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Beautiful Train Journeys in India run through a stranger range of engineering than almost any other rail network on earth: narrow-gauge toy trains climbing 2,258 metres on zigzags carved in 1881, a bridge standing 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, and a vertical-lift sea crossing that replaced a century-old bridge too corroded to carry another train. Three of these routes are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in their own right. None of them require a special ticket beyond what Indian Railways already sells — you just need to know which route to book and where to sit.
Best Beautiful Train Journeys in India to Ride
These seven routes cover the range of what Indian Railways can do — Himalayan toy trains, a coastal engineering marvel, and two of the country’s most talked-about modern bridges.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The Original Toy Train
[STAT: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs 88.48 km from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling on 610 mm narrow gauge, climbing from near sea level to 2,258 metres at Ghoom station via four zigzags and four loops; built between 1879 and 1881, it was UNESCO-inscribed in 1999 as the first of India’s mountain railways to receive the designation — Wikipedia] The steepest gradient on the line today runs at 1 in 23.
- Best time to ride: October to December, when the skies are clearest for Kanchenjunga views along the route.
- Board from New Jalpaiguri (NJP), itself well connected by rail to Kolkata and by air via Bagdogra Airport nearby.
Also Read: Tourist Places in Darjeeling: 12 Scenic Spots That Will Take Your Breath Away
Nilgiri Mountain Railway: India’s Only Rack Railway
[STAT: the Nilgiri Mountain Railway covers 45.88 km on metre gauge from Mettupalayam to Ooty, climbing from 326 m to 2,203 m using the Abt rack-and-pinion system — the only rack railway in India; the line was completed in 1908 and inscribed by UNESCO in 2005 as an extension of the Mountain Railways of India listing — Wikipedia] The uphill run takes close to 290 minutes and crosses 250 bridges and 16 tunnels along the way.
- Best time to ride: April to June or September to November, avoiding the heaviest monsoon rains on the Nilgiri slopes.
- Board from Mettupalayam, reachable by road from Coimbatore, which has the nearest major airport and rail junction.
Kalka-Shimla Railway: 864 Bridges to the Hills
[STAT: the Kalka-Shimla Railway runs 96.6 km on 762 mm narrow gauge from Kalka to Shimla, gaining height from 656 m to 2,076 m across 103 tunnels, 864 bridges and 919 curves; built between 1898 and 1903, it became UNESCO-listed in 2008, completing the Mountain Railways of India trio — Wikipedia] The Barog tunnel, at 1,144 metres, is the longest on the route.
- Best time to ride: March to June and September to November, for clear valley views without winter snow disruptions.
- Board from Kalka, connected by rail to Delhi and Chandigarh, with Chandigarh Airport the nearest air link.
Also Read: Places to Visit in Shimla: 15 Best Tourist Spots for a Perfect Himachal Trip
Konkan Railway: A Coastal Engineering Marvel
[STAT: the Konkan Railway runs 738 km along India’s southwestern coast through Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, connecting Roha to Thokur near Mangalore via 91 tunnels and around 2,000 bridges; built between 1990 and 1998, it crosses more than 1,500 rivers and includes the Panval Nadi Viaduct, described as the third-highest viaduct in Asia — The Better India] The Karbude tunnel, at 5.6 km, was India’s longest tunnel when it was completed.
- Best time to ride: October to March, when the coastal scenery is clearest and monsoon-related delays are least likely.
- Ride any of the long-distance trains linking Mumbai, Goa, and Mangalore; the stretch through the Sahyadri ghats is the most dramatic section.
Kashmir’s Vande Bharat Route and the Chenab Bridge
[STAT: the Chenab Bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed — 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower — making it the world’s highest railway bridge; completed in August 2022 and formally commissioned on 6 June 2025 alongside the new Vande Bharat Express service between Katra and Srinagar, it forms the centrepiece of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) connecting the Kashmir Valley to India’s rail network for the first time — BlackRidge Research]
- Best time to ride: April to June or September to November, for the clearest mountain views along the valley approach.
- Board the Vande Bharat Express from Katra, itself linked to Jammu by rail and to Jammu’s airport by road.
