{"id":229,"date":"2015-10-22T11:35:52","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T11:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trodly.com\/blog\/article\/top-10-train-journeys-of-india-you-should-not-miss"},"modified":"2026-10-17T18:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T13:16:41","slug":"top-10-train-journeys-of-india-you-should-not-miss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trodly.com\/blog\/article\/top-10-train-journeys-of-india-you-should-not-miss","title":{"rendered":"10 Scenic and Luxury Train Journeys in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

For scenic train journeys in India, consider the Nilgiri, Darjeeling, Kalka\u2013Shimla, Kangra Valley, Matheran and Konkan routes. Palace on Wheels, Maharajas\u2019 Express, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot offer a different experience: packaged luxury journeys with their own itineraries and booking terms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I read in my literature class once, \u201cthere isn\u2019t a train I wouldn\u2019t take, no matter where it\u2019s going.\u201d Those lines from Edna St. Vincent Millay\u2019s \u201cTravel\u201d struck a chord, as if they were written for me. Maybe that was the time I realised I was truly bitten by the travel bug.<\/p>\n

It made me think about all the amazing train journeys I’ve made within and outside India and also made me long for many more such journeys. Real, fictional, magical, all train journeys will work. Maybe one day I’ll find myself at platform number 9 \u00be waiting to board the Hogwarts Express. But I digress. Let’s talk about magic some other day, for now let’s start by talking about some of the best and most incredible Indian Train Journeys.<\/p>\n

Do let me know in comments if you have been on any of these train rides in India and how your experience was.<\/p>\n

Luxury Train Journeys in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

1) Palace on Wheels<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/sunpreet28\/3162936989<\/span><\/p>\n

I bet everyone knows about Palace on Wheels\u2014India\u2019s pioneering luxury heritage train. It brings together Rajasthan\u2019s royal settings and the experience of a moving hotel. The official Palace on Wheels itinerary<\/a> lists a seven-night, eight-day circuit from New Delhi through Rajasthan and Agra before returning to Delhi. Compare your cabin, departure and written inclusions before booking; \u201call-inclusive\u201d should not be taken to mean that every personal expense is covered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2) Maharajas\u2019 Express<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/14589121@N00\/4808584361<\/span><\/p>\n

The Maharajas\u2019 Express offers royal-themed rail journeys through several of India\u2019s cultural destinations. The appeal is still the same: seeing memorable places while travelling in comfort. Routes, journey lengths and departure programmes can change between seasons. Compare the official IRCTC Maharajas\u2019 Express journeys<\/a> for the actual route, length, dates and inclusions of the departure you choose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3) Deccan Odyssey<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/14589121@N00\/4150727668<\/span><\/p>\n

What started as a way of promoting luxury train tourism in Maharashtra has grown into a wider set of journeys. The Deccan Odyssey combines comfortable cabins with excursions, but the route depends on the itinerary selected; the old list of destinations was not one journey that every departure covers. Check MTDC\u2019s Deccan Odyssey information<\/a> and obtain the complete dated programme from the authorised booking provider.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4) Golden Chariot<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/arunkatiyar\/6619793371<\/span><\/p>\n

This is South India\u2019s answer to Palace on Wheels. Golden Chariot lets you enjoy the region\u2019s heritage in a royal setting, with interiors inspired by southern Indian design. IRCTC\u2019s current information describes routes such as Pride of Karnataka, Jewels of South and Glimpses of Karnataka; they do not all follow the old seven-night circuits or cover the same states. Start with IRCTC Tourism\u2019s Golden Chariot section<\/a> and check your chosen departure\u2019s nights, boarding station and included excursions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most Scenic Train Journeys in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

5) Nilgiri Mountain Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/siddhi\/5498938338<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chaiyya Chaiyya train! Cinema fans may remember the Nilgiri line from the song in Dil Se. The railway links Mettupalayam\u2014not Coimbatore city itself\u2014with Udagamandalam (Ooty), via Coonoor. Its steep lower section and hill scenery are the attraction. A short Coonoor\u2013Ooty ride is a different experience from the full mountain ascent, so compare the actual boarding station, destination and service when booking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Indian<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/theabbott\/3082605880<\/span><\/p>\n

Bollywood\u2019s romance with trains and mountains continues. Fans of Aradhana may remember the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from Mere Sapno Ki Rani. The historic route connects New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, while the popular Darjeeling\u2013Ghum\u2013Darjeeling joy ride is a shorter return trip. Do not confuse the two bookings. Check whether your selected departure is steam or diesel, and whether the full section you want is operating on your date.<\/p>\n

My every train journey has brought a new sense of excitement to watching the landscapes unfold outside the window. For me, the journey has always been as meaningful as the destination.<\/p>\n

7) Kalka-Shimla Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Train<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/8293801@N07\/9116722536<\/span><\/p>\n

Constructed during the British Raj, the Kalka\u2013Shimla Railway traverses the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, offering memorable views along the way. This is a journey to enjoy slowly. Check the current trains and coach classes rather than relying on the former Shivalik Queen reference. Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Kalka\u2013Shimla Railway together make up the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India<\/a>. That listing does not mean every Indian hill railway is part of the same World Heritage property.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8) Kangra Valley Train<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Train<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/karunakarg\/2536837056<\/span><\/p>\n

The historic Kangra Valley Railway connects Pathankot in Punjab with Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, passing through the wider Kangra and Palampur region. Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj require an onward road transfer. Forests, hills and mountain views make this a fairy-tale setting, but closures have affected sections of the line. Kangra district\u2019s railway guide<\/a> notes sectional resumptions; it should not be read as confirmation of a through train for your dates.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

9) Matheran Hill Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Train<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/himanshu_sarpotdar\/3297650328<\/span><\/p>\n

The Matheran Hill Railway climbs from Neral towards Matheran through the green Western Ghats. The line is more than a century old. Full-line trains and the shorter Aman Lodge\u2013Matheran shuttle are different services. Operations and journey times can vary, especially around the monsoon. Check which section is actually running before planning your arrival, and leave time to explore Matheran on foot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10) Konkan Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Train<\/figure>\n

\n

source: flickr.com\/photos\/cajie\/5555383233<\/span><\/p>\n

Go from Mumbai towards Goa along the Konkan route, preferably choosing a journey whose scenic section falls in daylight. Rivers, tunnels, paddy fields, coconut plantations and the hills of the Western Ghats make this a journey to watch from the window. Compare the actual times of the Mandovi Express, Konkan Kanya Express or other available services: an overnight departure may pass the landscape you want to see in darkness. Seasonal timetables matter; Konkan Railway\u2019s 2026 monsoon notice<\/a> sets its monsoon timetable from 15 June to 20 October 2026 and asks passengers to recheck train timings.<\/p>\n

So which is the best and most unforgettable train journey you’ve taken?<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

TrodlyBird<\/p>\n

This post was published on Trodly<\/a> travel blog.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to book the right train journey<\/h2>\n