Check your train status

Even though we book our train tickets way ahead, due to season and due to heavy rush or unforseen cicumstance booking, the ticket is booked but it falls in RAC or WL, then you can check the status of your tickets via SMS.

Send a SMS to 977330000 with your . You can get a result within a minute. (Carrier cost of Re. 1 applies as this is not a free service). You get a reply within a minute.

Class Codes and Abbrevations given in Train Tickets of Indian Railways

The various class codes available for accomodation in the Indian Railways. The abbrevations are used mainly in the tickets both physical booking and etickets.

1A - These are first class air-conditioned coaches which have Berths for sleeping at night and seats by day. (This code is given to AC Executive class Chair Car in Shatabdi Express for the purpose of fare).

2A - These are air-conditioned 2 tier sleeper coaches. The seats are used for sitting by day and berths are for sleeping by night.

FC - These are non airconditioned coaches with Berths for sleeping by night and seats by day.

3A - Air conditioned 3 tier sleeper. Berths for sleeping in the night and seats in the day time.

3H - 3 tier high capacity air-conditioned berths.

CC - Air-conditioned chair cars. Only sitting accomodation is available. In Southern Railways and South Western Railways these are refferred to as Second Class AC Chair cars for the very purpose of distinguishing them from the Executive Chair Cars.

CH - High-Capacity version of air conditioned chair cars with individual chairs sitting accommodation.

EC - Executive Class or First Class Air conditioned chair car with only sitting accommodation.

SL - Sleeper class for sleeping at night and seats by day.

SH - High capacity sleeper class with berths for sleeping at night, seats by day. The number of berths are 81.

2S - Second class sitting. Only sitting accommodation is available with bench style seats.

ACC - No longer used in booking. First class Air conditioned sleeper with coupes of 2 and 4 berths each.

The fares differ from train to train.

Protected Area Permit for foreign tourists to enter Arunachal Pradesh

Foreign Tourists entering Arunachal Pradesh have to obtain a Protected Area Permit. It can be obtained by 2 or more persons. It can be obtained for a PAP for a period of 30 days from the following:

Ministry of Home Affairs,
Govt. of India,
New Delhi

The Resident Commissioner,
Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh,
Kautilya Marg,Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi.
Phone: 011-230113915/23013956/26880901

The Commissioner (Home),
Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh,
Itanagar-791111.

The Secretary (Tourism),
Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh,
Itanagar-791 111.

As a royalty to the Government of Andra Pradesh a fee of USD per head need to be paid. The PAP can be applied through local approved tour operators.

Contact Information of IRCTC for Tour Packages

For all kinds of train tour packages operated by IRCTC one can contact:
INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LTD
Tourism Information and Facilitation Centre
Chennai Central Railway StationSouthern Zone
Chennai - 600003
Chennai Tel No.- 044- 64594959/ 044-25330349,
Chennai Office No.- (0) 9003140681,82
Madurai Office No.-9500018572
Fax No.: 044-25352987
Chennai - 044 - 25353340/41
Bangalore - 080- 22370887,
Ernakulam - 0484-2382991
Website: www.railtourismindia.com
E-mail: tourismmas@irctc.com
Bengaluru:
      Ph: 080-22960014/13
      Fax: 080-23123877
      Email: tourismsbc@irctc.com
Chennai:
      Ph: 044-64594959/0-9003140681/ 044-25330341
      Fax: 044-25352987
      Email: tourismmas@irctc.com
Kochi:
      Ph: 0484-2382991/92
      Fax: 0484-2382990
      Email: tourismers@irctc.com

Secundrabad:
      Ph: 040-66201263
      Fax: 040-66201264
      Email: tourismscz@irctc.com

Important Information to remember before visiting Andaman and Nicobar Islands

          Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal is one place which both Indian and foreign tourists love to visit. But there are some important information which have to be kept in mind before planning a visit.
For Indian Tourists:
            A confirmed to and fro flight ticket is absolutely necessary for a travel to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The islands are grouped as Andaman and Nicobar Islands and out of which only the Andaman Island is open to the tourists. The Indian tourists donot require any permit to visit Andaman Islands. Visiting the tribal areas is highly prohibited and special permission is granted by the Deputy Commissioner of Andamans, only for special cases.
For Foreign Tourists:
          Special permission is required for the foreign nationalities to visit Andaman Islands. The permission is granted for 30 days which can be extended to a time period of 15 more days.
         The permission can be obtained from Indian Missions abroad or from the immigration authorities in Mumbai, Kolkatta, Delhi, Chennai or on arrival at the airport at Port Blair Airport. Just as the Indian nationals, the foreign nationals are also not allowed to visit Nicobar Islands. The permit that is given to the foreign nationals is valid to visit Port Blair, Havelock Islands, Neil Islands, Mayabunder, Diglipur and Rangat for a period of month and night halt in these areas are permitted. Day visit is allowed to Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mountain Hariet and Madhuban.
          Apart from the above, foreigners who have special permission can stay over night at South Andaman, Middle Andaman and Little Andaman Islands. Neill Island, Havelok Islands, Baatand Islands, North Passage Islands, Long Islands, Diglipur and Islands in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. No one can visit Boat Haboday, Twin Island, Tarmugli Island, Malay Island and Pluto Islands.
           Foreigners are also not allowed to visit the tribal reserves.

