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Rail travel in the United States

The United States may be the land of the car, but it is also a fantastic country to explore by passenger train. Private operators offer exclusive and luxurious packages on trains, but it is on board the trains of the state-owned and subsidized Amtrak that most tourists and travelers experience America by rail. The coast-to-coast journey from San Francisco to New York City by train is one of the world's great rail journeys, and is known for its breathtaking scenery and historical significance.

Understand
Amtrak, the quasi-government-owned passenger rail company, is the only operator of regularly scheduled long distance passenger trains in the contiguous United States. With the exception of the Amtrak-owned-and-maintained Northeast Corridor (between Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.), as well as some services in Pennsylvania, California, and around Chicago, Amtrak services are substantially slower, less reliable, and less frequent than those of virtually every other developed nation in the world. With no true high-speed lines (and a general speed limit of ), trains in the U.S. often take longer than cars or planes, and are often more expensive than flying when travelling between major cities (though minor towns can be vastly cheaper to reach on Amtrak than by plane).

Despite all this, the unique experience can trump the often high cost and long ride. Trains remain popular with many travelers because of the social atmosphere on board, the lighter environmental impact compared to planes, the spacious design of the cars, the scenic routes, and the overall comfort of the ride. A trip from one coast of the U.S. to the other is surely one of the greatest railway journeys that you can make anywhere in the world, and with the different classes of on-board accommodation and a variety of tickets and passes available, it can also be remarkably affordable.

The largest cities in the United States with no single railroad station (either Amtrak, a commuter railroad or a heritage railroad) in service are Phoenix (light rail present), Columbus and Las Vegas (a short monorail line exists).

Higher-speed rail in the U.S.
The closest thing the U.S. has to a high-speed rail line is Amtrak's Acela, which runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. via New York City. Although Acela trains themselves are capable of attaining very high speeds, the route does not run on any dedicated high-speed tracks like high-speed trains in Europe and East Asia do, so they are limited to relatively low speeds for most of the journey. For this reason, expect journey times on Acela to be only marginally faster than taking the regular Northeast Corridor trains, which stop more often and have a lower top speed but cost significantly less. While plans have been mounted to build dedicated high-speed rail lines in various parts of the country, strong conservative political opposition and successful lobbying by airlines and car manufacturers have repeatedly scuttled these attempts.

Before 1971: The golden era
The United States was one of the pioneers of rail travel. In the days before flying, rail transport was the main way to travel long distance, and played an instrumental role in the colonization of the Wild West in the late 19th century. Perhaps the most significant event in the history of American railroads was the driving of the final spike at Promontory, Utah in 1869, which marked the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad between New York City and San Francisco. The advent of rail transport also played a key role in the industrialization of the United States, as it allowed raw materials and goods to be transported rapidly across the country, and allowed people to travel relatively quickly from their homes in rural areas to the large, industrial cities to work in the factories. Surviving examples of railroad stations from the pre-war era, such as Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Union Station in Washington, D.C., serve as reminders of the glamour of rail travel in days gone by. Prior to the 1960s, many of the large private rail companies provided passenger service between America's major cities, competing on price, luxury and speed. However, after the advent of the automobile, commercial air travel, and later the interstate highway system, people traveled by train less and less. This led the private rail companies to the brink of financial ruin, where they chose to severely curtail passenger service.

1971-1999: Amtrak and its struggles
The demise of most private passenger rail service led to the formation of Amtrak in 1971 to take over the operation of intercity passenger trains from the private railroad companies. Before setting out on a railroad adventure around America, it is worth understanding the precarious situation in which Amtrak exists. While the United States still has the longest rail network in the world, it is now primarily used for freight transport, with many former passenger lines now solely used for freight. Somewhere between being a private and a public company (all of Amtrak's preferential shares are owned by the U.S. government), Amtrak has to provide a public service and concurrently seek to be profitable as a competitive mode of transport. Despite increasing ridership (driven by rising gasoline prices and the increasing inconvenience of airline security measures), Amtrak is dependent on more than a billion dollars per year in hard-won government funding and often subject to contradictory and bizarre political mandates from Congress.

Amtrak's funding is not its only problem. Most of the rail lines that Amtrak uses are owned and maintained by private freight companies (the main exception is again the busy Northeast Corridor, most of which is owned by Amtrak or local public transit providers). While Amtrak has a legal right to be given priority over freight trains, there is no way of enforcing this, so in practice freight trains are usually given priority over Amtrak trains, leading to many delays. Many rail lines are not double-tracked, and passing loops are often few and far between. And in stark contrast to many countries in Europe or East Asia, electrified lines outside the northeast corridor are the exception rather than the norm and while modern diesel trains are a lot better than their predecessors, they are still limited in acceleration and top speed compared to similar electric train sets. Furthermore a (since repealed) set of onerous regulations required Amtrak to purchase rolling stock that was needlessly heavy and violated European and East Asian specifications without providing any tangible benefit in return — this led to higher rolling stock costs and an Acela that is both heavier and more prone to breakdowns than the French trains it is based on.

2000 Onward: Resurgence
While all the big high speed rail programs have either failed or are a decade or more from completion, Amtrak's situation has been slowly but surely improving since the turn of the millennium due to a virtuous cycle of increases in passenger numbers and funding increases at the federal, state, and local level. From 2007 to 2019, annual passenger kilometers traveled doubled. States have sometimes stepped in when the federal government wanted to cut funding for Amtrak routes through their state, and as a result, some states now see more service and less risk of service cancellation than ever before during the Amtrak era. Many incremental track upgrades (sometimes combined with Amtrak or local entities buying track from freight railroads) have helped improve on time performance and overall travel times. Finally, a growing consciousness about the environmental disadvantages of airplanes and cars contributed to the efforts of some cities, even smaller ones, to introduce commuter rail systems. Positive examples of this include Nashville and Albuquerque, which introduced some commuter railroad lines in the mid-2000s.

Stations

Just like in Europe, the rail companies of the 19th century built grandiose "bourgeois cathedrals" as a testament to their wealth and the status of rail travel. Later, many cities built "Union Stations" often in even more grandiose fashion to serve as transfer points between trains run by different companies. Perhaps the newest of the grand old stations is Los Angeles Union Station, built in the 1930s in California's Mission Revival style, though other notable old stations still operate in Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, D.C..

With the decline of rail travel, many grand stations were abandoned or put to other uses, with some even torn down, the most notable casualties being New York City's original Pennsylvania Station and Chicago's Chicago and North Western Terminal. The grand, ornate railroad stations of old were often replaced by relatively plain, uninspiring buildings that only served the bare minimum of functions, which were derisively referred to as "Am-shacks". However, the worst years seem to be over and many a grand old station has been painstakingly restored and regained train service, with some notable examples of restored stations being those of Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas City, St. Paul, and Seattle. There has even been some construction of spectacular new stations, such as the replacement for the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco. Many cities are also planning on bringing Amtrak back to their historic train stations, but costs are often a concern.

In many cities, many of the train stations also serve as bus stations for various intercity bus lines as well as a hub for the local city buses operated by city or county government. The "bus station" can be a series of bus stops lined up on a street or streets by the train station or in a lot or another building next to the train station with the ticket counters for the bus companies inside the train station or the bus station building next door. A few train stations are also connected to local urban rail but many systems weren't developed with the train station as the central hub and thus access can sometimes be awkward. Notable examples of train stations serving as local urban rail hubs are Denver and Los Angeles Union Station.

Passenger rail companies
This article talks primarily about travel using Amtrak, the United States' primary national passenger railroad company. For more information on traveling on regional (commuter) railroad services, see the "Get around" section of the city or region you wish to visit.

Amtrak is the quasi-state-owned passenger railroad company of the United States, operating services over some 35,000 km (22,000 miles) of track, serving more than 500 communities in 46 American states and the three largest Canadian cities. Trains carry one or more classes of accommodation: coach, business, and sleeper. A seat in coach class is generally competitive with the price of a Greyhound bus ticket, while sleeper accommodation may be competitive with the price of an airline ticket; however, this depends on the route, and in some cases, a coach ticket is more comparable to a plane ticket, while a sleeper costs even more. Most of the information in this article relates to Amtrak.

The Alaska Railroad,, is a long-distance railroad owned and operated by the state of Alaska for carrying both passengers and cargo entirely within Alaska. The railroad is famous for its summertime passenger services but also plays a vital part in moving Alaska's natural resources to ports in Anchorage, Whittier and Seward as well as fuel and gravel for use in Anchorage. Some of their cargo trains are also connected to the lower 48 states via rail barges between Whittier and Seattle. Passenger trains run from Seward through Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali to Fairbanks, with a spur to Whittier. The Hurricane Turn route between Talkeetna and Denali features North America's last remaining "flag stop" train service: a stretch of track along an area inaccessible by road where residents wait by the side of the tracks and "flag" the train to stop, giving it its name. These trains sometimes are moving fairly quickly and there's a procedure to flag it a significant distance before you actually want it to stop. See the web site for more details.

Brightline is a private company that operates a railway service in Florida between Miami and Orlando, via Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Throughout the US, many heritage lines have been maintained or rebuilt as privately owned, tourist lines, which occasionally connect to Amtrak or regional systems. Most of these lines use old railroad equipment (such as steam locomotives) which have been refurbished. There are many such lines, but some of the most notably scenic are the Durango & Silver Narrow-Gauge Railroad and Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Colorado, the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico; the Skunk Train in Northern California, the Cass Scenic Railroad near Marlinton, West Virginia and the Adirondack Railroad in Upstate New York. There is also the international White Pass and Yukon Route that runs between Skagway, Alaska and Carcross, Yukon in Canada, with stops in Northern British Columbia, providing access to a trailhead of the Chilkoot Trail.

