India
India runs on rail. Its network is among the largest and busiest on earth, carrying millions of people every day and reaching almost every corner of the subcontinent — and a train remains the classic, unhurried, endlessly sociable way to travel the country.
Among its journeys are true wonders, none more so than the UNESCO-listed hill railways — the little "Toy Train" that climbs to Darjeeling in the shadow of the Himalaya being the most beloved of them all.
Rail journeys in India
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The "Toy Train" — a UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge line that climbs from the plains to the Himalayan hill town of Darjeeling, in sight of Kanchenjunga.
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Kalka–Shimla Railway
A UNESCO narrow-gauge "toy train" that spirals up through 102 tunnels and hundreds of arched viaducts to Shimla, the old summer capital of the British Raj.
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Nilgiri Mountain Railway
India's only rack railway and the steepest in Asia — a UNESCO steam line grinding up through tea country to the hill station of Ooty.
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Is India easy to explore by train?
India runs on rail. Indian Railways is one of the largest and busiest networks on earth, reaching almost every corner of the subcontinent cheaply — and the train remains the classic, sociable way to travel the country. It pays to plan ahead, as popular routes fill up.
What are the classes, and how do I book?
Long-distance trains offer everything from air-conditioned 1st Class and 2- and 3-tier sleeper berths down to non-AC sleeper and general seating. Book ahead through IRCTC, as trains sell out; a same-day "Tatkal" quota opens the day before for last-minute travel.
When is the best time to visit India?
Broadly October to March, when much of the country is cool and dry. Avoid the intense pre-monsoon heat and the June–September monsoon, which can disrupt the hill lines with landslips; the mountain railways are clearest in autumn and spring.
What are India's great rail journeys?
The three UNESCO "Mountain Railways of India" — the Darjeeling "Toy Train", the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty and the Kalka–Shimla Railway — are the scenic classics. For luxury, the Maharajas' Express and Palace on Wheels tour Rajasthan in grand style.