look news india
As soon as the summer season arrives, children start eagerly waiting for summer vacation. In such a situation, the biggest question before the parents is whether to take their children to some place where they not only get relief from the heat but also have some new and exciting experience. If you want to make your holidays something very special this time, apart from the usual trips, then the journey on the historical and beautiful toy trains of Indian Railways (Toy Trains in India) is the best choice for you. These small trains passing through the mountains, winding paths and dense forests are like a magical journey for children. Let us know about those famous toy trains of the country, seeing which your children will jump with joy.
UNESCO heritage Kalka-Shimla toy train: an exciting journey through mountains and caves
Kalka-Shimla Toy Train is the best and popular way to see the beautiful valleys of Shimla in North India. When this train, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, passes through tall pine trees, lush green valleys and more than 100 caves, blowing its horn, children are unable to take their eyes off their windows. In this journey, the long cave near Barog railway station doubles the thrill of the children. This journey of about 5 to 6 hours amidst the gusts of cold wind is completely worth the money.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: View of Kanchenjunga peaks and tea plantations
The toy train running in Darjeeling, West Bengal (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) is one of the oldest and historical toy trains in the country. The sound of this steam engine-powered train and the smoke of coal give children a lively feel of the old-time railways. This train passes very closely through the beautiful tea gardens and local markets of Darjeeling. The biggest attraction of this journey is ‘Batasia Loop’, where the train takes a 360 degree turn and from there the view of snow covered Kanchenjunga hills is amazing.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway: The magic of nature in the beautiful valleys of Ooty
If we turn to South India, the Nilgiri Mountain Toy Train running between Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is also a UNESCO heritage. Running on one of the steepest lines in Asia, this train passes through dense forests, deep gorges, beautiful waterfalls and bridges. The famous song ‘Chal Chaiya Chaiya’ from the film ‘Dil Se’ was filmed on the roof of this train. Due to its slow speed, both children and adults can enjoy capturing the magnificent scenes of nature on camera.
Matheran Hill Railway: A visit to Maharashtra’s only pollution free hill station
Matheran’s Toy Train (Matheran Hill Railway) is a great weekend destination for summer vacation for families living near Mumbai and Pune. This small train running between Neral and Matheran crawls through the steep hills and serene forests of the Western Ghats. Since there is a complete ban on vehicles of any kind in Matheran, the air here is extremely pure. As soon as they get off the toy train, children can enjoy the fresh air, horse riding and the antics of monkeys.
Kangra Valley Railway: A unique experience of the snowy valleys of Dhauladhar
Kangra Valley Railway, running between Pathankot to Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, is a little longer than other toy trains, but its natural beauty is unique. The train takes you parallel to the beautiful countryside, farms of Kangra Valley and the snowy peaks of the Dhauladhar mountain range. The winding turns and high bridges found on this route give children the feeling of a different adventure. This time, include a trip on one of these toy trains in your summer vacation planning, which your children will remember throughout their life.