Many large American cities have short- to medium-distance commuter rail systems that connect the city centre to nearby suburbs or smaller cities. Per their name, commuter lines generally focus on serving commuters during weekday rush hours, and thus offer their most frequent service during these times. But some also offer evening or weekend service, which can make them a great way to get out of the big city for a day or weekend trip. In the American Northeast, several commuter rail systems converge and are inter-connected; it is possible, for example, to go from Connecticut to Delaware using only commuter lines, although this would take much longer than on Amtrak and involve numerous transfers. See the individual state's or city's Get around section for more information on traveling by commuter rail.

In particular, Albuquerque, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington/Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco/San Jose have well-established commuter rail systems that are expansive, run very frequently, have high ridership and are well-connected to local transit systems and Amtrak. Outside of these areas, commuter rail systems tend to be more limited in scope and service, with cities such as Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, San Diego, Seattle, and Salt Lake City having constructed new systems only in the 21st century; many of these newer systems operate on only a single route with very limited service outside the weekday rush hours. California has a set of prominent commuter rail systems that serve the state's largest cities; of particular note there is the Amtrak California system, a set of three Amtrak routes (the Capitol Corridor, the Pacific Surfliner, and the San Joaquin; all described in more detail below) and connecting Amtrak Thruway bus service that is subsidized by the state of California and which run more frequently than typical long-distance Amtrak routes.

Planning your trip

Chicago is Amtrak's main hub for long distance trains, so those who wish to cross the country from the east coast to the west coast by train will most likely have to change trains in Chicago. For instance, someone who wishes to retrace the classic transcontinental railroad journey from San Francisco to New York will need to take the California Zephyr from San Francisco to Chicago, then transfer to the Lake Shore Limited or Cardinal from Chicago to New York.

When to travel
The peak period for most rail companies in North America is somewhere between April to September, and the cost of rail passes and tickets will rise during these periods to reflect this. If you're planning a visit to the U.S. and travel a lot by train, the spring and fall (autumn) periods are likely to give you the best combination of lower ticket prices and hours of daylight for viewing the scenery from the train. Trains fill up much quicker in the summer and around national holidays (especially Thanksgiving weekend), and coach class passengers in particular will have less room to stretch out.

Timetables and brochures
All the major rail operators in the U.S. have websites with information about timetables, routes and on-board facilities. However many passengers still prefer to plan their trips using printed timetables. Amtrak, for instance, publishes a number of brochures, including the Amtrak America travel brochure, but the Amtrak System Timetable (with timetables for every Amtrak train and Thruway bus) can only be found online. However, Amtrak does publish individual timetables for each route.

Read
On-Track-On-Line.com has a number of travel tips for the first-time Amtrak user, as well as an online forum. Seasoned rail travelers can be found online in a number of dedicated rail forums, and are usually more than happy to answer your questions about which route to take. Some other forums worth searching and joining are:

 * Amtrak Unlimited
 * Railroad.net

Additionally, the following book goes into much greater detail about the major rail routes of North America:
 * USA By Rail by John Pitt, 8th edition, February 2012, Bradt Travel Guides (ISBN 184162389X)

Rail passes
If you are planning more than one journey on an Amtrak train, you may be better off investing in a rail pass, which allows unlimited rail travel within a certain period and area. You should, however, compare the cost of individual tickets when pricing and planning your trip.

 * The USA Rail Pass. The amount of travel you can do with this pass is calculated in "segments"- roughly speaking one segment starts when you board a train and ends when you leave it, no matter the distance. If your planned itinerary involves many stops or changes of trains, regular tickets can be better value. There are 15-day (8 segments), 30 -day (12 segments), and 45-day (18 segments) passes ; however, all travel must be completed within one year of purchasing the pass. Restrictions apply.
 * The California Rail Pass. This pass offers seven days of travel within any 21-day period on most California trains.

Rail passes are not tickets and you should reserve your ticket (and your seat) as soon as you know which train you will be taking, as the number of seats reserved for rail pass holders is limited.

Tickets
Amtrak tickets can be purchased in person from any staffed Amtrak station, over the phone in the U.S. and Canada) or on the internet.  Tickets can be printed at home, downloaded on to a smart phone, or provided at the desk/kiosk.  Passengers who purchase tickets at staffed ticket desks should have a government-issued ID with them on hand but can also request that the tickets be sent to their email address instead.  A number of travel agencies that sell Amtrak tickets in other countries are listed on the Amtrak website but these may come at a surcharge.

Tickets for most routes are priced in incremental 'buckets': in other words, as seats on a train sell out, the remaining tickets become more expensive. When buying point-to-point tickets, especially during busy holiday periods, it is important to book in advance. Round-trip (return) tickets are priced by simply adding together the two cheapest available one-way fares.

Discounts
Many passengers are able to receive a discount on the cost of the ticket. Discounts are available on tickets (but not accommodation upgrades) to members of the following organizations:

 * NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers)

Discounts are also offered to active members of the military, war veterans, senior citizens, passengers with disabilities and their companions, and students. Students now save 15%, no membership necessary; the former 10% Student Advantage card discount is thus terminated. Students of foreign institutions who do not have a student ID in English (required for the 15% discount) may benefit from an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which provides for a 10% discount. In all cases, you should provide your membership number, if any, when booking your ticket, and show your membership card or other applicable ID on request on board. To obtain a discount on Amtrak trains, passengers must reserve three days in advance on all trains.

Hot Deals
Amtrak offers heavily discounted coach fares on certain trains on the 'Hot Deals' section of their website. These non-refundable and non-changeable fares are generally available for travel in the next thirty to sixty days on routes that have spare capacity. The page is updated every Friday, and you should check back regularly if you want to snap up a bargain. Long distance coach fares of $70 from Chicago to Seattle (for example) are not uncommon, although they become much less common during the more popular summer months. These fares cannot be upgraded to sleeper accommodation at the time of booking, although you may be able to do so if one is available after you board the train.

Since 2005, Amtrak's offering of many of these heavily discounted coach fares has been limited by language in the legislation which grants Amtrak a yearly subsidy. However, this legislative language does not affect routes that receive a subsidy from individual states. Accordingly, those train routes tend to appear frequently on the 'Hot Deals' page of the website.

Boarding the train
Amtrak tickets generally do not indicate a coach or seat number, merely that you have a place in a reserved coach. Pay close attention to announcements and station staff, who will tell you where to wait and board the train. Attendants will need to see your ticket, ID, and/or pass as you board the train, and they will direct you towards the carriage you should sit in. In some cases, your ticket may show a seat reservation number and a carriage number. If this is the case, the numbers of the carriage are displayed on the doors; pay attention to these as the trains rolls in, so you can be at the right spot on the platform in time to get into your carriage. Some stations have indicators on the platform to show where each carriage will stop.

If you have a specific seat number on your reservation, you are advised to occupy it. Otherwise, follow the directions of the conductor who checks your ticket, and once on board your coach, you may select your own seat. Once you find your seat, you will want to stay there until the conductor comes by to check your ticket after departure. Upon doing so, the conductor will place a seat check (a small piece of paper) above your seat, to indicate that the seat is occupied. Take this with you if you decide to change seats, especially if you are leaving the train en route, because this piece of paper carries a station code to help the conductor let you know when your stop is imminent and shows you have given a ticket to him/her already.

Baggage
Baggage services on long-distance Amtrak trains are comparable to that of air travel, though with far fewer restrictions and little in the way of security checkpoints. Long-distance Amtrak trains will have a dedicated baggage car for checked baggage that you check-in at the station and retrieve at your destination; you are allowed up to four checked bags – the first two free of charge and two more for $20 per bag, each not to exceed 50 lbs. Special items such as bicycles are subject to different restrictions. Passengers are allowed up to two carry-on bags, excepting small items needed for the trip. Passenger cars will have overhead racks or special compartments near the entrance. Detailed baggage policy info can be found here.

Unfortunately, some Amtrak stations do not offer checked baggage as a service, and it would be advisable to check with Amtrak before boarding. A good indicator of whether your stop offers checked bags is to look at the arrival/departure time of your stop. Many stations, such as all of the stations serviced by Amtrak's Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited inside the state of Ohio are only accessed by those trains, which arrive in the predawn hours of the morning; as such they are unstaffed, and do not offer checked bags.

On board
The information here relates specifically to services operated by Amtrak. Private train companies and commuter rail services will offer differing standards of on-board facilities. Generally, commuter trains will have unreserved seats and little in the way of amenities aside from restrooms, although some systems might offer services like room for bicycles or quiet cars. Commuter train networks are described under the appropriate regional or city articles.

Amtrak's longer routes feature what are colloquially known as "smoke stops", longer stops where you can go out onto the platform to stretch your legs. They are so-named because smoking is not allowed on board the train, so these stops are where passengers who wish to smoke get off to do so.

Coach class
Coach (economy) is Amtrak's most affordable class of travel and is offered on all trains except the high speed Acela trains of the northeast corridor (between Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C.). A ticket in coach guarantees you a seat in a carriage with 40 to 60 other seats, arranged in pairs either side of the aisle. In almost all cases you will find that seats will all face the direction of travel. Luggage racks and spaces for larger items are provided, along with toilets either at the end of the coach or in the lower level of two-level trains.

Unlike typical intercity trains in, say, Europe, most Amtrak trains don't allow you to reserve a specific seat - a "reserved" seat merely guarantees that a seat will be available somewhere on the train. Groups of 4 facing seats are theoretically reserved for families and groups of three or more. How strictly this is enforced depends on the route and how busy the train is. Staff will normally ensure that children are able to sit next to at least one of their parents or guardians, even if it involves shuffling other passengers around.

An Amtrak coach class seat is roughly comparable with a business class airline seat: there is ample leg room, a reclining seat back and fixed armrests on the outside of each pair of seats. If there is a seat in front of you, a fold-down table will be available. On longer distance routes, there is more legroom as well as a deeper recline and a padded rest that folds up to support your legs when you recline.

