It’s a gloomy afternoon and the cable is gone. Your next door neighbors are touring Europe on the Eurail and you are frustratingly jealous. Had it not been for the pile of unpaid bills on your table, you too would have joined them on a weeklong vacation in the Alps.

Well, here’s a chance for you to have some great time with your family at a cost that would leave you within your budget. Train journeys in India are not only cheap and all inclusive, they are also the best way to get a taste of the diversity that India has always been known for.

From luxury trains to legendary mountain railways, from backpack travels to pan subcontinent sagas, with train journeys in India you are in for a roller-coaster ride through one of the most picturesque countries in the world.

Read on to find out more about train journeys in India that would get your friends and neighbors to say: “Why didn’t I think of it before!”

Trains in India

Nearly a century and half after the first passenger train was flagged off from Mumbai to Thane, Indian railways have become the lifeline of the Indian subcontinent. Train journeys are still considered the best way to explore the “real India”, beyond the symbols of mysticism - snake charmers and cow-worshippers; Taj Mahal and Khajuraho; saints and their bizarre rituals.

Variety

Train journeys through India have inspired many writers and wannabe artists since time immemorial. It is only here that you find narrow gauge co-existing with broad and meter gauge tracks. Feats of engineering are for all to see on a spiraling journey through the raw Himalayas; or on a passage back in time to the Thar Desert. Or, in the densely forested Konkan belt where mobile service is yet to take hold.

Sightseeing

Through the tea estates, over the colonial bridges, past the mist that gets you breathing easy, trains take you to the soul of India. The trains stop occasionally at scenic spots for you take a whiff of the scents that drift through the woods and plantations. You can enjoy a wealth of visual stimuli from the steps of the moving trains and taste the changing flavors of local dishes and tea. Alternatively, you can enjoy the refreshing view from the comforts of your cabin on a luxury train.

Facilities

While the refreshing trails form the highlight of train journeys in India, the lack of basic modern facilities can put off any seasoned traveler. Precisely why Indian Railways offers the following services:

• Air-conditioning
• Toilet facilities
• First-class restaurant cars
• Pantry cars
• Stopovers for sightseeing
• Online reservations
• Medial assistance
• Waiting rooms at stations
• Retiring Rooms, Dormitories, and Rail Yatri Niwas for accommodation
• Cloak Room for luggage storage and safekeeping
• Self-help trolleys at the stations for shuttling luggage
• Stretchers and wheelchairs available at major stations or on request
• Book shops, Chemists, Eateries at the stations
• Tourist Information Centers and Post Offices at the stations

Classes

For ease of selection and planning, trains in India can be classified under the broader headlines - Luxury Trains, Mountain Trains, Cross-Country Trains, Heritage Trains and City Trains.