How to Get Jain Food on Indian Trains

Finding Jain food on Indian trains — meals without onion, garlic, potatoes, and other root vegetables — used to be nearly impossible. The pantry car menu doesn't specifically cater to Jain dietary requirements, and platform food vendors rarely differentiate. But the situation has improved significantly with e-Catering and some planning.

Understanding the Challenge

Jain food restrictions go beyond regular vegetarian:

• No onion or garlic


• No root vegetables (potato, carrot, beetroot, radish, turnip)


• No food prepared after sunset (for strict followers)


• No fermented items in some cases


• Green leafy vegetables, above-ground vegetables, lentils, grains, and dairy are acceptable

Most Indian train meals use onion and garlic as base ingredients in everything from dal to sabzi. Even a "simple" paneer curry from the pantry car typically has onion and garlic.

Option 1: Pre-Book Jain Meals on Rajdhani/Shatabdi

On Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto trains where meals are included in the ticket price, you can request a Jain meal during booking.

On IRCTC:

1. During the booking process, look for the "Food Choice" option
2. Select "Jain" from the options (veg, non-veg, Jain)
3. If Jain isn't listed, select "Veg" and call IRCTC at 1800-110-139 to specifically request Jain food

At the counter: Mention "Jain food" to the booking clerk. They add a note to your reservation. Reality check: Even after requesting Jain meals, the quality varies. Some caterers genuinely prepare Jain food. Others serve regular vegetarian food and call it Jain. You might get food with onion despite requesting Jain — it's frustrating but happens.

Option 2: IRCTC e-Catering Jain Options

Several restaurants on IRCTC e-Catering specifically offer Jain meals. When ordering:

1. Visit ecatering.irctc.co.in
2. Enter your PNR
3. At the station selection, browse restaurant menus
4. Look for restaurants tagged as "Jain" or filter by dietary preference
5. Read the menu descriptions carefully — look for "no onion, no garlic" mentions
6. Order items that are clearly Jain-friendly

Some stations with good Jain food options: Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Mumbai (large Jain population in these cities means more Jain restaurants).

Option 3: RailRestro Jain Category

RailRestro has a dedicated Jain food category in their app. When you search for food, filter by "Jain" and only restaurants serving genuine Jain meals appear.

This is arguably the easiest way to order Jain food on a train, especially at stations in Gujarat and Rajasthan where Jain food vendors are common.

Option 4: Self-Packed Jain Meals

The most reliable option. Experienced Jain travelers almost always carry home-prepared food:

For short journeys (4-8 hours):

• Thepla (Gujarati flatbread, stays fresh for hours)
• Khakhra
• Dry namkeen (sev, mixture — check ingredients)
• Fresh fruits (banana, apple, grapes)
• Dry fruit mix
• Jain cookies or biscuits

For longer journeys (12-24+ hours):

• Thepla and pickle (stays good for 24+ hours)
• Puri and dry sabzi (prepared without onion/garlic)
• Khichdi in a thermos flask (for hot food)
• Bread and jam (simple but effective)
• Instant noodle cups (most Maggi variants have onion powder — check labels; some brands like Patanjali have Jain-friendly options)
• Milk powder and biscuits for tea

Packing tips:

• Use steel containers with tight lids (not plastic — food stays fresh longer)
• Wrap rotis in aluminum foil, then cloth
• Carry a small cutting board and knife for fruits
• In summer, use an insulated lunch bag

Option 5: Station Platform Jain Stalls

Some stations, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan, have Jain food stalls on the platform:

• Ahmedabad Junction: Multiple Jain food vendors on the platform
• Surat: Good Jain thali options
• Jaipur Junction: Several vegetarian/Jain stalls
• Abu Road: Being near a major Jain pilgrimage site, this station has reliable Jain food

Ask fellow Jain travelers or the TTE for recommendations at specific stations. Word-of-mouth is often the best guide for platform food.

Jain-Friendly Pantry Car Items

If you're stuck with the pantry car, these items are generally Jain-safe:

• Plain rice


• Curd/dahi


• Plain bread or toast


• Butter and jam


• Tea with milk (chai without spice mixes that may contain garlic)


• Packaged chips (check the ingredients — many are Jain-friendly)


• Packaged biscuits (most popular brands are Jain-safe)

Avoid dal, curry, sabzi, and biryani from the pantry car — they almost certainly have onion/garlic.

Requesting Jain Food From TTE

On some trains, especially premium ones, the TTE can relay food preferences to the pantry car staff. Ask early in the journey:

"Can you ask the pantry to prepare a Jain meal without onion and garlic?"

Some pantry staff can accommodate this, especially if you ask well before mealtime. Don't expect gourmet Jain food, but plain dal without onion, steamed rice, and roti is achievable.

Planning Your Journey for Food Stops

Before your journey, check the train schedule on indianrail.app. Identify stations with:

• Long halts (10+ minutes) — enough time for platform food or e-Catering delivery


• Known Jain food availability (Gujarat/Rajasthan stations)


• E-Catering restaurant options tagged as Jain

Plan 2-3 food stops across your journey. This way, you're not relying on a single source.

Jain food on Indian trains requires planning, but it's doable. A combination of self-packed staples and strategic e-Catering orders keeps you fed and within dietary requirements throughout the journey.