Archive · 2 Sep 2025
UNESCO-Listed Indian Trains and Stations: A Historical Journey
Imagine taking a train ride through history in India!
Some train routes and a special station have been recognized by UNESCO.
These include the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (the 'Toy Train') that winds through tea gardens, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (a train that climbs super steep hills), the Kalka-Shimla Railway that goes through tunnels, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a train station that looks like a palace.
These sites offer a unique way to experience India's rich history while enjoying scenic views.
Several Indian train routes and a station are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the 'Toy Train,' dates back to the 1880s.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is India's only rack-and-pinion railway.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway has been operating since 1903.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai is a historic station with Victorian Gothic architecture.
- Who
- Trains and stations in India
- What
- UNESCO-listed heritage sites
- When
- Built from the 1880s to 1887, and in 1903
- Where
- India: Darjeeling, Tamil Nadu, Shimla, and Mumbai
- Why
- To preserve historical railway routes and architecture
- Featured Sites
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Nickname
- Toy Train
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway Feature
- India's only rack-and-pinion railway
- Kalka-Shimla Railway Start Year
- 1903
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Completion
- 1887