If you want to know how seriously I’ve taken blogging and this travel blog over the past four years, then consider that I’m writing this very piece on my iPhone’s Notes app as I get the train into town to watch the Super Bowl.

It’s late on a Sunday evening and I’m actually only writing this piece to extend my streak of positing every week on my website since I started it back in November 2015.

This year Travelling Tom will turn eight years old and if I leave it in its current state, then approximately half of its lifespan will have been spent with little more effort than the weekly post – whether that’s something simple like this particular instance, or a page to highlight my most recent YouTube video.

But there’s still something here.

At the time of writing, I’ve been to 87 countries – the vast majority having been visited as a student, or whilst working a nine-to-five.

Whilst long-term travel is currently the flavour of the month, most people will either do long-term travel temporarily (i.e. a gap year) or not at all. It’s not compatible with the lives of most human beings, and whilst digital nomadism has been around for a couple of decades now, it is still in its growth stage.

That means there are plenty of potential eyeballs to engage with and a lot I can say when it comes to travelling a lot with restrictive work hours and budget, in addition to the topic at large.

Yet whilst I know this and understand the weight of knowledge I’ve acquired not just on my travels, but also throughout the past five years of working in the travel industry, it’s easier said than done.

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve told people I’m “currently redeveloping my website,” a line I’ve used a number of times since 2019.

It’s now 2023, and whilst I’ve taken steps towards it, I need to knuckle down and actually do something about this site, because it’s a lengthy process that involves redesigning it altogether, doing an audit of everting currently on TravellingTom.com and deciding what I’ll keep and what needs to go, migrating content across to the new build and having plenty of posts written and ready to go so that there’s lots of things for new and returning visitors to see.

I hope it’s something I eventually do, because I am a travel creator in my professional life, and much like my YouTube I know that in many years, it will be great to look back on all the travels I’ve had and all the information I’ve gleaned.

In previous years, I’ve done annual recaps and said similar things to the above, yet not acted on it like I should.

I know people still come to my website, because there is some useful information still on here, but there’s also a lot more to give.

If you still visit the Travelling Tom travel blog, I’d like to thank you for doing so, and I hope that in the not-too-distant future there will be plenty more content to consume.

In the meantime, don’t forget to keep up with me on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook.

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Indian Train Names Motivated by Literature

Indian Train Names Inspired by LiteratureIndian Train Names Inspired by Literature

Indian Train Names Inspired by Literature 1. Kamayani Express– Mumbai to Balia in Bihar It is called after Kamayani, written in 1936 by Jaishankar Prasad of Varanasi. He is a famous name in modern Hindi literature. His most well-known work, Kamayani, an impressive poem, tells the story of the excellent flood. Its main characters are Manu, Shraddha and Ida representing human mind, love, and rationality respectively. They also represent the triad of understanding, action and desires or Iccha, Gyan and Kriya Shakti, 3 primary forms of energy required to achieve or create anything.

Kamayani Express links Mumbai with Balia in Bihar now, but was initially linking Mumbai and Varanasi, the city of Jaishankar Prasad.

2. Gitanjali Express– Mumbai to Kolkata

Gitanjali composed by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore method back in 1910 requirements no introduction. It is the production that won him the Nobel prize in Literature. It is a collection of poems that use magnificent offerings of love. They are a part of Rabindra Sangeet. I wish to read them in initial Bengali sooner or later as translations can never ever do justice.

The train links Mumbai with Howrah– the main station of the city of Kolkata, the city of Rabindranath Tagore. You can still visit his home at Jorasanko Thakurbari in Kolkata. It covers almost 2000 kms to take you from Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal and links 2 of the oldest train stations in India.

3. Amrapali Express: Katihar in Bihar to Amritsar in Punjab

Amrapali, was a nagarvadhu or royal courtesan of Vaishali in present day Bihar. She lived around 500 BC and was the furst woman to take Deeksha in Buddhism. She hosted a substantial meal for the Buddhist monks and followed them to become a Bhikuni. She was called Amrapali as she was found at the foot of a mango tree in the royal gardens of Vaishali. Her story is immortalized in the famous novel Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu by Acharya Chatursen.

