Indian Railways Passes      INDRAIL PASS

 To explore the splendour of multi-faceted , Indrail Passes provide excellent value and enhances the charm of holidays from abroad. Indrail Passes offer visitors on a budget, the facility of travel as they like, over the entire Indian Railways system, without any route restriction within the period of validity of the ticket. These passes can only be purchased by foreign nationals and NRIs on payment of U.S. Dollars, Pound Sterling and other convertible foreign currencies. The pass holder is not required to pay any resrvation fee, superfast charges or surcharge for the journey. The Indrail passes have been made more attractive for transit and short stay visitors. The passes are now also available for half day, two days and four days for the facility of visitors arriving by international flights and visiting only one or two connecting destinations. Indrail passes are sold through General Sales Agents abroad, Indian Airlines and Air-India's overseas outlets at , , , , , , UAE, , , , , , , , and . In , Indrail passes are available for sale in Tourist Bureaus at major Railway StationsCertain recognised Travel agents are also authorised to sell these passes in Delhi , Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. 

 An Indrail pass allows unlimited travel on Indian trains for tourists and non-resident Indians (NRI)
Period of Validity and Fares in $US (1 $US = Rs 43.39 - 21st May 2005)

1/2 day, --1A = 57, ----2A = 26, ----SL = 11.
1 day, ----1A = 95, ----2A = 43, ----SL = 19.
2 day, ----1A = 160, ---2A = 70, ----SL = 30.
4 day, ----1A = 220, ---2A = 110,--- SL =50.
7 day, ----1A = 270,-- -2A = 135,--- SL = 80.
15 day, ---1A = 370, ---2A = 185, ---SL = 90.
21 day, ---1A = 396, ---2A = 198, ---SL = 100.
30 day, ---1A = 495, ---2A = 248, ---SL = 125.
60 day, ---1A = 800, ---2A = 400, ---SL = 185.
90 day, ---1A = 1060, --2A = 530,--- SL =235.

Children under 5 travel free, Children over 5 and under 12 travel for half the adult fare, 12 years and over pay full adult price.

Indrail Child passes available for half adult prices.
The best 'value for money' Indrail pass is the 90 day pass, I have worked out the cost of a 10,000 km tour of not using an Indrail pass, I have included reservation, safety and supplementary charges.

1A = First Class air-conditioned. (also includes executive chair class on Shatabdi's)

2A = 2 tier air-conditioned. (also includes 3 tier air-con, First Class non-air-con and air-con chair class)

SL = Sleeper Class (not air-conditioned). (also includes unreserved ordinary second class)

Description (including photo's) of the different classes of travel on Indian railways
90 day Indrail pass costs:

1A = US$ 1060 = Rs 46,000
2A = US$ 530 = Rs 23,000
SL = US$ 235 = Rs 10,196
A reasonable pace would allow for about 30 journeys in 90 days (allowing for many 1, 2 or 3 night stays at places, and 2 or 3 weeks at a beach).

With 3 months you will not need to do any 'long' journeys, so a breakdown of 10 x 200km + 10 x 300 km + 10 x 500 km journeys seems appropriate.

The cost in each class is as follows:

1A = 9290 + 12,160 + 17,480 = Rs 38,930*

2A = 5250 + 6510 + 9250 = Rs 21,010*

SL = 1410 + 1740 + 2350 = Rs 5500

*The 'high speed' Rajdhani (Capital City) and Shatabdi (Century) trains have some additional charges over mail/express trains that are included in the cost of an Indiarail pass, i have not included the extra cost in the above prices as these trains are notoriously difficult to book.