4 Indian Railway Stations That Are Accorded as UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Indian Railway Stations
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Do you prefer to enjoy train travel? If yes, then we have some interesting news for you! You can uniquely quench your thirst for adventure by embarking on the Indian Railway Network which is accorded a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yes, you heard it right! From north to south India and northeast India, the splendor of the Indian railway is outstanding. There are a total of 4 UNESCO World Heritage railway stations in India. Each of them was accorded a UNESCO Heritage title in different years.

Why UNESCO Granted 4 Indian Railway Stations a World Heritage Tag?

First comes first, the marvel of engineering. The bold and ingenious engineering solutions across the mountain terrain of India, from north to south and north-east India is the sole reason that UNESCO categorizes the 4 Indian railway stations as heritage sites.

Is It Worthy Deal to Explore UNESCO Labeled Indian Railway Stations?

Yes, it is! Do you find visiting or exploring all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India a cliche on your bucket list? How about riding some of them on the magnificent rail routes of India? By doing the same, you will get the traditional rail journey experience as you pass through the sharp curves and steep elevations.

So, if you are looking to obtain the adventure of a lifetime, then UNESCO-accorded Indian railway stations are what you should know and explore in your twenties or thirties or even in your forties or fifties.

4 UNESCO World Heritage Indian Railway Stations to Explore

Episode the marvel of engineering at the below-mentioned Indian railway stations that are labeled as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

  1. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Location: Darjeeling, North-East India

Best time to visit: winter and summer

Approx. ticket price: INR 1,000 onwards per person

This is one of the oldest rail routes in India and is in the northeast region. At the same time, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first railway in Asia to receive UNESCO Heritage Tag. Its construction started in 1879 and was completed in 1881 under British Raj. one can embark on this promising mountain railway network that runs between New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) to Darjeeling (West Bengal).

Not a surprise to travel buffs that The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a Toy Train that covers around 88 km with steam locomotives. The 2 ft gauge railway travels over elevated terrain and the most famous one is Ghoom Station, 2,300 m (approx.) elevation. In 1999, The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway got the UNESCO World Heritage tag for its excellent infrastructure since the British Raj time.

You will develop a new appreciation for the green as you will explore the loops and zig-zag turns while witnessing the lush green tea plantations. Now stream and diesel engines are also added as it serves 18 stops that provide panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayas.


  1. Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Location: Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu

Best time to visit: summer, winter

Approx. ticket price: INR 200 onwards per person

Another testimony of ambitious engineering projects under the British Raj in 1908, Nilgiri Mountain Railway is another famous Toy Train Ride. But that is not the only reason for its hype. In 2005, UNESCO accorded Nilgiri Mountain Railway a heritage status. The USP of the Nilgiri Toy Train is it runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udagamandalam) via Coonoor in the Nilgiri Hills covering 46 km (approx.). distance from Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udagamandalam) via Coonoor in the Nilgiri Hills.

If you want to explore the best of Ooty greenery on engines, you should take Nilgiri Mountain Railway. There are around 16 tunnels and 250 small big and big bridges that come your way. Coonoor is the halfway point of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and is the halt also where a train stops for the longest duration.

If you take the uphill journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty, the approx. The time taken is around 5 hours as the climb is steep. On the flip side, the return journey takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes (approx.).


  1. Kalka Shimla Railway
Kalka Shimla Railway

Location: North of Chandigarh and Shimla

Best time to visit: winter and summer

Approx. ticket price: INR 800 per person for two calendar days, INR 400 for adults

How about traversing to the mountainous route of north India on a Toy Train ride? If that sounds like something you need then Kalka Shimla Railway beacons you to embark on it. The same is also crowned as the UNESCO World Heritage Railway Station in India. The entire narrow gauge railway section is of 96.6 km by the Britishers in 1913 when they made Shimla the headquarter of the British Army.

With around 103 tunnels and 800 bridges, the Kalka Shimla Heritage Train is one of the best engineering marvels for sure. For the epic views of the rugged mountains, and pine forests that turn into snowflakes during winter, board the Kalka Shimla Railway from the north of Chandigarh and traverse to Shimla covering around 20 stations with incredible 900 hairpin bends. Did we mention the entire train journey takes around 5-6 hours to complete?


  1. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Location: Mumbai

Best time to visit: Through the year

Approx. price: Usual train travel charges

On July 7, 2004, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the last 130+ years, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus has become the glory of Mumbai. The main reason why it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is because of its architectural mix of Victorian Gothic and traditional Indian features.

In earlier days till 1996, its name was Victoria Terminus upon which Shiv Sena demanded to rename it under the 17th century Maratha King – Chatrapati Shivaji. This terminus is still functional since its early days and to your surprise, is one of the busiest railway stations that fall under the UNESCO World Heritage tag of Indian railway stations.

There are a total of 18 platforms including 7 for local people commuting and the rest for outstation. When you witness its architecture, you will feel that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus resonates like an impressive fort which is one of the famous USPs that makes UNESCO label it a Heritage Site.

Let’s Wrap This Up

You have just learned all the important things about UNESCO Heritage Railway Stations in India. And even though these railway stations inscribed as heritage sites by UNESCO are scattered from north to west to northeast India and south, they are still worth visiting in your lifetime.

We have no doubts because the UNESCO body crowned all of them with heritage tag status. All of them depict epic engineering marvels dating back to the British Raj time in India.

And finally, if you want to enjoy the best of these heritage train journeys in India, check out the tour packages of India, itineraries of Ooty and Darjeeling, or places to explore on the Mumbai tour.

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