Indian train
Sep 12th, 2004, 06:10 PM
#1
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Indian train
Could anyone please explain how different b/w 1A,2A,3A,SL,CC. If I'm booking for 2A/3A ticket, does it provide exactly seat/bed# ?
One more question, Had anyone ever try Camel safari in Jaisalmer? I interest to join 1 1/2 days tour+ an overnight at Thar desert. Please suggest tour which offer reasonable price with good service. Thanks in advance
One more question, Had anyone ever try Camel safari in Jaisalmer? I interest to join 1 1/2 days tour+ an overnight at Thar desert. Please suggest tour which offer reasonable price with good service. Thanks in advance
Sep 13th, 2004, 12:33 AM
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i think 2nd ac and 3rd ac is what 2a and 3a refer to. The difference is the number of sleeper berths in the compartment hence the space u have. i would however suggest u go to www.indiamike.com as the administrator did a detailed post on train travel in india recently. for your tour u can try mailing trade wings, www.tradewingstours.com, i went to Rajasthan with them earlier this year tho we did not do a camel safari.
Sep 14th, 2004, 12:34 AM
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CC - Chair Class - just a normal seat. Pretty comfortable for short journeys.
SL - Sleeper Class - three tier (three berths/beds stacked like bunk beds). Cheap, but not too comfortable on longer journeys.
3A - 3-tier A/C - like sleeper, but with air-con. You also get blankets and pillows.
2A - 2-tier A/C - More space as there are only 2 berths stacked in these carriages.
1A - First Class A/C - Never travelled in this class - the most expensive, but think it's the same as 2A, but with proper compartments with closing doors.
Another class that is great if you can find it (they are phasing this class out). If you don't like A/C it's lovely as you can open the windows and really appreciate the scenery.
You should pick the class according to your budget and also according to what kind of journey you want. You are far more likely to get some sleep in 2A or 3A than sleeper, but to really find out about Indian life on the trains, sleeper is the best.
As for camel safari's I think you should be looking to spend 700-1000RP per day which would include 3 meals and water. I did one in Jaisalmer recently, but won't recommend it as they completely ripped off some Canadians on our trip!
Good luck and have a great time.
SL - Sleeper Class - three tier (three berths/beds stacked like bunk beds). Cheap, but not too comfortable on longer journeys.
3A - 3-tier A/C - like sleeper, but with air-con. You also get blankets and pillows.
2A - 2-tier A/C - More space as there are only 2 berths stacked in these carriages.
1A - First Class A/C - Never travelled in this class - the most expensive, but think it's the same as 2A, but with proper compartments with closing doors.
Another class that is great if you can find it (they are phasing this class out). If you don't like A/C it's lovely as you can open the windows and really appreciate the scenery.
You should pick the class according to your budget and also according to what kind of journey you want. You are far more likely to get some sleep in 2A or 3A than sleeper, but to really find out about Indian life on the trains, sleeper is the best.
As for camel safari's I think you should be looking to spend 700-1000RP per day which would include 3 meals and water. I did one in Jaisalmer recently, but won't recommend it as they completely ripped off some Canadians on our trip!
Good luck and have a great time.
Sep 14th, 2004, 05:08 AM
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Hi, Jira!
Everything you could possibly need to know about Indian trains -- including pictures of the different kinds of compartments -- is on this website:
http://www.seat61.com/India.htm.
I found this through another forum, which is certainly worth your while to visit: www.indiamike.com.
The advice on that forum is that 3A class is value for money.
Everything you could possibly need to know about Indian trains -- including pictures of the different kinds of compartments -- is on this website:
http://www.seat61.com/India.htm.
I found this through another forum, which is certainly worth your while to visit: www.indiamike.com.
The advice on that forum is that 3A class is value for money.
Sep 14th, 2004, 07:39 AM
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Hi all
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Alan, the website was very useful. I could make decision when I saw picture.
