From Katra-Srinagar To Mumbai-Madgaon: Most Scenic Vande Bharat Routes 2026

Train travel in India has always been about more than just getting from Point A to Point B. It's about watching the country unfold outside your window, one landscape at a time. And with Vande Bharat Express transforming how Indians travel, these semi-high-speed trains have opened up some of the most spectacular routes in the country. As of February 2026, 164 Vande Bharat services operate across 82 routes, covering 274+ districts nationwide. While these trains are famous for their airline-style comfort, automatic doors, rotatable chairs, and bio-vacuum toilets, what often gets overlooked is the sheer beauty of the landscapes they traverse. From snow-capped Himalayan peaks to lush Western Ghats, from misty valleys to coastal stretches, several Vande Bharat routes offer journeys where the scenery rivals the destination. These aren't slow heritage trains like the Darjeeling Toy Train. Vande Bharat travels at semi-high speeds. Yet the routes are designed to showcase India's incredible geographical diversity. You're experiencing stunning views without sacrificing comfort or time. For travellers who appreciate that the journey itself can be the destination, these five Vande Bharat routes are absolute must-tries. Whether you're a window-seat devotee, a landscape photographer, or simply someone who finds train journeys meditative, here are the routes that prove Indian railways can be genuinely breathtaking.

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1. Katra to Srinagar: Himalayan Drama at Its Finest

Photo Credit: Unsplash

• Route: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra - Srinagar
• Distance: Approximately 270 km
• Duration: Around 3-4 hours
• What Makes It Special: The world's highest railway bridge and Kashmir Valley views

The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat route, which became operational in early 2026 as part of the expanded Kashmir railway project, is arguably India's most dramatically scenic train journey. This route crosses the iconic Chenab Bridge—the world's highest railway bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed—offering views that quite literally take your breath away.

The Journey: Starting from Katra, the train climbs steadily into the Pir Panjal range. The route winds through 58 tunnels, including India's longest railway tunnel (the Pir Panjal Tunnel at over 11 km). As you emerge from these mountain passages, you're greeted with stunning vistas of snow-capped peaks, deep valleys carved by centuries of erosion, and terraced hillsides dotted with traditional Kashmiri homes.

The crossing of Chenab Bridge is the highlight. At 359 metres high, it's taller than the Eiffel Tower. Looking down from your Vande Bharat window as the train glides over this engineering marvel, with the Chenab River flowing far below and mountains surrounding you on all sides, is genuinely unforgettable.

As you approach Srinagar, the landscape softens. The harsh mountain terrain gives way to the famous Kashmir Valley—lush green meadows, apple orchards, and Dal Lake shimmering in the distance. The entire journey feels like travelling through a postcard where every frame deserves to be photographed.

Best Time: March to October when snow melts enough for clear views but mountain peaks remain white-capped. Avoid December to February when heavy snow can occasionally disrupt services.

Pro Tip: Book a window seat on the right side (facing direction of travel from Katra to Srinagar) for the best Chenab Bridge views.

2. Mumbai CSMT to Madgaon: Konkan Railway Magic

• Route: Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus - Madgaon (Goa)
• Distance: Approximately 580 km
• Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes (slightly longer during monsoon)
• What Makes It Special: Western Ghats, bridges, tunnels, and coastal views

This route showcases the engineering marvel that is Konkan Railway. Passing through Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, and Kankavali before reaching Madgaon, the Vande Bharat glides through some of India's most lush and dramatic landscape.

The Journey: Within the first hour of leaving Mumbai, the urban sprawl gives way to the green wall of the Western Ghats. The train enters dense tropical forests where sunlight filters through thick canopy. You'll cross 84 bridges and pass through dozens of tunnels carved through mountainsides. The route hugs the coastline in several sections, offering glimpses of the Arabian Sea sparkling turquoise against rocky shores.

During monsoon (June to September), this journey transforms into something magical. Waterfalls appear seemingly out of nowhere, cascading down cliff faces beside the tracks. The entire landscape turns impossibly green. Mist rolls through valleys. Every tunnel exit reveals a scene more beautiful than the last. The train often slows slightly during heavy rains, which actually enhances the experience—more time to soak in the views.

The Vande Bharat's large windows are perfect for this route. Traditional trains have smaller windows with bars. Vande Bharat's massive, clean glass panels offer unobstructed views of forests, waterfalls, bridges, and sea stretches that define this spectacular route.

Best Time: Monsoon (June-September) for the most dramatic scenery, though travel takes slightly longer. October-February for clearer skies and sea views.

Pro Tip: Sit on the left side when travelling Mumbai to Goa for the best coastal and waterfall views.

3. Delhi to Dehradun: Gateway to the Himalayas

• Route: Anand Vihar/New Delhi - Dehradun
• Distance: Approximately 302 km
• Duration: 4 hours 45 minutes
• What Makes It Special: Shivalik foothills and transition from plains to mountains

The Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat offers one of India's most satisfying journeys—watching the flat North Indian plains gradually give way to the foothills of the Himalayas. Often called the Gateway to the Himalayas, this route shows the dramatic geographical transition zone where the Indo-Gangetic Plain meets the mountain ranges.

