India is a wonderful country, filled with an unmatched diversity in landscapes and people. India has a lot to offer and in terms of sights and cultures, there are very few places like India that offer such diversity and heritage. There is no better way than using the railroads to explore India. The railways are spread all over the country, with a track length of nearly 70000 kilometres; there are maybe a handful of places which are not covered by the railways.
India is a country which has a very diverse range of terrain and climate, and some of the scenery is simply breath-taking. India is a very popular tourist destination and the travellers often prefer a train journey over any other mode of transportation.
India is home to some of the highest and jagged mountain ranges in the world. One can find small hillocks, rainforests, beautiful towns nestled in its valleys. Some of the sights one can find in India are:
- Western and Eastern Ghats: These mountain ranges are spread across the Western and Eastern coastline of India and offer a sort of protection against winds and other forces of nature. However, its beauty lays in the fact that it there are forests on one side and a shoreline on the other. A lot of trains go around the hills, overlooking these sights and leaving travellers awe-struck and amazed in bewilderment and fascination.
- The Himalayas: The tallest mountain ranges in the world, these are some of the impossible mountains anyone can climb, yet somehow the Indian Railways have managed to lay tracks and establish stations in the mountains. The Darjeeling Mountain Railways are around 2200mts above sea level and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
- Nilgiri Hills: These National parks and hills are a very popular tourist attraction as there is an abundance of beautiful and lush greenery spread across the ranges. There are also many lakes in the area along with indigenous flowering plants that make it a great place for filmmakers and photographers.
- North-eastern Hills: The northeast is a treacherously hilly area, with hundreds of hills rolling around the entire area. In this region, one passes the many lakes of Tripura, the majestic bamboo infested hills of Meghalaya, the serene tea plantations of Assam and so much more.
- Ladakh: This area is mostly a desert and does not even count as a mountain; it is, in fact, a plateau. But since its elevation is quite high, and the fact that the railroads still run in some parts despite the hazardous nature of the place is quite fascinating. It is a gateway for people who want to explore the frigid and arid regions of one of the few cold deserts in the world.
For more information on the trains that run in and around mountains and hills, one can easily find train running information on many websites and travel forums. The summer is the perfect time to plan a trip to these places, as one can peacefully sip on a hot beverage while overlooking green hills.
