10 most beautiful train journeys in India

If you love trains, this is for you. If you don't know much about the Indian trains, this is for you. In short, if you have not experienced the beauty of India through train journeys, you have missed out on a lot of fun things.

Some of India’s best locations are on these train routes. Of course, these train routes are iconic, historic and definitely something you can write home about. From the valley and mountains in the Himalayas to the lush forest of Western Ghats to sea bridges, Indian railways have got it all covered for you.

.

You cannot leave Shimla without experiencing the toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iconic and historic Himalayan Queen train ride takes you through beautiful valley views and meadows that surround Shimla. It’s a completely authentic hill experience, which you will not get anywhere else in India. The journey is a total of 96 km of upslope, which takes you through 102 tunnels and 82 bridges.

The train ride, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an experience one must have while visiting the hill station of Darjeeling. The 78 km long unhurried journey is eight hours long and passes through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow and Batasia Loop. You must have heard a lot about the Darjeeling Toy Train. This is the one. Take a quick joyride from Darjeeling to Ghum to get the best of the hill view.

The luxurious Maharajas’ Express will take you across five different states – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The exquisite train journey is a vacation in itself. The 6 Nights/7 Days journey will give you the best of stay, food and not to forget, destinations like Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

You’ve got to love the Sahyadri hill ranges. And if you do, get on the Mandovi Express from Mumbai to Goa. The train ride will take you through Sahyadri’s stunning gorges and the most beautiful views of the Arabian Sea. The Mandovi Express is a part of the Konkan Railways.

If you take the Goa Link Express, or the Yesvantpur Express, you will experience one of the most thrilling train rides of your life. And we say so because on the Hubli-Madgaon route, you will come across the mighty Dudhsagar waterfalls–a true 300m force of nature. Are you ready to experience such a wondrous sight? If so, get down at the Londa Junction. This is the nearest station to Dudhsagar falls.

Experience the luxurious Deccan Odyssey and see the best of Maharashtra and Goa. The Deccan Odyssey starts from Mumbai and goes through Sindhudurg, Goa, Goa- Vasco, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Nashik and finally Delhi. Did we mention the top-notch ayurvedic spa and steam baths onboard the train?

Get onboard the Sethu Express to visit one of the holiest places in India, Rameswaram. The journey is from Chennai in Tamil Nadu to Rameswaram on Pamban Island, taking you through mainland Chennai, and over Palk Strait. The Pamban Railway bridge over the sea is an amazing experience. It runs parallel to a road bridge, which was built in 1988. Before that, the sea bridge was the only way to reach Pamban Island.

Let us safely assume that we are no strangers to the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. The stretch of Jammu to Udhampur will take you along the gorgeous Shivalik mountain ranges, showcasing some of the best sights of the Kashmir Valley. You will cross 20 tunnels, 158 bridges and some of the most beautiful rivers along this route.

The Island Express is a two-hour train ride from Kanyakumari to Thiruvananthapuram. The train journey feels like some scene straight out of a story book. The train chugs along dense forest areas, palm tree avenues, you get to see refreshing greenery all around you, for as far as you can see, human settlements playing peek-a-boo all along the way. Like we said before, something straight out of a storybook.

The luxury train will take you on a beautiful journey through some of the best sights in South India. Onboard the Golden Chariot, experience the wild Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, the heritage sites of Hampi and Badami, beautiful views of sandstone caves, temple ruins, and finally the gorgeous view of Goan forest as you enter the state. Golden Chariot is a luxury on wheels that one must experience.