How to get to Varanasi from Delhi

Varanasi is considered the holiest of the seven holy cities in India. It is also the oldest city which is known to be continuously inhabited anywhere in the world. Earlier known as Kashi and then Benaras or Banaras, the pilgrimage center is situated on the banks of the Ganga (Ganges) the holiest of the 7 holy rivers of Hindu religion. The city is of religious importance to Jains and Buddhists in addition to being the salvation ground of Hindus. Sarnath, the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon is situated close to Varanasi. The city has seen its days of glory and also destruction at the hands of invaders. Today, it stands out in the world map as the center of Indian philosophy, spirituality, mysticism and Indian religious beliefs. Besides the temples, tourists are attracted to 84 Ghats of Varanasi where people make ablutions on the banks of the rivers.

People often travel to the city of Varanasi from all over India and the world as well since it is well connected to every place by an international airport, Railways station and national highways. It is situated at a distance of 320 km from the state capital Lucknow and 790 km from Indian Capital Delhi.

Delhi to Varanasi by Air

After the construction of Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi has been well connected to Delhi by air with numerous flights operating between the two cities. The Airport is situated in Babatpur at a distance of 18 km from the heart of city of Varanasi. Those who expect an easy, comfortable and quick journey to Varanasi can opt for the air travel. A daily direct flight from Varanasi to Delhi is available around the year.

The domestic terminal at the Varanasi airport has incorporated all modern techniques and is well equipped with escalators and high-tech system of handling the baggage of visitors. Due to many senior citizens and people with disability visiting the pilgrimage center, the airport has wheelchairs arrangement made to meet their requirements. In an amazing gesture, the airport authorities have special assistance provided in handling of baggage for people with special needs and senior citizens absolutely free.

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Varanasi: The most holiest of places for the Hindus

An international terminal connecting the airport to international destinations has been opened in 2012. The cost of air ticket is approximately 3000/-INR for a flight between Delhi and Varanasi.  Once outside the airport, there are number of prepaid taxis and auto rickshaws where spot bookings can be done to get to Varanasi.  There are also buses plying from the airport to different hotels and center points of Varanasi for those who do not prefer taxis or auto rickshaws. As a bonus, tourist can shop for handicrafts, ethnic jewelry and other goodies in the airport, besides eating at the fast food joints available there.

Delhi to Varanasi by Train

Traveling from Delhi to Varanasi by train is approximately a 9 hour journey, which is the reason why many prefer overnight journey. Those who do not wish to enjoy the sights along the rail route can embark on the train from Delhi in the night and wake up in the city of destination early next morning. Most of the pilgrims traveling from Delhi to Varanasi find traveling by trains to be one of easiest, cheapest and best way of transport though one has to be careful about the thefts which have been reported often. The holy city of Varanasi is a major junction of the Indian Railways, for which tickets can be booked online and through electronic reservations.

Manikarnika Burning Ghat, Varanasi India

The approximate cost of the tickets per adult from Delhi to Varanasi is

First class air conditioned coach – 2400/- INR

2 tier air conditioned coach – 1275/- INR

3 tier air conditioned coach – 825/- INR

Sleeper Class – 320/- INR

The two railway stations situated in Varanasi are the Varanasi Junction with the IRS code of BSB and Mughal Sarai Junction with IRS code MGS. Varanasi junction is located in the center of the city whereas the Mughal Sarai is at the distance of nearly 15 km from Varanasi. Many of the super fast trains traveling from Delhi to Kolkata make a stop at the Mughal Sarai railway station, which is preferred by travelers.

Delhi to Varanasi by Road

Varanasi has an excellent network of roads connecting it to different cities. It lies between the National Highway NH2 connecting Delhi to Kolkata. This is considered the convenient way to travel to Varanasi from Delhi for people preferring traveling by road which is approximately an 11 hour journey.

A number of sleeper, semi-sleeper, deluxe, AC, Volvo and non AC buses ply between the city of Varanasi and Delhi every day. The tickets can be booked online in advance through various websites. Taxi can be booked to travel between Delhi and Varanasi though it is not going to be cheap. Getting to Varanasi and back to Delhi can cost anywhere between 13,000/- INR – 18,000/- INR depending on the type of car you choose. Here’s how to book your train tickets.

