Have you ever wondered why most people commute by train and why so many great songs are filmed over trains? The answer is the breathtaking scenery along the way, as well as the scenic routes, which are regarded as some of the best photographs ever taken. Have you ever considered that most of the iconic 1990s songs were choreographed on the train? We’re here to give you an answer. Scroll through to know about the scenic train routes in India which many people are unaware of.
Let’s scroll down to know more about the most beautiful train routes in India that one should definitely ride. However, the best possible thought processes that one can come across are the best suitable options available to you and all of them can be taken into consideration.
The thoughts involved here can be clubbed into all the types of possibilities that are available and can be solved with utmost interest and happiness. So, gear up your shoes and pull up your socks, book the train tickets and enjoy the ride that you have not even imagined.
Intrigued? Then read on…
1. Darjeeling Toy Train
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a miniature steam train that travels between Darjeeling and Ghum, passing through vast tea plantations. This locomotive travels at a constant speed of 10-12 kmph through peaceful hill towns and villages. It meanders through hills and plantations and indeed is one of the best train routes in India that one should experience.
The best part is that it comes to a 10-minute stop at the Batasia loop, where it swirls around a lovely garden. The most breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga can be found here. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which was built in the 1800s, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To know more about what you can explore in Darjeeling, please check things to do in Darjeeling.
2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Do you remember ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya,’ on which Shahrukh and Malaika danced on the train roof? The famous dance sequence was set against the backdrop of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. This train, like the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a steam engine locomotive. It takes four and a half hours to travel 46 kilometers.
A ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which begins in Mettupalayam and ends in Coonor, is without a doubt the most enthralling way to reach beautiful destinations like Ooty and Coonor. Simply reach out your hand through the window to touch the misty clouds as you travel through forests and meadows. Nilgiri Mountain Railway is considered to be one of the most beautiful train routes in India.
Simply enjoy the peaceful scenery of the valleys. Also, take a thrilling ride across India’s Pamban Bridge, India’s oldest and most dangerous Seabridge.
3. Kalka – Shimla (Himalayan Queen)
What began as a way to help English men travel to the country’s summer capital, Shimla, has evolved into what we now call the Himalayan Queen. It begins in Kalka, at the far reaches of Punjab, and travels through over a hundred tunnels and a thousand turns. Finally, the meter-gauge train arrives at the picturesque Shimla railway station.
Along the way, you’ll be enchanted by views of beautiful flowers and apple orchards. As the train crosses small bridges built over cheerfully rushing streams of water, you will feel the exhilaration of being in the Himalayas.
The route takes slightly more than 5 hours to complete. Are you a ‘Jab We Met’ fan? It includes a scene with this iconic train. A train ride from Kalka to Shimla will surely compel you to explore one of the best train routes in India. If you’re visiting Shimla then you should surely check to experience the spectacular snowfall in India at these 9 places.
4. Bangalore to Goa
The Golden Chariot, one of India’s most opulent trains, combines a sense of the country’s southern heritage with modern luxuries. This train takes you on a seven-day journey through popular tourist destinations like Mysore, Hampi, and Goa. So, if you’re unsure where to spend your money, we recommend buying a ticket for this train.
What are you going to get? There isn’t much there. Simply put, it’s an air-conditioned cabin meticulously designed with 12th-century temple architecture in mind, complete with TV, wardrobes, ensuite hot showers, and everything else. At each location, you also have access to their onboard cigar lounge, spa, gym, massage rooms, and even guided excursions.
5. Pune – Ernakulam (Poorna Express)
This train, which runs between Pune and Ernakulam, does not have a heritage or luxury designation, but it is included on the list of extraordinary treasures. Poorna Express chugs across the Deccan plains through the night, lasting nearly 32 hours and making 31 stops.
When it passes through the Belgaum crossroads in the morning, the magic begins to happen. You’ll notice several lovely waterfalls dotting the slopes as you wind your way through the Western Ghat Mountains. A train ride from Pune to Ernakulam will surely compel you to explore one of the best train routes in India.
Suddenly, you come across the magnificent Dudhsagar Falls on the Goa-Karnataka border. This is where the famous Chennai Express sequence was shot. As the train travels through the picturesque Konkan region, peaceful villages nestled in the shade of coconut trees can be seen. The railway then travels through the charming coastal towns of Kerala. If visiting Pune then please check to scout the best places to visit in Pune at night.
6. Jammu – Baramulla (Kashmir Valley Railway)
The railway line that connects Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla is not only beautiful and fascinating, but it is also one of the world’s most difficult railway projects. It is India’s most scenic railway route, with undulating and rocky scenery, extremely cold temperatures, and a high earthquake intensity zone. A train ride from Jammu to Baramulla will surely compel you to explore one of the best train routes in India.
7. Desert Queen (Jodhpur – Jaisalmer)
If you take the Delhi Jaisalmer Express from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, your Rajasthan experience will be enhanced. The ‘Desert Queen’ train travels for nearly 6 hours to its destination.
The journey is far from monotonous. In fact, you might see a typical desert environment with xerophytic vegetation, yellow dirt, dunes, grazing camels, and scattered desert towns. Travelers will undoubtedly have a desert adventure before arriving at the Golden Fort. This is one of the most beautiful train routes in India. If you’re not faint-hearted and you like experimenting with things and places. Then you should surely check 8 haunted places in India which are not for the faint-hearted.
