 Darjeeling Toy Train (Nigel Tout), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Journeys Through Time on Narrow TracksThere are train journeys, and then there are railways that feel like living museums. India happens to have several of the latter, recognised by UNESCO for their cultural and engineering significance. These are not just ways to get from A to B, they are experiences shaped by history, landscape and a fair amount of ingenuity.
For travellers interested in something beyond the usual highlights, India’s UNESCO-listed mountain railways offer a way to slow down and see the country from a different angle. Unsurprisingly, they also sit right at the heart of what Darjeeling Tours specialises in.
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 Tucked into the lower reaches of the Himalayas, the Kalka-Shimla Railway is one of India’s most captivating rail journeys. While the Darjeeling line often steals the spotlight, this narrow-gauge route offers something just as memorable, a gentle, unhurried climb into the hills where the landscape shifts almost imperceptibly from plains to pine-covered slopes.
Originally opened in 1903, the railway was built to connect Kalka with the hill station of Shimla, then the summer capital of British India. Before the line existed, the journey uphill was long and uncomfortable, involving horse-drawn carriages and winding mountain roads. The railway transformed that experience entirely, turning what had been an ordeal into something far more civilised, and far more enjoyable.  Freight Train at Indian Railway Station Platform Narrow, Metre & Broad Gauge ExplainedMost countries standardised their railway systems early on. One track gauge, one network, fewer complications. India took a different approach, largely out of necessity rather than design.
Today, the country still has three railway gauges, broad, metre and narrow. While broad gauge now dominates, the others haven’t entirely disappeared. Together, they reflect how the railway developed across very different regions, budgets and terrain. For anyone interested in rail travel in India or planning a rail holiday, these differences are more than technical detail. They shape the journeys themselves.  Jaipur Pink City at dusk There are cities in India that impress you, and then there are cities that stay with you. Jaipur sits firmly in the second category.
Known as the Pink City for its distinctive terracotta hue, Jaipur is a place where grand palaces, intricate architecture and vibrant street life exist side by side. It forms a key part of the famous Golden Triangle, yet it never feels like just another stop on an itinerary. There is a richness here that rewards slowing down. If you are planning a visit, or travelling as part of one of our escorted tours, these are five places that truly capture the spirit of Jaipur. |
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