Indian Railways

This would be my ever first train ride. The Indian Railway system is composed of hundreds of trains plying all over the Indian continent. In Delhi alone, there are 3 or more railway stations and the NDLS (New Delhi Station) far being the busiest and the largest amongst them.



The most famous mode of transportation in India is the auto rickshaw, taxi and the train. Millions of Indians and foreigners ride the train to get to their destination. By far , it is cheaper than flying . Trains are most favorable for tourists because it is convenient and cheap. One can travel from North to South India, east to west india by just taking the train. Just don't expect european standard amenities because baby this is India!

Just like an airplane, you may choose your seating class inside the train. These are the classes:

Aircon Chair
Sleeper Class - non aircon. great if you travel during the winter
3AC tier - 8 bunk beds
2AC tier  - 6 bunk beds
First Class - most comfortable with 2 bunk beds. but slightly expensive.

I chose 3AC tier for most part of our journeys . It's cheap and you get to mingle with the locals as well.

Our journey to Agra is bound to set here. I chose for us to leave from NDLS to Agra Cantt because it is closest to our hotel (Pahar Ganj area).

                            Typical scenes at the Railway station

                                       3AC tier configuration - 3beds one side (lower/middle/upper) + 3beds on another side (lower/middle/upper) + 2 beds sitting parallel to the window. A total of 8 bunk beds .

Some locals show animosity towards us especially when we are claiming our beds. Remember, when the Indian Railways issue you a ticket , your seat number is also indicated as well as the position of your bed. For example : #31 lower. You are in seat #31 lower bunk bed.

If you wish to switch places , you may ask them politely. People have preferences in bed positions you know. I like the upper bunk because it is quiet, no people hanging around, no pesky kids crying, no luggages obstructing my view, in short i can sleep in solitude.

                             The upper and middle bunks in a 3AC tier .

We have saved some money by travelling the train during the night. Food may pose a problem because you do not know food safety bought inside the train's pantry. I suggest you buy food take out from the port of embarkation . Drinks such as Chai may be bought inside the train. It is quite safe to drink as long as it is hot.

The toilet inside the train is utterly disgusting! So word of caution: bring lots of wet tissues and alcohol/hand sanitizer. Water is scarce believe me!!!

If you don't want frequent trips to the toilet during your train ride then minimize water intake . In that case, you won't have to see how gross the toilets are.

Smoking is prohibited inside the train. But on one occassion during our train ride, it stopped for a while ( i don't know the reason why) and the locals disembarked for a smoke.

Overall, it was a nice enough experience. I did get a good night sleep.

Taj Mahal here we come!!!!!

Red Fort - Delhi India

We took breakfast early next morning at around 7am even though we know that Red Fort would be opening its doors to tourists at around 9am.

We did not arrange a tour of the city bec. we will be leaving for Agra in the afternoon anyway. Our trip to Red Fort would be the first close encounter with an Auto rickshaw driver . It was not pleasant i tell you. We contracted the driver for 200 rupees , after much haggling , to bring us to Red Fort and Connaught Place. But when we arrived in Red Fort he demanded for us to pay up! So i gave him 100 rupees and told him to wait for us to finish inside then he had to still bring us to Connaught Place afterwards then that's the time i would give him the balance of 100rupees. By then, the driver was making a scene already. Shouting pay! pay! pay!.

Losing our temper was the farthest thing on our minds. So we paid up even though it's not the original bargain. I expected this. Tsk Tsk Tsk.

Though, this didn't ruin our day. We had a pleasant visit at the fort.

Red Fort entrance fee (foreigners) 250rupees - approx 6usd each.

I will not give you boring historical stories about the red fort. Just enjoy the pictures and be immersed with the culture!

                               Taken from the main entrance

Aside from the foreign tourists, you may also come accross local indian tourists enjoying the sights.

And if you don't have the time to buy souveinirs in the market, all types of knick knacks may be bought inside the fort to be taken home to your family.

Or you may also visit Janpath Place for authentic Indian dresses . It is located in Connaught Place.

It is so hot in India at this time of the year that all we wanted to do was head back to our hotel and take a shower. In the afternoon we will leave for Agra. I am now excited to see the famous TAJ MAHAL.

It would take 3 hours of indian train ride from Delhi to Agra. This is my first train ride mind you. I fear for the worst but iam overwhelmed by excitement!!!

Some scenes in our train ride can be viewed here.

