Traveling by train and bus in Rajasthan

Hi everyone, For traveling in Rajasthan by train and bus, could you give me some info: where to buy tickets, cost, purchase locations, websites, etc.? Any tips you have would be super helpful. Thanks

Hello again,

There have been tons of answers to this question on the site, and it’s a bit too vague to give a precise response...

For trains, you can buy tickets online if you open an IRCTC account (India’s SNCF), which lets you book trains in advance—but the catch is you need an Indian phone number. There are other sites that bypass this issue but charge a higher commission. Otherwise, you can buy tickets at the station, though sometimes you’ll need a bit of patience. The easiest option is to go through an agency (they’re everywhere on the streets), which handles your reservations for a usually modest commission. Hotels often do this too, maybe for just a little extra. Prices vary depending on the route and class, but in any case, even the most expensive classes are very affordable, and the mid-range ones are extremely cheap. I wouldn’t recommend the lowest class... I’ve always managed to find seats without booking months in advance, but it’s best to make reservations as soon as possible after you arrive.

For buses, it’s much simpler. Private buses are more comfortable, usually air-conditioned, and can be booked through agencies, often near bus stations (but not only there), the day before departure or earlier. Public buses are often slower and less comfortable, and you can just show up without a reservation. After checking the schedules, you just go to the bus station, pay on the bus, and it usually leaves when it’s full. Public bus fares are ridiculously low, and private buses are very cheap for us, so they’re worth choosing when available for the route you want, given the comfort difference for a small price gap. Note that some of them have "sleeper" options where you get a bunk cabin, offering extra travel comfort and more peace and quiet for not much more money.

There are other sites that avoid this issue but take a higher commission.

Hi there! 🙂 We booked through 12Go—trains reserved from France, pretty convenient, and no ID was requested. Sure, it was probably more expensive, 15 € Delhi/Agra. Seemed reasonable to me, though I don’t know the direct fare.

Thanks Kate, Alain

Prices depend on the train and class, but 15 € for Delhi-Agra is really expensive compared to local rates. Just comparing with the two best classes, it’s double the price of 2A and a quarter more expensive than 1A. It’s ten times the cost of a sleeper ticket.

hi AP18 A bit of a personal question: how long are you going to India for? If you're planning a long stay, you don’t need to make reservations. My last trip to India was 11 weeks long—I didn’t make any reservations for buses or trains, except once in Chennai when I booked a sleeper berth on a night train at 11 AM for a 4 PM departure to Visakhapatnam. There are senior citizen counters—take advantage of them!

I think Kate took the Indian "TGV."

That explains the price.

Which is still very low compared to France. With better reliability than a Paris-Clermont trip...

Comparing Indian prices to French prices doesn’t make sense because in the real India, prices are generally five times lower than in France for comparable products and quality (there can be exceptions in both directions). If I’m charged 1500 rupees for a daal fry when it’s really worth 100, I’ll probably think I’m getting ripped off because I’m paying 15 times the price. That said, sure, you can save face and choose to say you didn’t get scammed because you would’ve paid more back in France—why not? 😄

Anyway, since I’ve already been to India a few times, I’ve taken the Indian TGV before, and I’m familiar with it, but thanks for the info all the same!

Not indiscreet at all: 1 month. I’m not big on making reservations in advance since I travel solo and like to stay flexible—I reserve the right to change my loosely planned itinerary at any time, for any reason. Anyway, thanks for all the tips! Alain

I’ve never paid 15 € for a TGV in France.

Anyway, the TGV doesn’t go where I live, and I pay an insane fare for a train that never guarantees I’ll arrive on time.

So 15 €...

And then, that habit of always wanting to pay the same price as a local fades with time.

Because the most important thing isn’t that when you travel, is it?

Why would that be a quirk? I think it's just common sense. And if I can pay the local price, why should I miss out? Plus, by paying I don’t know how many times the price, we contribute to inflation and deprive locals of certain services. Anyway, don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me if sometimes I’m charged more... well, 10 or 20% more, okay, but not 500%...

