5 mountain train journeys in India that prove slow travel is still magical

In the era of high-speed rail and overnight flights, India’s mountain trains still chug along at a different speed. The chug along slowly, and pause frequently, for you to take in the scenery, which is so jaw-droppingly beautiful from every angle that you would actually want to spend time there. Speed was never in the design of these trains. They were designed to provide some of the most unforgettable rail journeys in the world.
Decades before modern highways were chiseled through the hills, mountain-railway routes linked far-flung hill stations to the plains. Today, these routes are less about hardship and more about experience, the tunnels, bridges and hairpin curves that take you closer to the ambitions of engineers and craftsmen from earlier decades.
For those who think that the journey really is the destination, India’s mountain trains are pure magic. Here are 5 mountain trains in India every train lover should embark on at least once.

There are few trains in the world as iconic as the Darjeeling toy train. Instead of tunnels, this narrow-gauge railway loops and zig-zags all the way from the plains of West Bengal up to the tea-covered hills of Darjeeling. What distinguishes it is how naturally it coexists with everyday life, hits the road with cars, weaves through noisy markets and so on. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the clacking of its steam engine and a few passing views of Kanchenjunga bring gravitas to this serene voyage.

Passing through Mettupalayam and Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the steepest railway track in India. It has a unique rack-and-pinion system for negotiating steep sections via dense forest, tunnels, rocky cuttings and tea plantations. Its ascent is accompanied by a dramatic change in climate, from tropical heat to cool mountain air.

The Kalka–Shimla Railway, constructed to link the British summer capital Shimla with the plains, is a work of art in itself that traces much of its lineage back to early 20th-century engineering. The track passes through over 100 tunnels and crosses hundreds of bridges which are often precariously positioned high above deep gorges. The journey is punctuated by pine forests, misty hills and colonial-era stations. Another World Heritage Site, this railway is one of the most picturesque and atmospheric means to reach Shimla.

The Matheran Hill Railway provides an altogether different experience of a hill track train. Running between Neral and Matheran in Maharashtra, this narrow-gauge line is situated in a hill station which prohibits motor vehicles. The result? A peaceful, leisurely trip through dense woods, red-soil cuttings and sharp turns. Monsoon turns the route into a green tunnel; in winter, the air is brisk and the views clear. The relaxed atmosphere on a peaceful island with few distractions and super slow pace is a hit among visitors who prefer serenity over

Much neglected, one of the hidden treasures for railway enthusiasts is the Kangra Valley Railway. This narrow-gauge line between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh winds alongside river valleys, rolling hills and rural countryside as opposed to soaring cliffs. The 1929 train offers an easier mountain ride past tea gardens, small villages and distant views of the Dhauladhar range. Its unassuming beauty and absence of crowds make it particularly attractive to travellers who relish slow, immersive rail travel.