Getting around India: Everything you need to know from trains to rickshaws
Getting around India can be an adventure in itself, with a multitude of transport options to choose from and sometimes confusing information. Travelling through India can range from a leisurely train ride through the countryside, to a bumpy rickshaw journey through busy city streets.
Buses offer a convenient and cost-effective way to travel long distances, while planes can be a practical option for covering greater distances in a shorter amount of time.
In this article, we try to cover as much as we can about travelling around India by yourself as well as some pointers about how to find the easiest way to book your tickets.
Trains:
Trains are a very convenient way to get around India. If you’ve read our North India Itinerary, then you know that 90% of transportation methods used to get between cities were trains.
What you need to know before booking a train ticket:
Train tickets can be purchased online or at train stations.
If you book your ticket online, book at least a few days ahead of your trip since it can sometimes take more than 24 hours to receive your ticket.
It is not necessary to have your ticket printed, you just have to tell the ticket controller your seat number and name, but keep you electronic ticket on hand just in case.
The cost of the ticket varies depending on what seating class you choose.
Air-conditioned classes are safer and cleaner than non-air-conditioned classes.
Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure at the train station to find your designated platform.
On your ticket, you will find also find your cart number like B2 or A1 (more information on how to read your train ticket below). These numbers are also shown on the platform so that you know where to wait for the train.
Expect delays. Leave plenty of time between your train ride and anything else you have planned since sometimes you can experience long delays. My longest delay was around 2 hours for a 4-hour long train ride. This is not a regular occurrence, but it’s best to take it into consideration.
How to read your train ticket:
Reading an Indian train ticket can be confusing at first, but you will get used to it with practice.
- PNR Number – a 10 digit number unique to each ticket that can be used to check the status of your booking.
- Train Number and Name – the train number and name that you booked your ticket under.
- Boarding Station and Destination Station – the station where you will board the train and the station where you will get off the train.
- Date of Journey – the date on which your journey begins.
- Class and Quota– the class in which you have booked your seat and the quota under which your seat has been reserved.
- Seat Number – the number of your seat or berth.
- Fare – the cost of your ticket.
- Booking Status – whether your ticket is CNF( Confirmed), RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) or WL (Waitlisted).
- Coach Number and Berth Number – the coach and berth numbers assigned to you. In the example below the coach number is A1 and the berth/seat number is 36. You can also find additional information about the berth/seat (if it’s upper, middle or lower) right after the number.
What are the different seating classes and what is the difference between them:
Here is a list of all the available seating classes and what they mean:
- AC classes*
- AC 3 Tier (3AC) – This is a higher class of seating available on Indian railways. It offers air-conditioned cabins with three-tier bunks.
- AC 2 Tier (2AC) – This class is similar to AC 3 Tier but offers slightly more comfortable and spacious cabins with two-tier bunks. Sometimes you even have a privacy curtain.
- First Class AC (1AC) – This is the most luxurious class of seating available on Indian railways. It offers private cabins with two or four berths, air conditioning, and meals.
*for all the AC Sleeper classes you have a pillow, a bed sheet and a blanket included in the ticket price.
- Non AC classes
- General Class – This is the cheapest class of seating available on Indian railways. It is also the most crowded and uncomfortable as there are no reserved seats.
- Second Sitting Class (2S) – This is one of the cheapest classes that Indian Rails has to offer. You will have to reserve your seat in advance.
- Sleeper Class (SL) – This class offers reserved seating and sleeping berths. It is still reasonably affordable and fairly comfortable. You will have to bring your own sheets and blankets as there are not provided.
Overall, since the cost of train tickets is fairly low, it’s safer and more comfortable to always book an AC Sleeper Class even for short trips.
Buses:
Buses are another convenient way to travel around India. While not as fast as trains, you may prefer this option to a train as there are fewer people but in some situations, you might have to take a bus as there may not be any other alternatives. Sometimes the bus will drop you off closer to your final destination so it isn’t definitely a mode of transport to consider.
Booking a bus ticket online
As opposed to booking train tickets online, when you book an online bus ticket, you will receive the confirmation instantly. You also have the option to reserve a specific seat. This is the website that I used for booking both bus and train tickets online.
When booking your ticket you will have to choose your pickup and drop-off point. Don’t worry if you chose the wrong drop-off point, you can hop off the bus at any other stop.
Ask your driver which stop is closest to your hotel, they are usually very nice and helpful.
Sometimes it can be a bit tricky to find the bus stop since it will literally be somewhere on a random street without any kind of markings. In this case, you can either call the bus company for more information or simply ask your rickshaw/taxi driver where you should wait. The latter one always worked well for me.
What types of buses you can book:
- AC Sleeper buses – these are nicer than most sleeper classes on trains and do offer more privacy, but what I personally disliked about buses is the driver’s abrupt breaking. This kept waking me up and so it was very difficult to sleep compared to on the sleeper trains. With sleeper buses, you will get a pillow, bedsheets and a blanket. You can book a single bed or a double bed if you’re travelling with someone. All beds have a privacy curtain and a reading lamp.
- AC Semi-sleeper buses – they have a standard seating bus layout, but the seats recline. These are a good option for shorter trips as you can also take a nap.
- AC Seater buses – standard seating bus. A good choice for short trips as they are the cheapest of the 3 options.
Rickshaws
By far the most popular and cheapest way to get around India is the rickshaw, especially for short distances.
In order to get around India with a rickshaw, the first step is to hail one on the street or simply use the Uber app to order one.
If you take one on the street negotiate the fare with the driver before getting in, as fares are not metered and can vary depending on the distance and time of day. As with taxis, you can use the Uber app to check how much the price would be to your destination.
It’s recommended to have small denomination notes or coins to pay the fare. Make sure to hold on tight during the ride as rickshaws can be bumpy and navigate through traffic quickly.
Keep in mind that rickshaws are best suited for shorter distances and it’s not recommended to rely on them for long journeys or during rush hour traffic. Overall, taking a rickshaw can be a fun and authentic way to experience Indian transportation.
Taxis | Ride sharing apps
Taxis
You will find taxis literally on every corner in India. They are usually the most expensive option since the drivers set the price and they will try to get as much out of you as possible.
If you do find yourself in a position where you have to take a taxi from the street try to make them run the meter as that is the correct price. If not, be sure to negotiate the final price before you get in the car.
The easiest way to find out what you should be charged is to see how much Uber, or any other ride-sharing app, would cost and try and negotiate as closer to that price as you can. Sometimes I would show them how much the ride-sharing costs and simply say that I’ll wait for an Uber because he’s asking for too much. Most of the time they would then lower their asking price.
Be sure he understands exactly where you need to go since they will sometimes try and say that they understood you need to go to a different location and will ask for more money. If this happens just stand your ground and pay what you initially agreed upon.
Uber
Uber is the cheapest and most convenient ride-share option available in India as you can pay by card in the app. Nevertheless, always have some cash with you since sometimes for whatever reason the app told me that I had to pay in cash for certain rides (for example from Delhi Airport to my hotel).
Ola
Ola is a ride-sharing app that works just like Uber. It is slightly more expensive, but they generally have better cars. The only downside is that you have to pay cash since you need an Indian card to pay in the app
GoaMiles
In some areas of India Uber and Ola are not available. This is the case with Goa. Here you can use GoaMiles which has the same logic behind it as any other ride-sharing app. With GoaMiles you will also have to pay in cash.
Author