Business class
Business class is offered on most trains where there is no first (sleeper) accommodation. There is more room than coach class, as well as an at-seat attendant service with complimentary refreshments and a newspaper. On some trains, seats are arranged "2+1" style, in pairs to one side of the aisle, and singly on the other side of the aisle. In other cases seating is similar to coach class, just with a bit more legroom and probably easier access to power sockets. Long-distance trains that travel overnight generally do not offer business class; sleeper class is available instead.

Regular first class
The only first class service offered by Amtrak that does not include a sleeper is found on the Acela trains along the Northeast Corridor. These trains offer only first and business class service. Acela Business Class has 2+2 seating, First Class includes wider, 2+1 seating and complimentary at-seat meals.

First (sleeper) class
Amtrak markets and prices sleeper accommodation as 'first class', with a level of service that aims to be equal to that of a hotel. In addition to a private room on board the train, first class passengers can take advantage of a number of other amenities, including:

 * Pre-departure access to Club Acela and Metropolitan Lounges in Boston South Station, Chicago Union Station, New Orleans, Miami, New York Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Portland, Raleigh, Saint Paul-Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. Union Station
 * All on-board meals included in the cost of your ticket
 * An on-board attendant service
 * Fresh linen and towel service
 * Complimentary bottled water

First class accommodations are priced in addition to the lowest available coach fare, and are priced in incrementally priced 'buckets' according to availability. As each 'bucket' of rooms sells out, the price goes up. For example, if a train has one remaining room available a week prior to departure, it would be priced in the most expensive 'bucket'. On most long distance routes, Amtrak will auction off sleeper rooms 36 hours before departure through its BidUp program, which has a minimum bid of around the lowest fare bucket for the applicable sleeper accommodation. Additionally, after an Amtrak train departs its originating station, if there are any sleeper accommodations still available on the train, they revert in price to the cheapest originally available price.

Amtrak operates two types of sleeper carriage; the precise standard of accommodation that you will have depends on the type of train you will be riding on. Check the timetable or Amtrak website to discover which sort of train you'll be riding on.

Superliner coaches
Superliner two-level coaches are used on all long distance trains west of Chicago, and certain other routes. They offer superior ride quality and better views than single level coaches. Most accommodations are located on the upper level, with toilets and other facilities located on the lower level. Superliner sleeper cars offer the following sleeper accommodations:

 * Roomette (for two people, with no en-suite toilet or shower)
 * Bedroom (for two people, with an en-suite toilet and shower)
 * Bedroom Suite (two bedrooms connected by an opening door)
 * Family Bedroom (for two adults and two children, with no en-suite toilet or shower)
 * Accessible Bedroom (for two people with an en-suite toilet, but no shower)

While there are no actual limitations, accessible bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability, and family bedrooms should only be booked by families traveling together. Family bedrooms and accessible bedrooms are on the lower level of the Superliner carriage. Amtrak allows three people to occupy a two-person bedroom, with two sleeping in the lower berth, if reservations are made by phone. Due to space constraints, such an arrangement would be more appropriate for parents traveling with a young child, rather than three adults.

Viewliner coaches
Viewliner single-level coaches are generally used on all long distance trains that operate in and out of New York Penn Station (where Superliner trains are too tall to enter the tunnels that approach the station). They are distinctive because of the two rows of windows on the side of the train, allowing both upper and lower berth passengers a view from their beds. They offer the following sleeper accommodations:

 * Roomette (for two people, with an en-suite toilet, but no shower)
 * Bedroom (for two people, with an en-suite toilet and shower)
 * Bedroom Suite (two bedrooms connected by an opening door)
 * Accessible Bedroom (for two people with an en-suite toilet, but no shower)

Accessible bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability.

Eating and drinking on board
On the shortest of journeys, Amtrak offers an at-seat trolley service of drinks and light refreshments. On most journeys however, there will be a dedicated café or lounge car that offers a marginally broader selection of hot and cold drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, and refreshments, although all snacks will be pre-packed and all hot snacks will be microwaved. Expect to find a very basic selection of sandwiches and snack food items, although a few trains may surprise you with other options (for instance, the cafe cars on many trains sell local wines and craft beers). Café and lounge cars offer an open area of seating around tables that will be open for most of your journey, so even if you don't purchase something from the café you are welcome to sit in the car, enjoy the view and maybe meet some other passengers and on-board staff.

On almost all long distance trains, Amtrak offers a dedicated dining car that will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are generally prepared off the train before departure and then reheated and plated on board. During lunch and dinner service, for example, customers are presented a preprinted menu with a selection of a couple of appetizers, about six entrees, and a few dessert items.

The Amtrak Lead Service Attendant (LSA) who runs the dining car will seat travelers together to fill a table, instead of assigning individuals or couples to a table by themselves (however, the LSA will seat a family together). This practice tends to surprise those unfamiliar with it. In many cases, a traveler will find an interesting conversation happening that would never come about otherwise.

As mentioned above, all meals and one alcoholic beverage during dinner (for the entire journey, not per meal) are included in sleeper tickets. Coach passengers can pay according to the menu except on the Auto Train which offers free meals to all passengers, including Coach passengers. Per meal, the breakfast menu is the cheapest and dinner is the most expensive. Reservations are required for lunch and dinner; after boarding the LSA will travel through the train taking reservations. Reservations are handled in time increments, so during meal time the LSA will periodically announce when each group of reservations will be served.

Given the high price of meals from the dining car, many seasoned travelers bring their own snacks with them on the train, and then supplement them with the odd item from the lounge or café car. However, you aren't allowed to consume any food you bring on board in the café car, and federal guidelines prohibit the dining staff from handling any food you bring on board (even if it's just to reheat something in the microwave).

Amtrak trains offer at seat meal and refreshment service for disabled passengers who are unable to access the dining car and the cafe.

With the exception of sleeper passengers who consume them in their own cabins, passengers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol on board any Amtrak train.

Other amenities
Many of Amtrak's short and mid-range trains as well as some of the busiest stations offer free wi-fi, though this service can be rather unreliable, and blocks some high-bandwidth uses such as video streaming sites.

Most of the long-distance trains west of Chicago include observation cars, also known as lounge cars, with very large windows to view the scenery. They are open to all passengers, whether you have a room or just a coach seat, and the seats and tables are first come, first serve.

Some short and mid-range lines, namely those in the Northeast Corridor, also offer a Quiet Car where cell phone conversations are specifically prohibited and any device that creates noise must be silenced (and you will get dirty looks and be asked to move if you break the rules). This is a relatively new service and is slowly being expanded to other short-distance routes.

Tipping
Travellers are expected to tip their servers in the dining cars, and their sleeper car attendants if they ride in the sleeper cabins. For the dining car servers, a general rule of thumb is 15-20% of the meal cost if you are a coach passenger paying for the meal, or $2-3 per person for breakfast, $3-5 per person for lunch, and $5-10 per person for dinner if you are riding in the sleeper car and your meals are included. For the sleeper car attendant, the generally accepted rate is about $10-20 per person per night. You should therefore ensure that you bring enough small change to cover you for the entire journey.

Private rail cars
Particularly on Amtrak's long distance Western routes, you'll see privately-owned railcars attached to the end of the train with some frequency. Prior to the advent of the private jet, these were the last word in luxury travel in America, and a number of wealthy individuals still own private cars, some of which can be rented through a number of different websites.

This is still a very expensive way to travel, as you must pay not only to rent the car but also for Amtrak to haul it around, and for any switching moves. Think of it as the equivalent of luxury trains overseas, such as the Orient Express revival service in Europe, South Africa's Blue Train or India's Maharaja Express. If you have a large enough group, the per-person cost can approach affordability, though it will still be a multiple of a sleeper berth on Amtrak. See the Amtrak web page linked above for information on how to arrange a trip via private car, and links to several brokers.

Delays
Unfortunately, delays are common on long-distance Amtrak routes. This is because private railroads own most of the tracks used by Amtrak, and they are more concerned about their own freight trains than about Amtrak's passenger trains. Average delays vary considerably among routes. In the last decade Amtrak has increased its effort to ensure trains are on time, and most trains arrive on time well over 50% of the time. Some states (most notably California, where three of the six most popular Amtrak routes run) have taken steps to ensure higher punctuality by giving Amtrak priority over freight or investing in infrastructure themselves. The Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database provides a wealth of information on Amtrak punctuality, and checking it is well worth your time if you want to see how likely you are to make a connection or arrive by a certain time.

Routes
Amtrak has over 30 passenger train services. There is a high concentration of routes in the Northeast and Midwest, with a lot of interconnecting lines and routes are more likely to run multiple times a day. In the South or the West (save for a small concentration of lines in California), services dwindle dramatically with only a few lines and a small number of connecting points, however these lines are also among the most scenic in the country.