Also Read: Kashmir Great Lakes Trek: The Most Beautiful Trek in India
Pamban Bridge: India’s First Vertical Lift Sea Bridge
[STAT: the New Pamban Bridge spans 2.07 km across the Palk Strait to Rameswaram with a 72-metre vertical lifting central section, becoming India’s first vertical lift sea bridge when it opened on 6 April 2025; it replaced the original 1914 Pamban Bridge, which had carried trains for over a century before corrosion and damage ended rail service by December 2022 — Wikipedia] The new structure sits about 3 metres higher and lets vessels up to 22 metres tall pass beneath the raised span.
- Best time to ride: November to February, avoiding the region’s hottest and wettest months.
- Board from Mandapam or Rameswaram; the crossing itself is short, but the sea views on both sides are the whole point of the ride.
Matheran Hill Railway: A Slow Toy Train Near Mumbai
[STAT: the Matheran Hill Railway covers 21 km of 610 mm narrow gauge between Neral and Matheran, built between 1901 and 1907 by Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy with financing from his father; the line runs at a 1:20 gradient with speeds capped at 12 km/h and includes the One-Kiss Tunnel near Mount Barry, and is currently on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list — Wikipedia] The full run takes around two hours and 20 minutes for just 21 km.
- Best time to ride: November to February, when Matheran’s hill air is at its most comfortable.
- Board from Neral Junction, about two hours from Mumbai by rail, making this the most accessible toy train on this list for a weekend trip.
Planning Your Beautiful Train Route in India: Booking Tips
Window or side-facing seats matter more on these routes than almost anywhere else on the Indian Railways network, so booking early through IRCTC and specifically requesting a window seat where the option exists is worth the extra step. Whichever beautiful train route in India you pick, the three UNESCO lines (Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Kalka-Shimla) run dedicated heritage/toy-train services alongside regular trains, and those heritage runs are usually the better pick for scenery even though they’re slower and pricier per kilometre.
- Book heritage toy-train tickets separately from regular express trains — they’re sold as distinct services on IRCTC.
- For the Kashmir and Pamban routes, check current operational status before travel, since both are relatively new services still settling into regular schedules.
Also Read: India’s Best Tea Destinations: From Darjeeling to Munnar
Conclusion: Beautiful Train Journeys in India
From a 19th-century zigzag climb to Darjeeling to a bridge finished in this decade that now holds a world record, beautiful train journeys in India cover more engineering history in one country than most rail networks manage in several. Picking even two or three of these — a UNESCO toy train paired with the Konkan coast or the new Kashmir route — makes for a trip built around the journey itself rather than just the destinations at either end.
Ready to plan your rail route? Download the Explurger app and start booking your India train journey today.
FAQs About Beautiful Train Journeys in India
2. Which Indian train routes are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Three Indian railways make up the UNESCO Mountain Railways of India listing: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (inscribed 1999), the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (added 2005), and the Kalka-Shimla Railway (added 2008). All three are still operational narrow or metre-gauge lines built between 1881 and 1903, and can be ridden on regular tickets booked through Indian Railways.
3. What is the world's highest railway bridge and where is it?
The Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir is the world's highest railway bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed — 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. It was completed in August 2022 and formally commissioned in June 2025 alongside the new Vande Bharat Express service connecting Katra to Srinagar as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link.
4. How long is the Konkan Railway and what makes it scenic?
The Konkan Railway runs 738 km along India's southwestern coast through Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, crossing 91 tunnels and roughly 2,000 bridges over more than 1,500 rivers. Its scenery comes from cutting directly through the Sahyadri mountain range right up against the Arabian Sea coastline, including the Panval Nadi Viaduct, one of Asia's highest viaducts.
5. What replaced the old Pamban Bridge to Rameswaram?
The New Pamban Bridge replaced the original 1914 structure, which stopped carrying trains by December 2022 due to corrosion and damage after more than a century of service. Opened on 6 April 2025, the new 2.07-km bridge is India's first vertical lift sea bridge, with a 72-metre lifting section that lets tall vessels pass beneath it.
6. Is the Matheran toy train worth doing as a day trip from Mumbai?
Yes. The Matheran Hill Railway runs just 21 km from Neral to Matheran, reachable from Mumbai by rail in around two hours, making it the most accessible toy train on this list for a weekend or day trip. The ride itself takes about two hours and 20 minutes at a deliberately slow pace, passing through the One-Kiss Tunnel near Mount Barry.
