20 ms·

This site really helped me get oriented to the India rail system (or at least as much as is possible without experiencing it first hand). Got a first class tic

This site really helped me get oriented to the India rail system (or at least as much as is possible without experiencing it first hand). Got a first class ticket from Kolkata to Gaya (why not, was cheap and it was my first time in India). The attendants were very kind, unusually so, and it was only after getting off the train that it finally clicked why one attendant kept saying with a loving smile, "gips, gips" -- he wanted a tip like I'd given one of the other attendants! (who was able to speak basic English and asked for a tip) It was a nice journey, though the Gaya train station at 4AM, nothing prepares you for that, weaving through 500 homeless people sleeping on the ground; emerging from the mass of humanity to inhale the thick, dusty, diesel saturated air, on the way to Bodh Gaya, the Bodhi Tree, the birthplace of Buddha's awakening -- welcome to India :)

puranjay 8y ago
The strange part is that I'm Indian and I would never think of traveling to Gaya because of where it's located (the state of Bihar has a poor reputation).
- unmole 8y ago
  Bodh Gaya is actually pretty nice. It's almost like an oasis of tranquility in the middle of Bihar's chaos. But still, there's no way I'm ever going to Bihar again!
- virtualwhys 8y ago
  Gaya train station was far and away the most intense experience I had in the 2 months I spent traveling through the north. Well, breaking my hip falling off a scooter trying to avoid a massive black bull cow running at me in Rishikesh was the most intense experience of my existence to-date, but the Gaya station was seriously hard core on the normal traveler's experience level. On the return from Bodh Gaya the midnight train to Varanasi was delayed...by 5 hours. Being the only foreigner I was concerned for my safety, but then realized the safest place was down on the ground with everyone else, and definitely not wandering outside the station.
  - puranjay 8y ago
    Just to give you an idea of Bihar - the state where Gaya is located - its per capita income is $2,170 (PPP), while Delhi's is $18,000+ (PPP). It's absurdly poor and all the old stereotypes about India still thrive there.
billfruit 8y ago
For travel in India, another undispensable site is IndiaMike.com For rail fanning /trainspotting in India, there is a fantastic community at irfca.org.

puranjay 8y ago

The strange part is that I'm Indian and I would never think of traveling to Gaya because of where it's located (the state of Bihar has a poor reputation).

unmole 8y ago
Bodh Gaya is actually pretty nice. It's almost like an oasis of tranquility in the middle of Bihar's chaos. But still, there's no way I'm ever going to Bihar again!
virtualwhys 8y ago
Gaya train station was far and away the most intense experience I had in the 2 months I spent traveling through the north. Well, breaking my hip falling off a scooter trying to avoid a massive black bull cow running at me in Rishikesh was the most intense experience of my existence to-date, but the Gaya station was seriously hard core on the normal traveler's experience level. On the return from Bodh Gaya the midnight train to Varanasi was delayed...by 5 hours. Being the only foreigner I was concerned for my safety, but then realized the safest place was down on the ground with everyone else, and definitely not wandering outside the station.
- puranjay 8y ago
  Just to give you an idea of Bihar - the state where Gaya is located - its per capita income is $2,170 (PPP), while Delhi's is $18,000+ (PPP). It's absurdly poor and all the old stereotypes about India still thrive there.

billfruit 8y ago

For travel in India, another undispensable site is IndiaMike.com For rail fanning /trainspotting in India, there is a fantastic community at irfca.org.