We all remember going to the train station, buying a dozen magazines, comic books, and snack packets, and battling for the window seat. For train fans, the Lifeline of India has compiled 7 of the most beautiful rail excursions in India.
From childhood through adulthood, we always appreciate a few things in our lives. Train journeys are the norm for most Indians and people who have lived and grown up in India. The Indian Railways serves 30 million people in every nook and cranny of the subcontinent’s culturally and topographically diverse landscape.
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1. Himalayan Queen (Kalka to Shimla )
This rail ride aboard the “toy train” is necessary for individuals who adore movies and want to feel “filmy” while traveling. The trains that operate along this line resemble toy trains, making you feel like a kid again.
This 96-kilometer road, which began in 1903 and runs through 102 tunnels and 82 bridges, has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest climb in altitude in a 96-kilometer stretch. During your 5-hour journey on this charming miniature train, you will be treated to breathtaking scenery.
2. Darjeeling Toy Train
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a miniature steam train that runs between Darjeeling and Ghum, passing past huge tea gardens. This loco travels gently through peaceful hill towns and villages at a constant speed of 10-12 kmph. It winds its way across hills and plantations.
The finest part is that it comes to a 10-minute stop at Batasia loop, where it swirls around a beautiful garden. The most spectacular views of the towering Kanchenjunga can be found here. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which was built in the 1800s, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Vasco De gama To Londa
The ride from Vasco Da Gama in Goa to Londa in Karnataka provides the kind of delight that comes from viewing pristine Goan villages zoop by your window. The view changes to lush foliage and mountains as it ascends to the Western Ghats.
Waterfalls steal the spotlight as the greenery fades, splattering water on your face due to the ferocity with which it gushes. The greatest time to go on this trek is after the monsoon when the clay soil turns a brilliant red color.
4. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
In ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya,’ Shahrukh and Malaika danced on the roof of a train. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was the train that served as the backdrop for this renowned dance sequence. This train, like the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, is a steam engine locomotive and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It travels 46 kilometers in four and a half hours. A ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which begins in Mettupalayam and ends in Coonoor, is undoubtedly the most captivating method to reach gorgeous destinations such as Ooty and Coonor.
5. Mumbai To Goa
These two locations are frequently discussed! One for its glitzy and hectic lifestyle, and the other for the relaxing holiday vibe it creates!
Running between the Sahyadri hills on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, the railway that connects you to both of these rare sites provides an equally breathtaking experience. This road, which passes through 92 tunnels and 2000 bridges, provides postcard-worthy views of unending expanses of water, paddy colors, and villages beneath the shade of coconut trees every five seconds.
6. Kanyakumari –Trivandrum
This voyage takes you through coconut palms and past characteristic Tamil and Keralite architecture. It’s a short train ride, but it’s jam-packed with exquisite sensory delights.
Gopurams and ornately decorated temples give way to traditional Keralite churches and a completely different architectural style. This train journey takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of South India.
7. Dooars Voyage (Siliguri- Newmal – Hasimara- Alipurduar )
It runs through a large number of forests and wildlife sanctuaries, including Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapramari Forest, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, and Buxa Tiger Reserve, as well as several stream crossings, making it undeniably one of India’s top train routes.
The train track has just been converted to broad gauge, resulting in minimal traffic, but it is well worth the trip for the interesting variety of flora and fauna found there.
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