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The Indian Railways network is not only one of the largest rail networks in the world, but it also passes through those geographical areas of the country whose natural beauty makes anyone’s heart flutter. When it comes to long distance travel, most people are just in a hurry to reach their destination, but have you ever experienced those select train routes where the view outside the train window is even more beautiful and mesmerizing than the destination itself. If you get a window seat in the train, then understand that you have won the real jackpot of travel, because the waterfalls, valleys, cloud covered mountains and deep gorges visible from the moving train seem like a utopia. Due to the diverse geographical location of India, its railway routes have become the main center of attraction among tourists and travel vloggers from all over the world, who book window seats in advance every year especially to enjoy these rail journeys.
Konkan Railway tops the list of most magical and exciting routes of Indian Railways which covers a distance of more than seven hundred kilometers starting from Roha in Maharashtra to Mangalore in Karnataka. Passing between the Western Ghats and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea, this railway route looks like the set of an adventure film, where the train tracks move forward crossing countless picturesque tunnels and huge bridges. While traveling on this route, when the train passes through the lush green monsoon landscape of the Konkan region, tall coconut groves and small villages, looking out of the window makes one feel as if nature has spread all its beauty here. The world’s second highest pier bridge and Karbude Tunnel, one of India’s longest rail tunnels, are also located on this route, which increases the thrill of this journey manifold. During monsoon, when innumerable waterfalls fall down from the mountains amid torrential rains and the train passes right in front of them, there is a competition among the passengers to get a window seat to capture that scene on camera.
If you want to experience a train floating above the waves of the sea, then the Pamban Bridge route connecting Mandapam to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu can prove to be the best option in the world for you. As the train moves slowly across this historic and India’s first sea rail bridge built at the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, it feels as if the passengers are floating in the air directly over the sea water. Looking out of the window, the blue sea spread far and wide on both sides and the cool breeze passing through the water refreshes the mind and brain of the travelers, and the small boats of fishermen make this view even more lively. This journey of Pamban Bridge is not only full of thrill but it is such a unique example of the country’s engineering that every Indian’s chest swells with pride after seeing it. In the evening, when the setting sun spreads its golden rays on the sea water and the train moves parallel to it, not everyone is ready to take their eyes off their window to see that magical moment.
The journey of the Kalka-Shimla toy train, passing through the tall deodar trees and snowy valleys in the lap of the Himalayas, ranks on the top of the wish list of every traveller. When this small historic train running on Nair Gauge moves forward on the winding tracks of the mountains, it seems as if an old story book has come alive. Overall, there are more than 100 tunnels and more than 800 small and big bridges on this route, each of which welcomes the travelers with a new and very beautiful mountain view as soon as they come out of the tunnel. Sitting at the window seat and looking outside, the deep valleys, the mountains hidden behind the clouds and the colorful rooftops of the local hill villages look so enchanting that one loses track of time. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this toy train journey brings a smile to everyone’s face, from children to the elderly, and in the winter season when there is snowfall on these hills, the route looks like a fairy tale world.
Another such emerging and very surprising route of the Indian Railways is the rail network extending from Baramulla to Banihal in the Kashmir Valley, which works to show the natural beauty of Kashmir very closely. When modern Vande Bharat or other express trains run on the tracks amidst the snowy peaks of the Pir Panjal mountain range and the white blanket of snow spread all around, the view looks like the Alps mountains of a European country. The world’s highest railway arch bridge i.e. Chenab Bridge is also situated on this route, which proves its engineering feat amidst the clouds at a height of hundreds of meters from the river bed. When passengers see the apple orchards, gurgling rivers and traditional wooden houses of Kashmir from the window seat, they cannot help but fall in love with this unforgettable journey. Tourist Vision Vista Dome coaches are also being run on this route by the government and railway administration, through whose glass roofs and large windows, passengers can enjoy 360 degree views of the sky and mountains. All these unique railway routes of India have proved that as exciting as reaching the destination is, the journey that is traveled through the tracks is more beautiful and memorable.