5 Famous Mountain Railways of India You Must Experience

India is home to some of the most scenic mountain railway routes in the world. Built through challenging terrains, deep valleys, dense forests, and steep hills, these railways are engineering marvels that continue to attract tourists from across the globe. Among them, three mountain railways have earned recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Mountain Railways of India designation.

These charming toy trains offer breathtaking views and a memorable travel experience. Let’s explore five of the most famous mountain railways in India.

1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is one of India’s most iconic mountain railways. Established in 1881, it connects New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. The narrow-gauge railway covers a distance of approximately 88 kilometres and passes through beautiful tea gardens, forests, and mountain landscapes.

One of the highlights of the journey is the famous Batasia Loop and Ghum Railway Station, which is among the highest railway stations in India at an altitude of over 2,200 metres. Due to its historical and engineering significance, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway connects Mettupalayam with Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu. This picturesque railway route stretches for around 46 kilometres and is famous for its unique rack-and-pinion system, which helps trains climb steep gradients.

The journey passes through tunnels, bridges, waterfalls, and lush green forests of the Nilgiri Hills. The railway was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005 and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in South India.

3. Kalka-Shimla Railway

The Kalka-Shimla Railway is another UNESCO-recognized mountain railway. Opened in 1903, it connects Kalka in Haryana with Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh.

The route stretches approximately 96 kilometres and passes through more than 100 tunnels, hundreds of bridges, and stunning Himalayan landscapes. Travelers enjoy spectacular views of pine forests, valleys, and hill towns throughout the journey. The railway was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008.

4. Neral-Matheran Hill Railway

Located in Maharashtra, the Neral-Matheran Hill Railway connects Neral with the popular hill station of Matheran. This narrow-gauge railway covers around 20 kilometres and climbs through dense forests and scenic mountain slopes.

Matheran is India’s only automobile-free hill station, making this toy train journey even more special. The route offers beautiful views of the Western Ghats and is a favorite among nature lovers and weekend travelers.

5. Kangra Valley Railway (Pathankot–Jogindernagar)

The Kangra Valley Railway operates between Pathankot in Punjab and Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. Covering around 164 kilometres, this narrow-gauge railway offers some of the most stunning views of the Dhauladhar mountain range.

The train passes through tea gardens, rivers, valleys, and small hill towns, making it one of the most scenic railway journeys in Northern India. Though not a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered one of India’s most beautiful heritage railway routes.

Conclusion

The mountain railways of India are more than just transportation systems; they are living examples of India’s rich railway heritage and engineering excellence. Whether it is the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Kalka-Shimla railways or the charming routes of Matheran and Kangra Valley, each journey offers unforgettable views and experiences.

If you love train travel, nature, and heritage tourism, these mountain railways should definitely be on your travel bucket list. Also need food on the go, TravelKhana delivers food delivery on train  right at your seat. Simply visit TravelKhana website or download Travelkhana app and enjoy your favorite food across India.

Indian railways structure is becoming old day by day. The creaking structure has too many loopholes which have to be cured and taken care off immediately. Regular accidents are happening and passengers are getting worried to travel by the train. Besides the facility to track train in India, one has to know the loopholes that are becoming evident in the infrastructure day by day. Railway is a pride for all the Indians. We should protect it and make it beautiful so that people can boast about it.

In order to make things normal, the railway ministers are working on a project, which is known as Rashtriya Rail Sangraksha Kosh. It has arranged a sum total of around Rs1, 10,239 crore to build up the falling giant structure of Indian railways.

But what is the procedure of maintenance and what should be given priority? There is a six member committee put up by the railway ministry to plan a scheme, which will raise funds and they will make a list of what should be repaired and constructed to make the railways more convenient. They will get a lot of funding from the Finance Ministry, which will help the committee to plan and build more level crossings, advanced signaling systems and modern telecom structures, which will make the communication system easier leading to less accidents and misinterpretations.

Many mechanical, civil and electrical engineers are needed to develop the infrastructure in a modern way. To make things up to date, a number of engineers have to be appointed and more funds are needed to aid their salary. For that, the committee needs to make a valid proposal and send it to the Financial Ministry so that they can help them further. If the Finance Ministry is convinced enough, there will be desired amount of funds to make things fall into places.

The present situation of Indian railway is not in a very good condition. In the present year, there have been eight accidents only because of derailments. Trains get derailed because of the poor condition of rail tracks. These are needed to be repaired immediately.

The main purpose of Rashtriya Rail Sangraksha Kosh is to arrange money and develop the railway infrastructure. It has to have a corpus of at least 1, 10,239 crore rupees, which are needed for the up gradation. This is for strengthening the rail and safety infrastructure. This is because regular train accidents are claiming innocent lives. People are not confident anymore to avail a train for travelling from one place to another. To bring back this confidence, the railway ministry should improve all the railway tracks and signaling system so that regular accidents due to mis-signaling can be avoided.

We all know that Indian Railway is such a big network and it is very difficult to maintain every nooks and corner of it. But the ministry has to be cautious. The regular mishaps that are occurring due to bad infrastructure should be avoided and to be taken very seriously.

Safety and Hygiene Tips by Indian Railways

Looking for the details related to the Safety and Hygiene Tips by Indian Railways? They are as follows.

1. Make sure to buy your tickets online.
2. During the journey, make sure to wear clinically approved gloves and an N-95 mask.
3. Try bringing your own bedding, packed in a good-conditioned sanitised bag after use.
4. Make sure to keep all your important documents, things like wallet and hand purse in a sealed bag.
5. Do not forget to bring/carry necessities with you including hand sanitiser, paper soap, disposable napkins, comfortable footwear, water bottle.
6. Make sure to maintain at least 6-feet safe distance from station staff and other fellow passengers.
7. Once you locate your berth, clean it with using a sanitiser.
8. Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth, and make sure to wash your hands with soap frequently.
9. Forbid sharing your berth/seat with anyone else.
10. Do not share or eat anyone’s food or beverage.
11. Avoid buying anything from the station.
12. In case of emergency, you buy anything, try doing the payment online.
13. Be cautious while using toilets, and also avoid touching anything else.
14. After touching anything like coach door handle, handrail, or toilet door, make sure to sanitise your hand instantly.

Be calm, and do not hurry while boarding or de-boarding the train.