6 most breathtaking rail-routes of India

Indian railways has not just been an integral part of transportation in the country, but has played a vital role in making our childhood more fun-filled. One of the best parts about growing in 90's was to travel in trains. The memories of reaching railway platforms, fighting for the window seat, buying stuff in train and the pleasure of travelling in the ‘chuk-chuk gaadi' made our childhood complete. While we all have travelled numerous times in trains across the country, yet there are certain rail routes in India that are so stunning that no matter how many times you travel by through routes, they still seem as breathtaking as they looked on the first sight:Himalayan QueenThe railway route from Kalka to Shimla is one of the best railway routes in India. One gets to travel by a toy train, which surely make you feel nostalgic about your childhood. During the 96 km long journey the train passes through 102 tunnels and 82 bridges, the journey will give you a thrilling experience right from the beginning to the end.While it takes around 5 hours to reach the destination, one can witness the picturesque beauty of the Himalayas from pine trees, oak, Rhododendron forests, Deodar to beautiful hills and valleys. This journey is no less a treat for the eyes.Mandovi ExpressThis railway route connects the two most talked about cities of the country – The city of dreams – Mumbai and the popular vacation spot - Goa. Mumbai is known for its busy and glamorous life while Goa is known for its vacation mood. The train passes through 92 tunnels and 2000 bridges, between these two places. One gets to experience the scenic beauty of Sahyadari hills and the Arabian sea and much more throughout the journey.Goa Express Goa Express runs for Vasco Da Gama in Goa to Londa in Karnataka. The journey gives you a stunning view of the natural beauty, as it moves up to the Western Ghats. Throughout the journey, one can experience the complete change of nature as precarious curves of the mountains take over the lush green vegetation.The best part of this rail route is the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The milky water cascading from a height of 310 meters at first appears like narrow milky streams. The best time to travel on this route is right after the monsoon. Darjeeling Himalayan railwayOne of the most special rail routes of India, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways is another exciting toy train journey that runs from Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. This breathtaking journey of 78 km passes through a series of landscapes, altitudes, tea gardens, dense forests and weather changes as the train moves from the plain land of Jalpaiguri to the hilly area of Darjeeling. One can also get a chance to catch a glimpse of the great Kanchenjunga peak from the window of your train.Mandapam – Pamban – RameswaramThis railway route is known as one of the most dangerous routes in the country. Mandapam to Rameswaram is a sea bridge route spread over 2 km with 143 piers, this route is the only transport link between Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India. While the Pambam-Rameswaram bridge is the pride of Indian Railways, it is also the second longest bridge in India.Jodhpur to JaisalmerWhile most of the rail routes cover the thriving greenery of India, the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer rail route on the contrary will take you to the sight of a never ending dessert. As the train travels in the dessert of Thar one can come across the true essence of Rajasthan, the bright sight of yellow sand dunes stretching over miles, the colourful traditional mud huts, the rural lifestyle and the herd of camels. This will surely change the stereotype image of the dessert that desserts are just a barren land.