Is it possible to travel to India by train? Cheap flights to India

How to get to Goa: by plane, train, bus or car. Current prices, useful tips, all the nuances and details of the route to Goa from “Subtleties of Tourism”.

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India is not the place where people go to relax as a “vegetable” - lying on the beaches and drinking cocktails. There is a lot to marvel at and why stay. If your vacation is no more than two weeks, the best way to save time is to take a direct flight to Goa. But there are plenty of other options. Tourists often choose a slightly more time-consuming, but much more picturesque route through Delhi and Mumbai: there by plane, and then by train or taxi.

And a very extreme, but quite feasible option is to spend several weeks (or even months) on the road and get to Goa by land, visiting Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Pakistan at the same time.

By air

By taxi

This travel option is convenient if you are traveling in a large group and want to get to your destination among “your people” and in comfort. A taxi ride from Mumbai to Goa will take 8-12 hours and will cost from 10,000 INR. Iron rules when dealing with a taxi driver in India:

negotiate the price in advance and do not give money up front;
indicate your destination, arrival time and the fact that you will not pay extra money if the driver gets lost;
Find out if you will have to pay for luggage separately.

Theoretically, you can also get to Goa from Delhi by taxi, but this method of transportation, to put it mildly, is not very popular among tourists. A trip of almost 2 thousand km will not only tire you, but will also cost a serious amount of money. Moreover, the driver may demand payment for his stay at the hotel.

By rented car

This option, judging by the reviews of tourists, is almost never practiced. The fact is that if you rent a car in Mumbai, you will have to return it there. It is inconvenient to constantly travel by car in Goa due to the chaos on the roads, there is almost no parking there, and besides, the car may simply break down, which will create difficulties when returning it to the agency.

During 8 trips to India, I tried a variety of routes, and in my opinion the best transport was by plane. I don’t live in the capital, so buying tickets is always a problem for me.

I had entries into India through Bangkok, and... There is always a choice. Most independent travelers arrive in India by plane with transfers. There are very few direct flights, and they are not cheap.

India's neighboring countries are Pakistan and Burma. Getting to India through them is extremely inconvenient and expensive. Rather, travelers reach these countries through India, and not vice versa.

Flights and how to get to Delhi

The largest number of international flights arrives in the capital of India. For Russians, this is the easiest way to enter the country. And besides, it is very convenient, because most routes start from Delhi. Wherever you move next, Delhi will be the most convenient departure point. Whether by plane, train or bus, the country's largest transport hub allows you to get anywhere in India. On my last trips, I flew from Tashkent to Delhi, and then built my route around the country.

Direct flights from Moscow to Delhi are operated by two airlines: Aeroflot and Air India (there is also a flight to Goa). This is the only way to get to India directly; other cities in our countries are not connected by direct flights. Moreover, previously both airlines offered approximately the same fares; now, to my regret, the difference in price can differ by 2 times:

