 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.  Nilgiri Mountain Railway phot by Prakhar, CC BY 2.0 India’s Most Scenic Toy Train JourneyThere are railway journeys that get you from A to B, and then there are railway journeys that feel like stepping into another era entirely. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, climbing from the plains of Tamil Nadu into the cool hill station of Ooty, very much belongs in the second category.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage railway, this remarkable line winds through jungle, tea plantations and mist-covered mountains, offering one of the most atmospheric train journeys anywhere in India. It is also one of the highlights of our South India rail tour, where travellers experience a side of India that feels very different from the busy northern cities.  Panoramic view from Pikes Peak Climbing to 14,115 Feet on America’s Most Dramatic Mountain Railway
There are railway journeys that impress you, and there are railway journeys that genuinely take your breath away. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway manages to do both, sometimes quite literally. Running from Manitou Springs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, this is the highest cog railway in North America. It is not long by American standards, nor is it steam hauled today, yet it remains one of the most remarkable rail experiences in Colorado. Quite simply, it goes straight up a mountain that most people would hesitate to drive.  From the vast high plains of Ladakh to the forested valleys of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, India’s mountain regions offer some of the most striking landscapes on the planet. Snow-capped peaks, ancient monasteries and remote communities make these journeys unforgettable.
 When we built the NorthEast Frontier Railway (NFR) Tour – March 2026 we knew we wanted to take travellers somewhere truly off the beaten path. Stretching from the lush tea plains of Assam up into the hills, this rugged region boasts dramatic landscapes and cultural richness that few outsiders have experienced. Tucked into that itinerary is one of the most captivating yet underappreciated highlights of the trip: the Barail Mountain Range.
If you’re drawn to rail journeys, cultural travel in India, and landscapes that feel like a well-kept secret, the Barail Range is a highlight that will linger long after the tour ends. |
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