URGENT! No OTP - how to proceed without an IRCTC account? (India)

Go to Delhi station. Apparently, there’s a foreigners-only counter. Don’t trust anyone around the station.

Try www.12go.asia

Hi,

Several members have already brought up this topic in other threads recently. Apparently, it's not possible to create an IRCTC account without an Indian phone number and receiving an OTP. The solution I found is to kindly ask a hotel you’ve booked with if they can make the reservation for you, reimbursing them via bank transfer or, if they accept, through an international transfer like Western Union since it’s infinitely cheaper than bank transfer fees.

Relying on tourist quota seats as suggested, or on tatkal tickets (seats reserved for same-day bookings), can be risky because it’s not uncommon for them to be sold out. That said, there are plenty of Delhi-Agra and Agra-Jaipur trains, so it doesn’t seem impossible. Just be sure to choose express trains, as some can be very slow even for short distances.

Otherwise, there are private buses that cover the routes without stopping. You just need to go to a travel agency or ask your hotel in Delhi.

Or another option without IRCTC: go to a small local agency that, for a few rupees, will make the reservation for you. But going to the station might be an interesting way to experience the often bustling atmosphere in the reservation halls.

This is definitely one of the solutions I mentioned!

You just need to go to a travel agency

Like at the train station, the risk might be that it could be difficult to find seats if you're booking very close to the departure date. But for these routes, there are a lot of trains—some much longer than others.