India by train

Shatabdi 

Agra
Once the capital of the brilliant Mughal rulers, Agra has history stamped on every brick of its numerous monuments. The places of interest include the Taj Mahal - a poetic monument to love; the Agra Fort with the Pearl Mosque, some lovely palaces and pavilions and Fatehpur Sikri a fascinating ghost town.

Lucknow
The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is the artistic hub of this region.Lucknow is the artistic hub of this region. Lucknow's culture, cusine, crafts - especially chikan work, charming poetry and a melliflouous language, all remind one of the age of courtesy and romance. The scarred brick buildings of the Residency, the Bara and Chhota Imambaras, Jama Masjid, Rumi Darwaza, the Clock Tower, the Picture Gallery , Aminabad and Hazarat Ganj, all tell vivid tales of the city's past.

Dehra Dun
Dehra Dun set in the Doon Valley in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most picturesque regions in the foothills of the panoramic Shivalik ranges. Enjoyable throughout the year because of its salubrious climate, Dehra Dun is a popular spot and an appropriate base for tourists visiting Haridwar, Rishikesh and the charming hill resort of Missouri.

Amritsar 
Situated on the north western borders of india in Punjab, the 400 year old city of Amritsar is the most important seat of Sikh history and culture. The city houses the sacred shrine - the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht - the immortal throne, the Sikh Museum and the Durgiana Mandir.


Bhopal
The city of Bhopal - the capital of Madhya Pradesh is very impressive with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. Sites to visit in this historic city are: Taj-ul-Masjid, Juma Masjid, Moti Masjid, Shaukat Mahal, Sadar Manzil, Bharat Bhawan - the centre for performing and visual arts and the Tribal Habitat - a presentation of contemporary tribal cultures.

Mysore
140 kms from Bangalore and 770 m above sea level, the city of Mysore was once the capital of the Wodeyar rulers. It still retains its quaint charm.
The Brindavan Gardens, ornamental and terraced with swirling fountains and colorful fairy lights, attract thousands of visitors. The Mysore Palace, St Philomena's Church, Mysore Zoo, Chamundi Hills with the Chamundeshwari Temple, the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery are other interesting spots to visit.

Some Shatabdi routes 
New Delhi-Agra Cantt. Daily
New Delhi-Bhopal Daily 
New Delhi-Lucknow Daily
New Delhi-Kalka Daily
New Delhi-Chandigarh Daily
New Delhi-Amritsar Daily
New Delhi-Dehra Dun Except Wed.
New Delhi-Jaipur Except Sun.
Mumbai (Central)-Ahmedabad Except Fri.
Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore Except Tues.
Chennai-Coimbatore Except Wed.
Calcutta (Howrah)-Bokaro Except Sun.
Calcutta (Howrah)-Rourkela Except Sat


Toy Train 

Hey, Rail enthusiasts! If you have some time to spare, then take a slow toy train up to the hill resorts of Shimla, Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Darjeeling or Matheran. There is nothing to match the experience of chugging up the hills, past little hamlets and terraced field, making your way through tunnels and over breathtaking bridges. Its leisurely pace offers you a panoramic view of changing vistas. The invigorating air and the delights of scenic hill resorts provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Major destinations of the Toy Train 

Shimla
The toy train journey from Kalka to Shimla is entrancing with 107 tunnels and lofty arched bridges. The dazzling view and the stops at the picturesque station along the way- Dharampore, Taksal, Gamma and Solan, all add up to an exhilarating experience.

Access to Shimla 
Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, 'the toy train' covers 96 kms of track in six hours.

Major trains to Kalka 
Himalayan Queen. Delhi-Kalka Daily
Shatabdi Express Delhi-Kalka Daily
Howrah Kalka Mail Howrah-Kalka Daily

Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway starts from the town of Mettupalayam and thus begins a journey full of twists and turns, as this narrow gauge train ascends 46 kms, on its way to the hill resort of Ooty. At a maximum speed of 33 kms per hour, this 'toy train' treks across plains, plantations and forest clad hills. The 16 tunnels and tall girder bridges on the way, along with the breathtaking view, make this toy train journey to Ooty, something not to be missed.

Access to Ooty
Ooty is connected by a narrow gauge line from Mettupalayam, which serves as the railhead for mainline trains.

Major trains to Mettupalayam 
The Nilgiri Express connects Mettupalayam with Chennai daily. Coimbatore the nearest city is 90 kms away and linked to all the major cities by rail. Mettupalayam is easily accessible from Coimbatore by frequent bus or train services.

Darjeeling
The most famous of the little trains, is the one linking the town of New Jalpaiguri in the plains to the lovely hill station of Darjeeling. With a 2 ft gauge, the Darjeeling Hill Railway is indeed a 'toy train', being the narrowest of the regular narrow gauges. The tiny century-old engine is a connoisseur's delight. The 86 kms Darjeeling line has no tunnels, thus allowing the traveller an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. The seven-and-a-half hour ride up, is a journey especially for rail buffs.

Access to Darjeeling 
New Jalpaiguri, the starting point of the hill train to Darjeeling, has direct connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other places in India.

Major trains to New Jalpaiguri:
Darjeeling Mail. Calcutta (Sealdh)-New Jalpaiguri Daily
Kamrup Express Calcutta (Howrah)-Guwahati Daily
Dadar-Guwahati Express Mumbai-Guwahati Wed & Sat.

Matheran
The 77 year old line, connecting Neral (on main line of Central Railway) to Matheran, is the main way to reach the tiny hill resort, close to Mumbai. As the little train wheezes up into the clear mountain air, one can view the scenic vista of hills and plains below. The lack of vehicular traffic at Matheran makes it an unusual and peaceful retreat.

Access to Matheran 
The toy train to Matheran commences from Neral (on Mumbai-Pune line), reached from Mumbai by a local train.The journey up to Matheran from Neral takes about one-and -a-half hours. The toy train runs between sunrise and sunset.


Konkan Railway

Mumbai-Goa-Thiruvananthapuram
A breathtaking journey, traversing the beautiful Konkan Coast with the Konkan Railway, is a 1000 km.long adventure on rails. A marvel of civil engineering, the Konkan Coast Project, which is under construction, will soon open up for the tourists, the picturesque west coast of India - taking them through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
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Major destinations of the Konkan Railway 

Goa
Goa is a tourist's paradise with uninterrupted miles of dazzlingly beautiful beaches - golden stretches against aquamarine expanses.The Calangute and Baga beaches, the Colva Beach, Dona Paula overlooking the Zuari estuary, Vagator, the serene Aguada and the enchanting Palolem, all offer exciting water sports and holiday resorts for visitors.
Old Goa, near Panaji, the capital city, has a collection of magnificent churches - the Basilica of Bom Jesus with the miraculously preserved body of St. Francis Xavier; the Sea Cathedral; the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Convent of Santa Monica.
 
Thiruvananthapuram
The capital of Kerala is a charming city with its swaying coconut palms and beautiful beaches. Admire the majestic gopuram of the temple of Shri Padmanabhaswamy - the reigning deity of the city. The Kawdiyar Palace, residence of the former Maharaja; the Napier Museum and the Chithra Art Gallery, add interest to your visit. The beautifully carved Padmanabhapuram Palace is not far away and is enroute to Kanyakumari. The delightful beach at Kovalam entices you with its exquisite white sands. The green fringe of palms sway with the soft breeze and the azure blue waters of the bay invite you to go for a swim in the sea.