Kalka-Shimla Railway, Himachal Pradesh

1

The historic Kalka-Shimla toy train runs on 96.6 km of narrow-gauge tracks that include 103 tunnels and over 850 bridges.

Also a world heritage site, the rail network was built by the British in 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of British India, with the northern plains.

The 5.5-hour-long train ride from Kalka to Shimla takes one on a mesmerising journey with stunning views of the Himalayan ranges.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, West Bengal

2

One of the oldest among India’s historic mountain railways, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal.

Built by the British between 1879 and 1881, it is a narrow-gauge railway that extends up to a length of about 88 km.

The rail line covers 18 stops and provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas and green tea plantations.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Tamil Nadu

3

An ambitious engineering project by the British Raj, the Nilgiris Mountain Railway operates from the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu since 1908.

This is a 46 km long metre-gauge railway line that scales an elevation of 326 metres to 2,203 metres.

This vintage toy train runs through the mountain ranges of Ooty to Mettupalayam via Coonoor, offering magnificent views of the mist-clad hills, green lands, dense forests, and narrow valleys.

Kangra Valley Railway, Himachal Pradesh

4

The Kangra Valley Railway is another heritage toy train that runs on a 164-kilometre-long narrow-gauge between Pathankot in Punjab and Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh.

It was the last among the mountain railways to be built in India.

The toy train traverses lush farmlands and villages, offering stunning views of the Dhauladhar mountain range.

Matheran Hill Railway, Maharashtra

5

This historic Matheran Hill Railway line was opened in 1907.

The rail line that starts from Neral, between Mumbai and Pune, extends till Matheran.

Though it is just 20 km long, it takes around 2.5 hours to reach the top of the hill as it moves in a zig-zag manner.