Most people think of hill trains as a summer thing. Ask anyone who has done the Kalka-Shimla ride in January, though, and they will tell you winter is better. The air is sharper, the views go further, the crowds are thinner, and on a lucky day there is snow on the pine branches outside your window.
India has a handful of mountain railways that really come alive in the cold months. We have picked four: one in our own backyard in Himachal, one in the eastern Himalaya, one in Kashmir and one in the south. This is not a booking manual. It is a quick feel for each ride, so you can choose the one that suits you, plus some honest tips on how to fit the road part of the trip around it.
Kalka to Shimla: The One Closest to Home
The Kalka-Shimla railway climbs about 96 km from the foothills near Chandigarh to Shimla. On the way it goes through more than a hundred tunnels and over hundreds of old stone bridges. It is part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage listing, and once you are on it you can see why. The train winds so slowly around the hillsides that you often see your own coaches curving ahead of you.
Plan on five to six hours for the climb. That sounds long, but nobody does this ride to save time. Barog station, halfway up, is the usual tea and snack stop, and it sits right next to the longest tunnel on the line. Near the top you pass Summer Hill before rolling into Shimla.
In winter: mornings are cold in the coaches, so keep a jacket handy rather than packed away. January often brings snow to the Shimla end of the line. Fog on the plains can delay the connecting trains from Delhi, so do not plan a tight evening connection on the day you arrive.
Our tip: take the train up and a cab down. The road from Shimla back to Chandigarh takes about three hours, so you get the slow scenic ride without spending a second full day on it. Even better, let the cab carry your big suitcases up by road while you travel light on the train. See our Chandigarh to Shimla taxi and Delhi to Shimla taxi pages, or our Shimla taxi packages if you want to stay a few days.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The Original Toy Train
The little blue toy train from New Jalpaiguri up to Darjeeling is probably the most famous mountain railway in the country. It runs through bazaars so closely that shopkeepers step back to let it pass, then loops around itself at Batasia, where there is a garden and a war memorial with a view straight across to Kanchenjunga.
In winter: this is the season for clear mountain mornings. From November to February you have the best odds of seeing Kanchenjunga without cloud. It gets properly cold at Ghum and Darjeeling, so gloves and a cap are not optional.
Many visitors skip the full climb and take the shorter joyride from Darjeeling to Ghum and back, which covers Batasia in a couple of hours. Landslides sometimes affect the lower section of the line, so check what is running before you plan around it.
The Kashmir Line: The New One
For years the only way into the Kashmir valley in winter was a long road that snow would sometimes shut for days. That has changed. Trains now run all the way from Katra to Srinagar, crossing the Chenab Bridge, which stands higher above its river than any other railway arch bridge in the world, and then running through the long Pir Panjal tunnel into the valley.
In winter: this is the ride for snow. Between December and February the valley stretch past Qazigund and Anantnag is often white on both sides of the track. The line has a reputation for keeping going when the highway is blocked, though a heavy storm can still upset timings. It is fairly new, so seats get booked quickly.
If you are planning Kashmir by road and rail together, have a look at our Kashmir tour packages and the Delhi to Kashmir family trip guide.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway: The Winter Surprise
Ooty is usually a summer escape, so the Nilgiri line is easy to forget in winter. That is a mistake. The train from Mettupalayam climbs about 46 km to Ooty, and on the steepest part it uses a toothed rack between the rails to pull itself up, something you will not see on any other line in the country. It is also on the UNESCO list.
In winter: days are cool and clear, the tea gardens around Coonoor are deep green, and Ooty mornings can have frost on the grass. It is the gentlest weather of the four, so it suits families and older travellers who do not want serious cold.
The uphill ride takes around five hours and the train is short, so book early. Coonoor is a good place to break the journey if you would rather not do it all in one go.
Which One Should You Pick?
- Want it easy and close to Delhi? Kalka-Shimla. You can do it on a long weekend.
- Love old railways and tea towns? Darjeeling.
- Want snow and big engineering? The Kashmir line.
- Want winter without the cold? The Nilgiris.
There is one more in Himachal worth knowing about: the Kangra valley line from Pathankot, with the Dhauladhar range for company. Parts of it have been closed for repairs in recent years, so check what is running. If you are heading that way anyway, our Dharamshala and McLeodganj winter guide covers the area by road.
A Few Honest Tips Before You Book
- Book through IRCTC or the official railway channels, and check the current timetable. Winter schedules can change.
- These trains have only a few coaches. Christmas, New Year and long weekends sell out first.
- Leave a buffer around connecting trains. North Indian fog in December and January causes real delays.
- Carry water, a snack and warm layers. Vendors are not on every stretch.
- Travel light on the train. Big bags and narrow mountain coaches do not mix.
Pairing the Train With a Cab
The train is the highlight, but you still need to reach the station and get around once you arrive. For the Shimla side, Hire Himachal Cab publishes simple starting rates: a Swift Dzire or Toyota Etios from ₹2,300 a day, a Maruti Ertiga from ₹3,500 and an Innova Crysta from ₹4,500 (T&C apply). Fuel, tolls and driver allowance are included as per our terms. Parking and some entry fees vary by route.
A common plan we run every winter: pickup in Delhi or Chandigarh, drop at Kalka station, luggage goes up by road, pickup at Shimla station, two days of local sightseeing, then the drive home. You can also add Manali with our Shimla Manali taxi packages. For bigger groups, we have Tempo Travellers too.
Winter Train Journeys: Frequently Asked Questions
1Does the Kalka-Shimla toy train run in winter?
Yes, it runs all year. Heavy snowfall near Shimla can delay or occasionally cut short a service for a day or two, so keep your plans loose around a big snow spell and check the running status before you leave.
2How long does the Kalka to Shimla train take?
Roughly five to six hours for the 96 km climb, depending on the train. By road the same stretch takes about three hours, which is why many travellers take the train up and a cab back down.
3Can I take the toy train one way and a cab the other?
Yes, and it is the plan we suggest most. A Hire Himachal Cab driver can drop you at Kalka, carry your heavy bags up to Shimla by road and meet you at the station, or pick you up in Shimla for the drive back to Chandigarh or Delhi.
4Can I see snow from these trains?
Snow is likely on the Kashmir valley line between December and February and possible near Shimla in January. The Darjeeling and Nilgiri lines are about clear mountain views and cool, misty air rather than snow. Snowfall is never guaranteed.
5How early should I book toy train tickets in winter?
As early as you can, especially for Christmas, New Year and long weekends. The mountain trains have only a few coaches, so seats go quickly. Book through IRCTC or the official railway channels and check the current timetable first.
6How much does a cab from Chandigarh or Delhi cost for a Shimla trip?
Hire Himachal Cab day rates start at ₹2,300 per day for a Swift Dzire or Toyota Etios, ₹3,500 for a Maruti Ertiga and ₹4,500 for an Innova Crysta (T&C apply). Ask for a written quote for your exact route and dates.
Hire Himachal Cab
Phone: +91-6230261947
Email: hirehimachalcab@gmail.com
Address: Mohin-Gopalpur Road, Sarkaghat, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175007
Photo credits: Kalka-Shimla train at Summer Hill by Rajani Gairshail (CC BY-SA 4.0); other photos as credited in captions. All via Wikimedia Commons.
