What are the best Indian rail journeys?
Indian rail journeys have intrigued authors and filmmakers alike with the likes of Michael Palin, Wes Anderson, Danny Boyle and Paul Theroux all using their experiences in their movies and documentaries.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise as there are some beautiful train journeys in India that you can enjoy, and it is an experience that you’ll never forget. With an estimated 17,000 trains operating and over 64,000 kilometres of track, trains are a fascinating way to explore the country.
You can travel to all the top destinations in the country and during the journey, you can take in some spectacular sights. Read on to find out the best rail journeys you can go on during your India tailor made holidays.
The best Indian rail journeys
· Palace on Wheels
· Kalka–Shimla Railway
· Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
· Maharaja’s Express
· Konkan Railway
· Golden Chariot
· Island Express
· Desert Circuit Tourist Train
· Jammu Mail
Palace on Wheels
Route: Delhi – Jaipur – Sawai Madhopur – Chittorgarh – Udaipur – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Bharatpur – Agra – Delhi
Travelling on the Palace on Wheels, formally known as The Royal Rajasthan On Wheels, is one of the most memorable ways to explore India. It was one of India’s first luxury trains and today it continues to offer a world-class service as the carriages have been refurbished in recent years as replicas of the original saloon carriages of the Maharajas.
On this luxurious train you can enjoy international cuisine, have a drink at the bar, dive into a book in the library or go back and relax in one of the comfortable cabins. If that’s not enough of an attraction, then the staff on the train will take care of everything from your food to talking to you about the attractions you can visit along the route.
Some of the top sights you can see on this popular train journey in India are the pink city of Jaipur, the National Park Ramthambhorm, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and the Taj Mahal.
Kalka–Shimla Railway
Route: Kalka - Shimla
The popular Kalka to Shimla Railway (KSR) is located in the north of India and is well-loved for its epic views of the hills and villages between the towns of Kalka and Shimla. Traversing mostly mountainous terrain, the railway was completed in 1903 in an attempt to connect the Indian rail system of the time with what was then India’s summer capital of Shimla.
Speaking of this route’s beauty and dramatic scenery is the fact that UNESCO has named the Kalka-Shimla Railway part of the World Heritage Site that incorporates the nation’s mountain railways. The route takes you through 20 scenic stations and over hundreds of bridges, through the Himalayan Shivalik Hills foothills, to the likes of the city of Solan, then winding up to Shimla which is at an altitude 6,808 ft.
The KSR was even featured on the BBC TV series Great Indian Railway Journeys, which again speaks to the importance of this wonderful route. It’s certainly one to experience for yourself when spending time in India.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Route: Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri
Dating back to the 19th century, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a world heritage site and was originally built to transport Victorian plains-dwellers from the sweltering summer heat. The route is around 55 miles long and takes approximately seven hours.
Along the journey, you will weave through village streets and will climb over 7,000 feet and enjoy some spectacular panoramic views. The railway also showcases some innovative engineering with features such as six zigzag reverses as it makes its steep ascent into the Himalayas and its highest railway station, Ghum. From here you can then ride on the affectionately nicknamed ‘Toy Train’ and this offers some cloud-topped green valleys, waterfalls and the iconic tea fields.
Dave Lee, the founder and writer behind the Go Backpacking blog, speaks about his experience of riding on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: “The little train took off, chugging parallel to the road I had taken up to Darjeeling. The train is over 100 years old, running along the side of mountains, so it doesn't move much faster than the people walking on the street.
“The views were fantastic, and riding the rails was a lot smoother than driving on the roads.”
Maharaja’s Express
Route:Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Mumbai
Maharajas' Express has won the ‘World's Leading Luxury Train’ award at the World Travel Awards for seven consecutive years from 2012 to 2018 after redefining the luxury travel experience. Along this route you will delve into the incredible cultural heritage that India offers and will be left with memories that will last a lifetime.
On this route you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Taj Mahal, visit the Agra Fort, go on a tour of the Ranthambore National Park, explore the Amber Fort and head on an excursion to the Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Aileen Adalid, the travel and lifestyle blogger who runs the I Am Aileen site, said it was one of the best train journeys she has been on: “I have gone through several luxury travel experiences from all over the world in the past 4 years, and my time with India’s famous Maharajas Express train has been the most recent adventure that left me at a loss for words because I was just so inexplicably awestruck.”
Konkan Railway
Route:Mumbai to Madgaon (Goa)
The Konkan Railway links Mumbai and Goa and carries on south almost to Kerala. The 450-mile-long railway hugs India’s southwest coastline, parallel to the Arabian Sea, and it crosses an estimated 2,000 bridges along the entire route, including the Panvalnadi bridge which is currently the highest viaduct in India.
