//Taking you places, the train routes across the country are an experience of a complete visual bliss.//
One of the most beautiful ways to explore nature’s untouched beauty is to look outside the window of a moving train. After all, most train journeys in the world take passengers through routes that are picturesque and far from the maddening crowd. We have picked five of the most beautiful train journeys in the world that you must take at least once in your lifetime. Train journey is the most pleasurable way of travelling, when for the length of the journey, one is cut off from the rest of the world, and can relax, and in a way refresh oneself before joining back the rat race. India is the fourth largest country where railway network is concerned and comprises 119,630 kilometres of total track length, and 92,081 km of running track over a route of 66,687 km, with 7,216 stations at the end of 2015-16.
Its always a wonderful affair with these slow chugging engines. These tracks reach the remotest places and become your window to a new world. Here’s a list of the most wonderful railway routes across the country making your travel more about the journey than the destination.
- A milky way crossover across the mighty Dudhsagar Falls: The Goa Express
Traversing across 6 states, this almost 2000 km long journey gives you an eyeful of the culture across the country. Passing the majestic Dudhsagar Waterfalls at the Braganza ghat section, this journey to Vasco da gama, the nearest rail-head to the capital of Goa, offers a picture postcard backdrop as you travel. This route is one of the most beautiful tracks as the train takes you from Goa to Karnataka. Ethnic Goan villages along the way and the lush greenery all along is sure to win your heart. But what will take your breath away is the milky water of the four tiered Dudhsagar waterfalls cascading from a height of 310 meters. The sheer beauty of it, especially during the monsoons, is certain to be overwhelming; so close that you can feel drops on your face as the train crosses it.
- Stairway to the hills through the pines: Kalka Shimla Railway
The 103 tunnels through the pines dotting the green hillocks take you to Shimla, with the last tunnel serving as a landmark to the town. This mountainous route to the British summer capital in the 20th century is now declared a heritage property. Taking you in an almost 100 km journey to Shimla via Dharampur and Solan, this Himalayan Queen is a complete panoramic feast. This journey, which is undertaken in the Toy Train, will provide glimpses of the scenic landscape. The journey which is 96 Km long started in 1903, and passes through 102 tunnels and 82 bridges. This route also features in the Guinness Book of World Records for the steepest rise in altitude in the span of 96 km. The entire route covered with pine trees, oak, valleys, Deodar, Rhodendron forests will leave you enthralled.
- A journey to God’s own country: Kerala Anubhavam
A scenic bliss with pristine shorelines, this 250 km stretch between Ernakulam to Trivandrum via Kollam is a pure visual delight. The journey through this coastal state with neatly lined palms and tranquil lakes all along the way lets you experience this silent charm of rural Kerala.
- Through the snowscapes of Paradise : Kashmir Valley Railway
This spectacularly scenic rail route is overlooked by the Patni and Pir Panjal Range. The landscapes outside the window keep you spellbound as you travel past Srinagar and Baramulla from Jammu. You gaze at the slowly unfolding young Himalayas outside the train window as it moves across the stone bridges and breathtaking mountain passes. The railway track connecting Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla is not only picturesque and enthralling but also one the most challenging railway projects. It is located in the high earthquake intensity zone with undulating and rugged terrain and extreme cold temperature.
- Desert Queen
A journey that chugs off in the desert of Thar, from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer fights against the entire stereotype that deserts are just barren land. The traveller is welcomed to the sight of the never ending desert, something that liberates the mind yet frightens it, dotted by the colourful traditional mud huts and oh! so many camels grazing around the place. Sunrises of the desert are something very few get the pleasure to witness, because we always tend to prefer the colder regions but this is one train route that will challenge your tastes and take you on a ride making you feel like you are on top of the world, a lone ranger, happy and content. The Rajasthan trip which is otherwise full of colours, can have an extra bright shade if you travel to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur in Delhi Jaisalmer Express. The travel time in the train called the ‘Desert Queen’ takes close to 6 hours to reach the destination. The journey is not at all monotonous. In fact you see diversified topography like typical desert landscape with xerophytic vegetation, yellow soil, dunes, grazing camels and scattered settlements of the desert inhabitants. The passengers will surely get a feel of the desert safari before reaching the land of the Golden Fort.
- The Sea Bridge Ride into the blue: Mandapam-Pamban-Rameswaram
It’s a rail ride out to the sea through majestic 2.4km Pamban Rail Bridge on the Palk Strait. Its your chance to dive into the shades of blue of the sea and the endless sky merging at the horizon. The delightful coastal journey becomes a window to the rich South Indian culture as it leads to Rameswaram, the longest temple corridor in the country. It is certainly best Indian train journeys. One of the most beautiful train routes in India, it passes over the second longest bridge of India, the Palk Strait, which is the only route that connects mainland India to Pamban Island.
- The whistling and winding Queen of the young Himalayas: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Its a road of romance from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling as the tracks wind round and reach 2200 meters above sea level. Ghum station, the summit of the line, is the highest located railway station in India. The snowcapped Kunchenjunga stands at a stunning height overlooking the panoramic view of the Darjeeling town from the Batasia Loop. A pleasant up-slope journey from the foothill region through loops, turns and bends can be experienced from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The 78 km long quaint journey takes almost 8 hours and passes through Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghum, Rongbul, Jorebunglow and Batasia Loop. Though the journey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is sluggish but certainly leisurely. The surrounding hill-valley topography especially from Ghum (the highest narrow gauge railway station in India) and Batasia Loop adds extra flavours of delight to your trip.
