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In some regions, the only vehicles which may bother to stop and pick up hikers would be long distance trucks. They generally ply between cities or villages. Speeding is common and trucks are often involved in accidents. Drunk driving is also fairly common. If offered a ride on the truck, it is best to humour humor the driver and helper by engaging in small talk as far as possible. Silence may lead to sullen behaviour behavior and even hostility.

Ticketless Even passionate hitchhikers often resort to train travel in India, as it offers its own kind of adventure. Most trains in India, with the exception of a very few express trains , have four carriages marked General class (two at the front of the train, two at the rear). Riding in these carriages requires only that you buy a ticket just before boarding, while other classes require reservations days or weeks in advance. General Class carriages do not guarantee a place to sit. You might encounter carriages where people are packed together as tightly as cattle, while at other times the carriage might be half-empty and you can lie down and sleep. An overnight journey in a General Class compartment costs only around 100 euro, making them a good alternative to hitchhiking. == Sleeping == Sleeping outside is accepted in India, and millions of urban poor do it. Theft is common although heavy fines rarely a concern if you are levied if caughtsleeping among a large crowd, though you ought to secure your bag in some small way. If you need a place to overnight, head for the nearest train station, where you can spread out your sleeping bag and no one will bother you. Often there is a waiting room for those with train reservations (called "Upper Class Waiting Room" or similar), and foreigners can usually enter those and sleep without being asked to show a ticket. Also trains Earplugs are scanned thoroughly for suspicious people useful. == Eating == The Sikh religion of India emphasizes hospitality and at any Sikh temple (''gurdwara'') you can find meals. Don't be ashamed to ask anyone standing around there where you can find the dining room, as many Sikhs voice regret that few foreigners come and accept what they offer. There is no religious proselytizing, and goods given because everyone eats sitting in a row on the recent bomb attacksfloor, it's a great way to strike up conversations with everyday Indians.