Why not to use Delhi Metro during the coronavirus pandemic

At the moment the whole world is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. It is best to avoid all public transport if you can. It does not make sense to enter places that have large gathering of people. The metro can be very crowded with limited ventilation. Also the surfaces within the stations and trains are prone to being touched by hundreds of people which is a major source of infection.

Keep an eye on the Delhi Metro website here http://www.delhimetrorail.com

If you are visiting Delhi, then my suggestion is that you avoid Delhi metro even when it reopens. If you must, then you should wear face masks that has at least 3 layers. These facemasks not only protect others but prevents air droplets getting through your mouth and nose and infecting you with the coronavirus.

In such a situation, the best is to use a car or a taxi. This will limit the number of people you will come in contact with. When renting a private hire car in Delhi, you must ensure that the vehicle is sanitized before you get into the car.

The best way to confirm this is over the phone with the cab-hire company and with the driver before you step in the car. This ensures that you are minimising the risk of infection.

When you reach your destination, make sure that you use a hand sanitiser to clean your hands if you can’t get hold of soap and water.

When travelling make sure:

That you carry a hand sanitiser
Maintain appropriate social distancing
Cover your mouth and nose
Do not touch surfaces
Do not touch your mouth and nose or try to adjust your mask

So remember there are plenty of car on rent in Delhi for outstation and in-city trips and using them reduces chances of exposure to coronavirus. Be safe.

Beware of groping in India

Groping in India is nothing new. Nothing has changed since the Delhi gang-rape, no securities have been provided in Delhi or any other metros in India. Women continue to get groped on India’s public transport.

The way they do it is by deliberately touching body parts and pretending that it is an accident in the crowd. The most common parts where women are likely to be touched are the bottom and the breasts.

In western nations; when someone sits on the seat next to you, they will try not to touch you at all. But in India, it’s completely opposite. When a man with bad intent sits next to you, they will cosy up to you and deliberately touch you. In these circumstances, you will need to shout at the man to stop touching you. There are good people all around and many will want to help you.

Many of these men do it on purpose as they know that they can get away with it without being caught as the victim do not raise any voice against them for the fear of reprisal. Plus in a male dominated society as India’s, it’s usually the woman who gets the blame.

Watch some of these videos and you will get an idea about the plight of women being groped in Delhi the capital of India. Women travelling to India either alone or in groups are advised not to travel on public transport particularly the busses in Delhi and Mumbai.

India Travel Survival Guide For Women

It’s not just the buses; women are groped in broad daylight especially in crowded places. I remember once when I was about 15 years old, I was walking in narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk – it seemed as if every man who passed by wanted to touch me. In one incident when I was only 11 years old I was at the Railway station in Patna, a man came up to me, touched me and ran away. Incredible it may sound; this is ground reality of India. You might wish to read about the sexual harassment of Michaela Cross, a 23 year old American student on a study trip to India. Sometimes, you wonder if Indian men are the worst types of men on the planet.

My advice to those women travelling to India alone or otherwise MUST not get on these public transports. I rarely use these buses anymore. Hire an auto-rickshaw or a taxi and sit on the back seat. Always stay on the side of the road where you can see the traffic and the people coming towards you so you can keep a tab on things happening around you. There is a chapter on how to deal with groping in my book “India travel survival guide for women” if you really wanted to travel on these public transport.

How to go from Delhi to Kathmandu

Many travelers visiting India are combining their tours to Nepal. Taking that into account, let’s look at the best ways to travel from Delhi to Kathmandu in Nepal? Depending on your budget and the time you have to spare; there are several options, ranging from an adventurous and very long bus ride, to direct flights, to train-and-local transport combinations.

Here, we cover the more popular and quicker options from Delhi to Kathmandu – by air and by road.

By Air

You can get on a direct flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, which takes approximately one and a half hours. You have a choice of about five airlines with six flights including both government-owned and private operators. There are 7 flights per day.

As value for money options, Indigo Airlines and SpiceJet offer cheap airfares and decent flight times. You can also choose the more up-market private airlines, Jet Airways. The Indian government-owned Air India and Nepal’s flag carrier, Royal Nepal Airlines are also frequently used. Most airlines have economy and business class flights. The air routes from Delhi to Kathmandu are quite frequently packed as many tourists choose this travel option, so is a good idea to make your booking in advance.