 * The Acela takes you from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. via New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. It also stops in Providence and New Haven, providing easy access to Brown and Yale Universities. This is the only route in the country which resembles a high-speed rail line, with a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h), though it can only go this fast on a few short segments. There are multiple daily departures and the length of the ride from Boston to D.C. is seven hours. The Acela is pitched mainly toward business travelers, and is fairly expensive by US, and indeed world, standards. The Northeast Regional (described below) serves every station (and more) that the Acela serves, often with little reduction in comfort, hardly any increase in travel time, and is usually much cheaper. On Amtrak's website, entering a city pair and desired travel date will show all available trains between those destinations, so it is easy to compare them.
 * The Adirondack travels from New York City to Montreal via Albany and is one of Amtrak's most scenic routes, passing through the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondack Mountains. The autumn colors along this route are renowned and make it a spectacular trip in the fall. The route runs daily and takes 10 hours.
 * The Amtrak Cascades takes you from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, British Columbia via Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, though no train runs the full Eugene-to-Vancouver route. This route uses a distinctive brown Talgo trainset in lieu of the normal blue livery and passes by some lovely Pacific Northwest scenery, including beautiful coastlines and pine forests. Additionally, the cafe car onboard serves wine and regional cuisine. There are multiple daily trains running over various sections of the route; in total, including the Coast Starlight which runs on the same route between Seattle and Eugene, there are two trains daily between Vancouver and Seattle, seven trains daily between Seattle and Portland, and three trains daily between Portland and Eugene. Vancouver to Seattle takes 4 hours, Seattle to Portland takes 3½ hours, and Portland to Eugene takes 2¾ hours.
 * The Amtrak Hartford Line goes from New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts via Hartford.
 * The Auto Train is a unique service designed to carry passengers and their automobiles from the Northeast down to Florida, with cars specifically designed for holding autos. There are only two stops: Lorton, Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Florida near Orlando. Service is daily and takes 17½ hours.
 * The Berkshire Flyer runs only in the summer, as a pilot through 2026, connecting New York City with the Berkshires in Massachusetts, via upstate New York.
 * The Borealis runs daily from Chicago to Minneapolis/Saint Paul via Milwaukee.
 * Amtrak's California Zephyr travels from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville/San Francisco (San Francisco is a short bus ride from Emeryville) via Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Reno, Nevada. This is arguably Amtrak's most scenic route, passing through spectacular mountain passes and narrow canyons in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada and traversing across expansive plains and deserts. Service is daily and takes 51½ hours to complete. An itinerary can be found here.
 * The Capitol Corridor is a commuter service from Auburn to San Jose, California via Sacramento, Emeryville, and Oakland (with bus connections to San Francisco). Though a short-distance line, the train does pass by some beautiful Bay Area scenery. There are multiple daily departures and the trip takes 3½ hours.
 * The Capitol Limited runs from Chicago to Washington, D.C. via Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This route follows the historic B&O railroad line, passing through many scenic narrow river valleys and old industrial towns as it crosses the Allegheny Mountains. Service is daily and takes 18 hours to complete.
 * The Cardinal connects New York City with Chicago via Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The route traverses some beautiful Virginia and West Virginia scenery, crossing through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling hills and lush river valleys. The train operates three days a week and is a 26½ hour trip.
 * The Carolinian travels from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina; via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Raleigh, North Carolina. Service is daily and takes 13½ hours to complete. Complementing the Carolinian in North Carolina is the Piedmont, which makes the 3 hour trip between Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina four times daily.
 * The City of New Orleans takes you from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana, via Memphis, Tennessee. The ride is 19 hours long and operates daily.
 * The Coast Starlight runs from Los Angeles, California to Seattle, Washington via Santa Barbara, California; San Jose, California; Emeryville, California (a short Amtrak bus ride from San Francisco); Sacramento, California; and Portland, Oregon. Although the moniker is "Coast Starlight", the coast is visible for only a short while between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, however the route does also pass through some pine forests with excellent vistas of mountain peaks in Oregon and Washington. Service is daily and takes 35 hours to complete.
 * The Crescent runs from New York City to New Orleans, Louisiana; via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Atlanta, Georgia. Service is daily and takes 30 hours to complete.

 * The Downeaster runs from North Station in Boston, Massachusetts to Portland, Maine before continuing on to Brunswick, Maine. The train passes through some scenic New England mill towns and along beautiful stretches of Maine coastline. It operates 5 daily round trips between Boston and Brunswick. The trip takes 2½ hours Portland to Boston and 3 hr 25 min from Brunswick to Boston. An itinerary can be found here.
 * The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to either Portland, Oregon; or Seattle, Washington via Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Glacier National Park. One of Amtrak's busiest routes and one of the most scenic, the Empire Builder passes through beautiful wide open plains and spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas, with views of lush pine forests and snow-covered peaks. This route operates daily and is a 46 hour ride.
 * The Empire Service is a train running multiple times a day between New York City and Albany, New York, with some trains continuing to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, passing through the Hudson River Valley and the Finger Lakes region. The trip takes 2½ hours to Albany and 9 hours to Niagara.
 * The Ethan Allen Express connects New York City to Albany, New York, Rutland, Vermont, and Burlington, Vermont. The route passes through some marvelous upstate scenery and is an excellent option for taking in the fall colors. The service runs daily and takes 7½ hours.
 * The Heartland Flyer runs from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Fort Worth, Texas, passing through prairie country and along rivers, including the scenic "Big Canyon" area of the Washita River (where bald eagles can be seen during the winter). Service is daily and takes 4½ hours.
 * The Hiawatha is Amtrak's shortest line, running from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a mere ninety minutes. Multiple daily departures.
 * The Illinois Service is a collection of lines radiating out of Chicago, Illinois, crossing the state and terminating in Quincy, Illinois, Carbondale, Illinois, or St. Louis, Missouri. All lines run multiple times a day and the longest line takes 5½ hours.
 * The Keystone and the Pennsylvanian connect New York City to Pennsylvania via Philadelphia, with the Keystone terminating in Harrisburg while the Pennsylvanian continues across the Allegheny Mountains to Pittsburgh. The Keystone runs multiple times a day and takes about 4 hours, while the Pennsylvanian runs daily and takes 9½ hours.
 * The Lake Shore Limited runs from Chicago to either Boston, Massachusetts or New York City, via Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, New York. Runs daily and takes 19½ hours (Chicago-New York) or 22 hours (Chicago-Boston). The run to and from New York City travels along the scenic Hudson River Valley.
 * The Lincoln Service runs daily from Chicago to St. Louis, taking about five hours.
 * The Maple Leaf connects New York City to Toronto via Niagara Falls and passes through some beautiful upstate scenery. The train runs daily and takes 12½ hours.
 * The Michigan Services are a set of train routes radiating out of Chicago, Illinois to Michigan, terminating in Grand Rapids, Port Huron (via Lansing), or Pontiac (via Detroit). The Grand Rapids and Port Huron trains run daily, while the Pontiac via Detroit train runs three times a day. The longest line takes 6½ hours.
 * The Missouri River Runner crosses Missouri, linking St. Louis, Jefferson City and Kansas City. Service runs twice daily and takes 5½ hours.
 * The Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest service, connecting Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and the many towns and cities in-between, with some services also continuing south into Virginia. Smaller stops that might be of interest to tourists include Providence for Brown University, New Haven for Yale University, and Princeton Junction, where you can connect to a shuttle service run by New Jersey Transit to Princeton for Princeton University. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures, and the longest trip takes 12½ hours. The Springfield Shuttle runs from Springfield, Massachusetts, and connects with the Northeast Regional at New Haven.
 * The Pacific Surfliner runs from San Luis Obispo, California to San Diego, via Los Angeles and Orange County. A perfect way to beat the Southern California traffic and also great for visiting Disneyland, as well as enjoying some gorgeous coastline. The segment through San Clemente is one of the few places in the world where a rail line runs directly next to the beach. There are multiple departures every day and it takes about 6 hours to complete the trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara, with an additional 2 hours to go all the way to San Luis Obispo.
 * The Palmetto, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star are three trains which travel from New York City down the East Coast. The Palmetto travels from New York City to Savannah, Georgia; via Charleston, South Carolina. The Silver Meteor travels from New York City to Miami, Florida; via Charleston, Savannah, and Orlando, Florida. The Silver Star follows essentially the same route as the Silver Meteor, except it takes a different route through the Carolinas and makes a detour to Tampa, Florida. All three trains run daily, and the length of the trip is up to 28 hours.
 * The San Joaquins connects Sacramento, California and the San Francisco Bay Area with the Central Valley of California, running south to Bakersfield. There are multiple daily departures and the trip takes up to 6 hours.
 * The Southwest Chief travels from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California; via Kansas City, Missouri, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Flagstaff, Arizona. The route is similar to that of the Santa Fe Railway's Super Chief train; it parallels the old Santa Fe Trail between Kansas City and Santa Fe, and Route 66 between Albuquerque and Los Angeles. The route passes through some lovely desert and mountain scenery, cutting through narrow canyons and red rock country. Service on the 40-hour route is daily.
 * The Sunset Limited travels from New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California via San Antonio, Texas. This route comes within sight of the Mexican border for portions of the route and passes through a lot of desert. Service is three times a week and is 48 hours from start to end.
 * The Texas Eagle travels from Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas; via St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas, Texas. Service is daily and takes 32½ hours to complete. Three days a week, the train continues to Los Angeles via the Sunset Limited.
 * The Valley Flyer runs multiple times per day from New Haven, Connecticut, to Greenfield, Massachusetts, via Hartford and Springfield.
 * The Vermonter has daily service from Washington, D.C. to New York City, New Haven, and St. Albans in Vermont. It is a very scenic route with some beautiful views of Vermont. From St. Albans, it is only a short bus ride to Montreal. The trip takes 14 hours to complete.
 * The Winter Park Express is targeted toward winter sports enthusiasts and offers service from Denver to Winter Park, Saturdays, Sundays, and select Fridays only, from January thru March. A train leaves Denver in the morning and returns in the evening. The trip takes about 2 hours. This train has a tendency to sell out when skiing conditions are good.

Thruway buses and other connections
Amtrak operates numerous "Thruway" bus services that connect with its trains, providing services to communities with no train service or in some cases filling in "gaps" in its network. These are typically fairly modern, comfortable motorcoaches. For the most part, these can be booked via Amtrak's website as if they were trains - the website makes it clear which part of the journey will be by bus. If a train is late, the bus will be held in order to meet it. As convenient as it might sometimes be, you can't in most cases book a journey that only includes a bus, though if you don't have checked baggage there's nothing stopping you from booking a bus-train journey for one stop down the line past your destination, and just not getting on the train.

