There’s something cinematic about traveling by train — the gentle rocking, the changing landscapes, and the stories unfolding outside your window. In India, some train routes don’t just take you from one place to another — they transport you into a visual poem.
Here are 7 breathtaking train journeys in India that look like scenes straight out of a movie.
1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train) – West Bengal
- Route: New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling
- Distance: 88 km
- Highlight: Colonial charm, lush tea gardens, and mountain curves
- Feels Like: A Wes Anderson film with Himalayan views
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this toy train ride takes you through a dreamland of misty mountains, tiny villages, and iconic hill stations. The spiral loops and zigzags are pure magic.
2. Konkan Railway – Maharashtra to Goa
- Route: Mumbai to Madgaon
- Distance: ~580 km
- Highlight: Tunnels, waterfalls, coconut groves, sea glimpses
- Feels Like: A monsoon Bollywood road-trip with AR Rahman in the background
Travel through lush greenery and along dramatic coastlines. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot cascading waterfalls right beside the train. Perfect for wanderers chasing tropical vibes.
3. Kalka to Shimla Toy Train – Himachal Pradesh
- Route: Kalka to Shimla
- Distance: 96 km
- Highlight: 100+ tunnels, colonial bridges, pine forests
- Feels Like: A slow-motion intro to a Netflix travel docuseries
It’s not just a train ride; it’s a peaceful ascent into the clouds. With 800 bridges and more than 100 tunnels, it’s both scenic and technically brilliant.
4. Nilgiri Mountain Railway – Tamil Nadu
- Route: Mettupalayam to Ooty
- Distance: 46 km
- Highlight: Steepest track in Asia, blue hills, tea estates
- Feels Like: A vintage Tamil love story with mountain melodies
You pass through thick forests, quaint colonial towns, and rolling hills. It’s a slow ride, but every minute is wrapped in natural beauty.
5. Matheran Hill Railway – Maharashtra
- Route: Neral to Matheran
- Distance: 21 km
- Highlight: No cars allowed in Matheran, serene ghats, toy train feel
- Feels Like: A 70s Bollywood romance set in the hills
Short, sweet, and absolutely picturesque. The train crawls up the Western Ghats with views that seem straight out of a vintage photo album.
6. Vasco Da Gama to Londa – Karnataka
- Route: Goa to Karnataka (South Western Railway)
- Distance: ~100 km
- Highlight: Dudhsagar Falls, jungle landscapes
- Feels Like: An epic jungle adventure on rails
One of the few routes where the train cuts right through the heart of the Western Ghats, and yes — if the season is right, you’ll witness the Dudhsagar Waterfall roaring beside your window!
7. Srinagar to Baramulla – Jammu & Kashmir
- Route: Srinagar to Baramulla
- Distance: 118 km
- Highlight: Snow-capped mountains, mustard fields, apple orchards
- Feels Like: A Kashmiri art film — slow, poetic, unforgettable
Not a commonly known route, but one of the most beautiful rail rides in the north. Especially during spring and winter, it feels like passing through a living painting.
💡 Final Words
In a country like India, the journey often becomes more memorable than the destination, and train travel captures this magic perfectly.
If you’re planning a trip, skip the flight once in a while, hop on a train, and let the scenes roll by like a movie.