Prices depend on the train and class, but 15 € for Delhi-Agra is very expensive compared to local prices: just comparing the two best classes, it's double the price of 2A and a quarter more expensive than 1A. It's ten times the price of a sleeper ticket.

Sleeper is a berth, right? Is the berth cheaper than a seated place?

Actually, it doesn’t work at all like in France! Prices aren’t about cheaper seats and pricier berths—they depend on the type of train. - In a classic train, you’ll find 2S, which is the budget class with the cheapest seats (often packed). Then there’s Sleeper class, the cheapest berth option and not air-conditioned. 3AC is the same as Sleeper but with AC. 2AC is a step up with 4-berth compartments. 1AC is the most comfortable but isn’t available on all trains. - In unreserved trains, there’s a single class where the first arrivals (those who shoved their way in) get the "best" spots—wooden seats and berths that are very basic and often dirty. It’s the cheapest class in India, yet it still has berths. - In fast, AC seated-only trains, you’ll find the most expensive classes, and there are no berths. There’s AC Chair, a standard air-conditioned seated class that’s fairly comfortable. Above that, there’s AC Executive. These are significantly pricier than Sleeper class because they’re in newer, faster, and better-maintained trains.

And if I can pay the local price, why should I miss out?

Because it ruins the trip to always have to haggle, argue, and search for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

For just a few euros in the end, I don’t bother anymore.

Either I buy it because it works for me, or I do something else—but I don’t get into the endless cycle of constant negotiation and chasing the lowest price.

Anyway, there are prices for foreigners: monuments, foreigner quotas on trains, certain hotels. And not just in India.

We’re supposed to be richer. Though that’s debatable compared to some Indians...

Actually, it doesn’t work at all like in France!

In India, the more comfortable, reliable, clean, and fast something is, the more expensive it is.

In France, the slower, more uncomfortable, unpredictable, and dirtier it is, the more expensive you pay... (Corail trains are outrageously priced).

(In France, the earlier you book, the better price you can get. Just like with flights. Sometimes the first class ends up cheaper than second if it hasn’t sold out.)

Is yield management practiced in India? In the past, no. Prices were fixed, just like they were in my youth in France.

There are sites like Rome2Rio that give you an idea of the different ways to get from one place to another, along with price ranges.

It can be really useful.

Example for Delhi to Agra

General tips:

The more comfortable you want to travel, the earlier you should book.

The less you want to stress, the more you should use intermediaries.

The shorter the trip, the more you should book in advance and use intermediaries...

And vice versa...

Personally, I prefer trains over buses in India. But no more than 4-5 hours at a time.

Taxis can also be a good option for getting from point A to point B while stopping at a point C to visit. It can also be more economical for groups if you're looking for a bit of comfort.

There are also ride-hailing services (Uber, Ola, etc.)

Because it ruins the trip to always have to discuss, argue, and look for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

I disagree—it’s not quite my experience. And it doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of the trip if you don’t see it as a hassle; in fact, it’s the opposite. In places completely off the tourist trail, you don’t always need to negotiate to get the local price or something close to it.

Anyway, there are prices for foreigners: monuments, foreigner quotas on trains, some hotels.

Yes, but that’s a completely different topic. When I buy a bottle of water or cookies at an Indian convenience store, there’s only one barcode for Indians and foreigners. At restaurants, there isn’t one menu for Indians and another for foreigners.

We’re supposed to be richer. Which is debatable compared to some Indians...

True.

In India, the more comfortable, reliable, clean, and fast it is, the more you pay.

Exactly.

Is yield management practiced in India? In the past, no. Prices were fixed, like they were in my youth in France.

It still isn’t for trains and buses—the prices are fixed, unlike with flights, of course.

Because it ruins the trip to always have to discuss, argue, and look for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

I don’t agree—it’s not quite my experience. And it doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of the trip if you don’t see it as a hassle, quite the opposite. In places completely off the tourist trail, it’s not always necessary to negotiate to get the local price or something close.

So why all the talk about prices, getting ripped off, the best deal, etc.? I get the feeling some people spend more time sorting out money issues than actually traveling.

Even (especially) for a few euros.

