Chai, Chatter, and Chaos: Stories from Indian Trains

There's something undeniably magical about train journeys in India. They are not just about getting from point A to point B—they are a microcosm of India itself.

- TDG NETWORK

There's something undeniably magical about train journeys in India. They are not just about getting from point A to point B—they are a microcosm of India itself. In the rattle of wheels on metal tracks, the cries of "chai, chai!" echoing through the corridors, and the chaotic buzz of a hundred conversations, lie stories that are funny, emotional, and deeply human.

THE RITUAL OF CHAI Every Indian train story, it seems, begins with a cup of chai. Whether you're at a bustling platform or in a sleepy compartment at dawn, chai is the great unifier. Poured from dented kettles into tiny paper or clay cups, it is piping hot and always sweet enough to make your teeth hurt. Yet, no matter how you usually take your tea, this is the cup you will remember. It's less about the flavor and more about the moment—the way the steam curls in the cold morning air, the whistle of the train about to leave, and the vendor's rhythmic call that makes your heart race if you haven't got your cup yet.