The Most Scenic Train Routes You Can Experience In India

Through beach towns, dense forests, past frothy waterfalls, mysterious tunnels and lush green fields, this stretch of rail takes you through the best of the Konkan Coast and the Western Ghats Mountains. The train also passes by one of India’s tallest waterfalls, Dudhsagar at the border of Goa and Karnataka.

A World Heritage Site, and India’s oldest mountain railway route, Darjeeling’s famous toy train begins at New Jalpaiguri and passes by tea fields, steep mountains and dense forests. On clearer days, you can catch sight of the tip of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Slowly making its way past one of the city’s most picturesque mountainous stretches, the toy train is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Offering an unbelievable ride through the snow-capped mountains of northernmost India, the Kashmir Valley Railways is among India’s most special rail journeys. The Jammu – Udhampur route passes through 20 major tunnels and 158 bridges, giving passengers breathtaking views of rivers, valleys, mountains and forests. Another stretch, the Qazigund-Srinagar-Baramulla passes through snowy valleys and steep mountains giving you glimpses of Kashmir’s most beautiful peaks.

Cutting through the lush green tea fields of Assam past rivers and valleys of unimaginable beauty, the Guwahati-Lumding-Silchar rail route is a uniquely memorable experience. Framed by silhouettes of distant hills, the tea fields do not just form a pretty sight but also lend a distinct aroma to the air – making this ride almost therapeutic with its beauty.

Built in 1908, this stretch of rail from Mettupalayam to Ooty in Tamil Nadu passes through 16 tunnels and across 250 bridges in the Nilgiri mountain ranges. The route is said to have the steepest rail track in Asia and offers among the most picturesque views one can imagine. Dense and hilly forests, tea gardens, rocky hills, steep cliffs and all sorts of stunning natural views grace this historic rail route which has recently been marked a World Heritage Site.

Passing through the arid desert of Thar in Rajasthan, the Jaipur to Jaisalmer rail route is nothing short of magical. Stretches of desert, stray camels, villages filled with mud huts, and clear, open skies form views during this scenic ride between two of Rajasthan’s most historic cities.

Passing through the coast of Kerala from Cochin or Ernakulam to Trivandrum, this rail route is utterly unique in the range of scenic views it offers. From Kerala’s cherished backwaters to paddy fields and endless coconut trees, the very best of the southern state is at offer during this breezy, calm ride.