Amtrak's service map also shows some ferry services and, in at least one case (the Grand Canyon Railroad), a private rail operator as thruway connections. These are generally not operated by Amtrak, cannot be booked through Amtrak, and will not necessarily wait for a late train.

Non-Amtrak Routes

 * The Alaska Railroad also operates some scenic routes during the summer months. "Adventure Class" is the Alaska Railroad's economy class, with some routes having a more expensive "GoldStar Service", which gets you a seat in a glass-domed car that allows you to enjoy the scenery better and includes on-board meals.
 * The Denali Star is the Alaska Railroad's flagship route, travelling between the state's largest city Anchorage and the state capital Fairbanks via Denali National Park.
 * The Coastal Classic travels along the coast between Anchorage and Seward, and is regarded as one of America's most scenic rail journeys.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Rail travel in the United States


text:
Rainbow Beach (Queensland)

Rainbow Beach is on the Fraser Coast of Central Queensland, Australia.

Understand
Rainbow Beach is your golden gateway to some of the most amazing natural attractions to be found anywhere in the world.

From this picturesque coastal village, enchantingly nestled between Tin Can Bay and the Pacific Ocean, you can experience an enthralling mosaic of these wonders and indulge in your favorite pursuits at the same time.

Get in
By car, Rainbow Beach is about 75km from the Bruce Highway at Gympie, and the drive takes around an hour. The turn-off onto Tin Can Bay Road is well signposted from both directions, as is the turning onto Rainbow Beach Road after 40km.

If you have a 4WD, and the weather has been good, you can also drive in from Noosa via the Cooloola Way, or at low tide along the beaches of the Great Sandy National Park. Permits are required for the latter.

Premier Coaches operate one bus per day in each direction from Brisbane to Cairns via Rainbow Beach, calling in the morning southbound and the evening northbound. Greyhound Australia have two buses per day in each direction from Brisbane to Cairns via Rainbow Beach, again calling in the morning southbound and the evening northbound.

Get around
Rainbow Beach is small enough to walk around, though there are taxis available if you need to get to some of the further flung caravan parks.

Visit the National Parks Office (on the right just as you enter town) for maps of the town, walking maps for the surrounding area, and driving/4wd maps of the national park.

See

 * See the rainforests, heathlands and freshwater lakes.
 * Carlo Sand Blow (short walk from town)
 * Coloured Sands (longer walk along the beach)
 * Inskip Point, looking out over K'gari

Do

 * Swim with the dolphins, or take the morning boat trip to feed them
 * Take a joyflight in a helicopter or plane.
 * Para or hang-glide in one of the top ten spots in the world – the Carlo Sand Blow, an amazing spectacle in itself with postcard views.
 * Dive with sharks at Wolf Rock
 * Rent a 4WD, drive on the beaches and explore the driving trails in the national park. Or, take it on a ferry over to K'gari and camp there whilst exploring
 * Take a 4WD bus tour to K'gari
 * Visit a ship wreck,
 * fish till you’re wrecked, or
 * just drag your feet along miles of golden sand.

Buy
Rainbow Beach has a few shops selling clothing, and two small supermarkets. There are plenty of places selling and renting camping gear, and plenty selling ice, bait, firewood etc. The butcher generally has an excellent selection of meats for BBQs. There's a bottle shop too.

For a larger supermarket or a pharmacy, you'll need to visit Cooloola Cove, which is about 25km from Rainbow Beach on the round way to Tin Can Bay.

Eat
There are several cafes at the end of Rainbow Beach Road in the main shopping area, which are usually open for breakfast and lunch, but not usually dinner.

There's a Surf Club which does food and drinks, with a view over the beach, and a hotel. The tennis club on Double Island Drive does food too.

Near the entrance to the town is also a very nice seafood restaurant and takeaway, which serves a variety of local fish dishes.

Further afield, the Yacht Club in Tin Can Bay has lovely views over the bay, and does fairly nice lunches and dinners.

Drink
The Surf Club and the Hotel are the main places in town.

Sleep
There are two Backpackers in town, both on Spectrum Avenue:
 * Dingos' Backpackers
 * Fraisers at Rainbow Beach

There are several motels, hotels and holiday apartment complexes including:
 * Rainbow Getaway Holiday Apartments - 1-3 bedroom apartments, pool and gym
 * Rainbow Sands Resort
 * Rainbow Sands Resort

In addition, there's a caravan park on Carlo Road near the boat ramp, and those with appropriate national park permits can also camp near the town.

Go next

 * Explore the spectacular scenery of K'gari

title: Rainbow Beach (Queensland)


text:
Rainbow Valley

The Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve is a scenic natural reserve consisting of various formation of sandstones and rock in the Northern Territory of Australia, 100 km south of Alice Springs. The reserve is a popular daytrip from Alice Springs.

Understand
Rainbow Valley consists of various multicolour reddish sandy cliffs and rock formations.

Get in
The only access is by road. 75 km south of Alice Springs, a turnoff east to a sandy 4WD track runs 22 km to the reserve. The track is not recommended for conventional vehicles.

See
Just before dawn, the reflection of the sun on the cliffs makes for the perfect photograph. A large claypan waterhole just in front of the cliffs is sometimes filled with water after the rain, and if you combine the reflection of the sun and the reflection over the water, you get the perfect postcard.

Do
You can walk your way around on a short trail beside the rock formation to a spot called Mushroom Rock. There are also Ranger talks in the winter (from May to October) on Fridays evening.

In addition there is a tour that runs from Alice Springs to Rainbow Valley where you meet and spend the day with a Traditional Owner of the area. This tour accesses the area behind the Rainbow Valley formation where you can see some fantastic petroglyphs and left overs from the days when the local indigenous people used the area as a living area.

Eat
No places to eat. Bring your own food.

Sleep
You can camp for free in the reserve, but bring your own food, as there are no facilities.

Stay safe
The usual drill with desertic destinations in Australia, though this one is not too remote:
 * Take some water, a lot of it. Take a hat, and put sunscreen.
 * If you get stranded, stay close to the car (the destination is popular enough, chances are you will get help quickly).

Go next
The only way to get out is to drive back to the Stuart Highway from where you came. There are other tracks in the area, but they are all private.

title: Rainbow Valley


text:
Raipur

Raipur is the largest city in Chhattisgarh. It had been the seat of government of the state until the formation of Naya Raipur. There is not a great deal for visitors to see with most tourists visiting the surrounding region.

By train
Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Pune, Jamshedpur and Ambikapur are accessible by train. There are many shops near the station, including an internet café across from Raipur Junction (orange sign).

By bus
There are bus services to Nagpur, Amravati, Mandla, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur and Sambalpur.

Get around
Autos and city buses are available from the train and bus station. Booking through a mobile app is cheaper if you want to save a few rupees.

Raipur and the nearby Naya Raipur are served by the Raipur and Naya Raipur Bus Rapid Transit System (Raipur-Naya Raipur BRTS) since 2016.

See

 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)
 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)
 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)
 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)
 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)
 * Raipur town hall, a renovated Victorian-era hall between the station and bus stand. (Collectorate, Kachche Wali Chowk Garden Ke Paas, Raipur)

Do
Visit the city's shopping malls (Chhattisgarh Mall, RK mall, Magneto The Mall, Big Bazaar and Kishore shopping mall).

As Raipur is a hub for clothing sales, you can purchase fine garments cheaply at Pandri Market. Dealers of whole Chhattisgarh are found in one place at Pandri Market.

Eat

 * Chowpaty in front of Salem English School
 * Have some desi ghee tikki at Phool chowk
 * Wada and imarti at Sadar Bazaar & Ashram.
 * Kachori from Saurashtra Mishtaan, Raipur.
 * Kachori from Sahu Nashta, Rathore Chowk
 * Balushahi from Ramji Halwai, Ramsagar Para
 * Marine Drive Chowpatty
 * Katora Talab Food Court
 * Chowpatty Infront of NIT Raipur

Drink

 * Ten Downing Street (TDS), at Magneto The Mall.
 * Eat Drink Love (EDL), at Ambuja City Center.
 * The Music Cafe (TMC), at Ambuja City Center.
 * Firangi Paani, at Magneto The Mall.

Budget
There are many cheap hotels near the main station and on "Station Chowk" road, turn left leaving after leaving Raipur Junction train station and follow the main road east. Rooms starting from ₹300 and dormitories starting from ₹100.

Splurge

 * Courtyard by Marriott
 * Hyatt Raipur
 * Mayfair Resorts

Hotel VW Canyon, Hotel Sayaji, Hotel Babylon International, Hotel Sarovar Portico and Hotel Vennington Court are among the best 4 star hotels.

Go next
Jagdalpur, A city in Bastar (south) used as a stepping stone to Chitrakote waterfall, Indravati valley national park and the tribal areas. The overnight bus is the best option (500 Rupees from the bus stand) as the train takes around 15 hours. There is an armed conflict in this region so follow the news.

Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, over 556 km2 and having an altitude of between 327 and 736 m above the sea level the park offers year-round wildlife viewing (It is uncertain if the park is open to foreign tourists due to the ongoing armed conflict in the area)

Bilaspur, the second-largest city in Chhattisgarh.

title: Raipur


text:
Rai Valley

Rai Valley is a small rural settlement in Marlborough in NZ's South Island. If the dryness of the rest of Marlborough drives you to drink then Rai Valley will amaze with its lushness. When it rains it rains!! But set halfway between Blenheim and Nelson who contest each other for the sunshine record for New Zealand it also receives loads of sunshine. The result stunning green scenery with fantastic native bush. Rai Valley is a handy place to explore the Sounds.

By car
The Rai Valley is on State Highway 6 between Nelson (40 minutes) and Havelock (25 minutes).

By bus
All buses and shuttles  traveling Picton - Blenheim - Havelock - Nelson return travel through Renwick.