Aeroflot. Every day, all year round, 2 planes fly from Moscow to Delhi. Flights are convenient: daytime and evening. Travel time – 6 hours. Ticket prices start from 158 USD (10,000 rubles) one way. Departure from Sheremetyevo.
Air India. Operates 2 flights per week: on Saturday and Tuesday. The price of a one-way ticket is from 193 USD (12,150 rubles).
All other options for flying from Moscow to Delhi are with transfers. I want to look at the most popular airlines that have flights to India with transfers, and how much a ticket will cost:
1. Air Astana. Makes connections in Astana or Almaty. The main disadvantage of such a flight is the incredibly long wait for the next flight - up to 24 hours. But from the regions this is one of the most inexpensive ways to get to Delhi. If you have business in the capital of Kazakhstan, this option may suit you. The price for a one-way ticket is about 230 USD (15,000 rubles). I started to consider such a flight for myself, but the connection time is just killing me.
2. Рegasus. The Turkish airline offers to fly to Delhi via Bishkek with a wait of about 12 hours. There are three flights per week: on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Prices start from 170 USD one way. There is a flight from Krasnodar.
3. Emirates. One of the best airlines in the world flies to via. The waiting time at the airport is minimal – just over three hours. For 317 USD (20,000 rubles) you will get a fast and comfortable flight, as well as the opportunity to take as much as 30 kg of luggage with you!
4. Turkish Airlines. The Turks fly through. Connections at the airport vary - from 4 hours; if you wait for a long time, you can request a free tour of Istanbul. You can get it during an international flight with a wait in Istanbul of 6 to 24 hours. The tour is free of charge without prior reservation. You can sign up for it in the airport building after passport control (near Starbucks). Tickets are among the cheapest, costing from 158 USD (10,000 rubles). 30 kg of luggage is also allowed here.
5. Gulf Air. Another quick option flight via – waiting time at the airport is about 3 hours. Tickets cost from 230 USD (15,000 rubles).
6. Etihad. They fly with a connection to Abu Dhabi, the waiting time is from 6 hours. Tickets also cost from 230 USD (15,000 rubles). The airline's advantages include excellent service and a hefty 30 kg of luggage.
7. Airarabia. A very popular airline among Russian travelers who often visit India. Arabia makes a transfer in Sharjah, it takes from 1 hour. The company often holds sales. In normal times, tickets can be purchased from 253 USD (16,000 rubles).
8. Qatar Airways. Another favorite of mine for travelers from Moscow. Qatar is famous for its service and annual sales held in August and September. The transfer takes place in Doha and takes about 8 hours. Tickets without discount cost 270 USD (17,000 rubles).
9. Fly Dubai. A rather controversial airline that ruined its reputation by canceling all flights to Goa from Moscow and then resuming them again. It flies to Delhi via, and also departs from Yekaterinburg. Their main advantage is low prices. There are tickets from 158 USD (10,000 rubles).
10. Uzbekistan Airways. The Uzbek airline flies through. Connections can be long. For residents of the capital, such a flight is unlikely to be convenient. In addition to Moscow, Uzbekistan Airways flights fly from Novosibirsk. Tickets cost from 300 USD (19,000 rubles). I personally use this option because it is one of the most low prices in the region. The airline also offers to freely change the date of the return ticket for a fee of 20 EUR, which is very convenient for me.
You can also see ticket prices.

Flights and how to get to Mumbai

The next most popular city in India is. There is also a large international Airport. Mostly travelers heading to . You can get from one place to another in 1 hour by plane or overnight by bus. The choice of airlines is not that great. And the price level between tickets to and from Mumbai to Moscow is approximately the same. But the regions have it worse - flying to Mumbai is much more difficult and more expensive than flying to Delhi. I used to fly to Mumbai often from Bangkok, where I started my travels. There are inexpensive direct flights between these cities.

Options:
1. Turkish Airlines. Turks fly with a three-hour layover in Istanbul. The prices are quite affordable - from 222 USD (14,000 rubles). One of my favorite airlines, I always monitor their discounts and offers.
2. Air India. The transfer to Delhi lasts from three hours. It doesn't always make sense to fly with this airline, because individual tickets to Delhi and then to Mumbai can be found cheaper. The price starts from 253 USD (16,000 rubles).
3. Air Arabia. The connection in Sharjah lasts about three hours. Ticket prices start from 253 USD (16,000 rubles).
4. Emirates. The stop in Dubai is about three hours, the ticket price is 365 USD (23,000 rubles).
5. Gulf Air. Just a 3-hour layover in Bahrain separates you from. Ticket price – from 301 USD (19,000 rubles).
The flight time for almost all airlines is the same - about 11 hours, and the cost is not too different.

