Long-distance train journeys in India are an experience in themselves.  And unlike six other countries that are bigger than India, ‘long-distance’ really means long here.  You know what it means when you undertake a journey from somewhere in North India to a place in South India or vice-versa.  Recently, I had such an experience while traveling from Bangalore to Delhi.

In the journey that spans 42 hours and approximately 2500 kilometers, almost everything changes other than the train you are travelling in.  In the Times of India, Calvin and Hobbes is replaced by Peanuts, Backbeat is taken over by the Film Graffitti (2nd page).  The colour of soil changes from black to brown to yellow.  The temperature changes from pleasant to extreme (cold in my case).  Crops change from grapes to oranges to bananas to sugarcane.  Vada-Sambar brigade is replaced by Aloo-puri one.  Coffee is also overtaken by 'Cha'.  Also, the feelings of 'I am going home' convert to 'I am home'.  The language changes from Kannada to Telugu to Marathi to Hindi with Hinglish being the common thread throughout.  As you move up north, the frequency of beggars and eunuchs increases.

Talking of language, I had a Punjabi fellow passenger who insisted most of the time that in Delhi 80 % of the people speak Punjabi.  And he wouldn’t stop until I agreed to the statement!  The religious fervour of society is reflected in the waters of Tungabhadra, Krishna, Godavari, and Yamuna as you cross them.  The cut-wood 'taksals' of Bhopal remind you instantaneously of 'Soorma Bhopali' of Sholay.  You are transported from the plains of Mahrashtra to the beautiful, calm, and serene Ghats of MP from Itarsi to Bhopal.  Almost all the time, when train was passing through these ghats, I was at the compartment door.  The whole route seems to be a tourist circuit:  You pass through tourist places such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Jhansi, Agra and Khandwa (Kishore Kumar's hometown).  People eagerly wait for the great 'Thumbs-up' style thumb at Manmad and the ones who know about it are only too keen to tell about it to new fellow travelers. 

I had a Sardarji family in my cabin and a girl who is working with a cosmetics company.  Sardarji and his daughters played cards all the time and also initiated me into the game of ‘rummy’.   True to the reputation, Sardarji was so very cool, the ‘long’ journey became almost a jiffy.  Both being management professionals, my wavelength also matched with the other girl.  We could share the practicalities of life and had a pretty good time together.  So, the train journeys also give you an opportunity to make new friends.

Ultimately, if you want to see India, you don't fly: You travel by train.  While flying, all you get is AERIAL view but only from train you get a REAL view of India.