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By Train

This is a popular option for those who want to avoid the expenses of flying, and would like to explore travelling by train. The route goes via Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Several overnight trains run from Delhi to Gorakhpur, and the journey takes approximately 12-14 hours. Try to reach Gorakhpur as early in the morning as you can, to make the most of your time.

How to book train tickets in India

From Gorakhpur, get on a bus or a shared jeep to travel economically to Sunauli, which is the Indian side of the border. You can also hire a private taxi to get to Sunauli. Take a walk across, from Sunauli to Bhairawa, the Nepalese side of the border. Don’t be surprised if you hear the Bhairawa side called Sunauli too – it is often called thus, locally, and is just one of the many fun and unexpected sides of travelling this route.

The quickest option to get to Kathmandu from here is to have a flight pre-booked from Bhairahawa Airport (Gautam Buddha Airport) to Tribhuvan International Airport. A popular and economic option is to break up your journey. From Bhairahawa bus stop, many buses and shared jeeps go to Kathmandu, a journey of about 9 to 12 hours. If you arrive at Bhairahawa in the morning, you can get on one of the many daytime buses bound to Kathmandu and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the 183 km route. Alternatively, arrive fresh at Kathmandu in the morning by getting on an overnight bus from Bhairahawa. Most overnight buses depart Bhairahawa in the early evening, between 4 and 7 PM.

India Travel Survival Guide For Women

By Road/Bus

One of the cheapest options to get to Kathmandu from Delhi, this journey covers about 601 km. You have many buses travelling this route, but try to choose one which is operated by a reliable agency. Usually, if you book a bus ticket via a reputed agency, it should take about 10 hours to get to Kathmandu. Most buses travelling this route do not have toilets and are non-air conditioned.

For some of these services, like trains and flights, you can make your bookings online via many sites.  It is advisable to pre-book and enjoy a convenient and safe trip from Delhi to Kathmandu.

Beware of a new scam by auto rickshaw drivers in cities around India

A new scam has come to light. I got to read about this in a major Indian newspaper. They reported that 4 single women got sucked in this scam in the city of Bangalore. This is how it goes. As soon as the auto takes off, the driver hands the woman, two 500 Rupee notes in exchange for ten 100 Rupee notes. When the woman takes the notes then the driver suddenly takes the wrong route and asks for an extremely high fare. When you the woman demands the driver to stop, he threatens her with violence. There is nothing much one can do in such a situation. Only sane thing anyone can do is to comply with the driver, pay the fare they want and try get out of it.

Here are some tips to avoid getting into these situations:

• Make a note of the registration number and ask the name of the driver. Take a photo of the registration number on your mobile if have to.
• Never take the money from the driver. Tell them you don’t have change.
• As soon as you feel as if the driver is going to do something wrong start recording with your mobile or camera.
• Try to get an idea of the route if you can which means buying a map of the city you are in.
• If you are travelling alone then let your family or friends know your travel itinerary. This way they will know the places you intend to visit.
• If you feel unsafe get out as soon as the driver stops (for example at a traffic light).

Here are more tips on hiring auto rickshaws in India.

Find the Twitter handle of the city police and tweet to them with appropriate Hastags. Hastags start with symbol #. You can also tweet to “Nitin Jairam Gadkari” the Minister of Road and Highways. There was an incidence when a mother travelling with her five year son on the Indian Railways ran out of milk for her baby and she tweeted about it to the Railway Minister of India. Believe if or not a bottle of warm milk and biscuits was provided to the mother. This means that the tweet was read by the office of the minister.

For instance if you want to tweet, you could do something like this “I am in trouble with this auto rickshaw driver (add location and reg number) in #DelhiPolice @MORTHIndia. HELP ASAP

Please note that majority of auto rickshaw drivers are honest individuals and work hard for their livelihood. But it appears that some bad apples are there to scam you. Just beware.

