Hill Railways of India was established during British Raj. Railways were developed in India for better communication and transportation by Britishers to Exploit India’s Wealth Efficiently. Britishers also developed the concept of Hill Stations in India. Kolkata was India's capital and Darjeeling was India's summer capital.
Hill Railways of India at a glimpse
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), given the nickname “the Toy Train,11 is a 610-millimetre (2 ft) narrow-gauge railway that runs 88 kilometres (55 mi) between Siliguri and Darjeeling.
Darjeeling is famous for its Tea and Titaura
Darjeeling is a significant summer hill station and the centre of a flourishing tea-growing district in West Bengal. More than a century old and one of the most well-known railways in the world, it was accorded the status of a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.
The experience of travelling on this engineering marvel is unforgettable. A glimpse of the magnificent Kanchenjunga mountain range, on a clear day, enthrals the visitor.
The DHR offers special Joy Rides between Darjeeling and Ghum, a full train on charter, and Jungle Safari during the tourist season.
Railways And Tourism of the magnificent Kanchenjunga mountain range, on a clear day, enthrals the visitor.
The land once ridden by formidable armies Is now traversed by the world’s unique luxury train.
The Golden Chariot beckons you to discover worlds that are enriched with history and culture. Recline and relax as the magnificent scenery unfolds outside your window with luxury on the Inside, thus far reserved for royalty.
The Golden Chariot presents a fine balance between a glorious yesterday and an omnipresent tomorrow In the magical land of Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. It is being operated by Indian Railways in association with Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.
The fully air-conditioned train comprising of 11 passenger saloons, 2 restaurant coaches, 1 spa and gym car, and 1 bar cum lounge car began operation in the year 2008 covering the states of Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Itineraries
1. Pride of South: Bengaluru – Mysore-Hassan-Hospet-Badami-Goa- Bengaluru
2. Southern Splendour: Bengaluru-Chennai/Mahabalipuram-Puducherry- Tanjavur/Trichy-Madurai-Kanyakumari/Kovalam-Kocchuveli-Aleppy- Kochi-Bengaluru.
Website: www.goldenchariot.org
The Deccan Odyssey is also a luxury tourist train being operated by Indian Railways in association with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Experience the finest and the best of train journeys in the world.
The Deccan Odyssey is more than a mere luxury train cruise. A lavishly decorated train that transports its guests on an unforgettable sojourn on different itineraries covering different parts of the country.
The Deccan Odyssey offers accommodation in 40 deluxe cabins with 10 coaches. It also has 4 presidential suites in 2 cars, 1 Conference car with a business centre, 2 restaurants, a well-stocked bar, and a spa with steam, massage, a mini gym, and a parlour.
Other facilities include channel music, intercom, CD/MP3 player, wall-to-wall carpeting, money exchange/credit card facility, safety & security arrangements, health spa, bar, and conference equipment.
Itineraries:
Mumbai-Nashik-Aurangabad-Jalgaon/Pachora-Kolhapur Karmali/Madgaon-Sawantwadi-Mumbai
Mumbai-Vishwamitri-Palitana-Veraval-Viramgam-Patan-Nashik-Mumbai
Mumbai-Vishwamitri-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Sawai Madhopur-Agra-Jaipur- Delhi Madhopur-Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur-Vadodara-Aurangabad
Mumbai-Bijapur-Badami-Hospet/Hampi-Hyderabad-Aurangabad- Jalgaon/Pachora-Mumbai
Mumbai-Aurangabad-Ramtek-Varroa-Jalgaon/Pachora-Nashik-Mumbai
Mumbai-Udaipur-Jaipur-Delhi-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra-Varanasi-Siliguri.
Siliguri-Varanasi-Agra-Jaipur-Ranthambore-Udaipur-Vadodara-Mumbai.
Mumbai-Hospet-Mysuru-Madurai-Tanjavur-Mahabalipuram-Hyderabad- Mumbai.
Mumbdhopur-Jodhpai-Goa-Ooty-Kochi-Trivandrum-Kanyakumari- Madurai-Pondicherry-Chennai.
Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Sawai Maur-Jaisalmer-Udaipur-Mumbai.
Website: www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
Kalka-Shimla Railway runs between Kalka and Shimla Hill Railways of India.
The railroad is 95.66 kilometres (59.44 mi) long, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge line.
Shimla is the modern capital of Himachal Pradesh and is located at an elevation of 2,205 meters (7,234 ft) in the foothills of the Himalayas.
The railway line was constructed by the Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company, beginning in 1898 in the Siwalik Hills, and was completed in 1903.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway has 103 tunnels and 864 bridges. The Kalka-Shimla Railway joined the Nilgiri and Darjeeling lines as a World Heritage Site in 2008.
The Kangra Valley Railway lies in the sub-Himalayan region of Kangra Valley and covers a distance of 164 km (101.9 mi) from Pathankot, Punjab to Jogindemagar in Himachal Pradesh, India.
