Editor's list · 7 entries31.0k reads
7 train rides worth the ticket
Toy trains, palace-on-wheels, and the world's steepest gradient.
editorialupdated 20 Aug 2026
1
Darjeeling Himalayan
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the only excuse to sit in a rattling 610 mm gauge coach while the world slides past in tea‑clouds and screaming mist, and it deserves a slot in any hill‑state itinerary – but only if you can stomach the…
2
Konkan Railway
A Funky India editor's pick for “7 train rides worth the ticket”.
3
Kalka–Shimla
The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a 108‑kilometre, 2 ft 6 in track that climbs 1,500 metres through pine‑clad valleys, craggy viaducts and sleepy hill‑stations; it is less a transport solution than a moving postcard you can endure for four to…
4
Palace on Wheels
A Funky India editor's pick for “7 train rides worth the ticket”.
5
Maharajas' Express
A Funky India editor's pick for “7 train rides worth the ticket”.
6
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, affectionately called the “Toy Train,” is the only rack railway in India and, if you can stomach the wobbly carriage, a surprisingly efficient way to slice through the hill country between Mettupalayam and…
7
Vivek Express
A Funky India editor's pick for “7 train rides worth the ticket”.
One dispatch a month