From snow-capped mountains to desert forts, North India is full of various landscapes, which will surely stir up your sense of adventure and curiosity and make your train journey all the more exciting. A train journey across North India is not only the most convenient but one of the most scenic means of travel. RailMitra can help you to make your train journey more convenient as well as show some of the most scenic railway routes in North India. Featuring such scenic trips will motivate travelers to use train journeys due to the visual attractiveness and adventures of such travels.
Amritsar, Punjab
Amritsar should be on your list if you plan to visit North India via train. The city features the famous Golden Temple and also bears the historic significance as it contains the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial. The evening Wagah Border retreat ceremony takes place here daily. The city is easy to reach as it can be accessed by direct trains from Delhi, Chandigarh, and other cities of North India.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Amritsar Junction |
| Known for | Golden Temple, Wagah Border, Punjabi cuisine |
| Ideal trip length | 2 to 3 days |
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
The experience of travelling to Shimla through trains such as the UNESCO heritage Kalka Shimla toy train through its pines, tunnels, and mountain views will be an exciting one.
In addition to visiting Shimla’s Mall road, Christ Church, Jakhu temple, you will be enjoying the cool weather which makes Shimla a great summer vacation destination.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Shimla Railway Station via Kalka |
| Known for | Colonial architecture, toy train, mountain views |
| Ideal trip length | 2 to 4 days |
Rishikesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand
The twin towns of spirituality are situated alongside the banks of river Ganges and can be easily accessed through trains via the city of Delhi, where Haridwar becomes the connecting railway station.
The famous Har Ki Pauri evening Ganga Aarti happens in Haridwar, and Rishikesh is now a worldwide recognized place for yoga and adventure sports such as white water rafting.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Haridwar Junction |
| Known for | Ganga Aarti, yoga retreats, river rafting |
| Ideal trip length | 2 to 3 days |
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur, being the entry point to Rajasthan, boasts of a wealth of history as well as culture and, thus, emerges as one of the best places to visit via trains in North India. One will find in Jaipur the Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and bustling bazaars selling clothes, jewelry and other artifacts.
Jaipur can be easily visited from Delhi, Agra and other major cities owing to speedy and frequent trains.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Jaipur Junction |
| Known for | Forts, palaces, local markets |
| Ideal trip length | 3 days |
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
No list of top train destinations in North India would be exhaustive without mentioning the destination of Agra famous for Taj Mahal. Fast trains from Delhi make it possible to reach Agra on day trips, but it would also be better if visitors stay here for an overnight stay in order to visit Agra Fort as well as Fatehpur Sikri. Prior to travelling to Agra, the passengers can verify their train bookings by using RailMitra PNR Status facility.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Agra Cantt |
| Known for | Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Mughal architecture |
| Ideal trip length | 1 to 2 days |
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi provides a unique spiritual experience that cannot be matched in any other place. The experience of seeing the sun rise from a boat in the river Ganges amidst the temple bells and rituals has been termed as a transformational experience by many visitors.
Varanasi enjoys connectivity through long distance trains, some of which are fast trains, reducing travel time from Delhi to a great extent.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Varanasi Junction |
| Known for | Ganga ghats, ancient temples, Sarnath nearby |
| Ideal trip length | 2 to 3 days |
Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh
Dharamshala can be recommended for people who prefer mountains and monasteries and wish to enjoy a quiet lifestyle. Pathankot is the nearest station to Dharamshala, from where people usually travel to the city by road.
McLeod Ganj, which is the upper part of Dharamshala, is where the Dalai Lama lives, and there is a strong presence of Tibetan culture.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Pathankot Junction |
| Known for | Tibetan culture, monasteries, trekking |
| Ideal trip length | 3 to 4 days |
Nainital, Uttarakhand
Nainital is one of the prettiest lakes in North India, situated amidst hills and having a good climate for the majority of the year. The nearest railhead is that of Kathgodam, and it requires a scenic journey up the hills to reach there.
The main lake of the town, the opportunity to go boating, and the vantage point of Naina Peak makes Nainital a popular destination for families and couples.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Kathgodam |
| Known for | Naini Lake, hill views, pleasant weather |
| Ideal trip length | 2 to 3 days |
Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu acts as the main railhead for those tourists who want to visit Kashmir. Jammu is also a city which deserves a visit, as it has some temples in it, with the most important being the temple of Vaishno Devi located just outside the city limits.
Further, travel to Kashmir from Jammu can be done via road, although the rail lines have extended into the valley every year.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest railway station | Jammu Tawi |
| Known for | Vaishno Devi, gateway to Kashmir |
| Ideal trip length | 1 to 2 days, plus onward travel |
Tips for Exploring North India by Train
Here are a few tips that will help you make train journeys easier in this region.
- Purchase tickets early, especially during summer vacations or festival seasons, because popular routes tend to fill up fast.
- Group nearby locations into your trip, such as Agra along with Jaipur, or Haridwar with Rishikesh, in order to save on travel time.
- Traveling at night is a good idea for covering long distances without wasting a day on transit.
- Be prepared to be flexible when traveling to hilly destinations because roads from railway stations might take longer to cover during the monsoons.
- Download the IRCTC app for live train status and quick ticket bookings.
Final Thoughts
The diverse range of spiritual destinations, mountain resorts, and ancient towns of North India is what makes this destination one of the best places to explore through the railways. With an extensive railway system, you can have everything from exploring the forts in deserts to having glimpses of the Himalayas.