Get around
Rai Valley is the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. Ideal base for accessing Elaine Bay, Cissy Bay, Okiwi Bay, French Pass and D'Urville Island, Tennyson Inlet, Duncan Bay. Fantastic for boaties, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking (not much traffic!) and seeing nature at its best. Between Nelson and Blenheim and so easy to find on SH6

Do

 * Rai Valley is the gateway to the western Marlborough Sounds. The turn-off to Okiwi Bay and French Pass is 1 minute west of the township.

Connect

 * Internet access is available at

Go next

 * Nelson – art and culture
 * Pelorus Bridge – a reserve with cafe, campground, bush walks and (in summer) a beautiful swimming hole, 10 minutes east of Rai Valley
 * Wine in Blenheim, or the scenery of the Marlborough Sounds

title: Rai Valley


text:
Raja

There's more than one place called Raja:

Indonesia

 * Raja - in the Gili Islands, Lombok
 * Raja - in Aceh, Sumatra

Malaysia

 * Raja (Kampong Raja) - in Terengganu

Pakistan

 * Raja Jang - in Punjab (Pakistan)

title: Raja


text:
Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry is a city in Andhra Pradesh, Southern India. It is the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh and the city is the birthplace of Nannayya, a Telugu poet. It is officially known as Rajamahendravaram.

Understand
Rajahmundry was founded in the 11th century by Raja Raja Narendra.

Telugu, is the major language. Almost everyone can understand a few words in English and it should be sufficient for basic conversations and transactions. Local people born after 1980 may be able to converse in fluent English as that language has been taught in the schools for many years.

Climate
The climate is mostly hot and humid, with mostly a tropical climate and therefore no distinct seasons. The mean maximum temperature is 36 °C. The hottest season is from April to June, with temperatures ranging from 34 -48 °C -- with maximum of 51 °C recorded in May 2007. The coolest months are December and January, when it is pleasant at 27 –30 °C. There is a lot of rain due to the monsoon and cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal.

By plane

Prepaid cabs are available.

By train

The cheapest mode of transport are autos. Tourists should fix a rate beforehand and make sure the driver knows the destination. Taxis are available at the railway station.

By car
Located on NH5, the city is on the east portion of the Golden Quadrilateral connecting Kolkata and Chennai.

By bus
Bus stations:
 * The main APSRTC bus complex is located on the Morampudi High Road.
 * The Kotipalli bus stand is in Innispet.
 * Gokavaram bus stand is in Aryapuram.
 * The Kakinada bus stand is near Kambalcheruvu.

By boat
There only way to visit Rajahmundry by boat is from Bhadrachalam via the River Godavari.

Do
There are many ritual places of visit including Draksharama, Kotipalli, Samalkot, Pattiseema the famous Siva temples. One temple at Ryali has both a god and a goddess in a single idol called Jaganmohini Avataram.

Other local destinations are; Maredumilli, Dowleswaram, Annavaram, Dvaraka Tirumala, Water Park, Gowthamighat, Iskon Temple, Pushkar Ghat, Everbusy RJY Main Market.

 * Godavari cruise: Cruise Boat Service from Rajahmundry Papikondalu. Scenic views Godavari River Cruise. Papikondalu trip up&down would cost from Rajahmundry at ₹600.
 * Bamboo Cottages Huts. Kolluru island. A/C cruise with vegetarian and non-vegetarian food available and an overnight stay at the huts on the island.

 * Go to a movie: Rajahmundry is one of the highest centres of box office revenues in South India. On an average day gross collections would be over ₹8 million.

Buy
Rajahmundry is also called Southern Bombay. It is the commercial capital of the two Godavari Districts. The city is famous for textile business.

Mahatma Gandhi Wholesale Cloth Complex has around 500 wholesale cloth shops catering to the retailers in Godavari, Khammam and Visakha districts. A wide variety of clothes is available at lower prices.

Rajahmundry is also famous for variety of furniture manufacturers. Top quality furniture is bought by people from nearby districts. One of the most reputed furniture manufacturers is 'Madireddy Bangaram and Sons' who've been in this field since 1909.

Rajahmundry is home to many traditional pen-making shops (e.g., Ratnam Pens near Fort Gate) where people can place orders for a variety of vintage-style fountain pens in bulk.

Sleep
There are a wide variety of options for travellers, from business travellers, to nature lovers.

Hospitals
Government and major private hospitals

 * Abhaya Emergency Hospital, Syamala Nagar
 * Akira Eye Hospital, Papermill Rd, Aryapuram, Rajahmundry
 * Alert Emergency Hospital
 * Apex Hospitals
 * Bollineni Heart Care Centre
 * Chakradhar Hospitals
 * The District Hospital of the East Godavari district
 * ESI Hospital
 * Government Hospital, Rajahmundry
 * GSL Medical College and Hospital, Diwancheruvu
 * Haritha Hospital
 * Life Emergency Hospital
 * Prasad neuro hospitals
 * Raju Neuro and Multispeciality Hospitals
 * Raju Rehabilitation Centre, (Rehabilitation centre for paralysis)
 * Sai orthopedic
 * Sri ram nursing home (Dr Uttama Lakshmi hospital)
 * Suraksha Emergency Hospital
 * Swatantra Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Kambala Tank
 * Vasan Eye Care Hospital
 * Yogananda Nethralaya, Vemagiri

Go next

 * Annavaram 70 km
 * Palakollu
 * Papikondalu
 * Ryali, 40 km from Rajahmundry, 74 km from Kakinada and 34 km from Amalapuram and it is between the rivers Vashista and Gautami, and tributaries of Godavari River. This is the site of the Jagan Mohini Kesava Swamy temple. The exquisite idol, made of black stone depicting Maha Vishnu and Mohini on its front and rear sides, is a real marvel of sculptural dexterity.

title: Rajahmundry


text:
Rajapalayam

Rajapalayam is a city in Tamil Nadu.

Get in
Industrial town near western ghats, Connected by few trains from Madurai and Kollam (Kerala). Well connected by bus routes from Madurai, Sivakasi, Thirunelvel and Courtalam (Thenkasi). Rain shadowed area, bit dry.

Get around
Mid way to Courtalam Falls from Madurai, 75 km. Stopping point to have your food on your journey. You can find few budget restaurants on your route.

Srivilliputhur - 10 km, an important Vaishanav Temple and one among DIVYA DESAMs( 108) , Birth Place of Kothai -Andal , One of the 12 Alwars ( Vaishnav saints). Also a birth place of Peria Alwar. Both of them wrote no. of Pasurms (Lyrics or Poems)on Lord Vishnu. Their Pasurams been practised in all over Vaishnav Temples in South India and some places in north too.

See

 * Ayyanar Falls - 10 km from Town, On the Foothills of Western Ghats. Only on winter, please check up.
 * Sanjeevi Hill - Hills believed with Lot of Herbs, also you can find a Subramaniaya Temple and few caves.
 * Srivilliputhur - 10 km

Do
Important Festivals at "Srivilliputhur" - Car Festival (Rath Uthsav) in the month of August. Andal Thirukalyanam - (Divne Marriage)- Festival on April

Buy

 * Good for few delicious varieties of mangoes, like Sappattai and Panchavarnam.
 * Known for Hunting Dogs, Rajapalayam Dogs are country breed dogs, white in colour, Lean and tall. They look like greyhounds outside of India except for the colour. Check with the locals and you can buy puppies, abd may cost you a few thousand rupees.

Eat
Eat Parota with delicious salna and famous for Chicken Biriyani. Almost all the shops taste well.

Snacks like mixture, Jilebi, Laddu, kaara sevu, are must to try.

Aravind Herbals, a Herbal Pharmacutical Unit, manufactures herbal Drinks & medicines for the healthy and fitness of Body.

Sleep

 * Hotel Anandhas

title: Rajapalayam


text:
Rajasthan

Rajasthan (राजस्थान Rājasthān) is a state in the northwest of India. It is mainly arid and its western border is adjacent to Pakistan. The main attractions for travellers are the vast Thar Desert, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world - the Aravalis - and the Rajput heritage which is apparent in the forts, temples and palaces established by Rajput kings such as Bappa Rawal, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga and Rana Pratap.

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities.
 * — the state capital, also known as the Pink City

 * — tomb of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, famous pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims

 * — location of a famous bird sanctuary

 * — famous for its sweets

 * — the site of multiple battles by Maharana Pratap against Mughal emperor Akbar

 * — the Golden City, famous for its Havelis and the Thar desert Safaris

 * — the Blue City, site of the spectacular hilltop Mehrangarh Fort

 * — home to the Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, various temples and parks

 * — known as City of Lakes, including Pichola and Fateh Sagar lakes

Other destinations

 * — former capital of the princely state of Alwar or Ulwar in British India

 * — small village located in the Pali District of Rjasthan with several Hindu temple sites

 * — consists of 3 wildlife sanctuaries. The park contains a large tract of forest land and was once the hunting grounds for the Maharaja of Kota

 * (Dehbar Lake), Alwar — second largest man-made lake in Asia. The Dhebar Lake Marble Dam is considered a Heritage Monument of India

 * (Keoladeo National Park) — a globally important reserve also called Keoladeo Ghana National Park,

 * (Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary) — spreading out onto a plateau, this park is rich in varieties of plants and animals. A single unique variety of orchid can also be seen in this park
 * — one of the best places in India to see tigers in the wild

 * — one of the most famous national parks in India and designated as a tiger reserve

Understand
Rajasthan literally derives from the Hindustani words meaning "Land of Kings". The state is home to the Thar Desert, a large dry desert that has a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. Part of the Thar Desert is protected and contained in the Desert National Park.

