10 of the Greenest Railway Routes of India

It’s rightly said that journeys make more memories than the destination itself. India is bestowed with the most extensive rail network in Asia and numerous train routes. Some of the routes are very scenic, and the feeling one gets passing by those routes is beyond words. To see different landscapes of the country, just grab a train and embark on the journey around India.

1. Sakleshpur – Subramanya Rail route, Western Ghats, Karnataka

It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the formidable hills of the western ghats. The dense green vegetation is a sight for sore eyes. It spans 52 Km in the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats and consists of 57 tunnels, 109 bridges and several rivers and waterfalls.

2. Konkan Railway, Mumbai-Goa

The train from Mumbai to Goa winds through the amazing Sahyadri hills on one side and the Arabian sea on the other. The train passes through forests and valleys of the Western Ghats, and the view of the long silvery cascade of Dudhsagar Falls is mesmerising.

3. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is an example of sheer engineering inventiveness and vision. It is also called the ‘Darjeeling Toy Train’. It is a 2 feet narrow gauge train that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal, India. The toy train passes through the mesmerising mountain views, villages and local shops where the children can be seen waving at the train.

4. Kashmir Valley Railway

To understand the true enigma of paradise, a journey through the Kashmir valley Railway is a must. While travelling, one can see the vast, beautiful meadows where Bakarwals herd their sheep. Kashmir Valley Railway connects Kashmir to the rest of the nation.

5. Nilgiri Mountain Railway. A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Being regarded as a marvel of engineering, this toy train is the steepest one in the whole of Asia. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared UNESCO’s world heritage site in 2005. One can witness the beautiful landscapes while travelling on this train. Though it takes more time to reach the destination than the car, still its worth the visit to witness the mesmerising beauty of nature.

6. The Kollam Sengottai railway route, which connects Kollam Junction in Kerala and Sengottai in Tamil Nadu

It is breathtaking to watch the beauty of the southern railway when the train passes through the vintage ’13 arch bridge’ (Pathimoonu Kannara Palam), which acts as a border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. While travelling on the Kollam Sengottai railway route, one comes across the river, forest, hills, and tunnels, which is a true blessing to witness.

7. Himalayan Queen (Kalka-Shimla) A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kalka Shimla Railway is an iconic narrow gauge railway line having very beautiful scenic views and is also a marvel of narrow gauge engineering in India. This 96-km-long railway track is built over 889 short to long bridges and passes through 102 tunnels in the foothills of the Himalayas. UNESCO added the Kalka-Shimla Railway to the mountain railways of India’s World Heritage Site.

8. Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley

Travelling through the tranquil environment not only calms your soul but also makes your inner soul happy. The scenic beauty of this route makes you spellbound. The number of tunnels also adds to the beauty of the place.

9. Koraput to Rayagada, Odisha

The 173-km route between Koraput and Rayagada has a picturesque view throughout and is the most beautiful train route of Odhisa. It consists of 38 tunnels, and watching the train snaking through tunnels is wonderful.

10.Guwahati-Lumding-Silchar. (Assam)

This route meanders through river Jatinga, lush green Assam Valley, tea plantations, and undulating Haflong valley. The hill stations in Assam provide travellers with a view so scenic that it is hard to take your eyes off it.

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