India’s Most Scenic Railway Routes With Journey Hours To Travel

As you are planning your next holiday, why not take a journey that is both adventurous and beautiful at the same time? We all know that India has a lot to offer when it comes to tourist spots but did you know that India has some of the most scenic train routes in the world as well? The Indian railway network provides us with numerous train routes that pass through picturesque landscapes and provide us with a chance to witness nature’s beauty on the move. From lush green valleys to snow-capped mountains, India has it all! So if you are planning to visit India, be sure to take a train journey through these scenic routes and experience the country in a whole new way. Here is a list of some of the most scenic train routes in India. Most beautiful train rides in India and makes sure you head to one of them, the one that you find to be truly out of this world. You will realize the journey is nothing short of a dream. There are mountains, waterfalls, rivers, plains, deserts, and every possible landscape that you can imagine. They are spread across the northern frontier to the southern frontier.

There are more than 25 railway routes in India but here are the selected and top 7 railway routes that you can enjoy they are: Jammu – Baramulla, Pathankot – Jogindernagar, Kalka – Shimla, Jaisalmer – Jodhpur, Mumbai – Goa, Hubli – Madgaon, Matheran – Neral, Karjat – Lonavala, Ratnagiri – Mangalore, Mandapam – Rameshwaram, Mettupalayam – Ooty, Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley, Bangalore – Kanyakumari, Hassan – Mangalore, Bhubaneshwar – Brahmapur, New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling, Alipurduar – Jalpaiguri, Guwahati – Silchar

The 7 best scenic railway routes are:

Jammu – Baramulla

The railway track connecting Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla is not only picturesque and enthralling but also one of the most challenging railway projects. It is located in the high earthquake intensity zone with undulating and rugged terrain, and extremely cold temperatures, and is the most beautiful railway route in India.

Train Journey Time: 4 hours

Mumbai – Goa

The journey from Mumbai to Goa intersecting through the gorges of Sahyadri and fringes of the Arabian Sea is equally or perhaps the most scenic train ride in India. Mandovi Express, as a part of the Konkan Railway network, travels between Mumbai and Goa. The route is full of scenic landscapes, ranging from tunnels, bridges, coastal peripheries, steps of Western Ghats (other names for Sahyadri), innumerable small rivers, seasonal streams, and lush green meadows. Do not forget to take out your handicap or camera and capture the highlights of one of the beautiful train journeys in India.

Train Journey Time: 12 hours

New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling

How good does it feel to ride through hill stations connected by train? A pleasant upslope journey from the foothill region through loops turns, and bends can be experienced from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The 78 km long quaint journey takes almost 8 hours and passes through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow, and Batasia Loop. Though the journey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is sluggish but certainly leisurely. The surrounding hill-valley topography, especially from Ghum (the highest narrow gauge railway station in India) and Batasia Loop, adds extra flavors of delight to your trip.

Train Journey Time: 7 hours

Kalka – Shimla

If you want to cherish picturesque valleys, steep pathways, and foggy meadows, travel to Shimla on the narrow gauge train. This little toy train, now considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, starts from Kalka and travels 96 km upslope through 102 tunnels: (the longest tunnel located at Barog), 82 bridges, deep valleys, steep curves, rolling bends, forests of deodar and rhododendron, pine and oak. Few trains like Siwalik, Kalka-Shimla, Himalayan Queen, Rail Motor, and Siwalik Queen ply on this route. The journey is truly enchanting but at a slow pace as the train ascends the slope rhythmically through stations of Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Tara Devi, Barog, Salogra, Totu, and Summerhill to reach the summer capital. It is one of the best in north Indian and the most beautiful train journey in India.

Train Journey Time: 5 hours

Mettupalayam – Ooty

Running since 1908, ‘Nilgiri Passenger’ still runs on a steam engine, going from Mettupalayam to Ooty. As the train ascends the Nilgiri Mountain, thick pine, oak, and eucalyptus forests, bends, curves, and tunnels, it moves along Asia’s steepest track with a maximum gradient of 8.33 percent. Nilgiri Passenger travels 26 km up the slope in almost 5 hours via stations like Kallar, Adderly, Hillgrove, Kateri, Runneymede, Kateri, Coonoor, and Lovedale.

Train Journey Time: 5 hours

Mandapam – Rameshwaram

Besides thrill and adventure, train travel from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to Rameshwaram on Pamban Island oozes calm and serenity. It is certainly one of the top ten best Indian train journeys. One of the most beautiful train routes in India, it passes over the second longest bridge in India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that connects mainland India to Pamban Island.

Train Journey Time: 1 hour

Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley

The journey from Vishakhapatnam to Araku Valley through innumerable tunnels and sharp loops is quite an interesting one. Started as a mode to transport iron ore and other minerals to Vishakhapatnam from Chhattisgarh, this railway route in India is a treat for the eyes as well as the soul.

Train Journey Time: 3 hours