Talk
Most people speak Rajasthani dialects, Hindi and English also. In tourist places like Jaipur and Jodhpur, you will find trained English, German and French guides too. You may not be able to understand some people due to the dialect that they speak and at times, they may add words from these dialects while speaking Hindi. This does not mean that they are unable to understand you. In Rajasthan, Hindi is universally understood whereas English is spoken among the educated. Bear in mind that Rajasthani languages are more likely to be spoken by older people rather than younger people.

By plane
Rajasthan is one of the larger Indian states and distances are long, making planes a fairly good option for getting in. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur all have airports with direct links to many major cities, though if coming from a smaller city, one has to go via Delhi.

By train
Overnight trains from Delhi and Mumbai reach most of Rajasthan's major cities. For points further out, like Jaisalmer, you'll be looking at a second day on the train as well. Vande Bharat, Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains are excellent ones and have premium service.

By car
The National Highway 8 which runs through Rajasthan is excellent and connects Delhi to Mumbai. Though Mumbai may be too far away, this is the most popular way to travel to Jaipur from Delhi as the road is in excellent condition and the drive can easily be completed in under 4 hrs.

Otherwise from Delhi various private travel agencies organise trips to Rajasthan, but they are rather costly. But if you do not travel alone, it is better to hire a car with a driver (for example a car from Delhi International Airport to Neemrana Village costs ₹4000 for five persons).

By bus
Rajasthan Tourism and Rajasthan State Transport operate luxury air conditioned Volvo bus services between Delhi and Jaipur. The first bus departs at 5:25 and the last, at 01:00, with a frequency of approximately every half hour daily. This bus is equipped with personal LCD TV, charger and (in some trips) Wi-Fi. These buses are very comfortable and the most desired travel option between Delhi and Jaipur. Tickets can be booked online on the Rajasthan State Transport website or a visit to Scindhia House New Delhi (near India gate). Buses start and end at Scindia House in Delhi and Sindhi Camp in Jaipur. Private agents generally not allowed to book tickets for this route, so if anybody offers to book a ticket for you, be wary. Rajasthan Tourism and Rajasthan State Transport also operates luxury air conditioned Volvo bus services between Delhi and other cities in Rajasthan, with 2 or 3 trips per day. These buses may depart from any of several different areas of Delhi (Scindia House, Kashmiri Gate ISBT, and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT); a phone call to Rajasthan State Transport office will give you all the information.

By taxi
Taxis (locally called "call-taxis" since they must be pre-arranged) are available by phone. They are most reliable, can be ordered air-conditioned, and have digital fare meters, although time-based hire is also possible with some companies. Most companies charge a minimum fare of ₹150, which is for 5 km (3 mi), and for every subsequent kilometer they charge ₹18. Alternatively, you can hire a car for a full day for around ₹1500/2400. These figures are for essential non-AC Ambassadors, add about 50% if you want a comfier aircon Tata Indica. Waiting charges are included in the meter cost but you are required to pay parking and toll fees in addition to the fare displayed on the meter. If your trip is time-sensitive, booking your taxi a few hours in advance is best, and calling shortly before your trip to confirm.

Most prepaid taxi operators have a choice of vehicles. Innova is the ubiquitous hatchback that can seat 6 passengers, but it is almost impossible to find one of these well-maintained. Opt for a Scorpio or Fortuner instead of the Innova when you book the taxi, these are newer models and likely to be in a better state of maintenance. If you prefer a sedan, the choices are Etios, Maruti Dzire, and Ford Fiesta. SUV models Innova or Xylo have more space and are suitable for small groups (up to 7). Innova has a well-deserved reputation with travelers for airport transfers due to its reliability, spacious seats, and capacity to carry more luggage.

Tourist cabs - These are the best choice if you want to tour the city all day or visit nearby places like Jaipur, and Udaipur. Costs about ₹9 per kilometer and ₹540 per hour as hire charges. Also generally there is a special price if you need to go to Jaipur Railway Station or Jaipur Airport.

Get around
All the cities have public transport in form of buses. Also available are terrain vehicles on hire, but beware of terrain vehicle drivers who overcharge tourists.

Railways can be the better travel mode as it is quick and the service on most trains is excellent. But in Rajasthan, roads may be more enjoyable for short distances as the sights of the desert with the hills are beautiful. A popular drive is from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, which is because the flight takes longer overall and the road is excellent.

A very popular option is Palace on Wheels which is a week long luxury train ride through interiors of Rajasthan.

See
Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destination to observe Indian heritage and royalty closely. A fortnight should suffice to be able to glimpse the splendor of the state. It has a lot of natural and man made tourist destinations, which include:
 * UNESCO World Heritage sites Hill Forts of Rajasthan: includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur and Jaisalmer.
 * Amber Fort in Jaipur
 * Bundi Fort in Bundi
 * Camel fair in Pushkar
 * Chittorgarh Fort - A massive structure with numerous gateways, the fort is an outstanding example of Mauryan architecture.
 * The Desert landscape in Jaisalmer
 * Dilwara Temples in Mount Abu
 * Jaisalmer Fort - Located in Jaisalmer. This fort is constructed with sand stones and is an important landmark of Jaisalmer city.
 * Jal Mahal in Jaipur
 * Junagarh Fort in Bikaner
 * Khejarla Fort in Jodhpur
 * Mehrangarh Fort - Located in Jodhpur. Set on the hill top, Mehrangarh Fort is a humongous royal mansion.
 * Pichola Lake in Udaipur
 * Ranthambore in Sawai Madhopur
 * The Pink City in Jaipur
 * Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur
 * Wildlife Sanctuary in Ranthambhore National Park Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary was established in 1957. In 1974 this park came under the campaign of “Tiger Reserve”. Visitors can easily see many water bodies, everywhere inside the park, which is the perfect destination to relax during the summer for the wildlife animals.

 * The Sariska Tiger Reserve was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and received the status of national park in 1979. The park is famous for both its wildlife and historical monuments and temples.

Do

 * Many of the cities and towns in Rajasthan offer a chance to do a camel safari.
 * Another great experience is to explore Rajasthan on horseback. Beginners can go on shorter rides while experienced riders can join horseback safaris running from a couple of days up to 3 weeks.
 * Parasailing - popular adventure to experience in Jaisalmer. Catch the majestic bird-eye view of entire region. The activity costs around ₹800 for a 15-minute ride.
 * Travellers can get brilliant, intricate henna patterns done on their hands and/or feet.
 * Visit the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur and the wildlife park at Ranthambore. Make sure you take the tiger safari at Ranthambore.
 * Travel in Palace on Wheels- Palace On Wheels is one of the most luxurious trains in the world, equipped with all sort of luxurious comfort. Riding on this train is the most memorable and pleasing way to explore the beauty of Rajasthan. This train has exact replicas of almost everything kings used to have in their palaces. The journey covers the destinations of Jaipur, also known as Pink City, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ranthambhore National Park, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra before ending at Delhi.
 * Shop at the bazaars (local markets) located in most cities in narrow alleys and lanes. You can pick up traditional puppets, tie-and-dye clothes/apparel, kota textiles, accessories. Pick up excellent and beautifully done block print textiles from where it originates. The art has been initiated by the villagers of Pipar Village.
 * Visit fairs arranged for traditional festivals, where you get to see the locals in traditional finery.
 * Hiking and camping in the only hill station of Rajasthan in Mount Abu
 * Watch camel races.
 * Enjoy traditional folk music.
 * Go on a terrain vehicle safari, night safari or a nature hike in the Aravalli Mountains visiting some of the interesting wildlife sanctuaries there such as Sita-Mata, Kumbhalgarh or Jaisamand.

Ranthambore National Park was declared as an Indian Wildlife Sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of "Project Tiger". There are many water bodies located all over the park, which provide perfect relief during the extremely hot summer months for the forest inhabitants.

Desert safari
Desert safari is the best way to explore the world famous “Thar Desert”, located in Rajasthan. Tourists can explore the real beauty of Rajasthan villages, their culture, tradition and colours through this amazing ride. Multiple operators run services for Camel Safaris into the Thar desert, which is generally followed by a cultural folk music evening, accompanied by dinner featuring local Rajasthani cuisine. Traveling by Camel was once the norm in Rajasthan. Many older Rajasthanis remember a life without electricity, roads, and trains. If you wanted to travel from Jaisalmer to Jodphur, an 8-day camel ride was the quickest way to go only 60 years ago (now 8 hours by bus).

Nowadays, however, multi-day camel safaris are primarily for the tourists, and a massive industry has been built up around them. With this has come high-pressure tactics and shoddy operators. An amazing, authentic camel safari is possible, but tourists should spend time researching guides, companies, and/or routes. Your best bet is to talk to other tourists who have recently completed a camel safari, and ask their advice.

Camel safaris are often loved or hated. Some people stay an extra day or two in the desert after already being out for 4 days, others find the camel foul-smelling and excruciatingly painful to ride. For those considering a 4-5 day trek, a two-hour ride may answer many questions.

The highlights of a camel safari include amazing desert scenery, the experience (however jarring) of riding a camel, Dal and Chapati cooked over an open fire, incredible star-gazing (no ambient light and no pollution), and a flavor of a different world.

Most of the preparation is in picking the length of safari (ranges from 4 hours to 5 days), the tour operator, and the city to start from (some people feel that smaller cities offer less touristy experiences). Generally, the tour operator arranges transportation, and the Camel Driver chooses your itinerary. Be clear from the beginning, before you pay, if the trip involves stops in handicraft stores.

Because of the importance of tourism upon Rajasthan's economy, tourists are fairly safe on a camel safari in terms of physical safety. Sufficient bottled water, sunscreen, a hat, a flashlight, and warm clothes for the cold night air are important. Solo female travelers should exercise caution when selecting a camel driver/guide, but otherwise should be safe.

