Beautiful Train Routes In India

W e all have memories of reaching the railway station , buying a dozen magazines, comics, and packets of munchies , and fighting for the window seat. There are always a few things in our lives that we enjoy, all through our childhood to way later. For most Indians, and people who have lived and grown up in India, it is train journeys.

However, the common trend nowadays is to take a flight , to cut down your traveling time, traveling by the train still retains its age-old charm . But, the train journey takes us back to our younger days where we would wait endlessly for the train to arrive.

Here are some stunning train routes in India that you ought to experience at least once during your lifetime:

Jammu Baramulla Line (Kashmir Valley Railway) Kashmir Railway Gifts you Travel Charisma

This is one of the largest and most complex mountain rail routes of the country. The train route covers the Kashmir Valley, making it one of the top scenic routes of the land. The train passes through more than 100 bridges and 20 tunnels , covering the raw nature of perennial ranges .

This is the tallest train route in the country covering regions of extreme cold, meadows, earthquake zones, rugged terrains, and much more.

Mettupalayam – Ooty (Nilgiri Mountain Railway) Voyage in Landscapes of Nilgiris

Toy trains are some of the most scenic train routes of the land. One such toy train is the Nilgiri Mountain Railways . This train route covers the signature elements of the Nilgiri biosphere including rolling hills, tea plantation, ravines, rocky landscapes, forest regions, and much more. The train passes through many tunnels, bridges, and sharp curves.

The train moves at a very slow pace, giving the passengers time to adapt to the altitude and also enjoy the perfect scenery . This is one of the romantic activities to enjoy during the Ooty visit.

Mandapam – Rameshwaram (Pamban Bridge) Journey Intersecting the Ocean

This 100 years old bridge is just 12.5 m above the water level. The route connects Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to the island of Rameswaram. It passes over the second longest bridge of India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that connects mainland India to Pamban Island.

It is one of the most dangerous routes in India because it runs on a thin bridge, this route is exciting and a must-try for those adventure birds.

Himalayan Queen (Kalka to Shimla) A Spellbinding Journey to the Summer Capital

This route offers a pristine route covering misty mountain backgrounds, lush green meadows, plantations, pine forests, and much more. The route covers more than 860 bridges, 107 tunnels, and countless curves along the landscape of Himalayas.

It has been awarded a world record by the Guinness book of world records for the steepest rise in altitude in the span of 96 km. This is now a UNESCO world heritage site since 2008. Toy Train in this route offered by Indian Railways is a treat to the eyes.

Ratnagiri – Mangalore (Konkan Railway) Charming Konkan Railway

The Konkan railway route is one of the most celebrated scenic routes in the country. The route covers rivers, bridges, hills, fields, and much more with an almost never-ending mountain background.

This is the route that bombards with numerous natural beauties with much more diversity than any other route. The best part of all is the serene ambiance provided by the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.

Jaipur – Jaisalmer (The Desert Queen) Xerophytic Route

The train route gives a panoramic view of the untouched barren desert region of Thar. This includes pristine sand dunes, tribal villages, desert wildlife, and much more. Of course, you will spot numerous camels along the way.

A journey that chugs off in the desert of Thar, from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer fights against the entire stereotype that deserts are just barren land. This route will challenge your tastes and take you on a ride making you feel like you're on top of the world, a lone ranger, happy and content.

Kanyakumari –Trivandrum Keralite Architecture

A short train journey, but one packed with delicious sensory ticklers, this journey takes you through coconut trees , and gliding past typical Tamil and Keralite architecture .

Gopurams and ornately decorated temples cross over to welcome typical Keralite churches and a different style of architecture. This train ride is indeed through South India’s most picturesque locations.

Darjeeling Railway (Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling ) Majestic Beauty of Himalayas

The Darjeeling toy train is one of the five mountain routes of India with world heritage recognition. As the altitude increases, the lush and serenity of the route increase exponentially allowing you to enjoy a charming vacation.

Breathtaking, quite literally when the route takes you on a series of landscapes, altitudes, and climate changes; Jalpaiguri being a plain and Darjeeling, the hill station that serves the best tea in all of India.

Don’t miss the majestic beauty of The Himalayas from train.

Guwahati – Silchar (Assam Railway) Awes of Assam

This train route covers numerous tea gardens, valleys leading to rivers, forest regions, and others. The train also covers many important tourist destinations allowing tourists to enjoy panoramic sightseeing throughout the route.

Top destinations covered in the route are Valley of Haflong, River Jatinga, Barak Valley, Agartala, and others. The interesting feature of this route is that the train travels closer to these attractions. So, you get to witness them closer rather than a backdrop.

Visakhapatnam – Araku (Araku Valley Railway) The Tunnel Topography

This is one of the oldest toy train routes of the country, which was first laid for transporting raw materials. The train route connects one of the most commercialized lively cities, Visakhapatnam (Vizag) to the most scenic hill station of Andhra, Araku Valley.

This train route covers more than 110 km and most of it is pristine mountain route. The route covers coffee plantations, valleys, forested regions, and much more along the Eastern Ghats.

Koraput – Rayagada(Orissa Tribal Railway) Tribal Beauty

This is another Eastern Ghats route covering 173 km and most of it will cover dense forest regions, terrace farming regions, waterfalls, valleys, meadows, and more. The train travels closer to numerous green cliffs as it curves through horse-shoe turns.

The best part of this route is the exposure to the tribal lifestyle. The train route runs closer to many tribal villages and heritage beauties.

Siliguri - Alipurduar (Dooars Voyage) Jungle Safari on the Wheels

Undeniably one of the best train routes in India as it passes through such a huge number of forests and wildlife sanctuaries namely Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary, Chapramari forest, Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary, and Buxa Tiger Reserve along with numerous stream crossings.

The Train route recently converted to broad gauge and thus has minimum traffic but is worth all every moment for the fascinating amounts of flora and fauna one can find there.

Neral - Matheran (Matheran Hill Railway) Heritage of Maharashtra

This is a lesser-known toy train due to the fact that it covers just 20 km of mountain beauty. The train passes through dense forests, hills, mountains, valleys, and much more.

Remaining as the only heritage railway in Maharashtra, Matheran still is a favorite for the peace and tranquil atmosphere it offers. Neral Matheran toy train is famous for its fascinating beauty, especially during the early monsoon season.

Vasco Da Gama to Londa (Goa Scenic Route) Vasco da Gama Route

The train starts from Goa and reaches at Karnataka and it covers many interesting natural beauties like perennial mountain streams, valleys, forest regions, remote Goan valley villages, and much more. The best time to take this route is during monsoon, as all the streams and waterfalls will be lush with water, and the breeze will be cool.

The journey from Vasco Da Gama in Goa to Londa in Karnataka offers you the satisfaction you can only derive by watching pristine Goan villages zoop by your window.

Mumbai - Goa line (Mandovi Express) Journey through the Enigmatic Ghats

This train route covers the Arabian Sea on one side and Sahyadri Hills on the other. The train travels from Mumbai to Goa covering more than 2000 bridges, 92 tunnels, coastline, remote villages, paddy fields, water sources, and much more. The route will be dew-drenched and misty, especially in the mornings. This route is also a famous romantic train journey to enjoy in the Western Ghats region.

People are always talking about these two places! One for its glamorous and busy life and the other for the vacation mood it sets you in!

The Indian climate is quite diverse and it is important to learn about the optimal time to visit each destination . These were some of the most picturesque rail routes of India. Many times it is the journey that makes the travel worthwhile and unforgettable.