointed with train travel in India, especially when varieties of food on trains are available on top journeys. Before boarding, checking your Online PNR Status helps you stay updated about ticket confirmation and coach details. Try the must-visit routes for a whole new experience with Indian Railways. It can improve your travel experience and offer different landscape visuals and natural beauty.

Indian Railways offers different terrains that can make your train journey more comfortable and calming. Not every train travel is full of such landscape visuals, but certain routes offer top journeys. Moreover, following some specific tips can help you avoid stress and make your train travel more comfortable and unforgettable.

If you are reading this, then you must be looking for the best train to travel in India​. This post will explore the must-visit routes to gather new experiences. It also offers tips like checking train running status, meals planning and others to avoid unnecessary travel challenges.

Best Railway Routes to Explore Divine Train Travel in India

Certain railway routes offer different landscapes and various scenic options. You can enjoy the natural landscapes when you travel by train on certain routes. Moreover, the preferred food on the train is like extra cheese on your grilled sandwiches. Seems Interesting! Wait, it’s not over yet.

You can also get your preferred dish from a large ocean of food options at more than 450 railway stations across India.

Must-visit Routes to Travel by Train for Top Journey

Preferring the best train app offers better service quality with an enhanced travel experience. So, check the top journey that you can enjoy based on interest and requirements and explore must visit places in India in winter.

Top Journeys & Must-Visit Routes

Mountain Route

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: It is a narrow-gauge railway in West Bengal that connects New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. It covers about 88 km and stops at the notable station Ghoom. It is the best train to travel in India​ because of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique engineering as a mountain railway. The train runs at 10km/h and offers a better scenic experience and historic journey through the Himalayan foothills.
• ​Kalka Shimla Railway: It is the most visited route and tourist hotspot. It is 96.6 km long and connects Kalka and Shimla through 18 stations, 103 tunnels and 800 bridges. Tourists enjoy this route because of the gorges, valleys and forests. Trains like Vistadome, Shivalik Deluxe and Himalayan Queen offer this route.
• ​Nilgiri Mountain Railway: This route offers sharp curves, tea gardens and tunnels and steep climbs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its engineering marvel connects Mettupalayam and Ooty. Its operational rack railway and scenic journey offer a stunning view of the Nilgiri Hills with 208 sharp curves. So, check your train seat availability via RailMitra before travelling in train to avoid long waiting or last-minute chaos.

Coastal & Scenic Routes

• Konkan Railway (Mumbai to Goa): It connects Mumbai and Goa with a challenging coastal route of 741 km. It covers Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka to make the route special. Konkan Kanya SF Express and other trains run in this route that takes around 11-12 hours. It offers stunning views, valleys, and traversing rivers, including the Western Ghats.
• ​Mandapam to Rameshwaram Railway: This railway route is most hilarious because the train runs over a sea-crossing terrain. Its route combines land and sea, which grabs tourists’ attention. So,  travelling by train between Mandapam and Rameswaram can be best to witness the mesmerising and breathtaking view. It crosses the sea through the Pamban railway bridge to complete the journey.

Desert Route

• Jaisalmer to Jodhpur Railway: This railway route offers flat desert with open sandy areas. It offers long visuals because of the flat and open field. Different trains run between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. It also crosses some towns such as Phalodi, Ramdevra, and Pokhran. The train’s travel ranges between about 4-6 hours.

Other Notable Route

Now, you can choose the best train to travel in India to cover other notable routes for a better experience. These famous train routes are as follows.

• Kashmir Valley Railway
• Metheran Hill Railway
• Island Express (Kanyakumari – Trivandrum)
• Kangra Valley Railway
• Chilka Route  (Bhubaneswar to Brahmapur)

Tips to Train Travel in India

The following tips offer better assistance to make train journeys more interesting, which are shared below.

• ​Advance Booking: Since these routes are famous among tourists. Therefore, you must book your ticket in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. Moreover, you can also pre-order food on trains from more than 2000 restaurants across India on more than 7000 trains with RailMitra. You can get your food delivery at 450+ stations.
• Pack smart: Check the train schedule with RailMitra or RailRestro to find the en route stations. It helps to pack your bag smartly. It allows you to understand your travel requirements and keep essentials even for the longest travelling train in India.
• Plan Your Meal: You can plan your meal with the all-in-one train app RailMitra. You can pre-order at the preferred station to enjoy your fresh and hot meals. Preferred meals or beverages have aesthetic vibes, especially when the route is interesting and scenic.
• Check Status: RailMitra & RailRestro both offer tools to check PNR status to find your journey details. It also helps to check the train running status and plan journeys accordingly. Checking PNR and train live status can keep you informed throughout the journey.
• Arrive Early: Reach the boarding station early to avoid any unexpected delay to reach the station. It can reduce stress and avoid the last-minute rush. So, plan your journey smartly and arrive at the boarding station earlier to reduce the risk of missing your train.
• Necessary Documents: Always keep the necessary documents for ease of access. You may be required to show your identity proof or ticket to TTE. So, keep the necessary documents and avoid any discomfort when travelling by train.

Classes – Train Travel in India

The train offers various classes for passengers’ comfort. However, class availability can vary according to trains. So, check information for the specific class and its qualities to make an informed decision for train travel in India.

