An unforgettable journey, travelling by train in India offers an insight into the remarkable diversity that this ancient land holds. Snow capped Himalayan mountains, verdant valleys, verdant coastal plains, tea estates, desert stretches and verdant forests some of the most beautiful train rides in the world pass through these stunning vistas. Whether you’re a photo fanatic, an outdoor junkie, a history buff or an adventure traveller these railway routes will surely take your breath away, and offer an opportunity to soak up the local culture.

Many of these railways are feats of engineering, and many are of historical value, all ensuring your travel experience is as memorable as your final destination. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most beautiful train routes in India that every traveller must take up at least once in their life time.

Kalka Shimla Railway

The Kalka Shimla railway is listed as a UNESCO World heritage railway. This is one of the most romantic train journeys through the Indian mountains. The journey takes about 96 km from the toy train and goes through the beautiful green pine trees, some beautiful hill station, beautiful valley and 800 plus bridge. People get to traverse 100 plus tunnels which even includes barog tunnel as part of this magical experience.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Famous for its steam engines. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also called Toy Train serves up panoramic vistas of the region’s tea gardens, mist shrouded peaks, and the imposing Kanchenjunga. This UNESCO World Heritage Site railway is beloved for its old fashioned steam locomotives and a pretty, meandering line that traverses villages nestled into the mountainside.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway route between Mettupalayam to Ooty passes by waterfalls, mist laden mountains, forests and tea gardens. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a marvel of Indian engineering and is the only one of its kind in the world with its unique rack-and pinion system.

Konkan Railway

Konkan Railway is believed to be the most charming rail route of India. Running along the western coast, it goes through rivers, waterfalls, tunnels, coconut grooves and the pretty western ghats. If you take this rail route in monsoon, it seems as if it is paradise because there is greenery and numerous waterfalls all around.

Kashmir Railway

The Banihal Srinagar railway route provides you with a ride across some of the most spectacular natural views. There are sights of snow clad mountains, apple orchards, rivers and valleys. It also crosses the marvel which is the Chenab Rail Bridge world’s highest railway bridge.

Matheran Hill Railway

This narrow gauge toy train ascends steep, forest-clad hills and traverses cliff edges to arrive at the tranquil hill resort of Matheran. During the trip, travelers can witness sweeping views of the valley from an altitude. The weather here is pleasant and the mountain air, invigorating.

Mondovi Express

One of the best means of experiencing the charm of the Konkan coast as well as the scenic landscapes of Goa is the Mondovi Express. Rivers, beaches, hills and hamlets adorn the course of the Mondovi Express. This is the favoured choice of several tourists visiting the state of Goa for a holiday.

Jaisalmer Jodhpur Railway

Experience the amazing world of Rajasthan through the eyes of this desert railway. You travel across endless golden sand dunes, desert villages, caravans of camels, fortresses of antiquity. The experience is quite the contrary of what you expect from the mountain railways of India.

Island Express

The Island Express runs between Kanniyakumari and Bengaluru and it travels through the scenic backwaters, groves of coconuts, river, and verdant rural settings of Kerala. The scenic ride is one of the most pleasant train experiences you’ll ever have in South India.

Himsagar Express

The Himsagar Express train trip from Kanniyakumari in southern India to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in northern India is among the longest journeys. Spanning from one end of the country to the other, the Himsagar Express train ride will transport you to an incredible India with so much to offer. Throughout the route you will see a wide range of changing scenery fertile green fields, flowing rivers, green forests, towering mountains and buzzing cities.

The country’s varied and colourful culture is evident everywhere with various cuisines, languages, architecture and traditions seen as the train traverses the nation. All this added up to make the Himsagar Express one truly unforgettable cross country adventure.

Tips for Enjoying Scenic Train Journeys

When it’s a journey of leisure or pleasure, prefer to book window seats, so that the view is clear all along the way. Get a camera or a mobile to capture these beautiful scenes. If it’s daytime travel you get the most out of the journey; be sure to pack some light snacks, water and some sort of entertainment for long journey trips. You would be amazed how beautiful some routes look during monsoons.

Conclusion

A ride on one of India’s most spectacular trains is an excellent way to take the country’s remarkable natural landscapes and culture to an ease on pace of life you might not usually associate with India. No matter your preference a Himalayan panorama, the undulating hills and tea plantations of Darjeeling, the dense jungles of the Western Ghats, or the sun-drenched dunes of the golden desert of Rajasthan each stretch of Indian railway line promises its own unique, narrative arc. If a trip for a number of years means an experience to be taken back and held in the mind’s eye, these are some of the most picturesque routes that offer the traveller the thrill of rail and vision too.