India’s Most Beautiful Train Journeys: From Mountains to Coastlines

India has several scenic railway journeys, including the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kangra Valley Railway, Konkan Railway and Visakhapatnam-Araku route. The best route for you depends on whether you prefer mountains, tea gardens, forests, valleys or coastal landscapes.

The Kalka-Shimla, Darjeeling Himalayan and Kangra Valley railway routes are particularly scenic mountain journeys. The Kalka-Shimla and Darjeeling routes are also part of India's UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways.

The most famous heritage mountain trains include the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway. These three railway systems form the UNESCO World Heritage property known as the Mountain Railways of India.

The route offers mountain scenery, forests, bridges, tunnels and historic railway infrastructure. It can be a particularly interesting option for travellers visiting Shimla who want to make their journey part of the overall experience.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway between Mettupalayam and Ooty is one of the best-known scenic heritage railway experiences in South India. The route climbs through the Nilgiri Hills and is part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is particularly famous for its journey through the tea-growing landscapes around Darjeeling and Kurseong. The route also passes through forests, villages and Himalayan foothills.

Yes. The Neral-Matheran Hill Railway offers a heritage narrow-gauge journey through the Western Ghats to Matheran. The railway is included on India's UNESCO tentative list for a possible extension of the Mountain Railways of India.