I am bewildered by all these websites to book trains! Can anyone help? I am looking to travel from Margao in Goa to Cochin in Kerala - the fastest way, exec chair car and a/c 1st class sleeper.
Which train do i get? How long is the journey?
Any help appreciated!!
Shatabdi or Rajdhani Express-rail travel-fastest.Goa/Kerala
well the fastest way would be by plane though i'm not too sure bout how expensive it may be. U can try budget airlines such as air deccan (or deccan air...can't remember the name properly) or kingfisher airlines. The local budget airlines should get u to kerala quick. I've travelled to cochin via banglore and that itself took almost a day and a half. Plus the train jounrey is not always comfortable (stay away from the food). Theres a train called the rajkot-cochin express which passess through margao though i'm not too sure bout the frequency. U cld also possibly check taking a train which goes deeper into kerala if thats where ur heading neways. Also u might wanna think bout gettin off at ernakulam which is a little south of cochin. Most trains from goa stop there so u can possibly catch a bus or a local trian back to cochin. Belive me.....if i could take a bus from allapye to cochin u can def. get one from ernakulam.
I am planning to go that route by train in November. According to the "trains at a glance" book that I have in front of me (valid July-November) there are several trains going from goa to kerala. Two trains runs daily 1) Nizamuddin Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express (puh!) from Madgaon (departure daily 8pm) to Ernakulam (arrival 10.45 am the next day). 2) Lokmanya Tilak Thiruvananthapuram Netravati Express departure M 10.40 pm arrival E 2 pm next day.
Classes of accommodation is 2-tier AC sleeper, 3-tier AC sleeper, second class seat.
From E it should be easy to get a bus to Cochin, I think.
Good luck!
Hi Carla,
Nice to know that you will be travelling to India soon..welcome aboard...
As for travelling to Kerala from Goa,if u have the time and inclination,the best thing would be to take a bus from Goa to Cochin.The journey would take you anythin between 18-24 hrs but it is worth the effort as it will be a memomrable experience.
Else you can opt for a flight out of Goa to Cochin which will cost you somewhere between Rs.3000 to Rs.3500 in an airbus A320,the service provider is India Airlines,a very reliable one though not the most customer service oriented.
If you would require any kind of help in Goa or Kerala,please mail me at chiquititagold at rediffmail dot com.
regards,
me
NB: I am not doing this for money,i get my bread and butter by doing something else and it helps that i am a native of Kerala and been to Goa umpteen times....