Booking Trains in India
The best way to book trains in India is to do it online in advance of traveling.
Websites like Indian Railways and Cleartrip (my favorite) make it easy to book trains and choose seats.
If you book online, make sure you have a printer, as you must print your reservation and show a copy to the ticket checker on board the train.
In lieu of booking online, you can book train tickets in India at the train station.
Make sure you buy your tickets only from the official ticket booth. Don’t get sidetracked by touts trying to tell you that the booth is closed or has changed locations.
Some hotels will book trains for you.
Make sure to give them all the information they will need, including which class you prefer to travel, before they make a booking.
Also make sure to ask if the hotel charges a fee for the booking, as most hotels do.
In many cases trains in India book up well in advance of the departure date, so book your seat as early as possible to avoid getting wait listed or, even worse, not getting a seat at all.
See the India Train Guide for more information and tips on train travel in India.