India's Toy Trains — UNESCO Heritage Circuit — 5 Days
Three UNESCO-listed mountain railways: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka-Shimla Railway.
Day by day
Day 1
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway — "Toy Train"
Darjeeling, West Bengal
Book DHR joy ride from Darjeeling station (₹1400, 2hr loop). Best Oct-Dec for Kangchenjunga view. Tiger Hill sunrise for Everest silhouette.
Day 2
Nilgiri Mountain Railway — Mettupalayam to Ooty
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Book Nilgiri Express (train No. 12671) — only 1 departure daily, 5hr from Mettupalayam (near Coimbatore). Rack-and-pinion system, 16 tunnels, 250 bridges. Ooty Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake boating.
Day 4
Kalka-Shimla Railway — 96 tunnels in 96km
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Book Shivalik Express or Himalayan Queen. 5.5hr Kalka→Shimla (96km, 96 tunnels, 869 bridges). Window seat on left side going up for best views. Shimla Mall Road, Christ Church, Kufri.