Flights and how to get to Goa

There are two options for flying directly to Moscow:
- Air India. If you're short on time, a direct 10-hour flight is the fastest and most convenient way. You can take two on board luggage spaces up to 23 kg both. Ticket costs from 300 USD (19,000 rubles).
- Rossiya Airlines. This is a charter flight that can be purchased online without a tourist package. Passengers are allowed to take with them hand luggage up to 10 kg and 1 suitcase up to 23 kg. Travel time is about 7 hours. Ticket price – from 460 USD (30,000 rubles) in both directions.
Other options have several transfers through Dubai, Doha, and other cities. The average price for a ticket with transfers is 238 USD (15,000 rubles). Some of the cheapest tickets are offered by Fly Dubai; they often have sales and at the beginning of the season (September - October) tickets can be found from 140 USD (9,000 rubles). I flew to Goa via Dubai, this is one of the most convenient and inexpensive options, the main thing is to find cheap tickets to Dubai from your city.

How to save on air travel to India

The most popular airlines among Indian lovers in Russia are Qatar, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia. They offer a huge number of flights all year round and often have promotions and sales, which usually happen at the beginning and end of the season (September or May).

Planning your trip in advance is the best way to save money. The closer to the departure date, the more expensive the tickets will be.

I took my cheapest tickets six months before the trip. On sale you can easily find a flight from Moscow to Delhi for 317 USD (20,000 rubles) round trip. The regions do not have this option; the easiest way is to fly through the capital.

But everything has its downsides. Thus, Fly Dubai airline has repeatedly canceled its flights. First, they canceled all flights from Novosibirsk to Dubai, replacing them with . Those flying to India had to get to the capital of the Urals on their own. After this, the flight program in Goa was completely canceled ahead of the tourist season. True, after some time it was resumed. The money for the missing tickets has not yet been returned. Air Arabia started the season with long flight delays (12 hours). There are a lot of such cases, you need to be prepared for this when buying an inexpensive ticket. I try to subscribe to all the mailings of the airlines and destinations I need, so I can quickly track sales and always keep my finger on the pulse.

You can also save on domestic flights through sales. Indian airlines offer discounts several times a year, so you don’t miss them, it’s better to subscribe to their newsletters. Most search engines also offer big discounts when purchasing a combo - flight and hotel, sometimes you come across good options.

Airlines of India

If you have an Indian itinerary planned, you will have to use local airlines. There are enough airports in the country, to the main ones tourist places getting there is not a problem. Domestic flights Carried out by airlines:
- Air India.
- IndiGo.
- Go Air.
- Vistara.
- Spicejet.
- Jet Airways.
- AirAsia.
Flights with Indian airlines are not too expensive - the average price is 70 USD (5,000 rupees). There is no point in buying tickets much in advance - the prices are quite stable, several months and a week before departure the cost will be approximately the same. Also, the price does not differ when purchasing a one-way or both-way ticket; occasionally airlines offer discounts on a round-trip ticket. There are several important nuances that you need to know when using Indian airlines:
1. Flights are often delayed. If you have several flights in a row, take tickets with plenty of time. Indian airlines frequently delay or cancel flights. After purchasing a ticket, check your email, emails will be sent there with changes in the schedule. Also check the status of your flight on the day of departure. Arrive at the airport early. If your flight is significantly delayed or cancelled, you will have time to cancel your ticket (in such cases the airline will refund the cost of the ticket) and take a new one for another flight. But you must have money on your card to purchase a replacement.
2. For domestic flights, the ticket price includes only 15 kg of luggage (in 99% of cases), while most international airlines offer between 20 and 30 kg. To avoid getting into an uncomfortable situation and not having to pay for excess weight, you can purchase extra kilos of luggage in advance on the airline’s website. On average, 5 kg will cost 7.4 USD (500 rupees).
3. Also, the ticket price does not always include meals. It can also be purchased separately when purchasing an air ticket. In addition, Indian airlines offer to choose a seat in the cabin for a fee.
Instead of a conclusion

The other day I returned from India, so I can point out the main two difficulties that I encountered on the road. Firstly, this is a long flight. This time I had to make three transfers in Tashkent, Delhi and Mumbai. I arrived in Goa squeezed like a lemon. This happened due to the fact that the tickets were purchased just a week before departure, there was no time for planning. Secondly, there are constant delays in flights to Delhi from Goa. This kind of trouble can easily make you miss your next plane. I was prepared for this. If your flight is delayed for several hours, you have the right to cancel your ticket (you will receive a full refund) and purchase a new one for a more convenient flight. I was once again convinced that the secret to a comfortable flight is proper planning and purchasing tickets in advance.

