5 hill stations in India where the toy train still runs

In an age where Google Maps shows you the way, and airport kiosks beep at your ID, there’s still a way to travel that doesn’t require a boarding pass or GPS, just patience, curiosity, and a soft corner for slow travel. We are talking about toy trains. These miniature marvels have been puffing along mountainsides since the British decided that hill stations were the only way to survive Indian summers.

Here's a list of Indian hill towns you can still reach by toy train—and why it’s worth ditching the highway (or helipad) for a window seat that takes you on a journey you might have never experienced. So, let’s get travelling!

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is a UNESCO World Heritage ride that starts at New Jalpaiguri and climbs to 6,812 ft over 88 km, with loops, zigzags, and a journey full of excitement. You’ll pass through Ghum, India’s highest railway station, and if you're lucky, catch Kanchenjunga peeking out in the morning. Also, the train literally runs through local markets, so you know what this ride will turn out to be.

The Kalka–Shimla Railway is where colonial charm meets pine-scented mountain air. Built in 1903, this engineering marvel winds through 102 tunnels and crosses more than 800 bridges as it climbs into the Himalayas. The journey begins in steamy Kalka and ends in shawl-clad Shimla, where sipping tea with a view feels mandatory. And at scenic Barog station, don’t be too surprised if a monkey decides to join the ride.

This is the only hill station in Asia that has banned motor vehicles, and we love her for it. The Neral–Matheran toy train is a narrow-gauge track that seems to defy gravity and logic as it snakes up the Western Ghats. The ride is slow, squeaky, and full of charm. And since there are no honking cars in Matheran, your lungs (and ears) will thank you.

This is the only hill station in Asia that has banned motor vehicles, and we love her for it. The Neral–Matheran toy train is a narrow-gauge track that seems to defy gravity and logic as it snakes up the Western Ghats. The ride is slow, squeaky, and full of charm. And since there are no honking cars in Matheran, your lungs (and ears) will thank you.

Okay yes, it’s technically on the Darjeeling route, but Kurseong deserves its own shoutout. Known as the “Land of White Orchids,” this quiet little hill town lets you hop off the toy train and into tea gardens that smell like monsoon.

Toy trains aren’t just rides—they’re an experience. You don’t take them to save time, you take them to slow down, breathe in the mountain air, and enjoy the journey. Sometimes, life feels better when you’re not in a hurry.