sessa

We are looking at taking the Hampi Express train from Bangalore in August. I have never taken an overnight train in India so am curious about the different classes. My preference would be to take First AC since I have a heck of a time sleeping anywhere but my own bed, but it appears availability is limited and there are 6 of us traveling together.

Is there a big difference between First AC and Second AC? How about the bathrooms in each? How big are the sleeping compartments in each class?

Thanks!

Cicerone

I can’t speak for every night train in India, but my understanding of the difference between 1 AC and 2 AC is that 1AC is a separate, lockable compartment. 2AC is an open plan car with many beds, which are in curtained-off areas on either side of the aisle. It is not separate compartments like you would find on European trains. In either 1AC and 2 AC, the toilets are common at the end of the car. In my experience, they are OK, not great, but for one night really you can survive. I believe some 1AC compartments have a sink in them, but not, to the best of my knowledge, their own toilet.

1AC would give you perhaps a bit more room for luggage and to move around, and more privacy, but I believe the actual size of the bunks are the same in 1AC and 2 AC. I am not sure that a lockable compartment makes a big difference, unless you are traveling with valuables which you can’t keep under your pillow (like a camera). (And that of course would beg the question as to why you are taking the train.)

If you go with 1 AC, they come in 2-bed and 4-bed configurations. You make a reservation for the train, but your compartment is not assigned until the day of the train, which are then assigned based on the mix of people traveling that day. Married couples are given preference for the 2-beds. But if there are six of you, there may be a good chance that at least 4 of you would be together. And if at least 2 are married, perhaps you can apply for a 2-bed as a married couple, and then a 4-bed for the rest of you. But then again, for one night the 2 AC may be fine.

dogster

http://www.seat61.com/India.htm

Jaya

I pass on the overnight trains because they are harder to sleep in than any unfamiliar hotel room! Even first class, although nicer, is still a train. You feel all the motion and jerking of any train ride all night long.

If you have to share a 4 bed compartment with two other strangers, nothing is big enough! It's very strange to have a total stranger in a berth just a few feet away. Also, if sharing, you must sleep with your valuables under the covers with you (laugh if you want, but don't say you weren't warned).

The compartments may have a sink, the you have to go down the hall to the standard Indian train bathroom.

Fly if you can. I personally find overnight trains, regardless of the class, a last resort.

inquest

If you are'nt comfortable travelling in a overnight train nor done it before (it was nightmarish,I was exhausted the following day- as jaya put it,I'll go a step further,loud snores,filthy loo was pretty traumatic)try the day train-Yeswantpur Shirdi Garib Rath Special/0685, which leaves Bangalore(Yeswanthpur junction) at 7:30am & reaches Hospet at 15:30
the link:http://indiarailinfo.com/train/1843/997/506
I found travelling daytime, in India, by train a fantastic experience.

sessa

Thanks so much for your replies and helpful info! When I read Cicerone and dogster's replies I was optimistic about the overnight train experience, but, after reading Jaya and inquests's responses, I'm not so sure. The advantage of the overnight train is that it maximizes our time while traveling during the day would totally kill two full days. Then again, if we are total zombies after the train ride, the next day will be shot anyway. Flying does not appear to be an option.

I am not worried about me, but my mom is traveling with us and being that she has only traveled outside of the U.S. maybe twice, I am concerned that she will complain the entire time. If we could get a 2-bed and 4-bed compartment that would be perfect, but it sounds like this is no guarantee.

We may need to reassess a side trip to Hampi. Thanks again for the info!

Jaya

Also, as you plan any train travel be aware that train platforms and stairs are very dimly lit (by western standards)if you arrive or depart in the evening/very early morning.

Keep a purse sized flashlight with you (a good quality one with a bright light beam).

dogster

Are you rich, sessa? You could go on this:
http://theluxurytrains.com/version/1....yes/index.htm

I did. It's great. You won't have to hide your valuables in your bed on this. No snoring strangers... unless you get particularly lucky.

Cicerone

Yes, a tough call with your mother on the night train. I am fairly sure my mother could not handle a night train in India. It is possible that your mother’s age may qualify you for the 2-person berth, but that is a guess on my part more than anything. But worth a shot, as you do usually have to give your age when making a booking. You could also drive from Bangalore to Hampi, my guess is that it would be about 6-7 hours.

I agree that if you have the option of a day train, I would take it. First of all, you can see the countryside and meet people, which really the point of taking the train. Secondly, you don’t have to try to sleep, change into pajamas (or sleep in clothes), etc. It is a lot easier to take day trains. It is just that sometimes for longer distances it does not work. However, if it works for your schedule, you might consider it. I did not mention it as you only asked about the night train.

But from looking at your other message, it seems that you only have 2-3 days for a journey outside of Bangalore. If that is the case, I would think that bookended day trains or drives to Hampi would take up all that time. I also think that basically consecutive night trains would not be that much fun either. Night trains are OK if you can spread them out over a trip, IMO. Doing them that close together is pretty tiring even for younger people, even in a place like Europe where the cars are a bit more comfortable and you can buy an entire car for yourself.

I assume you are already planning on going to Mysore, which can be done as a day trip, although it is a little easier to do as an overnight. However, with good planning and a bit of stamina, you can do it as a day trip. I would probably drive in that case to give you more flexibility with the schedule.

Some other places to consider which are an easy flight from Bangalore would be Hyderabad, Chennai or Madurai. The flights all take about an hour. These will all be fairly hot, and a bit rainy (however not really that much, and far less than Goa or parts of Kerala in August, see weather websites), but quite interesting and perhaps you have not been to these places before. Hyderabad would be a good contrast to Bangalore, as it has a heavy Muslim influence; there are several good museums and the Golconda fort to visit. Madurai is simply amazing and may be a good substitute for Hampi. Chennai has a nice beach and some colonial areas, and several good museums. Chennai and Hyderabad would then offer easy access to Mumbai (for Madurai, you would have to connect through Bangalore or Chennai).

If you wanted to choose a beach on the west coast, I would probably say that Trivandrum would be the least rainy, as the monsoon would have moved north by that time, and they should be getting less rain than northern parts of Kerala and than Goa and north India. It’s relative, and I think you would still have rain, but less so than Goa and probably less than Cochin. The east coast, like beaches south of Chennai would be drier, but that is harder to reach by air from Bangalore (there is a night train to Pondicherry). I have to say that having taken two trips to Goa for work recently during the rains, I am falling in love with the south in the monsoon, but realize that it may not be the ideal trip for everyone. You have to give up the concept of beach or pool time, and really just learn to enjoy the green and the wet. If you can, then Goa may be a good choice. You certainly can look at churches in the rain, wander old Goa and eat good food! (I am not entirely sure that the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat in the rain would hold quite the same charm for me. But it is certainly lush and they have good food too.)

If this were my trip, I would not spend any time in Mumbai. You have such a short trip anyway, so why waste 24 hours of it in Mumbai, a good bit of which will be spent in transit to and from the airport or in traffic trying to “sightsee” in Mumbai. I would try to work out your flights so that you arrive into Mumbai just to transfer to your international flight. You need about 3 hours between flights to have a comfortable cushion, IMO, although the actual transfer takes less time. This will require changing airports, but that is easy to do, and much more pleasant than schlepping yourself and baggage to a Mumbai hotel only to have to repeat the exercise the next day.