Most Beautiful Railway Routes in India

Ask kids what is that excites them the most, one of the first answers we would get is going on train rides. Train journeys have the magic of bringing out the inner child in all of us. Looking out of the windows, watching the beautiful sceneries and just immersing in the memories. India is a country that connects almost every nook and corner of the country with its railways lines. It is estimated that 30 million people depend on the railway network for their livelihood daily. Read further to know about some of the most beautiful railway routes in India.

Top 6 of most beautiful railway routes in India

Here is the list of the railway lines which have a special history attached to the experience.

The Himalayan Queen Railway Route – Kalka to Shimla

This railway route from Kalka to Shimla is widely regarded as one of the most scenic railway lines in the entire country. This route was started in the year 1903 and it passes through 82 bridges and 102 tunnels. This 5-hour journey from Kalka to Shimla might be the longer and more time-consuming route on paper, but the experience of it compensates for the time spent and makes it worth every minute. This route has the Guinness world record for the steepest rise in altitude during its 96 km ride.

The toy trains that are used for this route are the second most popular attraction of this experience, only next to the amazing views that it offers. The toy trains of the Himalayan queen railway route evoke a sense of playfulness and brings out the inner child in you. It is also quite filmy if you will. This route will take you through pine tree and oak forests, valleys, deodar, rhododendron forests and moves upwards towards the beauty that is Shimla. This railway route was inducted into the UNESCO world heritage sites in the year 2008.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Route – Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway route is yet another route which is world-famous for its views and the heritage associated with this toy train mountain ride. This breathtaking toy train journey begins from the plain flat land of Jalpaiguri and moves up towards the beautiful hill station of Darjeeling. Darjeeling is a world-famous tea destination and this train journey will take you through some of the best tea plantations in the world. The enticing fragrance of Tea is going to sure take your notice and your breath away. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful railway routes in India.

This journey takes you through the Himalayan mountains, tea plantations, valleys and forests. If you are lucky and if the skies are clear you can just catch a glimpse of the famous Kanchenjunga mountain peak. The Darjeeling Himlayan Railway was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in the year 1999. This is a perfect icing on the cake for your weekend staycation getaway from Kolkata.

Pamban Railway route – Mandapam to Rameswaram

The Pamban Railway route is one of the most exciting train journeys that you can take in the country. The Pamban bridge is the second longest bridge in the country and connects Mandapam to the famous island of Rameswaram in the southern tip of Tamil Nadu.

It could also be considered as one of the most dangerous sections of the train journey, and one should be careful to watch their step if they are to stand at the entryway to check out the view. The reason being, the bridge is very narrow and has been built to accommodate only one train at a time. This is a section you are sure to fall in love with and many people take the train ride just for this section.

Kanyakumari – Trivandrum Railway route

Continuing with the trend of best railway lines in the southern tip of the country, we surely have to cover the Kanyakumari to Trivandrum railway route. This short train ride from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum is one of the most picturesque train rides in the southern tip of the country. This train ride is sure to tickle the right side of your sensors as it takes you through coconut plantations, farms, agricultural lands and forests. You also pass through some heritage and religious sites on this route. It is a perfect opportunity to experience the transition in culture through architecture. You can see two different kinds of mandapams and gopurams in the two extremes of the train ride. This short ride is a perfect short weekend getaway experience.

Mumbai – Goa Railway route

Mumbai and Goa are intertwined with each other when it comes to the vacation narrative. We always keep talking about these two places, one for the urban charm and the other for its natural beauty.

The rail route that connects these is something that offers a stunning experience that increases the anticipation of the forthcoming vacation. The route goes through the Sahyadri mountain on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other side. The rail route goes through an insane amount of 92 tunnels and 2000 bridges between Mumbai and Goa. It goes through an endless stretch of water, paddy fields, villages and coconut farms.

Matheran Hill Railway Route

Matheran Hill Railway route is incidentally the only heritage railway route left in Maharashtra. It is a revered railway route by both Mumbaikers and others as well. The peace and tranquillity it offers along with the heritage experience has so far been unmatched.

The Matheran Hill Railway Route is a narrow gauge rail line that was built by Akbar Peerbhoy between the years 1901 and 1907. It goes through large swathes of forest area and covers a distance of 20 km. Doesn’t matter if you go alone or with family and friends, this journey will take your mind off things and give you the peace needed. This is one of the most beautiful Railway routes in India.

These are some of the most famous railway routes in India that have been loved by the people. Check out Pickyourtrail.com to get the best travel deals for your international customized packages and on your domestic staycation packages. These railway route experiences are a perfect icing on the cake for your vacation.