Exploring the Heartbeat of India, One Train and Bus Ride at a Time
Ever thought of riding through India’s heartland, sandwiched between a local family carrying a home-cooked feast, with the scent of chai wafting through the air? What about having your forgotten Iphone couriered to you by the bus driver you rode with? Welcome to the Indian railway and bus experience my friends – where every journey promises an adventure, a new friend, or at the very least, a story worth telling.
The Basics
The first thing you need to know about travel in India, actually anywhere you’re planning to visit, is how to navigate the transport system. You’re definitely going to want to see as many places in this amazing country as you can, and the distances between cities can be vast. If you’re backpacking India on a budget, that means trains and buses. Sure, you can fly between most major cities in India (and some minor ones), but flying is for wimps. Plus, you wouldn’t get to experience the bewildering and chaotic marvel of its train system or the wild and unpredictable bus network.
In the five weeks since I came to India, I’ve taken trains from Varanasi to Agra and Jaipur to Jodhpur, and five bus trips including a 12-hour night bus from Mumbai to Goa. I’ve also cheated twice with flights, but nobody’s perfect, and in my defence I was travelling with my 67-year-old mum at the time.
India can be unforgiving for many reasons, and its transport is no exception. I know this from experience. So here’s what you need to know to travel in style. No stress, only zen (mostly).
Booking Buses and Trains
India is a country of contradictions. On the one hand, the Kafkan levels of bureaucracy can drive you crazy. Want to use the official national train website so you can book a train online in seconds? No chance.
Need a SIM card? That’s going to be a problem too…unless you can find an Indian national as a reference.
But you want to book buses with your phone and track the bus in the app? Yep, India has you covered! (RedBus) Need to know where the train is so you don’t have a panic attack trying to get off at the right stop? There’s an app for that too. (ConfirmTKT) Combine these with the train/bus booking website 12go.asia, and you’ve got your ticket to stress-free journeys.
RedBus
I was recommended this app in an Indian Backpackers Whatsapp group, and it’s made my life so easy when I need to find how to get from A to B super cheaply. Buses tend to be slightly cheaper than trains if you book 2nd class or above (more on that later), so if you’re really on a shoestring budget, you’ll want to download this app immediately. The interface is really user friendly, you can load your international card for payment, and the app will send you text confirmations with bus tracking links to make your life so much easier.
The Redbus app simply requires you to enter your start and end points, the date and then it shows you a list of options. See the screenshots below to check out the interface:
From here you simply choose your bus. You can see the ratings for the bus routes, which can help in avoiding bad ones, and you can see whether it’s AC and Sleeper. If you click on the bus option, you can even scroll down and see pictures of the interior and exterior of the bus you’re taking!
Once you’ve selected your desired bus, choose your seat, then choose your pick up location and drop off location from the list.
Pro Tip: Unless the first pick up location is really inconvenient compared to other options, always choose it. That way you can get to the bus stop early and check that the bus is there waiting to begin its journey. You also get to situate yourself for maximum comfort before everyone else boards.
Next enter the passenger details. Once you’ve entered them the first time, you can simply select from the list. Then enter your contact details. They’ll text and email the ticket confirmation and (in most cases) a link to track the bus closer to the time of departure. Then choose whether you want to insure the trip in case of cancellation (it’s really cheap so I’d recommend doing this). Then proceed to the payment, which supports international credit and debit cards. Yay!
Other nice features of the RedBus app are its ability to reach out to the support team 24/7 in case of any issues. The app also texts you the driver’s number so you can call directly. This means having an Indian SIM is essential (see the relevant blog post on how to do this).
12go.asia – India Train Ticket Booking
If you need to book a train ticket in India and you’re not an Indian national, 12go.asia is your solution. This website sells all types of transport tickets across South-East Asia and the Sub-Continent, and I’ve used it in all six countries I’ve visited so far.
Pro Tip: Try to book your train ticket at least a week in advance to ensure that you have options. Tickets sell out quite far in advance, so don’t get trapped by lack of forward planning.
12go.asia is also extremely easy to use. Simply enter your start and end points, the date, and click search. Then select your option and go to pay. This site also supports international card payments.
You can click ‘Show Options’ next to each train to see the different classes with accompanying pictures.
Sleeper Class (SL)
This is the cheapest. For this, you don’t get the luxury of AC and the seats on the lower level serve as just that for everyone in the carriage. Be aware that if you choose this option and you’re on the lower bunk, you may not be able to lie down for most of the journey as other passengers sharing your cabin may take up the space next to you.
