Discover India by rail for the authentic local experience

Travelling through India by rail is the best way to see the local landscape, a travel magazine has claimed.

Whilst the quickest way to string together a tour of India may be catching flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or any of the other major cities, train travel is undoubtedly the more colourful way to see the country.

India’s rail network covers over 63,000km, and Wanderlust magazine has this week published its definitive guide to getting around the subcontinent on a packed commuter train.

“There is nothing to match the views of India seen from a train window,” Anthony Lambert writes on the travel publication’s website.

His top tips for navigating this sometimes daunting system include booking your tickets well in advance to avoid the sprawling ticket office queues.

Many trains have a tourist quota, ensuring that locals don’t miss out on crucial journeys at the expensive of visitors, making it even more important to book ahead.

Finally, while it may be a commonplace sight for locals to travel outside of the carriage (i.e. on the roof, or hanging onto the doors/windows) this is strongly advised against.

Written by Nicholas Scott