Train covers about 1800 kms in 38+ hours going through the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

4. Basava Express– Mysore to Bagalkot in Karnataka

Basava, fondly referred to as Basavanna in addition to Basaveshwara was a theorist poet who resided in the 12th CE when the present-day Karnataka. He was born in a Shaivite household from Bagewadi in Vijayapura district and was named Basava that literally means Vrishabha or the bull, describing the Shiva Vahana. Being an ardent Shiva enthusiast, he started the custom of using Linga on oneself. Basava’s course later on brought to life Lingayata tradition. I got a look of this course at Jangamwadi Pooch in Varanasi. He likewise served as a minister of Kalachuri kings. His poetry in the type of Vachanas continues to be sung till date.

Train covers about 1000 kms in 22 hours passing through via Bangalore, Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh, and Vijayapura that we also referred to as Bijapur. Yes, the train also stops at Bagewadi, the town of Basavanna.

5. Jnaneswari Express– Kolkata to Mumbai

The Dnyaneshwari or Jnaneswari is the commentary on Bhagavad Gita composed by Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar throughout the 13th century. It is the most loved and earliest known bible in Marathi. Dnyaneshwar Maharaj resided in Alandi on the banks of Indrayani River where temples dedicated to him and his works can still be seen. You can easily visit it from Pune.

This train seems to compliment Gitanjali reveal that likewise signs up with the cities of Mumbai and Kolkata.

It covers about 2000 kms in 32 hours going through Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

6. Tulsi Express– Ayodhya to Mumbai

Goswami Tulsidas was a fantastic poet saint who resided in the late 15th early 16th CE in Awadh region of UP. We all know him as the author Ramacharitmanas– an epic retelling of Valmiki’s Ramayana in Awadhi. He likewise gave us Hanuman Chalisa and numerous other developments like Vinay Patrika. Tulsidas ji was born upon the banks of Yamuna however invested his later years in Varanasi. You can still see his home overlooking the Ganga in addition to his Tulsi Akhada which is still practicing.

The train appropriately links individuals of many states like Maharashtra, MP and UP with Ayodhya– the city of Sri Ram, the hero of Ramayana.

7. Thirukkural Express– Kanyakumari to New Delhi

Thirukkural is a timeless Tamil poetry including 1330 rhyming couplets called Kurals with each having seven words. Authored by Thiruvalluvar around 200 BCE, and is among the very first works to focus on ethics in India. Thirukkural expounds numerous aspects of life and is one of the most essential works in Tamil. You can see the tall statue of Saint Thiruvalluvar set up near southern idea of India at Kanyakumari. It’s 133 ft height represents Thirukkural’s 133 Chapters or athikarams and the 3 fingers denote the 3 themes of Morals, Wealth and Rejoice.

The train covers about 3000 kms in 47 hours traversing the length of India going through 6 states.

8. Padmavat Express: Delhi to Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh

Padmavat is a legendary poem written in 1540 CE by Malik Muhammad Jayasi. He belonged to Jais, a city in Rae Bareli district of UP. This Awadhi poem is a fictional account of the historical attack on Chittor by Alauddin Khilji. It discusses the charm of Rani Padmini, the partner of Rawal Ratan Singh of Chittorgarh. The story comes alive when you visit the historic Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan.

Train covers 660 kms in about 12 hours taking you through the Gangetic plains and passing by the city of Jayasi.

9. Matsyagandha Express– Mumbai to Mangalore in Karnataka

Matsyagandha actually indicates the Odor of the Fish. It appears like an appropriate name for the train that runs along the Western coast of India or the Konkan coast. Fishing is a crucial industry on this coast, so the name fits well. But, there is a literature connection also. Matsyagandha is one of the names of Satyavati– the fisherwoman who was the queen mother of Hastinapur in Mahabharat. There is famous Narendra Kohli unique called Matsyagandha.