The Kangra valley railway comes under the Firozpur division of the Northern Railway.
The highest point on this line is at Ahju station at an elevation of 1,290 meters (4,230 ft).
The railway line was planned in May 1926 and commissioned in 1929.
The line has two tunnels, one of which is 250 ft (76 m) and the other 1,000 ft (300 m) in length, 6 trains run from Pathankot on a daily basis of which two are up to Joginder Nagar and four are up to Baijnath Parola.
The Matheran Hill Railway covers a distance of 20 kilometres between Neral and Matheran in the Western Ghats.
The construction of the Matheran Hill Railway began in 1904 and was completed in 1907.
The original tracks were built using 30-pounds-per-yard rails but were later updated with heavier 42-pounds-per-yard rails.
Until the 1980s, the railway was closed during monsoon season due to the increased risk of landslides, but it is now kept open throughout the year.
The line is administered by Central Railways.
Matheran hill railway is located in which state of India? Matheran hill railway is located in the state of Maharastra, India.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 kilometres (29 mi) long-meter gauge, single-line railroad that connects the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ootacamund).
The route is located within the state of Tamil Nadu and travels through the Nilgiri Hills, which are popularly known as the Blue Mountains of Southern India.
The line contains 208 curves, 16 tunnels, and 250 bridges, causing the uphill journey along the route to take about 290 minutes (4.8 hours), while the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours).
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005.
IRCTC has introduced a new air-conditioned tourist train for promoting the various tourist destinations of the princely state of Rajasthan along with the visit to Agra is one of the itineraries.
The train tour package will be all-inclusive covering all elements of the train journey, on-board, and off-board meals, all transfers, sightseeing, accommodation in hotels, etc.
The train has generated positive feedback in the travel and tourism fraternity. The details and online booking facility of the train are available at IRCTC’s tourism portal.
Hill Station Railways of India Booking.
Booking of Hill Charters
IRCTC on behalf of Indian Railways books full trains on a charter basis in various hill railways on-demand basis.
Contact
IRCTC, Regional Office, Guwahati
4-D, Mandavi Aptts, In front of Ravinder Bhawan, GNB Road, Ambari, Guwahati, Assam – 781001, Tel: 0361-2737123, E-mail:crmguwahati@irctc.com
IRCTC, Regional Office, Emakulam
Salih Arcade, 1“ Floor, Building No. 40 / 8194, Convent Road, Kochi – 682035.
Tel Nos: 0484-2382991-92 E-mail: tourismkerala@irctc.com
IRCTC, Regional Office, Chandigarh
SCO-8O-8I -82, Sector-34A,
Chandigarh -160034,
Tel: 0172-4645795, E-mail: rocdg@irctc.com
IRCTC, West Zone Office, Mumbai, 2nd Floor,
New Administrative Bldg, Central Railway, CST, Mumbai – 400001 Ph: 022-22644379, ‘
Email:tourismwz@i rctc.com
www.irctctourism.com Vistadome Coach (Glass TOD Coaches!:
In 2017, Indian Railways introduced indigenously designed glass top coaches
All Rail Tour Packages:
IRCTC under the Ministry of Railways offers Rail Tour Packages with confirmed onward and return journey rail tickets apart from other elements of a package such as road transfers, accommodation, all meals, and sightseeing at reasonable rates on the basis of the itinerary.
Rail tour packages are specially designed on the basis of the demand of customers as well as the popularity of destinations like Shirdi, Vaishno Devi, Tirupati, Darjeeling, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Gangtok, Ooty, Goa, Puri, Kerala, etc. from various parts of India.
The details and booking of these packages are available at the tourism website “www.irctctourism.com” or visit the nearest Tourism Facilitation Centres of IRCTC.
Travel &Tourism Portal:
Tourism portal “www.irctctourism.com” is a ‘One Stop Travel Shop” for all travel requirements of every tourist.
The portal has won the ‘National Tourism Award” in the year 2008, “Website of the Year” for consecutive three years i.e. 2014, 2015 & 2016 “Leisure & Travel” by MatrixLab and the ‘Indian e-retail award’ for consecutive three years from 2015 to 2017 by Franchise India.
The portal offers online booking of Tourist Trains, Air tickets, and Tour packages be it through rail, air or land, hotels, and Cabs. Visit www.irctctourism.com for booking tourism products and services online.
Online Booking Of Charter Trains and coaches:
Customers can now book a charter train or coach in the IRCTCs webpage www.ftr.irctc.co.in.
The user-friendly module includes options like viewing the list of trains on which chartered coach can be attached, search for the availability of trains between preferred destinations without registration,
Placing a request for a charter train or coach online, making online payment of deposit, provision to print the dossier which contains all mandatory documents to be carried while travelling, etc.
