Train travelogue- a journey back in time 🤗

 Jan 2022

As we navigate the uncertainties in the current environment, hubby felt it’s best to travel when we can and not wait for a particular date in the future 😉. Hence we embarked on an impromptu trip to Goa and that’s how we found ourselves waking up at 3.30 am on a chilly winter morning for the train journey to Goa. 

                                    

Go Goa 🏝

                                                                                                                                           

The moment we stepped onto Platform 18 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), my brain went into overdrive with a flood of memories of train journeys during childhood. I was travelling by train after more than a decade, and I felt nostalgic just walking around and hearing the announcements over the loud speaker 😂.

In this era wherein one either prefers air travel for speed or road travel for flexibility, this train travel experience was refreshing. Incase one wishes to travel by Tejas express to Goa, this blog contains all details right from the word go. So sit back, relax and enjoy. 

                                    

The Tejas express is a semi-high speed fully air-conditioned train introduced by the Indian railways, with the inaugural run in 2017. 

Train number: 22119/ 22120 

Operational: 5 days a week, 3 days during monsoon season 

Coaches: 12 AC Chair Cars in 3+2 configuration with seating capacity of 78 pax; 

1 Executive Class coach in 2+2 configuration with 56 pax capacity 

Distance/ journey time: ~550 km in 8 hours

Departure/ Arrival times: Mumbai CSMT: 5.50 am / Karmali, Goa: 2 pm 

                                

I really liked that the boarding process was hassle free and not at all time consuming - no endless queues for security check, no strangers rifling through your personal belongings, and I particularly liked that we weren't packed like sardines in the shuttle buses 😜😝 

                                 

The seating arrangement in Executive chair car was very spacious and comfortable. Hubby was happy that he didn't have to book extra leg space and immediately dozed off 😉

Travel tip: Its better to travel with small / medium sized baggage so that these can be kept above respective seats (as seen in pic above). 

                                    

We opted for onboard catering. The food quality was good with the food & snacks being provided at regular intervals.  

Breakfast at 8 am: Cornflakes, Sandwich, Cutlet and Paratha 

                                     

Enjoying breakfast with view of nature & greenery

 What's lunch without tomato soup 😁... while the lunch timing of 12 noon was aligned with my meal timings, many people would find this too early 

Lunch fare: Chapati, Dal, Alu curry, Paneer curry, Pulao, Curd and Sheera (sweet) 

The entire 8 hour trip was spent reminiscing about the various train journeys with family during summer vacations as well as religious trips. I simply loved watching the scenery outside with the myriad sights of nature, hills, rivers and bridges. While being in the clouds is fun, it does get monotonous after a point of time. In terms of overall duration, even with flights of short duration of upto 2 hours, the entire journey feels exhausting and the total duration from home to destination is generally no lesser than 6-7 hours. Even though the journey from Mumbai to Goa took ~ 8 hours, we did not feel tired and it was a relaxed journey. 

After a memorable and enjoyable trip in Goa, we travelled back to Mumbai by Tejas express.  

Departure/ Arrival times: Karmali, Goa: 2.40 pm / Mumbai CSMT: 11.15 pm

Tea time snacks: Sandwich, Kachori and Kokum drink (delicious drink made from fruits indigenous to Maharashtra) 

One can easily watch 2-3 movies in the span of one journey 😉

Dinner menu was similar to lunch  menu 

Word of caution: While the onward train reached on time, there was almost an hour delay on the return journey. 

All this reminiscing about our fond childhood memories made me feel really good and got me thinking about indulging in Nostalgia. My search led me to this article which clarified relevant aspects of my pondering…  Nostalgia is Good for you (

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/12/nostalgia-is-good-for-you/) 

"New studies suggest that a modest dose of nostalgia is not only harmless, but actually beneficial. Reminiscing about past moments of happiness can offer hope and inspiration. It increases our desire to pursue important goals, and our confidence that we can achieve them". 

So go ahead, daydream a little, and if possible indulge & relive one of your best memories that will make you smile and fill your heart with warmth… And when you remember something that takes you back in time and makes you gaze into the abyss with a silly grin on your face, do share that memory with others as well as me, I would love to hear about it.. Cheers to nostalgia, fun , travel and many more special wonderful memories ❤️🎉🤗