Waitlist Tatkal Train Ticket Manual Refund Experience in Rishikesh

• • Haridwar, Uttarakhand • Tags:

In June 2014, Rishikesh, I with a local friend planned to visit Garhmukteshwar by train. We visited Rishikesh Railway Station to book train tickets. Waiting list – The answer. I request Tatkal tickets. Waiting list too. I thought it might get confirmed I booked two 3A tickets from Haridwar (30+ km from Rishikesh) to Gajraula.

We were waiting anxiously for the Mussoorie Express train chart to be prepared. If I am correct three hours before the train departure time train chart is prepared. And when it was prepared tickets were not confirmed – checked via 139 SMS service. We were disappointed but what to do? The next question – refund?

We reached Rishikesh Railway Station to return our tickets to receive a refund. It was more than 8 pm. Ticket counters were closed for the day.

Now, what to do?

A railway person was present. We were guided to visit Haridwar Railway Station (30 km) to receive a refund.

What? – said I. To get a refund for the waitlist tatkal tickets booked from Rishikesh Railway Station I have to travel 30 km at this hour? approx. 50 min to 1-hour journey.

I was disappointed but what to do? We traveled via motorbike to reach Haridwar Railway Station. At 21:42 we received the refund. Rs. 70 was deducted by Railways as a cancellation fee. I was told the counter closed at 10 pm. Only one counter is open at night.

Upon the query about waitlist tatkal ticket refund rules the counter person said: up to two hours after the train’s actual departure time.

In short what I want to say is: To receive a refund I have to travel that far which was very disappointing but later upon the query I was told for late-night trains and for hilly or remote areas one might get a refund the next day within first two hours of counter opening. But the question is: Whether Rishikesh is a remote area or a hilly area or not Or, what I did was correct?

I agree: IRCTC Online ticket booking is much better than manually. At least a refund is automatically returned to one’s account.

Once I Forgot to Pack Sony Camera Battery Charger During Uttarakhand Tour

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

I was at Kanak Chauri village approx. 181 km from Rishikesh and 38 km from Rudraprayag Town to visit Kartik Swami Temple and I realized I left the Sony DSC HX400V camera battery charger in Rishikesh.

Where to buy a camera charger? I question locals.

Rudraprayag – They said. I re-started the motorbike to reach Rudraprayag. I had no other option – what to do.

During the search at Rudraprayag Town, I failed to find a camera charger. I visited a local friend. He advised visiting Srinagar Town because it is a big town and chances are bright there only. 30-35 km journey – Ok said I.

I visited many electronics/camera shops in Srinagar and failed again. Then a student upon query enhanced knowledge about a shop situated inside the main market almost opposite Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Tourist Rest House.

Narula Electricals (0-94120 79078) is the shop name situated on the right-hand side inside the main market, Srinagar approx. 50 meters from National Highway 58. Yes, the camera battery charger was available but locally made. No worries if it solves the problem. It was working. The shopkeeper tested the battery with the charger. I purchased it immediately, and I also purchased one camera memory card. In short, I realized it was tough to find camera accessories in mountains. Thanks to the shopkeeper otherwise the tour might be without a photo. After the Kartik Swami Temple visit, I visited Deoria Tal too. This was the first time in the past 4 years of travel that I forgot to pack one of the most important things for memories.