I used to stress about it sometimes. Not anymore. (My standard of living is the same today as it was 10 years ago)

No, fixed prices don’t really exist anymore with SNCF. The company uses yield management

Just like on a plane.

The earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Before, there was a set price with discounts (youth, senior, travel, paid leave, etc.). The discount applied whether it was December 5th or a Saturday in July or August. The price was based on the distance traveled.

Things changed with the rise of the TGV. Seat reservations became mandatory on these trains in addition to the ticket, and the reservation prices varied depending on expected demand. Customers started paying more for their Paris-Lyon trip on a Friday evening...

Then the price included everything, and almost all trains became mandatory reservation...

I think I misread your reply.

You mentioned that prices were fixed in India, right?

Sorry about my France price history reference—something people under 40 probably don’t know about...

(Edit: our replies crossed)

Yes, I was talking about trains in India!

About the price thing, forget it—I just don’t agree with you. Just because haggling is a hassle for you doesn’t mean it is for everyone: for me, it’s one of the pleasures of travel. But as I’ve already told you, I usually visit places where prices are more or less the same for everyone... Maybe other travelers don’t see things the way you do and want to get an idea of the real prices. Plus, you’re kind of dodging all the examples I gave, which doesn’t make the discussion very constructive. But personally, I don’t mind that you like paying more—it doesn’t bother me at all!

So why keep coming back to price and money questions? Great point! Because, like in this discussion for example, there are people who’ve never been to India and are asking for advice. It might be more helpful for them to know the real cost of things and form their own opinion about what they want to pay on the spot, rather than telling them, "Do like me, pay 3 times the price—it doesn’t matter to know the real prices because it ruins the trip."

Hi everyone, Originally, my question was mainly about trains and buses in India. So, the SNCF... 😄 Thanks anyway to all of you for your info

I didn’t say I was paying three times the price for things.

I just said I don’t exhaust myself in a quest for the "real" price.

Either the price works for me and I go for it, or it doesn’t and I move on.

I don’t try to haggle it down, and I don’t hunt for the deal of the century—which usually ends up being the worst one from my perspective.

The price that doesn’t work for me might be the actual price (an iPhone, for example—I don’t see the point in spending that much on a phone).

The price that works for me might be expensive for the country: the Indian TGV, a great meal in a wonderful setting.

I’ve finally learned to delegate (= middlemen) for things that save me time (Kate’s website, for example) and that ultimately cost nothing compared to the overall price of a trip.

The right price is the one you’re willing to pay. 🙂

That’s exactly what I understood, which is why I replied with details on all the train and bus classes available in India—their prices, differences, how to find schedules, fares, and buy tickets. Stick to that 😉

Yeah, we get carried away quickly on this forum.😉

You still have a few leads, right?

I also used MakeMyTrip for my trips to India.

If anyone can confirm if it’s still being used recently?

I think MakeMyTrip is now closed to non-Indians... The best options are really ixigo.com for trains and redbus.in for buses.

Ixigo also seems to be limited.



Why keep things simple when you can make them complicated seems to be the motto adopted by Indians...

😮😮😮 Wow, this is really recent because I used it just a few days ago to check routes... Now we're left with just the good old IRCTC website...

So why all the discussion about prices, getting ripped off, the best deal, etc.?

Honestly, these little debates about haggling weren’t really necessary. Pagal was just sharing tips for buying a train ticket at the best price. I know I paid top dollar. But it was my first time in India, first days in India, and I had a meet-up in Agra I couldn’t miss… so I went for the simplest option since I wasn’t aware of any alternatives.

Haggling is an endless debate, and it’s very personal. I actually enjoy it—it’s part of the travel experience for me, and I see it as a game.

You didn’t pay full price—just 0.5 euros more. Taking a rickshaw to the station or a shop would’ve cost you more. That’s what I call wasting energy for nothing...

The Agra-Delhi express train in executive class costs 1,490 rupees, which is 14.45 €. 1h55 journey.

The cheapest price I found is 95 rupees—barely a euro. But at that rate, it’s an old-school train: 4h30 travel time, no AC, little chance of leaving or arriving on time, etc.