To India by plane

The following airlines operate regular direct flights from Russian cities to India:
- Aeroflot from Moscow (Sheremetyevo) daily flight to Delhi (6 hours 5 minutes).
- "Transaero" - from February 5, 2015 from Moscow (Vnukovo) to Delhi two flights a week (Thursday, Saturday); from Moscow (Domodedovo) to Goa (Dabolim) two flights per week (from January to March).
- Air India - from Moscow (Domodedovo) to Delhi 4 flights per week.

Flights with transfers to different cities of India from Russia are operated by Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines. It is often much more profitable for a tourist to take flights from the mentioned airlines, since they fly to dozens of Indian airports.

Direct regular flights to India from the CIS countries are carried out by:
- Air Astana from Almaty to Delhi (4 flights per week)
- Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent to Delhi (3 times a week)

To India by train

There is no railway connection between Russia and India.
You can get to India by direct train from:
- Bangladesh: train Dhaka - Kolkata (Maitree Express) (10 hours journey) The schedule can be found on the website railways Bangladesh www.railway.gov.bd.
- Pakistan: train Lahore - Delhi via Amritsar (Samjhauta Express), runs twice a week. The Karachi - Delhi train via Mundabao and Jodhpur (The Thar Express) runs once a week on Fridays.

To India by car and bus

A land trip from Russia to India is theoretically possible, but represents a very difficult task - you will have to travel through Iran and Pakistan, which on average will take at least two weeks. Buses and minibuses constantly run from neighboring countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan) to various parts of India.

The Republic of India is located on the Hindustan Peninsula and its area is more than three million thousand square kilometers. India is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, the Palk Strait and the Bay of Bengal. After gaining independence, this country became one of the fastest growing. There are 26 states in the country that have their own electoral government. State languages India's languages are English and Hindi. The bulk of the country's population professes Hinduism.

How to get to India

You can get to India by land, sea or air. Direct flights from both domestic and foreign carriers depart from Russia every day. The country's largest airports are concentrated in the following cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai. Issuing tickets through travel agencies will cost much more than individual trip. The cheapest tickets on charter flights. They are known to have some disadvantages, such as being tied to the airport, departure date, etc.

You can also get to India by sea. But this method is not suitable for everyone due to its high cost and duration. Those who love extreme sports can take advantage of bus trips. When crossing borders you will need to undergo customs inspection.

Visa

The country does not have a permanent visa regime. It is constantly changing. Therefore, those who travel to India must first find out all the intricacies of staying in the country. A visa is required both when visiting India and during a transit trip. This document can be completed independently or through an agency. There is no provision for issuing visas upon arrival in the country; all of them must be prepared in advance. It is, of course, possible to obtain an application in exchange for a passport, which is valid for two weeks. But using this option is not recommended. There are several types of visas: business, tourist, student, etc. Each of them has its own validity period, as well as a list of documents that must be presented. The consular fee for a visa is 1,600 rubles.

The permissible period of time between tourist visas to the country is 2 months. The validity period of a tourist visa is 1-2 months. Violations of visa regulations are subject to fines and imprisonment.

Transport

To travel within India, you can use air travel. At least a dozen companies operate here for domestic transportation. But you need to keep in mind that Indian companies are prone to regular flight delays and cancellations. And this must be taken into account when connecting domestic and international flights. The check-in process at the airport is very slow, with many checks, and passengers are required to arrive as early as possible to check in for their flight.

The safest way to travel around the country is by train. The railway network covers everything big cities India. There are seven classes of service. No less popular with local residents, and among tourists, is to travel by bus. Each state has its own buses of different classes. The most common cheap buses are constantly overcrowded. But transport of a higher, comfortable class is always available. The only disadvantage of this method of transportation is the poor roads in the country. In Indian cities, a very common method of transportation is taxis and autorickshaws, which are very often used for short trips. You can also rent a car. But it should be remembered that local roads leave much to be desired.

