18 Most Beautiful Train Routes in India

The best way of exploring India’s majestic beauty is through beautiful train routes. The view outside the window gives you a perfect insight into the diverse lives of the people of this country. Trains are fast, most convenient and the scenery you see on the way is sometimes completely breathtaking.

We’ve compiled a list of beautiful train routes for you to go through. We hope that you get a chance to head to at least one of them to experience an out of this world journey.

Beautiful Train Routes in India

Banihal-Baramulla

This train route can never be disappointing. With a beautiful backdrop, you get to view the Switzerland of India. Even in the chilliest winters, this train is never late.

Pathankot-Jogindernagar

This route makes you enjoy the thrills of Kangra Valley, the river bridges, deep gorges, and exclusive flora. It is a pleasant but quite slow ride of 164 km from Pathankot to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. Not only it is located at a challenging height but is also one of the most beautiful train routes in India.

Kalka-Shimla

With mountains on one side and valleys on the other, you’ll be surrounded by scenic beauty throughout the journey. It is the perfect train journey if you’re going with your partner.

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Jaisalmer-Jodhpur

The desert doesn’t seem like too much of an enticing matter even in the best of times, but in the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur route, you’ll witness the desert like never before. The Rajasthan trip which is differently full of colors can have an extraordinary glossy shade if you travel to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur in Delhi Jaisalmer Express. The travel time on the train called the ‘Desert Queen’ takes close to 6 hours to reach the destination.

Mumbai-Goa

This route provides another reason for you to plan a Goa trip. The journey from Mumbai to Goa crossing through the canyons of Sahyadri and borders of the Arabian Sea is fairly or perhaps one of the most beautiful train routes in India. Mandovi Express, as a part of the Konkan Railway network, trips between Mumbai and Goa.

Hubli-Madgaon

While traveling from Hubli to Madgaon, experience one of the most breathtaking and enchanting train journeys in India. The train moves through the massive and most majestic Dudhsagar waterfalls pouring out from 300 meters in full vigor.

Matheran-Neral

The narrow-gauge railway running between Matheran and Neral passes is one of the best train routes in India. It moves through the rough terrains of the Ghats and earned immense tourist attraction. It is the only Heritage railway of Maharashtra covering a distance of 20 km and is definitely included in the list of India’s best train journeys.

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Karjat-Lonavla

Another line that moves through the Western Ghats is the journey from Karjat to Lonavala into Thakurwadi, Monkey Hills, and Khandala. It is very beautiful and one of the best train routes in India known for its spiritual nature. Monsoon season is suggested because of the rich green views and lovely rain scenery that it offers. The ride is absolute scenery and being hill stations connected by train, it is the most adventuresome way to reach the destinations.

Ratnagiri-Mangalore

One of the most mesmerizing railway tracks lies in the Konkan Railway network, in the Ratnagiri to Mangalore sector. The is one of the most beautiful train journeys in India which is absolutely absorbing and wherein the thick forests, majestic Western Ghats, long tunnels, river bridges, tapered bends, and countless seasonal streams will leave the travelers amazed and fascinated.

Mandapam-Rameshwaram

Apart from fun and adventure, train travel from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to Rameshwaram on Pamban Island exudes tranquility and calmness. It is unquestionably one of the top ten beautiful train routes. One of the most beautiful train routes in India, it crosses over the second longest bridge of India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that joins mainland India to Pamban Island.

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Mettupalayam-Ooty

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

Vishakhapatnam-Araku Valley

The journey from Vishakhapatnam to Araku Valley through countless tunnels and cutting loops is quite an exciting one. Begun as a mode to carry iron ore and other minerals to Vishakhapatnam from Chhattisgarh, this railway route in India is a feast for the eyes as well as the soul.

Bangalore-Kanyakumari

Another beautiful journey through the characteristic landscape of South India – the charming villages, plantations, meadows, and water bodies is from Bangalore to Kanyakumari. The Island Express covers 944 km in about 19.5 hours and definitely takes you to the land of ‘Malgudi Days’, unquestionably paving its way to the list of best train journeys in India.

Hassan-Mangalore

Behold a delightful train journey through beautiful waterfalls, towering mountains, palm plantations, and rice meadows from Hassan to Mangalore. Railway journey along this stretch of the Malnad region is absolutely refreshing and pure joy for travelers.

Bhubaneshwar-Brahmapur

With rich green Malyadri on one side and smooth Chilka Lake on the other, there’s nothing that can go wrong on this route.

New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling

Witness the majestic beauty of the Himalayas from your train window on this route. A nice upslope journey from the foothill region through loops and bends can be encountered from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The 78 km long eccentric journey takes almost 8 hours and moves through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow, and Batasia Loop.

Alipurduar-Jalpaiguri

Take your next train journey in the foothills region of North Bengal. Moving to Alipurduar, Jayanti, Moorti, Samsing, Baux and Jalpaiguri will lead you through the reserve forests of Gorumara, Jaldapara, Mahananda, and Buxa while passing biennial streamlets.

Guwahati-Silchar

No journey can be a lousy journey if it has lush green forests as the background. This journey drifts through the river Jatinga, lush green Assam Valley, tea plantations, and moving Haflong valley. The route from Guwahati to Silchar via Lumding and Barak Valley gives it one of the most beautiful train journeys in India.

Train journeys take time but such beautiful train routes on the way will more than makeup for it. You can also check out these one-day trips in Bangalore.