These are the fares without commission.

That’s everything, Kate, thanks!

I managed to access the schedules, availability, and fares. It’s really useful though.

I also found a train that was more expensive than the one you took. Well, it’s still only 50 cents more...😄

But you're going to India?

Not tomorrow, no! But this kind of discussion can be useful.

I’m looking into Sikkim.

Ladakh is too high up—my partner gets altitude sickness.

😮😮😮 Well, this is quite recent because I used it just a few days ago to check routes... All we have left is the good old IRCTC website...

I just used it right now !🙂

Hello everyone, Originally, my question was mainly about trains and buses in India. So the SNCF...😄

After reading everything that’s been said here, I was also wondering what the SNCF had to do with your question...

I think MakeMyTrip is now closed to non-Indians... .

Not really... it's not a question of Indians vs. non-Indians. These are political decisions I won’t go into here... But if you're in India—not in France or elsewhere—you can totally access MMT (MakeMyTrip) and book whatever you want: buses, trains, hotels, etc. And I don’t hold back... You can also do it from France with a VPN ;) as if you were in India... "India for Indians" like... soon...

Ixigo also seems to be limited.



Why make it simple when you can make it complicated seems to be the motto adopted by Indians...

Hi, no problem using the app (Android for me). The website has been blocked for several years. Best,

The price that doesn’t work for me might be the real price (e.g., an iPhone—I don’t see the point in spending that much money on a phone)

Well, that’s really subjective... Everyone’s in charge of their own choices and spending for what suits them. Personally, I don’t see the point in paying a fortune for fancy restaurants and hotels when you can just as easily enjoy amazing food at a local eatery and sleep comfortably in a guesthouse😉

Well, that's very subjective...

Yes.

when you can just as easily enjoy a meal in a small eatery and sleep comfortably in a guesthouse😉

It’s not the same thing (I’m not talking about taste buds or sleep itself).

Most of the small eateries where I’ve eaten would depress me if I had to eat every meal there. The dishes served, however, could be really good.

It’s like a picnic. The same picnic on a highway rest stop and during a hike with a stunning view won’t have the same overall charm.

For guesthouses, it might be possible to find something that doesn’t depress me. I haven’t always spent hundreds to sleep, and some rooms were fine. But often, I’ve ended up with really ugly or even disgusting places when I’ve gone for the cheap options. There could be a giant flat-screen TV that I don’t need and sheets older than dirt, all holey, plus lovely piss-yellow walls... Well, after all, it was in places where there wasn’t any competition.

The relationship with comfort doesn’t seem the same for Indians.

Why force people to download the app? 🤪

Why force people to download the app?

I’d say it’s probably policy—new laws or something. I used to be able to book safaris directly from France with my credit card, but now it’s becoming almost impossible...

But if you're in India, not France or anywhere else, you can totally access MMT (MakeMyTrip) and book everything you want: buses, trains, hotels, etc... And I don’t hold back... Also works from France with a VPN

So many complications...

On no app or site do you need an Indian phone number?

Maybe also to force foreigners to use travel agencies? And inflate prices for them?

To make my life easier, I’ve been using an Indian agency since 2004 for almost all my bookings (even very affordable homestays), except for flights. I pay commissions, but I always have a solution when a problem comes up... like the most recent one in 2024: a last-minute cancellation of the train from Hampi to Ballarshah just 2 hours before departure—there was only one train per day. I still made it in time for my afternoon safari the day after the cancellation. I can’t improvise as much anymore due to the influx of domestic tourists in Indian parks and the limited number of vehicles allowed per safari.

We all have different ways of organizing our trips—the main thing is to enjoy them!

We all have different ways of organizing our trips—the main thing is to enjoy them.

Absolutely. 😛

Maybe also to force foreigners to use travel agencies? And inflate prices for them?

That’s probably true, even certain... I mentioned earlier that it’s political... I have an AMEX card (which earns me lots of miles) that I use in many places and countries... Now, in India on all official sites, it doesn’t go through... you need an INDIA AMEX card 🤷‍♂️😭😵