Mountain Railways of India

Even though the Indian railway system connects the nooks and corners of India, perhaps the most fascinating routes are those where the train climbs up the mountain to take you to hill stations. These toy trains were built by the British in late 19th century and early 20th century to connect the plains with hill settlements. These railways are such marvels of engineering solutions that three of them- The Kalka-Shimla railway, the Nilgiri mountain railway, and Darjeeling Himalayan railway have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Kalka_Shimla railway

Covering a distance of 96 kilometers in six hours, this railway was designed and executed during the late 19th century. The route has 102 tunnels, 864 bridges, 20 stations and an amazing 900 curves. It gives you one of the most beautiful train journeys in India, taking you through the Himalayan mountains.

Nilgiri mountain railway

This line covers 46 kilometres of mountainous landscape in Tamil Nadu state from Mettupalayam. It climbs through jungles eventually terminating at Udhagamandalam or Ooty. Watching from the train as it winds its way up,

you can see rocky terrain, lush tea plantations, ravines, and thickly forested hills. The route passes over 250 bridges and 16 tunnels. A unique feature of this railway is that it is run by a heritage coal powered steam engine from Mettupalayam to Coonoor.

It is also called the ‘Blue mountain railway’ due to the colour of the coaches.

Darjeeling Himalayan railway

Darjeeling Himalayan railway starts from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Darjeeling covering a distance of 88 kilometres in seven-and-a-half hours. It is

the oldest of India’s mountain railways having been completed in 1881. The route has 8 major bridges, 542 minor ones and 177 unmanned level crossings. The train moves through hairpin bends, serpentine tracks, and switchbacks to enable the train to climb up at a sustainable grade.

Matheran Hill railway in Maharashtra and Kangra valley railway are the two other mountain railways in India. Matheran railway, opened in 1907 connects Neral to Matheran and is the only transport to reach this hill station, as all

motorized vehicles are banned. This route has the sharpest curves as compared to any other line, and takes more than two hours to complete the 21 kilometres ride.

Kangra valley railway connects Pathankot in Punjab to Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, taking more than 9 hours, covering a distance of 164 kilometres and crosses about 950 bridges. There are only two tunnels on this route, which gives an undisturbed view of mountains and valleys.

At various times, I have traveled by the Kalka-Shimla railway, Nilgiri mountain railway and Matheran hill railway. Each route has their own scenic beauty. Due to the many curves, the sight of the snake like long winding coaches from the windows is a unique treat. Unlike the regular trains, these trains travel by the narrow gauge and therefore the coaches are very small and it feels like traveling by a toy train. Since these trains travel very slowly, it is a joy to savor the beautiful and constantly changing scenery. In fact, I remember, during the Matheran journey, I got down and walked for some distance along with the train.

Constructed by the British to escape the blistering summers, mountain trains are a marvel of engineering with most of them built over a century ago. These railway networks also helped in social and economic upliftment of people living in remote areas. They have also played a major role in promoting the tea industry as two of these trains pass through tea plantations. Traveling by one or more of these special trains is an experience not to be missed.