The Indian railway system spans from the lush tropical areas of southern India to the much colder Himalayan mountains in northern India. It has historically been viewed with romanticism and a little bit of mystery. There are of course the famous pictures of overcrowded trains, with people hanging onto every surface of the train - inside and out! Then there is the gourmet service of first-class trains, with delicious Indian meals brought out on fancy dinnerware. You can experience the extremes of SES on an Indian train, from the non-air-conditioned (with 120F heat!) 3rd class, to the luxurious 1st class. Each train is a little microcosm of India. Everyone from an illiterate villager to a high government official rides trains. In fact, if you ever get a chance to go on an Indian train, and especially a second-class sleeper train, you may notice a certain passenger has an armed guard accompanying him. That passenger is most likely a politician, and is guarded at all times to keep him safe.
Below is a picture from Business Insider showing how crowded Indian trains (especially 3rd class) can get. Good luck getting a seat there!
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