Train Companion of a Different Kind

Why do we love train journeys?

Meeting people.                              

Seeing the countryside.

Crossing the rivers with a dhikak-dhikak cyclic sound on the bridge.

Soaking in the greenery of cultivated fields.

Relishing the garam-chai with authentic snacks.

Eat-sleep-eat-sleep and-repeat cycle! Endlessly.

What else?

You also meet a cute puppy. Yes in the train. So tiny that it fits into your palm.

This morning Ghumakkad had a co-traveller named Jo. After seeing his picture, Ankush asked “Who is smaller- Jo or his name?”

See the pictures and the video where Jo is playing with his elder brother- a soft toy.

 

Joe and his stuffed toy! Enjoy the video shot in the train. 

What does Jo eat? He loves Mother Dairy's curd! See the picture below.

Elfo, our Cairn Terrier when he was ferried in Neeta’s palm in a flight from Bangalore to Delhi in 2001. Elfo lived a full life before leaving us in 2016. You may read Elfo’s story below:

Who will nudge me now?

Pets give us such joy. Unconditional, selfless and bountiful.

Thanks for browsing.

-            Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Rajdhani Express/ India/ 18^th Jan 2024

#pets #petlove #elfo #cairnterrier #trainjourney #unusualcompanion #cotravellerofadifferentkind #shihtzu #dogs #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh 

Vande Bharat - The Pride of Indian Railways

When did you last travel by a train? What keeps you away from a train journey? Noisy coaches and smelly wash rooms?

Well, those reasons are a thing of past! Try a Vande Bharat train. It connects cities up to 600 kms apart. Six to eight-hour journey in luxurious coaches. Noise and dust free cruising at steady 110 kmph. Bio-vacuum toilets as in an aircraft. Courteous staff, great food. Don’t believe it?

Ghumakkad recently travelled by Vande Bharat trains between Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Sharing few pictures for you to appreciate the quality of service offered by the Indian Railways.

The doors of the coaches open automatically. See the short video below.

See the short video clip of rotatable chairs. Complete 360 degrees rotation could not be captured as the chairs were not in the upright position.

It is not only the trains where the quality of service has improved, even the waiting halls at the stations have undergone a transformation. See two pictures of the AC waiting hall at Kacheguda railway station below.

Currently, there are 35 Vande Bharat trains in India which is likely to reach the target of 75 trains. The coaches of Vande Bharat are made in India by the Integral Coach Factory. The trains operate in two configurations of 16-coaches or 8-coaches. Ghumakkad travelled in an 8-coach service. Hyderabad-Bengaluru fare for executive chair car over the Christmas weekend was Rs 2956 including all meals, convenience fee and credit card fee. 

Train journeys are always fun. We share below some of our earlier stories of train travel both in India and overseas. Whether it is the roving chaat-wallah in a train or going through a tunnel, there is nothing like a train journey!

Vizag to Araku by the 'Royal' Class 

Taj Mahal at Dawn - Straight from the railway station

A Train Journey in America

Train to Ranthambor Tiger Reserve

Discovering Rural Wisdom and Innovation - Through a train journey in Saurashtra

Of course, vande bharat train does not permit the roving chaat-wallahs in the coaches, but in-the-train catering by the railways makes up for it. Do give it a shot! Vande Bharat- the changing face of Indian railways. Those who have already travelled by Vande Bharat, do share your experience.

Thanks for browsing. This story also came to you from a moving train!

-        Harsh-the-Ghumakkad / Vande Bharat Train/ 26th Dec 23

#trainjourneys #travel #fun #indianrailways #vandebharat #prideofindianrailways #biovaccumtoilets #veterans #seniorcitizens #bloggingfromrunningtrain #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #qualityofservice 

Saurashtra ki sair Part-1: Innovation and Rural Wisdom

____ Saurashtra ki Sair Part-1: Innovation and Rural Wisdom ___

Neeta and I travelled across Saurashtra, Gujarat from 26th Jan to 5th Feb 2013.

The first part posted here covers the train journey from Secunderabad (AP) to Rajkot. From south central India going west via Pune, the train touches the west coast of India at Vasai Road and then on to Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and finally further west to Rajkot.

This picture story chronicles some day-to-day innovation and rural wisdom as observed from the train. We also noticed the degree of pollution caused by mankind. Double click a picture to enlarge it.

Read on and share your comments.

 

From Rajkot, we drove to Junagadh. It was one of the princely states in Saurashtra before 1947.
More on it in Part-2 of our 'Saurashtra ki Sair'

Do leave your comments/suggestions.

GhumakkadHB
(Harsh Bhargava)

_________________ End of Part-1 Saurashtra ki Sair _______________