India is a country that a lot of travelers, even the most seasoned, are a bit nervous about navigating before setting foot and for good reason. India is big! Not only is it one of the largest and most populated countries in the world, India also has a very broad range of cultures and lifestyles that most other parts of the world would find drastically different. But all the things that make India an intimidating destination are the very things that make it an amazing place to travel and experience.
Why Book a Train Ticket?
If you really want to experience India, the best way to get from point to point is via train.
Reason #1: It's cheap.
For a 10 hour ride it can cost as low as $4 if you don't mind taking the "Sleeper Class." The First Class AC tickets will cost significantly more, but still half the price of what a flight would cost. The more luxurious train cars will be more comfy and spacious, but the economy class is great for meeting and talking with locals.
Reason #2: You get to see the country along the way.
It's a rare occasion in India to find yourself all on your own with a comfortable amount of personal space. Most of the time, you'll be surrounded by crowds of people constantly bumping into you. The roads are flooded with people, cows, rickshaws and anything else with feet or wheels. So it's really a breath of fresh air to gaze out on the fields and empty spaces that you'll see during a train ride.
Reason #3: It's time efficient
Taking a private vehicle or bus takes way too long in a country like India because there are often so many people and vehicles clogging up roads that you don't end up going very fast.
Train station in New Delhi.
Reason #4: Hassle free compared to other modes of transport.
No arriving two hours before. No security lines to stand in. Unlike airports, train stations are usually located quite centrally.
Organizing transport by bus or minivan is also more complicated as you'll have to sort through and negotiate with various private companies or drivers. With the train, there's only one fixed price for each class.
Reason #5: You'll have tons of experiences before you even arrive at your destination.
You'll have the opportunity to have all sorts of encounters with locals and create amazing memories on the train itself. Like any other real and authentic exchanges, that means you'll have some good, some not so good. But any bad experiences are more so just inconveniences like another passenger taking up too much space, snoring like your dad does or other minor annoyances. I personally always felt safe on every train ride because there are always so many people around.
Indian people are very friendly, warm, talkative, and not afraid to say what's on their mind. There will be plenty of opportunities to chat with locals. People are generous and it's quite common to have families asking you to join them and share their food and company with you.
Foot traffic along a pedestrian bridge connecting all tracks.
How to Organize Your Train Travel
If you have a fixed amount of time to travel in India, and a very clear idea of an itinerary, then it's best to book your train tickets online a few months in advance. The website is: https://www.irctc.co.in. Booking online is the only way to guarantee you'll be able to stick to a strict itinerary using train travel. Especially if you are planning to travel during an Indian holiday or festival, normal online tickets will be all gone two months ahead of time.
If you are not one to plan things in advance but still want to travel by train, you might be in luck. A few seats on every train are put aside for Foreign Nationals; basically any tourist that has a non-Indian passport. When I arrived in India, I didn't buy any of my train tickets online ahead of time, but I almost never had any problems getting one of the tourist allocated tickets. One time I did have to wait an extra day and some of the travel times were far from optimal, but overall I was very pleased by how smoothly it all went.
If you decide you want to buy train tickets as you go, you shouldn't have any problems getting one of those extra Tourist allotted spots, but I'd still recommend getting your tickets as soon as you do know your departure dates, even if that's just a day or two in advance. It may be the difference between having to wait an extra day longer than expected or getting the more conveniently timed ride.
To book your tickets while in India, just go to any decently sized train station and ask around for the right counter to queue in. They'll give you a form to fill out and you can get a ticket from any Indian city to any other one. They'll look it up on their computer system whether there are any seats free.
If you start your travels in New Delhi, there is a particularly helpful office that made booking very effortless on the second floor of the New Delhi Train Station. I would advise booking as many unbooked tickets there as you can. All the other train stations can get the job done later but with a bit more hassle, since agents in smaller cities won't be as experienced when it comes to dealing with foreigners.
Additional Reading
You can read about some great places to visit here:
7 Places to Experience Authentic India.
