Toy trains occupy a little as the well special corner in our heart, along with Ruskin Bond books and mouthwatering ice-creams.
Do you ever feel like you have missed a lot while you go through in an express train from one place to the other? Or an overnight journey in a super-deluxe bus that denied you an experience of slowly exploring surrounding natural beauty!
If yes, then it's time to take a journey in one of the popular toy trains in India.
A Joyous Toy-Train Ride!!
India's three most visited picturesque hill stations that attract both adventurers and nature lovers are Darjeeling in North Bengal, Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and Ooty in Tamil Nadu. Over the years, with the growth of Indian Mountain Railways, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway started were together declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Allow us to give you the detailed information through the mountain railways in India from this article-
1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - Unwrapping the lushness of Darjeeling Tea
Swirling through the eye-catching hills of Lesser Himalaya, the journey on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the entrancing experiences for tourists from all over the world. Also known as Darjeeling Toy Train, it is a narrow gauge railway that runs for 80 kilometers through cascading tea gardens. Make your trip more memorable by staying in the comfortable hotels near Darjeeling Hill Station.
Route: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station Via Siliguri 'Ghoom' Darjeeling
Approx Fare: INR 620 one way
The route covers 5 major and approximately 500 minor bridges.
Departure from New Jalpaiguri at 9 a.m
Arrives in Darjeeling at 4.15 p.m
2. Kalka-Shimla Toy Train - A luxury on mountain railways
Moving steeply upwards along the narrow gauge through the mysterious pine forests of the Himachal region, the Kalka-Shimla Toy train is yet another mountain railway in India. Built by the British in 1903, connecting Kalka and Shimla, the route passes through 20 railway stations.
The route covers 102 tunnels, 800 bridges, and amazing 900 curves.
Details about Kalka Shimla Toy Trains
- Shivalik Deluxe Express
Departs at 5 am and arrives at 10 am
Approx Fare: INR 420 (AC Chair car)
- Himalayan Queen
Departs at 12:10 pm and arrives at 5 pm
Approx Fare: INR 260 for AC Chair
3. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Ooty) - The Whistle Breaking The Blues
One of the major tourist attractions in the Nilgiri hills that connect Metupalaiyam to Udagamandalam is the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Route: Mettupalayam, Kallar, Adderley, Ketti, Ooty
Approx Fare: INR 500 for First Class
The route covers 16 tunnels and several bridges.
Departure from Metupalaiyam at 7.10 a.m,
And arrives in Ooty at 11 a.m
4. Matheran Hill Railway - A Journey Through One Kiss Tunnel
Built in 1907, the Matheran Hill Railway is a heritage railway in Maharashtra that covers a distance of 20 kilometers through a dense forest area. Matheran Hill Railway is one of the toy train journeys that discovers the beauty of the Western Ghats and has several unique features on its route-
- The horseshoe embankment
- Herdal Hill section,
- Bhekra Khud steep gradient
- One Kiss Tunnel
- Panorama Point.
Route: Neral-Jummapatti-Water Pipe Aman Lodge-Matheran
5. Kangra Valley Railway - Tracks Through A Maze Of Hills
The least known of the lot, the Kangra Valley Train connects two charming towns, i.e Pathankot in Punjab with Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. The journey will give you a chance to capture the captivating panorama of snow-clad mountains.
The route covers 971 bridges and 2 tunnels
Route: Pathankot Junction In Punjab, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota, Palampur, Baijnath, Jogindernagar In Himachal Pradesh
Approx Fare:
For the Kangra Queen: INR 330 (1st Class) | INR 310 (Chair Car) | INR 190 (2nd Class)
So, it's time to plan a toy train journey for your family and feel the breathtaking excitement of taking a ride on toy trains.