August 7, 2026 7:05 PM IST
August turns India's heritage toy trains into moving postcards. Narrow-gauge tracks curl through pine forests and tea slopes while mist swallows entire carriages whole. Board these 5 iconic mountain railways for a slow, cinematic monsoon ride into the clouds.
DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, WEST BENGAL
The UNESCO-listed DHR loops from Siliguri to Darjeeling through August mist and tea gardens. At Batasia Loop and Ghum — India's highest station at 7,407 ft — clouds spill onto the tracks between glimpses of Kanchenjunga.
NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY, TAMIL NADU
India's only rack railway climbs from Mettupalayam to Coonoor through eucalyptus forest and 208 curves. In August, low clouds pour over Hillgrove and Kallar Bridge, wrapping the blue carriages in a slow-moving Nilgiri fog.
KALKA–SHIMLA RAILWAY, HIMACHAL PRADESH
Another UNESCO gem, this 96-km climb from Kalka to Shimla threads 102 tunnels and 800-odd bridges. August storms turn the pine-clad Shivaliks silver, and the toy train literally disappears into cloud at Barog and Solan.
MATHERAN HILL RAILWAY, MAHARASHTRA
The 21-km Neral–Matheran narrow gauge is India's most cinematic monsoon ride. Red-mud cuttings, thick jungle and swirling Sahyadri mist swallow the little carriages whole — a two-hour cloud tunnel just 3 hours from Mumbai.
KANGRA VALLEY RAILWAY, HIMACHAL PRADESH
The 164-km Pathankot–Jogindernagar line is India's most underrated toy train. In August it curves past monsoon-fed streams under the Dhauladhar range, ducking through fog banks over Palampur's tea gardens.