The Journey: The first segment from Delhi through Meerut and Muzaffarnagar travels across agricultural heartland—wheat and sugarcane fields stretching to the horizon. Around Haridwar, everything changes. The landscape begins to rise. The Shivalik hills emerge on the horizon.

As you approach Haridwar, forest stretches appear. The Ganges flows alongside the tracks in sections, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden by vegetation. After Haridwar, the climb becomes noticeable. The train winds through sal forests. Small waterfalls and streams appear during monsoon. The air feels different—cooler, cleaner.

The final approach into Dehradun is spectacular. The Doon Valley, nestled between the Shivalik and Himalayan ranges, opens up with forested hills surrounding the valley floor. On clear days, you can see snow-capped peaks in the distance. The entire journey feels like watching India's geography textbook come alive.

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Best Time: March to June and September to November for the clearest mountain views. Monsoon brings lush greenery but can obscure distant peaks.

Pro Tip: Morning trains offer better visibility of the Himalayan ranges. Afternoon journeys can have haze that obscures distant peaks.

4. Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam: Coastal Kerala Charm

• Route: Thiruvananthapuram Central - Ernakulam Junction
• Distance: Approximately 220 km
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• What Makes It Special: Coconut groves, backwaters, coastal views, and temple towns

This Vande Bharat route showcases Kerala's famous coastal beauty and lush greenery. While it might not have the dramatic mountain drama of northern routes, it offers something equally special—the serene, tropical beauty that makes Kerala "God's Own Country."

The Journey: The train glides through a landscape dominated by endless coconut palm groves swaying in the breeze. The route runs close to the coast in several sections, offering glimpses of the Arabian Sea. Between towns, you pass traditional Kerala villages with red-tiled roofs, backwater canals reflecting palm trees, and small temples with distinctive Kerala architecture.

The countryside is incredibly green year-round. Paddy fields, banana plantations, rubber estates, and spice gardens create a patchwork of agricultural prosperity. Small fishing villages dot the coastline. The train passes through culturally significant towns like Kollam, Kayamkulam, and Alappuzha (Alleppey), each with its own character.

What makes this route special isn't dramatic vistas but constant, gentle beauty. The landscape is soothing. The green is everywhere. The pace feels calm even at semi-high speed. It's Kerala distilled into a three-hour train ride.

Best Time: December to March offers the best weather. Monsoon (June-September) makes everything even greener but comes with heavy rains.

Pro Tip: This route is best enjoyed during daytime for full appreciation of Kerala's greenery and coastal views.

5. Mumbai to Kolhapur: Western Ghats Majesty

• Route: Mumbai CSMT - Kolhapur
• Distance: Approximately 500 km
• Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes
• What Makes It Special: Deep Western Ghats penetration, hill stations, and misty valleys

The Mumbai-Kolhapur Vande Bharat route takes you deep into the Western Ghats through a landscape that changes dramatically with every passing hour. Winding through Satara, Belgaum, and Dharwad, this journey showcases the Ghats at their most majestic.

The Journey: After leaving Mumbai's urban sprawl, the train begins its ascent into the Western Ghats. Unlike the coastal Konkan route, this path cuts inland through the heart of the mountain range. You pass through misty hill stations, traverse rolling green valleys, and wind through dozens of tunnels carved through solid rock.

The landscape here is different from Konkan—less tropical rainforest, more open hills and grasslands. During monsoon, the entire plateau turns emerald green. Waterfalls appear on hillsides. During winter and early spring, morning mist fills the valleys, giving the journey an almost mystical quality.

The route passes through Satara district, known for its strawberry farms and historical forts. The agricultural landscape changes with altitude—sugarcane and rice in the lowlands, grapes and strawberries in the cooler hills. Traditional Maharashtrian villages with their distinctive architecture dot the hillsides.

Best Time: Monsoon (June-September) for the most dramatic scenery and waterfalls. October-February for clearer skies and visibility.

Pro Tip: This is a full-day journey, so bring books, music, or work. The scenery is spectacular but comes in waves rather than being constant.

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Final Thoughts

With 164 Vande Bharat services now operational and more planned, Indian Railways has transformed intercity travel. These trains aren't just faster and more comfortable than traditional options—they've made scenic routes more accessible than ever before. No longer do you need to sacrifice comfort for beauty or spend days on slow heritage trains to see stunning landscapes. The five routes covered here prove that India's geographical diversity—from Himalayan peaks to Western Ghats, from coastal Kerala to Kashmir valleys—is best appreciated from a train window. And when that train offers plush seats, clean restrooms, good food, and large windows, the experience becomes genuinely special. So next time you're planning a trip, consider the journey itself. Choose the scenic route. Book that window seat. Keep your phone camera ready. Because sometimes the most memorable part of reaching your destination is actually getting there.