From Hospet, near Hampi, we got the train to Hyderabad which is in the Andhra Pradesh region of India. This was to be our first journey by train in India and it turned out to be one that we will not quickly forget.
It has been reported recently that India's Railway Service will see its first price increase in ten years. Although unpopular with the Indian people, the rise in cost will provide the network with some much needed TLC. Currently trains are old, cramped, rickety and hot - It is worth noting that we traveled in 2AC which is only one class below first. That aside, we must give respect to the Indian Railway Network. An unimaginable number of people travel by train everyday (tickets go on sale three months before departure and sell out quick) but somehow the system seems to work efficiently - Quite an achievement given India's size and population.
However, none of the above is what made our journey a noteworthy one. The reason we had such a memorable trip was thanks to the Indian people we were traveling alongside. The first man we met referred to himself as 'The Don', wearing a faded retro Transformers t-shirt and referring to the concept of The Holy Ganges as 'complete bollocks'. We didn't necessarily agree, but it made us chuckle nonetheless.
A few hours, some general conversation and a snooze later, 'The Don' asked us if we would share a drink with him. He then arranged for 'his people' to drop some beer off at the next stop. We were in awe. We later discovered that 'The Don' worked for the Civil Service and therefore had lots of people in lots of places.
The train soon stopped as expected, but we were then informed that it would be (unexpectedly) doing so for five hours. Trains in India are often either split or joined to other trains at junctions before heading off in their various directions. We assume this is in order to cover the vast amount of land which India is spread across. Normally a relatively quick and seamless process, today there had been a complication.
It was at this point we got talking to a brother and sister who were traveling together. He was escorting her back to their family home where she would stay until giving birth to her expected baby. The pair were lovely. They were kind, intelligent and humerus and their English was excellent. In light of the long wait they asked if we would like to join them in visiting a near by Hindu temple which they knew of. We asked 'The Don' if he would like to join us, but he was going to hang fire and wait for his people. So the four of us headed off ensuring 'The Don' we would be back in time to share a drink before departure.
Being escorted to the temple was an excellent experience. With thanks to wonderful company we were able to learn first hand about Hindu religion and its practices. On arrival we circled the temple three times before entering. This was to pay respect to three prolific Hindu Gods, Shiva the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. We learned that three is a sacred number for Hindu's and thus many of their practices are carried out three times.
We entered the temple by putting our right foot forward as this is considered to be the more significant side of the human body - Hence the reason many Indian's only use their right hand to eat with, the left being reserved for less desirable purposes. A service was taking place, and following direction from our guides, we were blessed and prayed for. After the service we ate a form of sweet dough which is made at the temple. This is said to be offered to the Gods before being sold to worshipers - a process we didn't fully understand.
After the temple we shared an Auto-Rickshaw back to the station and on route I was able to speak with the sister about women in India and, in particular, about her arranged marriage. Although there has undoubtedly been some progression, I got the impression that women in India are still second class citizens. She informed me that women are expected to act in ways which are not put on to men. Most weddings are arranged, women still come with a Dowry and after marriage many give up their personal goals to tend the family home. Once a year the Wife must fast for her Husband and when he passes away it will also signal the end of her life.
Many parents arrange their daughters marriage to ensure that they find a suitable partner. When looked upon in this light one can begin to understand their logic - it becomes an act of parental care rather than oppression. But then for me love isn't about logic, partners should be referred to in ways which are dreamy rather than dutiful, and connections must be made, not forced.
I left the conversation feeling connected to the sister as a Woman, but felt a little sad and found her acceptance of her situation a little difficult to understand.
When we got back to our train 'The Don' was waiting with food and drink - his people had delivered as promised. We spent the next few hours laughing and joking together before putting our heads down for some much needed rest. We arrived in Hyderabad early morning, swapped numbers and shared a coffee. We all agreed it was the best train journey we had ever taken.
It has been reported recently that India's Railway Service will see its first price increase in ten years. Although unpopular with the Indian people, the rise in cost will provide the network with some much needed TLC. Currently trains are old, cramped, rickety and hot - It is worth noting that we traveled in 2AC which is only one class below first. That aside, we must give respect to the Indian Railway Network. An unimaginable number of people travel by train everyday (tickets go on sale three months before departure and sell out quick) but somehow the system seems to work efficiently - Quite an achievement given India's size and population.
However, none of the above is what made our journey a noteworthy one. The reason we had such a memorable trip was thanks to the Indian people we were traveling alongside. The first man we met referred to himself as 'The Don', wearing a faded retro Transformers t-shirt and referring to the concept of The Holy Ganges as 'complete bollocks'. We didn't necessarily agree, but it made us chuckle nonetheless.
The train soon stopped as expected, but we were then informed that it would be (unexpectedly) doing so for five hours. Trains in India are often either split or joined to other trains at junctions before heading off in their various directions. We assume this is in order to cover the vast amount of land which India is spread across. Normally a relatively quick and seamless process, today there had been a complication.
It was at this point we got talking to a brother and sister who were traveling together. He was escorting her back to their family home where she would stay until giving birth to her expected baby. The pair were lovely. They were kind, intelligent and humerus and their English was excellent. In light of the long wait they asked if we would like to join them in visiting a near by Hindu temple which they knew of. We asked 'The Don' if he would like to join us, but he was going to hang fire and wait for his people. So the four of us headed off ensuring 'The Don' we would be back in time to share a drink before departure.
We entered the temple by putting our right foot forward as this is considered to be the more significant side of the human body - Hence the reason many Indian's only use their right hand to eat with, the left being reserved for less desirable purposes. A service was taking place, and following direction from our guides, we were blessed and prayed for. After the service we ate a form of sweet dough which is made at the temple. This is said to be offered to the Gods before being sold to worshipers - a process we didn't fully understand.
After the temple we shared an Auto-Rickshaw back to the station and on route I was able to speak with the sister about women in India and, in particular, about her arranged marriage. Although there has undoubtedly been some progression, I got the impression that women in India are still second class citizens. She informed me that women are expected to act in ways which are not put on to men. Most weddings are arranged, women still come with a Dowry and after marriage many give up their personal goals to tend the family home. Once a year the Wife must fast for her Husband and when he passes away it will also signal the end of her life.
Many parents arrange their daughters marriage to ensure that they find a suitable partner. When looked upon in this light one can begin to understand their logic - it becomes an act of parental care rather than oppression. But then for me love isn't about logic, partners should be referred to in ways which are dreamy rather than dutiful, and connections must be made, not forced.
I left the conversation feeling connected to the sister as a Woman, but felt a little sad and found her acceptance of her situation a little difficult to understand.
When we got back to our train 'The Don' was waiting with food and drink - his people had delivered as promised. We spent the next few hours laughing and joking together before putting our heads down for some much needed rest. We arrived in Hyderabad early morning, swapped numbers and shared a coffee. We all agreed it was the best train journey we had ever taken.
Wow, what a journey ! Not something you'd experience on Virgin Trains. Have lots of fun in Hydrabad. X
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