Whether you have a few hours or days to spend lapping up the scenery in India, there are a number of train services that can show you around the country. Here are the two most popular train rides you can take:

The Darjeeling – from the little town of New Jalpaiguri to the rolling Darjeeling hills, the Darjeeling Hill railway is small but offers a fantastic view of the Indian countryside. With a 2 foot gauge and 86 kilometre long track, the Darjeeling line has no tunnels, thus allowing the traveller to indulge in an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. For seven and a half hours, rail, nature and travel lovers will delight in this iconic train ride. There are also direct connections to Guwahati, Delhi, Calcutta and other Indian cities.

The Matheran – For a 77 year old line, the Matheran is in quite good shape. It connects Neral to the tiny Matheran resort atop a hill close to Mumbai. As the train wheezes into the fresh mountain air for its one and a half hour duration, passengers will be privy to outstanding views of India. The lack of transport options to Matheran makes the resort itself an unusual but peaceful retreat.

Apart from these two major train services in India, there are a few smaller services in other areas. Four of the most popular include the Fairy Queen, the Palace on Wheels, the Royal Orient and The Deccan Odyssey. All of these services offer vacation packages with special stop-offs at major destinations, meals and accommodation.