It’s that time of year again when the air smells faintly of bonfires, chai feels like a warm hug, and travel dreams shift from beaches to misty hills. And if there’s one thing that beats a winter road trip, it’s curling up by a train window while fog wraps itself around the landscape. There’s something deeply cinematic about it – the rhythmic clatter of wheels, a thermos of coffee, and strangers becoming temporary friends.
For those who crave slow travel with scenery so good it makes your camera weep, these winter train journeys across India are pure poetry on rails. Just check out cheap flight tickets to your nearest boarding point, grab a jacket that can survive mountain wind, and get ready for some of the best train journeys in India this season.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Kalka–Shimla Toy Train
Image credit: Unsplash/shalender kumar
Duration: Around 5 hours
Route: Kalka → Shimla (96 km)
This one’s a straight-up fairytale. Built in 1903, this UNESCO World Heritage route winds through 102 tunnels and over 800 bridges. The winter train ride feels like gliding through a snow globe of pine trees powdered in white, sleepy stations smelling of momos and tea, and mountain villages straight out of a painting. Secure personalized Shimla tour packages to explore!
If luck is on your side, you’ll catch snowflakes dancing past the window near Barog Tunnel. Locals swear that’s where the ghost of the engineer still whistles at passing trains; so, reserve the best hotels in Shimla to find out. P.S. Mall Road offers the best vistas.
Attractions: Barog Tunnel, Solan town, Tara Devi Temple, and Shimla Ridge.
2. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Image credit: Unsplash/shalender kumar
Duration: 7 hours
Route: New Jalpaiguri → Darjeeling (88 km)
This isn’t just a train, it’s nostalgia with wheels. The winter trains here are tiny, their whistles echoing through tea gardens and colonial-era towns. You can smell the damp earth, the burning coal, and freshly brewed Darjeeling tea wafting in from hillside stalls. Can you imagine it already? Secure those customizable Darjeeling tour packages then.
As the train spirals up the mountains, the fog plays hide-and-seek with the tracks. Don’t miss Batasia Loop, the 360° curve that gives a postcard view of Kanchenjunga glowing gold at sunrise.
Attractions: Batasia Loop, Ghum Monastery (the highest station in India), and tea gardens.
Explore: Top 8 Fastest Trains in India: Trains That Will Leave Flights in the Dust
3. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Duration: 5 hours
Route: Mettupalayam → Ooty (46 km)
Built by the British in 1908, this steep-climb wonder takes you from tropical plains to chilly cloud kingdoms. The winter train journeys here twist through eucalyptus forests that smell divine and tunnels that echo with the chatter of excited tourists. Secure reservations at the best hotels in Ooty to experience this for days on end!
It’s slow, but that’s the point. You get time to wave at villagers, snap misty valleys, and feel time stretch like a lazy Sunday morning with fun Ooty tour packages.
Attractions: Coonoor tea estates, Ketti Valley, and Lovedale station.
4. Kangra Valley Railway
Duration: 9 hours
Route: Pathankot → Joginder Nagar (164 km)
This lesser-known gem is among the top 10 train journeys in India for nature lovers. The line snakes through the Dhauladhar mountains, offering views of pine, rivers, and temples peeking through mist. In winter, it’s pure poetry: golden sunlight, icy streams, shepherds wrapped in shawls.
Half the joy is in the stillness of the ride, greeted by tiny stations where vendors sell hot pakoras and stories.
Attractions: Kangra Fort (built around 400 BC), Palampur tea gardens, and Baijnath Temple.
5. Vasco Da Gama–Londa Express
Image credit: Unsplash/penta sathwik
Duration: 3 hours
Route: Goa → Karnataka (100 km)
From sea breeze to dense forest, this route proves scenic train journeys in India can fit in a morning. The train zips past coconut groves, spice farms, and waterfalls that look straight out of a novel. In winter, Dudhsagar Falls steals the show, cascading like milk from heaven, so why wait to secure cheap flights to Goa and begin?
Reserve budget and luxury hotels in Kolkata to bask in the wonder that awaits you!
Attractions: Dudhsagar Falls, Mollem National Park, and the majestic Western Ghats.
Discover: Beautiful Train Journeys in India: Bollywood Movie Views.
6. Jammu–Baramulla (Kashmir Valley Railway)
Image credit: Pixabay/WikiImages
Duration: 9 hours
Route: Jammu Tawi → Baramulla (356 km)
Few winter train rides can match this one. Snow-capped peaks, frozen rivers, pine forests, and more, it’s like watching a National Geographic episode through your window unfold.
Every turn feels surreal, but reserving the best hotels in Kashmir only enhances the experience. The train dives into tunnels, bursts out into sunlight, and glides past saffron fields under frost. In February, icicles hang from the platforms, and locals sell hot kehwa tea that warms both fingers and soul. Explore the destination with budget-friendly Kashmir tour packages, with inclusive India trains booking.
Attractions: Chenab Bridge (world’s highest railway arch), Qazigund, and Srinagar valley.
7. Palace on Wheels
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days
Route: Delhi → Jaipur → Udaipur → Jaisalmer → Jodhpur → Agra → Delhi
Now for the royal ride. The Palace on Wheels isn’t just a train; it’s a moving luxury hotel. Plush cabins, champagne breakfasts, staff in turbans – it’s like time-traveling to the Maharaja era.
In winter, Rajasthan’s desert chills to a cozy 10°C, making it perfect for sightseeing. You roll past forts glowing in morning light, bazaars bursting with colours, and palaces that tell stories in silence. Hop on cheap flights to Delhi to begin one of the best winter train rides in the world!
Attractions: Amber Fort, Lake Pichola, Jaisalmer dunes, and Taj Mahal.
Which will be your first choice from the best winter train journeys India? If you’ve already seen it all and are looking for a complete switch, apply for online visa services for 180+ countries to begin!
Summing Up
Winter turns Indian railways into a traveller’s dreamscape. From the snowy Shimla route to the royal Palace on Wheels, these winter train journeys blend scenery, nostalgia, and soul. Each offers a story of chai, chatter, and chilly mornings on steel tracks. For those chasing magic, not miles, these are the best winter train rides you’ll ever take, that are slow, scenic, and unforgettable.
FAQs: Winter Train Journeys
What place is best to visit in winter in India?
Some of the best places to visit in winter in India are Kashmir, Darjeeling, Shimla, and Ooty, especially if you’re travelling by train.
What is the most beautiful train journey in India?
Some of the most beautiful train journeys in India are the Kalka Shimla Toy Train ride, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Which are the best winter train journeys India from Mumbai?
The Konkan Rail to Goa, the Matheran Rail, and the Palace on Wheels are some of the best winter train journeys in India from Mumbai.
Also Read:
- Train Travel in India: Helpful Tips for a Worry-Free Trip.
- Best Scenic Train Journeys in Sri Lanka
- Indian Railway News: 6 Items That Could Derail Your Diwali Escape 2025
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