3AC Sleeper
This cabin has AC and three levels of bunk bed. The middle beds fold so that the lower beds can be used as seats, so this option also puts you at risk of not being able to sleep!
2AC Sleeper
If you want to ensure a comfortable journey the entire time, always go for this option. That way, you’ll have a private bed with a privacy curtain, and you can pass the time as you please. The bed comes with a fresh blanket and pillow, a power socket, and frankly is a pretty luxurious way to pass a day-long train journey.
1st Class Sleeper
In my opinion, this isn’t worth the extra expense. It’s a more private set up, and there are usually either two beds on one side of the cabin, or three, with the other one opposite. The beds are slightly comfier, with a cheap mattress, and the bedding is better quality. You also get food and soft drinks. However, 2AC Sleeper is pretty comfortable, so I’d recommend going for this as the best comfort for value option.
ConfirmTKT
This app is a lifesaver. It’s primarily a ticket booking system, but as a foreigner, you won’t be able to book tickets on this platform because it’s next to impossible to get the required IRCTC ID number. BUT, you can track all trains’ live locations super easily using this app.
SImply open the app and click on ‘Running Status’. Then enter the train number in the search bar, select the day it left the original departure station, then see exactly where the train is at any time, day or night.
Indian trains don’t tend to have speaker announcements for train stations. This means that you have to rely on your own knowledge to know exactly when to get off. This app is the solution.
The Best Train Experience
Indian train stations are like live theatre – full of drama, comedy, and sometimes, a bit of mystery. Overwhelmed? Probably. But as soon as you embrace the chaos, you’ll find it’s all part of the charm. One of my Indian highlights is hanging out the entryway of a carriage in the setting sun (see the blog cover image for an action shot).
And with apps like ConfirmTKT, you can track your train’s location to the minute, making the 8-hour train delays way less stressful. When I took the train from Jaipur to Jodhpur, the train was nearly 5 hours delayed, meaning I could chill at my hotel rather than sit on a bare platform with terrible toilet access.
I did think the platform chai was excellent, and the potato curry with roti was edible and only cost 20 rupees. It’s definitely best to plan ahead though. Train food is awful, and the platform food is not much better.
Hopefully you’ll be as lucky as couple of people I’ve met on my travels. They sat in cabins with lovely Indian families who’d brought home cooked feasts to share.
Buses in India: How to Ride in Style
Day buses with AC are the chariots of the gods, especially when the outside world feels like a giant tandoori oven. And the night bus? Think of it as a rolling dormitory where the beds are cozy, the journey is long, and the stories are waiting to be written.
When I was travelling across northern India with my mum for a month, we took five buses. Using the RedBus app made everything as stress free as possible. With this app, you have all the info you need to make sure you’re at the right place, at the right time, with the contact details of the driver and the ability to track the location of your bus.
If you opt for the cheapest non-AC buses, be prepared for the tickets to be oversold. I was on a bus where a German couple had booked beds but none were available. Forewarned is forearmed.
That said, the AC options are usually not much more expensive than the non. And if your bus is going to be through the night or for more than a few hours, it’s probably best to treat yourself a little and guarantee that you’ll be comfortable.
The night bus I took from Mumbai to Goa is a great example. It was 800 rupees and was only 100 more than the non-AC sleeper. Check out the pictures to see the set up. My travel partner and I were able to get a full night’s sleep and arrive in Goa fresh and ready for the beach.
Parting Wisdom: Embrace the Unexpected
India teaches you to expect the unexpected. Trains might be delayed, buses might take detours, but every twist in the road leads to a new adventure, a new story, and a new perspective on the beauty of travel.
FAQs: Your Guide to Navigating India’s Trains and Buses
Before you embark on your own journey, here are a few FAQs to ease your path:
- How reliable are the booking platforms? Incredibly so. RedBus and 12go.asia are your best friends in the digital realm.
- What about food on the go? Train food is hit or miss, but the chai is a must-try. On buses, packing snacks is wise, but don’t miss out on vendor delights.
- Tips for comfort? Choose your class on trains wisely, bring a neck pillow for night rides, and always have water and snacks handy.
Conclusion
Navigating India’s trains and buses isn’t just about getting from point A to B; it’s about the stories in between, the landscapes that roll by your window, and the people who make the journey unforgettable. So pack your bags, charge your phone, and step aboard with an open mind – your adventure through India awaits.
