An Austrian traveller boarded a crowded sleeper car expecting the worst. While Indian Railways is the lifeline for millions of people across the nation, she had heard tales of chaos. But instead of 'getting robbed', as she was told, she found herself singing sacred chants with strangers who became friends. The journey, which she had expected to be dangerous, turned out to be one of her most memorable travel experiences.
Trip of a Lifetime
This isn't the script of a film, but the real story of Chiara, a backpacker from Austria. She shared her honest account of her Indian Railways adventure, and it is now going viral on the internet. In the video, she confesses that she had heard stories about how Indian sleeper class is unsafe. 'Indian sleeper class is too dangerous, you'll get robbed! Meanwhile me in a sleeper class,' she said. She posted a video of herself singing sacred chants with her female co-passengers on the train.
She also said that she has taken 10 train journeys with Indian Railways and has never had a bad experience. 'Expected danger, got dinner and breakfast instead. After about 17 train rides in India – mostly sleeper class (one lasting 42 hours!), some 3AC, and one general class – I haven't had a single bad experience.' She further said that she was travelling with her husband, adding that she could not comment on how the experience might differ when travelling alone. 'I travel with my husband, so I cannot say how my experience would be travelling alone,' she said.
Internet Reacts
The video has garnered over 595,000 views on Instagram, with more than 34.3K likes. It is flooded with comments from Indians and foreigners. 'Always felt like a family with Indian aunties as well,' one commented. An Indian user proudly added, 'That's our Bharathiya culture.' Another user commented on the chants, 'When Hanuman Chalisa plays, you are safe!' A third agreed, 'When someone is chanting Hanuman Chalisa... it's love and nothing else.' Fellow travellers chimed in with their own advice and encouragement. 'You should definitely visit Vrindavan at least once,' another user suggested. Some users also said that travelling with Indian Railways is safe, contrary to what she had heard, and suggested the railway's customer service helpline as a practical resource for solving problems. 'You can travel alone too, but wherever you go, always be alert, that's all you need. And it's quite easy to complain, just call 139, and they will fully support you in all railway cases,' one user said.
Disclaimer: The experiences shared in this article are based on an individual traveller's account and may not reflect the experiences of all passengers. Safety, comfort, and service on Indian Railways can vary depending on the route, class, time of travel, and individual circumstances. Travellers are advised to take standard precautions and stay informed while planning their journeys.