Train covers about 1200 kms in 18 hours.

10. Aranyak Express– Kolkata to Bhojudih in West Bengal

Aranyak suggests the forest. It is a well-known novel by the Bengali writer Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay. He is better known for his autobiographical novel, Pather Panchali that was made into Apu Trilogy films by Satyajit Ray. Aranyak draws out a contrast between life of a city and the forests.

Train covers little over 300kms in five and a half hours.

11. Godaan Express– Mumbai to Gorakhpur

Godaan is a popular Hindi book by Munshi Premchand. Released in 1936 as the last production of Premchand, this book has been adapted into a film along with a series. It is one of the very first Hindi literature books got by most people.

Train covers 1730 kms in 34 hours.

12. Tapaswini Express– Puri in Odisha to Hatia in Jharkhand

Tapasvini suggests a female ascetic and it is likewise a literary masterpiece by famous Odia poet Gangadhar Meher, who was born into the household of weavers.

Train covers about 700 kms in 16 hours.

13. Gurudev Express– Nagercoil In Tamil Nadu to Kolkata

Gurudev is the popular name of Rabindranath Tagore– a Bengali poet, author, artist, and playwright, and Asia’s very first Nobel laureate who won Nobel Reward for Literature in 1913 CE.

Train covers a 2600 kms in 46 hours going by West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and after that ending again in Tamil Nadu.

14. Hatey Bazare Express– Kolkata to Saharsa in Bihar

Hatey Bazare is an unique by Bengali author Bolai Chand Mukhopadhyay who composed under the pen name of Banaphool and came from Purnia in Bihar. This story of a physician was likewise adjusted into a movie.

Train covers 600 kms in 16 hours in between the states of West Bengal and Bihar.

15. Agnibina Express– Kolkata to Asansol

Agnibina is a collection of 12 poems by Kazi Nazrul Islam in 1922.

Trains covers 200 kms in three and a half hours and stays within West Bengal.

16. Kaifiyat Express– Azamgarh in UP and Old Delhi

Called after Kaifi Azmi– the poet, movie lyricist, and songwriter, who came from Azamgarh.

Train covers 800 kms in fourteen and a half hours primarily in Uttar Pradesh once it leaves Delhi.

17. Kandari Express– Howrah– Digha in West Bengal

This one is named after famous poem Kandari Hushiar by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Kandari suggests the captain of the ship and hushiar ways to be watchful. Kazi Nazrul Islam is the nationwide poet of Bangladesh.

Train covers 186 km in little bit more than 3 hours.

18. Padatik Express– Kolkata to New Alipur Duar in West Bengal

Subhash Mukhopadhyay was a Bengali poet of the 20th century. His first volume of poetry was called Padatik or The Foot-Soldier

Train covers about 700kms in about 14 hours.

19. Rupasi Bangla Express– Santragachi to Purulia in West Bengal

Jibanananda Das ia popular Bengali poet understood for his poem Rupasi Bangla indicating The Lovely Bengal, composed in 1934.

Train covers 330 kms in 6 hours traversing across West Bengal.

20. Tutari Express– Mumbai to Sawantwadi in Maharashtra

Titari that literally means a trumpet, gets its name from a Marathi poem by Krishnaji Keshav that motivated many to combat back versus the British Guideline. Among the few Indian Train Names that have roots in liberty struggle.

Train covers 650 kms in 10 and a half hours travelling along the Konkan coast.

21. Ganadevta Express– Kolkata to Azimgunj in West Bengal

Called after a Bengali unique Ganadevata by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay.

Train travels a distance of 280 kms in 4+ hours.

Do you understand of any more Indian Train Names influenced by Literature? Or, would you desire trains to be called after your favorite author or work of literature. Tell us in the remarks below.