India Travel Survival Guide For Women

Ride the bicycle rickshaw – India’s sustainable transport

The bicycle rickshaw is a widely used in many Asian countries for short distance travel, especially in eco sensitive areas and cities. The mode of transport is similar to carts pulled by horses; the sole difference being here is that the muscular animal is replaced by usually impecunious men whose impoverished condition has forced them to look for a physically strenuous job for some extra money. In India the rickshaw pullers are often people who have moved to urban areas to look for some extra money due to failure of income from their agricultural labour jobs. The lure is off course only the money they can make though the task is more physically demanding. The strenuous work of pulling the passengers in the cart, especially when they are going uphill takes its toll on the health of the rickshaw pullers who finally end up spending their earning on hospitals and medications.

How to travel in Mumbai

Mumbai is one of the most populous cities in India. Travelling in the heavy traffic all the time is a headache to many people living here. Therefore, choosing the right mode of transport at right time in day is very important. So Let’s take a look at how to travel in Mumbai.

Trains are one of the best ways to travel within the city as they are speedy. Only drawback about it is, they are too rushy during peak hours i.e. from morning 7.30am to 11am and then from 6pm to 10pm.

Tips for hiring an auto-rickshaw in India

To explore any city in India one must be aware of the various modes of commutation that are available at hand. In most cities in India you would find the local state transport buses and hired cabs or taxis. In addition to these, larger cities such as Mumbai, there is the option for “local trains” and Kolkata has the “trams” while Delhi has the “metro“.

However, the one mode of transport that is vital across most of India is the auto rickshaw. In fact, in cities and towns across the country, the black-yellow or the green-yellow rickshaws are the backbone of city transport. They are called “autos” by the locals. The seating capacity of a normal auto is 4, including the driver. There are also six-seater rickshaws in certain towns and cities. Normally their fare rates of these autos controlled by the government.

Domestic Airlines in India

Often the best way to travel to any destination within India, especially for foreigners is by flights. I prefer the trains as there is no other way to see India then by trains and coaches. But if you’re short on time, it not only reduces the travel time but can be a safer and viable option. With the advent of many private players in the Indian Airline Industry, flying has become cheaper and hassle free in India. You can choose from government owned airline services and many privately owned carriers. However, the suggestion would be to avoid the government owned carrier for the quality of service is not up to the mark of those that are provided by the private carriers.

Overcrowding in Indian trains

Travelling by train is the best way to learn about India, its people, its culture, the villages, the smaller towns and the simple lives of the Indian people. A trip to India would not be complete without a train journey on the Indian railways.

However a traveller to India must be warned of the severe overcrowding in Indian trains. India has one of the biggest, the busiest and is the most connected rail networks in the world. With a population that is creeping towards 1.5 billion, it is no surprise that trains often runs overcrowded.

Overcrowded Indian train

How to book train tickets in India?

The Indian Railways constitute one of the largest rail networks in the world. The first passenger train in India left Mumbai (then Bombay) on 16 April, 1853 for Pune. The rail network in the country has come a long way since. Currently it employs over one-and-a-half million people, links 28 states and three union territories, operates over 6,000 locomotives running on more than 60,000 km long tracks spread across the country and ferrying over 10 billion people (more than the planet’s population) every year. This gigantic network offers an unmatched variety of trains – from notoriously crowded trains whose photos you often see on the web to cruise trains that offer an unrivalled luxury – and unique way to discover India.

Indian railways

Train surfing, India’s extremely stupid sport

After gaining popularity among teens practising extreme sports at the risk of their own lives in South Africa, Russia, Germany and other European countries; train surfing has arrived in India. Hanging outside the trains is not new to Indian citizens, as it is a necessity for them at times when the trains are overcrowded and next available train is not scheduled for hours. Train surfing is different in a way, that instead of hanging there with their hearts in their mouths, these youth treat it as wave surfing, skiing or bungee jumping and enjoy it to the fullest even at the cost of risking their own lives.

Train Surfing in India

Maharaja Express

Is there any other way to explore the marvels and the rich cultural heritage of India than in style, this is exactly what the Maharaja Express has to offer.

The maharaja express is one is one of the most luxurious trains on offer by the Indian Railways and the Indian Tourism Department. It happens to be the most expensive as well. Think of it as the “Orient Express of Europe”. As a matter of fact, it was voted in the top 25 trains of the world by the “Society of International Railway Travellers”. Indeed, it has the best onboard accommodation and dining facilities, off-train excursion programs fit for a king hence the name “Maharaja”.