Along this breathtaking route, you can expect to see picturesque villages that will be bursting with wildflowers, farmers working in their paddy fields and some stunning rivers and coastal views.
If you decide to go on the Konkan Railway, there are lots of places you can get off at and explore. One place you can visit is the popular destination of Goa.
Shivya Nath is the writer behind the travel blog The Shooting Star and she highly recommends visiting Goa but suggests trying to do things that are a little bit off the beaten path. She gave us an example and spoke about how there are unique events that take place on Sunday mornings at the Museum of Goa.
“Every Sunday morning, locals and ex-pats meet up at Museum of Goa (MOG) in Bardez for a talk/discussion by Goans doing something unique. We saw a short play by a theatre start-up, followed by an interesting discussion on Konkan vs international theatre. The following week was a documentary screening by a local artist. I think it’s a great way to connect with the creative side of Goa.”
Golden Chariot
Route:Bangalore to Goa
The Golden Chariot train journey is one of the best ways to experience South India as you travel through iconic and off-beat destinations whilst being on a luxurious train with top-class facilities onboard.
There are three different circuits you can go on from Bangalore and these are the Pride of Karnataka Journey (six night/seven days), the Jewels of South Karnataka Journey (six night/seven days) and the Glimpses of Karnataka Journey (three nights/four days).
Along these different routes you can see some spectacular sites including the Jungles of Bandipur, UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hampi & Mahabalipuram and the palace town of Mysore.
Island Express
Route:Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) to Trivandrum (Kerala)
Kanyakumari, in the state of Tamil Nadu, is the southernmost tip of India and is famed for being located in a spot where three oceans meet (the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean). It is a place also renowned for its picture-perfect sunsets, enchanting full-moon nights, scrumptious coastal food, scenic beaches, waterfalls and temples.
Kanyakumari is also the perfect place to start an adventure on India’s railways. The Island Express is one of the most popular and top trains in India and if you would prefer a shorter train ride compared to some of the others on our list, then the journey from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum is just over two hours.
As you travel on the train you will see some typical Kerala scenery as you inch past palm trees and long grassy verges. There are some spectacular views to see along this train journey, so make sure you book a seat in general class, so you are guaranteed a good view from the open windows and doors.
As you’ll see from our Kerala holidays there are lots of different experiences to be had, from its iconic festivals to its famous backwaters.
Travel See Write highly recommend visiting Kerala and speak about why it is a great place to visit in India: “Mostly, advertising exaggerates brand promise. But when it comes to Kerala, it does live up to its slogan – God’s own country. Rare are the places blessed with as much breath-taking beauty, unmatched heritage and rich culture as Kerala is.
“From soothing backwaters, stunning lighthouse lined beaches, abundant wildlife and dreamy hill stations to imposing forts, intricately designed temples, mosques, churches and Ayurveda retreats – the state has everything any traveller could ask. But for me, it was the people that exposed me to the human side of the state and made me fall in love with God’s own country.”
Desert Circuit Tourist Train
Route:Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Linking two of Rajasthan’s most popular destinations, the Desert Circuit Tourist Train will take you from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer where you can see historic forts and quaint winding alleys.
This journey regularly features on lists of the 10 best train journeys in India as the six-hour trip takes you through the Thar desert that would have once only been accessible on the back of a camel. On the sands of the desert, you’ll be able to get glimpses of wildlife and see isolated settlements that really aren’t mirages.
Along the route, you’ll get to stop at some great destinations. Jaisalmer is a sandstone city that seems to just rise out of the desert and is home to a fort that was believed to have been built in 1156 and is still lived in to this day. There are also palaces, temples and shops in the city, but it is famous for its camel safaris into the desert too.
Another city along this route is Rajasthan’s second-biggest city Jodhpur. It is home to a famous fort which is one of the biggest and intact forts in India as well as being home to lots of great restaurants and palaces. Jaipur is Rajasthan's capital and is one of the provinces most visited destinations with its Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Wind) being one of the most photographed and recognized palaces in the country.
Jammu Mail
Route:Jammu to Udhampur (Jammu state)
This 53km (around 32 miles) stretch of railway heads into the foothills of the Himalayas and is another fine example of the amazing engineering that took place for the route to be built. The train ride will see you weave around the rocky terrain of the Shivalik mountain range, down valleys and over large rivers.
Along the railway, there are more than 20 tunnels and 150 bridges, and you will see some spectacular views of the mountains. As the train approaches Udhampur, the landscape completely changes, and you will see land and countryside that is more like something you’d expect to see in the UK.
These are just some of the best Indian rail journeys that you can go on and each one has its one unique feature, whether it be riding over a desert or along the foothills of the Himalayas. If you are interested in booking a rail journey in India, then please get in touch to discover how we can make it happen.
For more tips, guides, and advice for visiting India, make sure to visit our blog.