Indian trains are famous for their long journeys, chugging through mountains, villages, and cities for hours or even days. But what makes these trips extra special? The pantry car! It’s like a mini kitchen on wheels, serving hot meals and snacks to passengers. From steaming chai to spicy biryani, the pantry car is a food lover’s delight. Let’s take a tasty journey into the world of India’s train pantry cars and see what’s cooking inside.
A Kitchen on the Move
Pantry cars have been part of Indian trains since the 1960s. They’re special coaches attached to long-distance trains, filled with maids, fridges, and cooking supplies. A team of cooks works non-stop to make fresh meals for hundreds of passengers. Imagine cooking biryani while the train is speeding at 100 km/h—that’s some serious skill! The pantry car makes sure no one goes hungry, whether you’re traveling from Delhi to Chennai or Mumbai to Kolkata.
The Menu That Feels Like Home
“Bhaiya, ek thali aur ek chai dena!”—Brother, give me one meal and one tea! This is what you’ll hear passengers shouting in the train. Yeh thali toh ghar jaisa taste deti hai, na? (This meal tastes just like home, right?) The pantry car menu is full of comfort food: dal-chawal, roti-sabzi, egg curry, and even chicken biryani. There are also snacks like samosas and bread-omelette. And of course, the famous railway chai, served in small glasses—hot, sweet, and perfect for sipping while watching the scenery go by. It’s like a taste of home, even when you’re far away.
How It All Works
Cooking on a train isn’t easy. The pantry car team starts early, chopping veggies and boiling rice before the train even leaves. They use gas stoves and big steel containers to cook in bulk. Once the food is ready, servers walk through the coaches, shouting “Khana le lo!” (Take your food!). Passengers can also order through apps now, but the old-school way of buying straight from the pantry car is still the most fun. It’s amazing how they manage to feed so many people without stopping!
The Nostalgia Factor
For many Indians, pantry car food is pure nostalgia. One passenger shared, “I remember eating aloo paratha from the pantry car on my first train trip as a kid. Now, every time I travel, I order the same—it brings back memories.” The smell of fresh rotis, the sound of the chai vendor yelling “Chai, garam chai!”—these little things make train journeys unforgettable. It’s not just food; it’s an experience.
Share the Train Food Love
Pantry car food is so iconic that people share pictures of their train meals online all the time. The next time you’re on a train, order a thali, snap a photo with the train window in the background, and post it with a caption like “Nothing beats railway biryani!” Your friends will be hungry for more stories—and maybe a train trip of their own!