Climate in India

The country has a tropical monsoon climate, tropical to the north and subequatorial to the south. The best months The best time to visit this country is November and December. In summer, due to high temperatures, travel will not be particularly comfortable.

Indian cuisine

Indian cuisine is based on vegetarianism. And curry plays a special role here. This mixture of spices almost always accompanies rice dishes. The nutrition of the northern regions is quite different from the southern ones. Residents of the northern parts of the country prefer dishes with pork and ghee, and in the south - vegetables and spicy seasonings. In all regions without exception you can see a large number of dishes with legumes. Favorite drink is tea. Alcoholic drinks are almost never consumed at the table.

Hotels

In the country you can stay in hotels of any type, depending on your financial capabilities. The cheapest are youth hotels, where guests are offered a bed to relax. Next come government hotels designed for recreation of government employees. Tourist hotels can have different categories, ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive. Hotels can be Western or Indian style. In the second case, hotels are located in places of pilgrimage and have a low cost. Such places are characterized by less comfort.

There are also exotic hotels in the country (on the water, on wheels, etc.), as well as hotels of the highest category, which are mainly located in tourist centers.

Shopping and shops

Almost all purchases in the country are made in small shops and stores that are open until 21.00. During tourist trip Around the country, it is best to pay attention to the following products:

1. Fabrics - local cashmere is especially thin and of excellent quality.

2. Clothing made from natural materials.

3.Tea and spices.

4.Artisan products.

5. Jewelry.

6. Ceramics.

7. Aroma oils.

Money

In India national currency is rupee. Despite the presence of many exchange offices, exchange must be made only in banks, otherwise tourists may face many unpleasant surprises. In addition, it is strongly recommended not to use credit cards, since India is a leader in all kinds of fraud.

Beaches of India

Beaches in India are not only sandy, but also rocky. The most visited ones are located in the resort area, and they are all free. Most beautiful beach- Papol.

From January to May, Transaero gives you the opportunity to fly to India cheaply! The flight is direct and takes only about six hours.

The news is definitely good for those who dream of traveling to India and saving on flights. At the same time, before purchasing, we recommend that travelers clearly understand the purpose of their trip.

If you dream of going to Goa, then it is best to choose the same Transaero, but with a direct flight Moscow-Goa-Moscow, and after 7 hours you will already be getting into a taxi at Goa airport.

Flights to Goa from Moscow »

The fact is that from Delhi you still need to get to Goa, and there are two options: either a 30-hour trip on an Indian train, or an internal flight.

The first option is a train from Delhi to Goa. Train tickets to Delhi will have to be purchased at the tourist office and it is unlikely that you will be able to get a ticket for the trip on the same day. In addition, trains on the Delhi-Goa and Goa-Delhi routes do not operate daily. The cost of a ticket to a regular sleeper class (something like our reserved seat) is 700 Indian rupees (approx. 9 euros), a higher class with air conditioning and glass on the windows is about 3,000 Indian rupees (approx. 40 euros).

The second option is to fly from Delhi to Goa. The flight will only take a couple of hours, although for a round trip flight you will have to pay a little more than 20 euros for the train. We would not recommend taking tickets from Delhi to Goa on the day of arrival in India. The fact is that there is always a possibility that the flight from Moscow may, for example, be late, and then the air tickets to Goa will be lost.

– 191 euros

Flight from Moscow to Delhi– Thu, Sat

Flights to Delhi from Moscow– Fri, Sun

Flights to Delhi from Moscow for other dates »

Still, we believe that if your goal is the beaches of Goa, then it is better to take a direct flight Moscow-Goa. But if you want to see India and then relax on the beaches, then the Moscow-Delhi-Moscow option is ideal!

Mamalapuram, Tamil Nadu

After all, from Delhi you can go to the city of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan. Rajasthan, by the way, is considered the most beautiful state of India. Or, for example, we recommend stopping by Pushkar. This is a small town that is included in the list of 4 sacred Indian places.