While registration is not mandatory for searching availability, PAN Card verified user creation is required for placing a request for a charter.
With the introduction of this online module, now users can book charter trains/coaches from any part of the country.
For bookings, E-mail charter@irctc.com or visit www.ftr.irctc.co.in.
Tourism Facilitation Centres
IRCTC has set up Tourism Facilitation Centres in and around various railway stations across the country that are serving as a ‘One-Stop Shop’ to assist railway passengers in availing of various tourism products and services.
Besides, providing detailed information about various rail and non-rail tourism products and services, these facilitation centres book tour packages, and airline tickets as well as manage the departures of passengers availing the train tour packages.
Railways And Tourism
With Name Address And Contact Numbers
New Delhi
Near Cloakroom, Opp to Executive Lounge, Platform No. 16, New Delhi Railway Station, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi -110002, Tel. No. – +011 -23213197, +91 9717648888,9717641764
Mumbai
Main Line Station, Mumbai Central Railway Station,, Mumbai, Maharashtra-400008 Tel. No. -+91-8433926649
Chennai
Gate No.3, Main Entrance, (Opposite to SMR Room), Chennai Central Railway Station, Park Town, Chennai-3, Tamil Nadu, Tel No. 9003140681,044-25332548
Kolkata
Howarh Railway station (Howarh Old Complex), Near to Railway Enquiry & Opp to Platform no 10, Howrah-711101, Tel. No. – +91 – 9002040089/142
Agra
Platform No.1, Agra Cantt. Railway Station, AGRA-282003, Landline No.:-0562-2420111. Tel No. – 9794863639/ 9794863641.
Puri
Opposite to second class waiting Hall, Besides RPF post, Puri Railway station concourse, Odisha Tel. No. -06752-223005, +91-9777440061
Gaya
Platform No. 1, Near to SBI ATM, Opposite Bihar Tourism Office, Gaya, Bihar, Tel. No. – +91 – 9771440025 /10
Ahmedabad
Platform No.1, Near Gate No.1 & Gujarat Tourism Office, Musafirkhana, Ahmedabad-380002 Tel. No.- + 7922160576
Bengaluru
Concourse area, Main Entrance Bangaluru City Railway Station, Bangalore-560025, Karnataka Tel. No. 080-22960014, +919741429437, E-mail id:-tifcsbc@irctc.com
Tirupati
Platform No.1, Beside Main Entrance, Tirupati Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh, Tel. No. – 9701360612,0877-2222010
E-mailid:- Sukumar.Bandala@irctc.com; pavan.kumar@irctc.com
Mysuru
Near General Booking Office, Mysuru Junction, Karnataka
Tel. No. +91 9741421486,0821 -2426001 E-mail id:-tifcmys@irctc.com
Thiruvananthapuram
Near Booking Office, 2nd Entry, Trivandrum Central Railway Station, Powerhouse Road, Thiruvananthapuram-695036, Kerala.
Phone: +91 471 2462250; 9567863245, E-mail: tourismtvc@irctc.com
Kozhikode
Platform No. 1, Near Food Plaza, Kozhikode Railway Station, Kozhikode- 673001, Kerala, Tel No. + 91 495 2701510; 9746743047, Email: tifcclt@irctc.com
Madurai
First floor, New concourse, Madurai Railwayjunction-625001.Karnataka, Tel. No. 0452-2345757, +919003140714
Hubli IRCTC area office, Near booking office, Hubli Railway Station, Hubli-580023, Tel NO.-9741421088
Vijayawada
Platform No. 1, Beside Main Entrance, Vijayawada Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh,
Tel. No.-0866-2572280,8374000783/9701360634/675, E-mail id:-ch.balaji@irctc.com
Secunderabad
Platform No.10, Beside SBI Credit Card Counter, Secunderabad Railway Station, Telangana, Tel. No. – 040-27800580, 9701360690
Tourism Plaza (Paryatak Bhavan, Hyderabad), TIFC, GF-14, Ground Floor, Tourism Plaza, Greenlands, Begumpet, Hyderabad-500016, Tel. No. – +91-9701360698,040-23400606
Pune
IRCTC Regional office,1st Floor, Retiring Room No 1, Above Station Manager, Office, Pune Railway Station, Pune, Maharashtra-411001 Tel. No. – +91-9503057202
Indore
Platform No. 1, Opp PRO office, Indore Railway Station, Indore, Madhya Pradesh – 452001, Tel. No.-+91-9630098913
Jabalpur
Near Railway Retiring Room, Platform No 1, Jabalpur Railway Station, Madhya Pradesh -482001, Tel. No. – +91-7898970238,0761-4010702
Vishakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Platform No.1, Besides APTDC Counter, Visakhapatnam-530004, Contact: 9078089263/9701360695
E-mail id:- cknath@irctc.com; vy.prasad@irctc.com
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