How about trotting India in 80 trains? 

The idea of trotting across India via train journeys full of excitement, interactions, activities and much more is an experience which cannot be felt in any of the railway networks across the world, says Monisha Rajesh who has penned down her 80 journeys in Indian trains.
'Around India in 80 Trains' published by Roli Books is based on an array of train journeys undertaken by Monisha Rajesh in the quest of exploring the diversities of India's lifeline-the railway network.
Monisha Rajesh, is an Indian origin London -based journalist whose family wanted to shift to India because of the emotional bonding and respect they had for the country but they had parted their ways with India on bad terms.
"In 1991, my family uprooted from Sheffield to Madras in the hope of making India our home. Two years later, fed up with soap eating rats, stolen human hearts and creepy colonel across the road,we returned to England with a  bitter taste in our mouths" Monisha told  in an interview during the just concluded Kovalam Literature Festival.

She added,"Though we decided not to settle there but with the kind of curiosity I had for the country it wasn't difficult for me to pack my bags and simply leave for crisscrossing the country in 2010 using the two-track transport line."
According to Monisha, travelling a distance equivalent to the circumference of the earth, she lifted the veil on a country that had become a stranger to her.
"As one of the largest civilian employers in the world-featuring luxury trains, toy trains, Mumbai's infamous commuter trains and even a hospital on wheels-Indian railways had more than a few stories to tell" said Monisha.
"Seeking inspiration from Jules Verne's classic tale, Around the world in 80 days I embarked on a 40,000 km adventure around India in 80 trains," says Monisha, however according to her the idea first struck her while she came across an article detailing how India's domestic airlines could now reach 80 cities.
          Narrating the beautiful experiences she had during the four month journey she said, "There is so much about Indian train journeys which makes them stand apart from train journeys across the world."
"People's willingness to interact with fellow passengers, playing cards, ready to be clicked by strangers, go on about the stories and experiences of their lives and much more" she said adding, "But I personally enjoyed travelling sitting on the train's doorstep the most. After watching the scenic beauty from there I realised how aesthetically beautiful India is"
"On trains, total strangers would ask about my brother’s salary," she recalled amusingly, “but back in London I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the visit cards, phone numbers and emails from the trip" said Monisha.
Quizzed about the planning she did before embarking on this journey she said, " I didn't plan much about the journey because I wanted everything to be spontaneous. I even travelled without reservation in some of the journeys."
"I preferred not to read too many travelogues before writing the book because its difficult to read and not to have an influence in writing" said Monisha.
Monisha believes that though many things have been written about Indian train journeys before yet the book will give the readers the excitement she felt during journey she undertook in one go.
"I travelled in variety of trains ranging from Rajdhani, Shatabdi to Mumbai local and toy trains to get the feel of each of them" she said.