If you have problems, or feel you have been cheated, be firm with the tour operator, and if necessary threaten going to the police/tourist office, and be willing to actually go. Many tourist offices, such as Jaisalmer's, make efforts to keep tourists safe and happy.

Buy
Avoid shopping at outlets guided by the local auto/rickshaw drivers or even with the local tour guide you may have hired as these outlets all claim to have some association with the Rajasthan government or the actual artisans which are generally fabricated claims and you end up paying anywhere between 20-40% above the actual price (including a hefty commission parted by the shopkeeper to the guide/auto driver). The guide is more keen to show you all these shops rather than the places you have travelled to see.

Bargain is the key word. If you are buying jewellery, artefacts, handicrafts, etc. definitely bargain. Most tourist shops will bargain up to 30–50%, although some shops, mostly big ones such as National Handloom, India Rugs Exports, Jaipur Rugs, India Crafts, Government organizations, have fixed rates with little or no scope discount on bulk buying.

Eat and drink
Savory food is generally very spicy - to be enjoyed in moderation for first timers. Dairy-based sweets are also very popular in this part of the country. Restaurants are mostly vegetarian. Finding restaurants serving good non-vegetarian food could be difficult, and in general, non-vegetarian fare in road side eateries should be avoided. Bread, both leavened and unleavened, is readily available.

A typical Rajasthani meal would include daal-baati-churma. Daal is lentil curry; baati are round balls made out of wheat flour and baked on a charcoal fire; churma is a dessert made out of crushed wheat balls rolled in jaggery/sugar and topped with ghee.

Stay safe
As always, be cautious of your environment and be vigilant like any other tourist place. Most cities are closed by evening so it is advisable to not roam around unless you feel safe. Beware of touts. One of the safest ways to travel around is by having a driver who knows their way around Rajasthan.

There are many clinics and hospitals in major cities which provide treatment of reasonable quality at relatively inexpensive prices.

title: Rajasthan


text:
Rajecké Teplice

Rajecké Teplice is a town in the north-west part of Slovakia.

Understand
You can find this small spa-town something about 15 kilometers south of another big city Zilina. It lies between two rivers- Rajcianka and Kuneradka. Rajecké Teplice is enclosed with deciduous and coniferous forests of Súlov hills and Lucanska mala Fatra Mountains. Those mountains are connected there and create a valley with beautiful green scenery. The population of the town is about 2800 people.

The town is said to have clear air without any air pollution and a minimal amount of dust. Therefore, Rajecké Teplice is something like a recreational or holiday place for tourists especially from Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, but from other parts of Slovakia too. Around Rajecké Teplice, there is wonderful nature with rocky formations, caves and cracks from dolomites. You can find there a large variety of Carpathian flora; we can see badgers, foxes, martens, red- dears, owl or eagles in the woods.

History
The first testimony about the existence of the villa Tapolcha and SPA comes from the document of King Ladislav Veľký from the year 1376. In year, 1368 there was built just a summer residence for Austro – Hungarian magnates. However, in year 1372 were discovered hot springs and it was a ground for coming SPA. This water has 38 grades. The development of the town continued also in 18th century. New spa buildings and three pools (one for nobility, one for common people and one for the beggars) were built. In year 1793, there was made the first analysis of the mineral water in Rajec location. In 19th century, Rajecké Teplice became a famous holiday place for high aristocracy. Rajecké Teplice was given the spa town status in 1959. On 8 February 1989, Rajecké Teplice was upgraded to the town.

Get in
You can get in from Žilina, which is about 15 km away, by train or bus. You can also use a car. The journey takes from 20 to 25 minutes.

See
There aren't any historical showplaces or sightseeing, except a baroque church that is located in the middle of the town. However, 6 km far from Rajecke Teplice, you can find a reneissance castle in Kunerad or the second biggest ruin of a castle in Slovakia, the castle Lietava. This dominant was built around year 1240 and it is nearly 3 hours of pedestrian way far.

Eat
You can choose from quantity of restaurants, hotels or pensions. The most visited restaurant is called Fishing bastion and it is located in the middle of a small lake and there is a bridge you have to use. You can try of many fish specialities there. It is very romantic especially during the winter when everything is under the snow. The restaurant Koliba offers Slovak specialties including “'brindzove halusky'” that are not just very healthy but also tasty. If visitors prefer Italian kitchen, especially pizza, restaurant Merritto is the right choice. The Hotel Velka Fatra is quite famous with its international kitchen.

Drink
Visitors can always try some of the typical Slovak beers, such as Zlaty Bazant or Saris.

Sleep
The accommodation and services are on high level. Visitors can choose from quantity of hotels, motels or private accommodation. In the centre of the town, there is a Hotel Velka Fatra that is connected with SPA buildings of hotel Aphrodite. Hotel Aphrodite was completely renovated in year 2002. Also hotels Mala Fatra, Villa Flora and Villa Margareta offer high-class services.

Go next

 * Žilina - the fourth largest city of Slovakia
 * Čičmany - a folk village

title: Rajecké Teplice


text:
Rajgad

Rajgad is a hill fort in South Maharashtra. It was built as Murumbdev and was later renamed Rajgad by Shivaji Maharaj. It is south-west of Pune City. The base village Gunjavane is around 60 km from Pune. This fort was the first capital of Shivaji Maharaj's Hindavi Swarajya. The capital was later shifted to Raigad. The area of the fort base is 62 km² (24 sq mi).

Get in
There are several routes to climb this fort.

Padmavati Machee via Chor Darwaza (Secret Doorway)
This is the most popular route and starts from Gunjavane village. This route takes approximately 2½ hours to ascend the fort and leads to the Padmavati Machee (Plateau). However, one needs to navigate a treacherous and steep rocky incline to reach Chor Darwaza. To reach Gunjavane, drive towards Satara on the Pune Bangalore NH4 Highway. After about 30 km from Warje Naka in Pune, turn right at Nasrapur. From here, Gunjavane is 28 km. Follow road directions to Rajgad. These directions are only available in Marathi. However, asking the locals on the street will be a great help.

Via Pali Darwaza
This is a simple climb. However, it will take longer to climb from here as compared to Chor Darwaza. To get here, turn right from Nasrapur and go to Velhe village. From there, walk to Pabe village and ask the locals for directions to climb the fort. It should take approximately 3 hours to climb via this route.

Suvela Machee via Chor Darwaza
From Gunjavane village, there is a route through the forest which leads to Suvela Machee. However, it's a treacherous path comprising steep rock faces. It's advisable to climb from this path only under expert guidance and with professional mountain climbing equipment.

See

title: Rajgad


text:
Rajgir

Rajgir (or Rajagriha) is a city in Bihar in India. It is 15 km from the ruins of Nalanda University, and 100 km from Patna, the capital of the state.

Understand
Rajgir, meaning the abode of Kings, has been mentioned first in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata as the capital of Magadh, ruled by the mighty King Jarasandha. Although the exact time of the origin of this city has not been established, it is estimated by scholars that it must be around 3,000 years old.

Rajgir has been mentioned in ancient Buddhist and Jain scriptures and also in the travelogues of Buddhist travellers Huen Tsang and Fa Hian who visited India during the Mauryan and Gupta times. The city is divided in two parts, the old fortified city which lies in the valley surrounded by seven hills (Chhatha, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Vaibhara and Vipula) and the new city established by Ajatshatru, the son of Bimbisara and a contemporary of Lord Buddha.

Rajgir has been closely related to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and has played host to Lord Buddha and Mahavira, thus has many archeological sites related to Buddhism and Jainism.

By plane
Patna and Gaya are the nearest airports which are connected to the major cities of India.

By train
Rajgir is on the secondary line linking Patna and Gaya. There are two local train from Patna, one from Gaya, one from Bakhtiyarpur, and one from Fatuha. And Express trains from Varanasi, Patna and New Delhi. As well as a Fast passenger train from Howrah.

By bus
Rajgir is connected to Patna by road and one can reach there form Patna by using NH 31–82. There are some direct buses from Patna to this town but more frequent with the connection at Bihar Sharif.

Tourist buses from Bodh Gaya operate twice a day (7am and 2pm) during peak season.

Buses from Gaya leave every half hour during the day, even in off season. The bus station is located in suburb of Manipur on the east side of the river. There are shared rickshaws from the train station, and also direct from Bodhgaya for ₹20.

By car
One can also take a rented car to reach the place.

Get around
Tanga (horse-drawn carriage) is the main mean of the transportation. Ongoing rate to the base of Ratnagiri or Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak) is ₹150 return including waiting but can be negotiated down to ₹50 one-way. Shared ride in town (between Makhdum Kund and bus stand) is also available for ₹10.

There is a chairlift to the top of Ratnagiri where Shanti Stupa is located. The rate is ₹120 return ticket only. There is a modern cable car route installed recently to the top of Ratnagiri. The rate is ₹250 for foreigners.

You can also walk up 600+ steps to the top. Gridhakuta, the meditating place for the Buddha, is however located on the half way and not on the path of the chairlift.

Do

Sleep
There are a few places to stay near both the railway station and the bus station, and on the 2km road in between. The town has many budget hotels (Double ₹300), as well as Bihar tourist run hotels (Double ₹1200). 9am checkouts are common, but can often be negotiated before money is exchanged.

Go next

 * Bihar Sharif; Buses leave about every 30 minutes from the main bus stand. (about ₹30 in 2020)
 * Bodhgaya — often requires a change of bus in Bihar Sharif or Gaya
 * Deo —city of the Sun Temple.
 * Kakolat — a good waterfall
 * Nalanda; Buses leave about every 30 minutes from the main bus stand. (about ₹15 in 2020)
 * Patna; a direct bus from Rajgir to Patna only leaves once a day. Often the better option is to take a regular bus to Bihar Sharif (about ₹30 in 2020), then change for a bus to Patna (₹60 in 2012)

title: Rajgir