Inner Line Permits for foreigners to visit Sikkim

Foreigners who wish to  visit to Sikkim, India need to take up Inner Line Permit. These permits can be obtained from all the Tourist Offices of Sikkim by producing the Indian Visa. This ILP is valid for a duration of 15 days on the spot if two passport size photos, passport and visa photo copies of the applicants are submitted.

The State Government is authorized to extend the same for another 30 days. The extension of stay need to be obtained from the FRO Gangtok and Office of Superindent of Police of the North, South and West districts.

Food - While you travel

It is always a very important thing to take note of the food that we take when we travel. Though there are many good restaurants and eat outs available in the tourist places, still, if we could have some items handy, items that the family members prefer a lot, then we could make our stay at the places quite pleasurable.

There are lot of healthy recipes that one can take during their travel

How to obtain Indian Tourist Visa

To visit India, any foreign national except those of Nepal and Bhutan need to obtain Visa. And currently on a trial basis India is trying out Visa on Arrival for the tourists from Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zeland and Singapore

Visitors travelling via India and are staying in India for less than 72 hours can get a Transit Visa. Stay for more than 72 hours needs a Tourist Visa. Tourist Visas are issued for a period of six months based on the nationality. Most of the visas are multiple entry visas. For citizens of US, 10 years multiple entry visas are given. For tourists from France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland,New Zeland, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Vietnam 5 year visas are given.

Though visas are issued for 5 or 10 years, the tourists are not allowed to stay more than 6 months for US citizens and 3 months for the 5 year visa countries.  Indian visas are available to foreign national under the following categories too.

Business Visas,

Employment Visas,

Research Visas,

Student Visas,

Journalist Visas

Yoga Visas too.

Cost of Indian Tourist Visa:

    Indian tourist visa cost varies from country to country as per the aggrement between government of different nations. Visa from US for 6 months one have to pay $70 and from United Kingdom it will be 30 pounds and from Australia it will be around $90. Countries like Japan, South Africa, Jamaica and Mangolia have agreements with India to allow their visitors to pay less for Indian Visa.

How to apply for Indian Visa

To apply for Indian tourist visa tourists have to obtain visa applications from the Indian Embassy in your country or can complete an on-line application from on the website of one of the visa processing agencies.

Along with the application form one have to submit valid passport (which is valid for atleast 6 months) and a recent passport site photo along with a detailed itenery. The passport should have atleast two blank pages. For tourist of some countries proof of residence need to be added. Though visas have space for Indian references, for tourist visas such references are not needed.

While packing your travel documents

Important documents like passport, birth certificate and other important papers can be packed in zip-lock bag. It keeps them clean and without getting sticky.

Tips for Trekkers in India

Many a times, when we go and stay in hill resorts or home stays they themselves arrange for trekking trips up the hilly terrain. It is better to know some tips and tricks while going on trekking.

1. Carry light luggage.

2. Carry light woollen dresses.

3. Carry tent that is light in weight but it have to fit for the number of trekkers.

4. It is necessary to carry substantial food, edible and eatables.

5. Now a days lots of ready to cook dishes are available in the market, it is better to carry them when you are going on trekking.

6. Carry enough bread, biscuits toffee, chocolates also.

7. Trekking should be done along with some one who knows very well about the place. The person should know better about the terrain, locality climate etc.

8. Carry necessary medicines for fever, headache, painkillers etc. It is necessary to carry band aids and skin ointments also.

9. Though there will be a person who knows about the terrain, it is better to take a weapon (like small knife) for self protection.

10. It is better to carry sun screen lotions, moisturising lotions and creams to keep the skin as normal as possible.

11. A sleeping bag with a carry mat should be taken along as the place where the camp will be set up will not be known. But it is better to set up the camp in flat surface.

12. If ever you are lost, never panic rather staying calm and think about ways to get out of trouble will always help. Better think as a team in such situations and decisions should be taken unanimously rather than each and every one giving different suggestions.

Camp Tents - An Overview

It is a wonderful thing to relax in outdoors after hectic work schedules and routines. Though many prefer to relax in hotels and resorts, there are still a few who wish to relax along with the nature. And they prefer camping out in the nature. For such campers there are lots of tent manufacturers.

Tents are available for individuals, for two people and larger ones that can accommodate a whole family. Tents are basically large fabric strung to poles with thick ropes. The tents are open tents or have flaps that are zipped up to ensure privacy. The tents vary from light weight ones that can be carried in back packs or the ones that have sections for sleeping and cooking that need to be carried in carts or by two people.


Check out the following tips too before buying a tent for camping:
1. The tent should be both waterproof and fireproof.
2. The tent should be preferrably all-season tent.
3. The tent should be suitable for all kind of terrain too.
4. The tent is made of good fabric
5. It is easy to set up and pack up.