If you’ve taken trains in India even a few times, you might already know railway stations here rarely feel like just stations. Most of them feel like small towns crammed into a couple of acres. Noise everywhere, people moving in all directions, smells of food or dust or fuel. Some stations feel old, like they haven’t changed in decades and some are fast, rushing, and confusing. Some just hit you with everything at once. The rhythm is different everywhere. You can see it on the faces, hear it in the footsteps, feel it under your feet.
Here’s a look at ten stations that stay busy nearly all day. You may have been through a few of them. Maybe you’ve just heard stories. Each one is different in its own way.
Here are the 10 biggest Railway stations-
New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS)
Just step into Paharganj and you will see the best welcome. Autos circling in loops, shouting. People dragging luggage, some running, some stopping suddenly. Someone somewhere shouting directions. Someone calling a taxi. Inside, the station is huge. Bigger than you expect. You think of one platform, then you see sixteen, then realize more trains arrive than you could count. Trains from Delhi to almost everywhere. Rajdhanis, Shatabdis, express trains, local trains.
Regular travellers seem to know the place. They walk like they have invisible shortcuts. Know where the tea stall is. Where it’s quieter. Which corner not to sit in because it’s going to get crowded soon. Book stalls, local snacks vendors and chai stalls and of course old kiosks have been there for so long. The tasty chai that amplifies your train journey and just sits on a bench and watches the madness. You will relishfood in trainat NDLSby RailRestro app that uplift your journey by offering flavorful dishes.
Howrah Junction (HWH)
Howrah is the largest railway station in India and has an old feel immediately. Red bricks. Big building. The bridge is nearby. Breeze from the river. You get the sense of history before you even reach the platforms. Trains are coming and going constantly. Locals, long-distance trains, some arriving, some leaving, all in a steady hum. You notice people arriving early just to eat. The food stalls have loyal fans. Fish cutlets, kachoris, sweets. Also you can relish the meal as per your choice and order food at Howrah Junction from the train food delivery app. Someone buys something, eats while walking. The crowd ebbs and flows. Sometimes the platform feels full, sometimes it clears, then fills again. You can almost time it by the trains. Old walls, new trains, constant movement. There is always noise. Always energy.
Mumbai CSMT
Mumbai CSMT is the most crowded railway station in India. You recognise it from pictures. The views make you remember the set from an old movie. Locals rushing, long-distance travellers weaving through, vendors balancing trays. Trains arrive every few minutes. Announcements echo across high ceilings. Someone eats vada pav on the move. Someone takes a photo of the architecture. People looking at boards, checking trains. People talking to each other. It’s noisy but organised in its own way. You feel like part of it or like an outsider watching a machine work. Either way, it leaves an impression. The combination of heritage and hustle is something you notice immediately. You can feel the city in this station. Order food at Mumbai CSMT and relish the best taste at the station also.
Patna Junction (PNBE)
Patna Junction is heavy with emotion. Migrants returning home, families waiting, people rushing to catch a connecting train. You can smell the food Litti, samosas, and sometimes jalebis. Chai sellers are moving through the crowd.Order food on train at Patna Junction and complement it with chai garam. The regular announcements over the speakers, vendors yelling and selling something, some asking for directions, and someone laughing. When the Delhi to Mumbai train arrives the crowd disappears instantly. You can see the people carrying luggage, bags, trolleys and sweets too. Some just stand and stare. The platform seems full but there’s always a little space somewhere. It’s busy but in a way that feels alive, human, not mechanical. The station has a commendable heartbeat.
Chennai Central (MAS)
Chennai Central is easy to spot. Red-and-white building, a lot of movement inside. Announcements are clear. Signs make it easier to find platforms. People heading to other states, mostly South India, are moving around. Some sitting, some standing. Food stalls selling idlis, dosas,and coffee. Almost everyone grabs something before leaving. Don’t forget to relish your favourite meals so order online food at Chennai Central. Some people sit on the floor with plates. Bags stacked nearby. You can hear footsteps, announcements, train whistles. The pace is fast but manageable. People know where they’re going. Some look lost. Some look like they belong. You can almost measure the crowd by how much noise there is at any given moment. It never feels empty.
Chennai Egmore (MS)
Egmore feels calmer. Older building. Slower pace. But during festivals or holidays, suddenly it’s chaos. Families with luggage, kids running, people sitting on benches, someone eating, someone arguing, someone taking a call. The station has character. Yellow walls, high arches, broad corridors. You notice small things here: a fan wobbling, the way sunlight hits the floor, the sound of a train arriving. The station is important, even if less flashy than Central. Many visitors to temple towns pass through here. Sometimes you pause and realise how long these stations have been doing this work, day in, day out.
Sealdah (SDAH)
For Kolkata residents, Sealdah is part of the routine. Local trains keep coming. Platforms full of students, office workers, long-distance travellers. Outside, narrow lanes, shops, street food, constant buzz. The crowd has its own rhythm. Sometimes you can spot a friend in the crowd. Sometimes you notice a small quarrel. Someone dropped a bag. Food smells everywhere. The station is a lifeline for many people, even if tourists overlook it. You can spend hours just watching and the patterns keep changing. Nothing ever repeats exactly the same way.
Kanpur Central (CNB)
Kanpur Central sees a mix of everyone. Workers, students, traders, families. The station rarely empties. Foot overbridges are busy. The waiting halls were crowded. Food stalls with jalebis and kachoris. People hurrying, people standing still. Announcements in Hindi, English. The morning smell of fried snacks. Midday chaos. Evening calm before the next rush. A little child runs past. Someone asks for directions. A vendor moves through. The best photogenic memories full of life. When you are crossing through the memories you encounter are unforgettable.
Vijayawada Junction (BZA)
Vijayawada is one of the busiest railway stations of India. Multiple routes crossing, trains arriving one after another. People buying snacks, idlis, Andhra meals. Some eat while walking, some sit on benches. Bags stacked in corners. People talking on phones. Small children tugging at parents’ hands. Platforms cleanish, but footprints everywhere.When the announcement happens people may go and wait for the trains. Some tourists take photos. Some locals barely notice. You can feel the station breathing. This is a busy station but alive and quite not at all chaotic. To reach the station and relish the food of your choice, always see thetrain schedule.
Ahmedabad Junction (ADI)
Bright and clean. Connects to many routes. Food stalls are busy with dhokla, fafda, and Kachori. People are moving constantly. Luggage carts everywhere. Some sitting on benches, some standing. Newer trains have added to the flow. The station feels full, not crowded. Noise, movement, smells all there. Some commuters rush, some wait, some just watch. The place has its own rhythm. Even small details like a fan creaking or an announcement coming in late feel part of the experience. Ahmedabad Junction is busy, alive, and practical. To reach the station on time and want to avoid the excessive waiting check live train running status.
Conclusion
Each station has its own life. Some overwhelm, some comfort and offer familiar food also give the feeling of movement and human presence. You might notice small things like a vendor moving past, someone running late, a sound you hear every time, the smell of chai or fried snacks, a child tugging at a parent, the flow of crowds. Train journeys in India are more than just distances. Stations become part of the memory.