A range of travel agents, such as India Travel Agents, Rail Tourism India and Palace on Wheels offer tours of India by train. These are normally organized by geographical area (e.g. a tour of North India) and leave from major cities such as Delhi and Chennai. Tours can last between two and 20 nights depending on the area covered.
Normally, hotel accommodation, train transport and road travel (from the train station to the tourist site) are included in tour packages. Food is included in some tours but not in others, and so it is important to check with your tour operator before booking your place. If possible, ask them to list what is included in writing to avoid confusion.
A few examples will illustrated the range of tours available in India. "North India By Rail" is a 12-night excursion offered by India Travel Agents to see the capital Delhi, the Taj Mahal at Agra, the Golden Temple at Jodhpur and the cities of Jaisalmer and Udaipur.
For those who wish to travel in style, Palace on Wheels offer trains with private rooms complete with their own bathroom and mini pantry. Prices for Palace on Wheels tours start from $2,460 per person in 2010 for an eight-night tour titled "A Weekend in Wonderland."
If you would like to experience train travel in India, but have little time, then Rail Tourism India offers a series of short tours such as a popular two-day excursion from Chennai to Ooty.
Tourists who wish to travel on their own should understand the five classes of train in India. These are Second Class (SC), Sleeper Class (SL), Three Tier Air-Conditioned Class (3AC), Two Tier Air-Conditioned Class (2AC) and First Class Air-Conditioned (1AC). You do not need a reservation for Second Class, although tourists do not normally travel Second Class as these carriages are heavily overcrowded. If you travel in the heat of the Indian summer it is best to get an Air-Conditioned class. The only difference between these is the number of beds: 3AC has three tiers of beds whereas 2AC only has two tiers. As a result you have slightly more headroom in the Two Tier class. If the journey is short or the weather mild, sleeper class is perfectly comfortable.
Listen for reputable tour operators recommended by other travelers. There are many opportunistic tour operators who will try to charge you top rates for nonexistent, or badly organized tours.
Do not be afraid to bargain, particularly if you are booking the tour in India, to avoid being charged extortionate prices.
Train travel in India is popular, particularly between the major cities. Make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment.