Well, I had one more question (again)... If I reserve for 2A in daytime train (7:30AM - 02:00 PM), can I convert seat to berth ? ( if I booking both upper & lower ) Do I need to pay any extra ? Thanks.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Alan, the website was very useful. I could make decision when I saw picture.
Well, I had one more question (again)... If I reserve for 2A in daytime train (7:30AM - 02:00 PM), can I convert seat to berth ? ( if I booking both upper & lower ) Do I need to pay any extra ? Thanks.
Sep 14th, 2004, 03:06 PM
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Hi, Alice13!
In exactly 32 days and four minutes. I actually have longer in India than the time between now and when we leave. When that happens, I know my holiday is getting close and I'd better start doing some serious planning! I had a setback -- family crisis -- which threatened to sink the whole enterprise, so I went VERY quiet about it for about a month and a half; suddenly, the crisis seems resolved, and we're off and running again, with no time to lose!
My understanding, Jira, is that the 2A seats covert to berths whenever you want, but I confess I haven't read the website I gave you all that closely! You need to ask Steven Ber or one of the other experts on www.indiamike.com. There are some long-running threads on that site which will explain everything like that, so spend a half-day looking through them all (one is called "Understanding the Indian train", which sounds like it might have been written for you -- and me!
There are also some interesting threads about the camel safaris in Jaisalmer; apparently it's become a real tourist "thing", so you go on one and all you see are other tourists on other safaris all around you; however, there are one or two places that can organise safaris which go to areas where the others don't go, because they have semi-exclusive rights to these special routes. If memory serves, the Hotel Renuka gets a good press at organising these sorts of safaris. I have heard that you will be pressured to organise your safari through the hotel you're staying at, and, if you don't, the host might get quite cross; one traveller who got a better safari price down the street returned to find that his room was suddenly "pre-booked" by another guest, and he was told very sharply that he would have to go elsewhere!!
In exactly 32 days and four minutes. I actually have longer in India than the time between now and when we leave. When that happens, I know my holiday is getting close and I'd better start doing some serious planning! I had a setback -- family crisis -- which threatened to sink the whole enterprise, so I went VERY quiet about it for about a month and a half; suddenly, the crisis seems resolved, and we're off and running again, with no time to lose!
My understanding, Jira, is that the 2A seats covert to berths whenever you want, but I confess I haven't read the website I gave you all that closely! You need to ask Steven Ber or one of the other experts on www.indiamike.com. There are some long-running threads on that site which will explain everything like that, so spend a half-day looking through them all (one is called "Understanding the Indian train", which sounds like it might have been written for you -- and me!
There are also some interesting threads about the camel safaris in Jaisalmer; apparently it's become a real tourist "thing", so you go on one and all you see are other tourists on other safaris all around you; however, there are one or two places that can organise safaris which go to areas where the others don't go, because they have semi-exclusive rights to these special routes. If memory serves, the Hotel Renuka gets a good press at organising these sorts of safaris. I have heard that you will be pressured to organise your safari through the hotel you're staying at, and, if you don't, the host might get quite cross; one traveller who got a better safari price down the street returned to find that his room was suddenly "pre-booked" by another guest, and he was told very sharply that he would have to go elsewhere!!
Sep 20th, 2004, 12:42 AM
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Hey Jira - when u book a ticket in Indian Railways (1A, 2A, 3A, SL), u get a full 'berth' i.e. is the bunk. Normally in the daytime everybody sits eg in 2A, 4 people will sit facing each other (2 X 2), and at night u go to sleep on your own 'berth', but if u want to sleep during the daytime too, an upper berth is recomened as u can just climb up n go to sleep whenever u want to. During daytime avoid SL (non a/c) class as it becomes very crowded and India is on the warmer side. All reservations will be a berth, except CC, which denotes "Chair Car"- only good for short journeys. I stay in Delhi - so if u need any more details lemme know, glad to help ([email protected])