Delhi India - Day 01

The city of Delhi lived up to my expectation. I was warned by the numerous travel forum sites on the internet that Delhi would be filthy, chaotic, noisy , revolting, grubby, grimy, corrupt, raunchy etc. And don't forget the touts!!! The touts in India make a nasty living out of foreigners like me especially the virgin tourists (first timers in india you silly!).


Before leaving my beloved hometown, i booked our train rides and hotels simply because i dreaded to be feasted on by the hungry touts of India. I was ever prepared. Most unlike with the travels i had with other Asian countries such as Bangkok , Hongkong , Vietnam etc. In India, you must prepare all your five senses. And always be on the lookout!

Upon reaching Delhi airport (IGI) , i was impressed with how huge this newly built airport can be . Considering that we came from the puny KLCCT airport in Kuala Lumpur. It was a long and tedious walk of around 20 mins from the tarmac to where the immigration is.

Since i have arranged an airport transfer from our hotel, we weren't expecting him to still have waited upon us for 1 hour at the arrival gate. I thought he would have gone and we would be forced to take a taxi to the hotel.

We stayed at Hotel Delhi City Center located at the Pahar Ganj area ( or the backpackers area). The rooms are okay, their bathrooms are huge and most important they have a restaurant ( a short walk from the hotel) situated in front of their sister hotel the Hotel Ajanta. We paid around $ 34/room/night.

Cafe Vagabond is the restaurant at the Hotel Ajanta (sister company of our hotel: Hotel Delhi City Center Pahar Ganj Area).

Pahar Ganj is a backpakers area and i only chose to station ourselves here because of its proximity to the New Delhi Rail Station (5mins ride by tuktuk). Other than that, this area is chaotic, dirty and we dared not to walk around during the night for fear that we would get lost around the maze of streets. Welcome to India hahahaha.

                     Street outside our hotel at night (this is past 1am)

Upon checking in we immediately ordered Indian food  from the hotel's restaurant. And even if it's in the wee hours of the morning the resto is still open, such a treat! Their food is nothing exceptional  but the prices ranges from 200 rupees up per dish (approx 5usd).

                                         Non - veg Thali

                   Chicken Biryani and Roti (can be shared by 2 people)

                                     Chicken Masala (very spicy)

The food was not that sensational but because we are so tired and hungry after a 6 hour flight (and 1 hour immigration) we couldn't care less. So we stuffed ourselves, hoping we would not get indigestion.

Good night Delhi , tomorrow we will be visiting Red Fort. . .

How to apply for Indian Visa On Arrival

Tourist Visa On Arrival is now eligible for citizens of the following countries : FINLAND , JAPAN , LUXEMBOURG, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, CAMBODIA, LAOS, VIETNAM, PHILIPPINES. The Indian government , in its effort to promote tourism, has extended its tourist voa scheme to these countries on a strictly single entry and for a short period of maximum 30 days.

This visa is non-extendable and non-convertible and will only be issued at arrival only at 4 designated arrival points namely : DELHI, KOLKATA , MUMBAI AND CHENNAI airports.

Only two(2) visits per year shall be permissible in a calendar year and there shall be a gap of two(2) months between each visit.

VISA FEE AMOUNT: usd60 per person including children

Visa fee shall be paid upon arrival at the airport. It can be paid in usd or rupees. Application form are available at the airport.

REQUIREMENTS:
1. 2 passport sized id
2. 60usd for visa fee
3. passport (of course)
4. return ticket

It's quite simple. Upon announcement of the voa scheme last Jan 2011, our group immediately decided we want to visit India . The return ticket we bought is for MNL (Manila) - KUL (Kuala Lumpur) - DEL (Delhi) - KOL (Kolkata) - BKK (Bangkok) - MNL (Manila).

Everything else in between will be traveled by train (which is quite cheap in India).


When you arrive in IGI(Indira Gandhi Int'l) airport you must proceed to the Visa on Arrival section . The exact location is under the escalator before the immigration counter is.

                              At the Indira Gandhi Int'l Airport

Procedure:

1. Go to the visa on arrival counter.
2. You will be asked by the immigration officer to change your money to rupees.
3. Get an application form and fill out completely. Make sure to attach your passport sized id picture.
4. Hand out your completely filled out application form and 60usd (or its equivalent in rupees) to the officer in charge.
5. If no problem will occur, the officer will stamp your voa in your passport . You're free to go afterwards.

Note: No need to line up in the immigration counter after this. Just go straight to the baggage carousel.

Easy as pie. We had a tremendous cultural experience in India. Shocking, Enjoyable, Fun , Enriching experience indeed.

Follow this blog so you may experience it too.