First AC (1AC)

• Offered by Duronto, Rajdhani, and Some Mail/Express.
• The most expensive but luxurious class.
• Soft lightning, a curtain for privacy and a lockable cabin for 2 – 4 passengers.
• Less crowded and higher cleanliness, faster service.
• Premium bedding includes hand towel, bedsheet, pillow and soft blanket.
• Better safety for solo travellers, families, women or elderly people.

AC Two-Tier (2AC)

• Second-highest comfort with better cleanliness encourages passengers to travel by train.
• Pricing is about 50% higher than 3AC and lower than 1AC.
• Most trains offer curtains for privacy with 6 berths per bay, wider than 3AC.
• Quieter environment than 3AC.
• Few passengers with wide walkways.
• Ideal for families, solo travellers and elderly passengers.
• Offers blanket, bed sheet, pillow and hand towel.

AC Three-Tier (3AC)

• Most popular AC tier among Indian travellers.
• AC comfort with affordable pricing.
• Best for groups and families, students, and solo travellers.
• More crowded due to 8 berths per bay.
• No curtain but includes blanket, pillow, bed sheet for higher comfort.
• Charging points available to stay connected with the world.
• Train food order available with the RailMitra or RailRestro food app.

AC Three-Tier Economy (3EC/3E)

• Cheapest AC coach with 8 to 9 seats in the bay.
• Bedding like a pillow, blanket, and bed sheet included.
• Affordable and good for families, student groups.
• Charging ports are available, but no meals from the Indian Railway.
• Passengers can book food on train via RailMitra or RailRestro.

Executive Class Chair Car (EC)

• Top Tier AC Chair Car for day travelling in train.
• It is a business class Indian train offering superior legroom with extra-wide seats.
• It is available on Vande Bharat, Tejas Express, Shatabdi Express and others.
• Generally offers 2 x 2 layout for a comfortable ride.

AC Chair Car (CC)

• Standard AC seating class to travel from short to medium distance journeys.
• Good for families, students and office travellers.
• Offers a 3 x 2 seating layout, making more dense seating than EC.
• Overhead luggage racks, tray tables, comfortable pushback seats, and reading lights.
• Meals are available in premium trains like Vande Bharat, Shatabdi Express, and Tejas Express.

Sleeper Class (SL)

• Most affordable and popular among train passengers.
• Best for students, families, budget travellers, and pilgrimage groups.
• Natural ventilation through a window, a non-ac coach with a fan.
• Offers 8 berths per bay with no pillow, blanket or bed sheet.
• The crowd level is moderate to high with a higher noise level.
• Online food is available with train food delivery apps like RailRestro or RailMitra.

Second Seating (2S)

• Cheapest reserved class to train travel in India.
• Offers two types of coaches with AC (rare) and without AC.
• It has 3 x 3 seating with tight spacing and crowded aisles.
• Best for short travellers like students, office commute, short business travel.

General

• Cheapest coach but unreserved seating to travel.
• Overcrowded with standing passengers.
• Good for short distances.
• Not recommended for children, the elderly and solo women travellers.

Conclusion

Travel is the most affordable and comfortable way to visit different places in India. It offers various routes that you should visit. It may include the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for the mountain route and the Konkan Railway (Mumbai to Goa) for the coastal route, and many more. You can choose the best train to travel in India as per your interest. You can also follow the tips to make your train travel more comfortable and interesting. Smart packing, staying updated and arriving early can improve your journey experience and avoid last-minute chaos.

​FAQs

• Why travel by train in India?

You may consider different reasons for train travel in India. Some of these reasons are as follows.

• Affordable: Indian Railways offers cost-effective transport methods. You have the option to choose your class according to your budget.
• Scenic View: You can enjoy different landscapes from the window. Enjoy the best scenic view with snacks.
• Extensive Network: Indian Railways has a high network that offers different routes to reach different places.
• Space & Comfort: You can get better space and comfort during travel in comparison to other transportation mediums.

• How to book a ticket for a train in India?

Booking a ticket is necessary to travel in the Indian Railways. So, the following steps can help to book your train ticket.

• Reach out to the RailMitra official website.
• Click on “Train B/W Stations”.
• Fill out your boarding station and destination station and hit the “Check Trains” tab.
• Now, check the seat availability with RailMitra and confirm your train.
• Book your train ticket with Indian Railways either online or from the PRS counter.

• Is it safe to travel by train in India?

Yes, it is safe to travel by train in India. You just need to follow the Indian Railways rules in which some are followed.

• Always travel with a confirmed ticket.
• Avoid boarding running trains.
• Don’t stand or move around near doors on running trains.
• Keep your eyes on your language.
• Avoid eating from others.
• Connect with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) when you need help.

• Are meals available on trains?

Yes, you can place your meals with RailMitra or the RailRestro train app that have more than 2000 and 2500 restaurants partners respectively. They offer hot meals at more than 450 railway stations across India.

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• Do Indian trains run on time?

Indian trains have large networks that cause frequent maintenance on different tracks. It can cause delays. However, other reasons, like operational and weather conditions, also cause delays.​

• Is there luggage allowance on Indian trains?

Yes, Indian Railways offers luggage allowances based on class. So, you need to confirm on the Railways official website to know the luggage rules to travel in India.