INDIA'S 5 MOST SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEYS

Beyond the practical daily commute are some selected train journeys celebrated for their scenic beauty, timeless charm and breathtaking vistas. These magical, scenic train rides chug through mountains, coastal and desert routes, offering a slow, sensory journey

- Punita Malhotra

Long before four-and six-lane highways drew straight lines across the map and low-cost airlines shrank distances, railways connected the country. The romance of railways is rooted deep in India's history. Introduced by the British in 1853, trains transformed the social and cultural fabric of the subcontinent. In the pre-independence colonial era, steam engines roared across plains, carrying cotton, spices, and stories of migration. Today, electric swifts and panoramic coaches glide over the same paths, but the heart of rail travel remains unchanged — the train window offers a moving portrait of India that no other journey can match.

India operates one of the world's largest railway networks, spanning over 68,000 km and transporting 13 million passengers daily. For families, especially with children, a train journey is like a story unfolding track by track — filled with anticipation, curiosity, and the thrill of discovery. Geography rolls past in real time, rice paddies shimmer in the afternoon sun, bridges stretch over silent rivers, and tunnels curve into the distance. Beyond the practical commute are some notable train journeys celebrated for their scenic beauty, timeless charm and breathtaking vistas. These magical, scenic train rides chug through mountains, coastal and desert routes, offering slow, sensory journeys. My shortlist of India's 5 most scenic and enthralling train journeys are listed below:

1. Kalka-Shimla Toy Train, Himachal Pradesh