Explore the best places to visit in India by train from Delhi. Discover popular destinations, train routes, travel times, and tips for an exciting railway journey.
Delhi is not just a city, but also the most excellent point to start a journey by train. Thanks to an extensive network of railways connecting the city with virtually any part of the country, travelers can start their adventure in Delhi, and be either in a desert fort, hill station or a spiritually important city by the end of the day. In terms of transportation in India, trains are the cheapest, most comfortable and most scenic way to travel all across the country. Delhi’s rail connectivity provides plenty of opportunities for both weekend excursions and longer vacations.
RailMitra makes the planning process of traveling by train from Delhi even easier. Travelers can use the website to check the status of their PNR number, the running status of their train and find train schedules, food on train and other useful railway-related information.
Here is a list of the best places to visit in India by train from Delhi, along with a few details that make those places worth visiting.
Agra
As the city of Taj Mahal, Agra is probably the most favored rail travel destination from New Delhi for obvious reasons. Express trains like the Gatimaan Express will take less than two hours to reach there.
In addition to the Taj Mahal, Agra has the Agra Fort (World Heritage Site) and the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri that is within driving distance.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the train |
| Popular trains | Gatimaan Express, Shatabdi Express |
| Best for | History lovers, first time visitors, day trips |
Jaipur
Nicknamed as the Pink City, Jaipur is the gateway to Rajasthan, and among the most colorful places you can visit via train from Delhi. Ajmer Shatabdi Express is an excellent choice for your train travel visit.
Jaipur has several vintage & aesthetic tourist spots like the Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and the bazaars of the old city where you can purchase textiles and jewelry.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 4.5 to 5.5 hours |
| Popular trains | Ajmer Shatabdi, Double Decker Express |
| Best for | Culture, architecture, shopping |
Haridwar and Rishikesh
Those who want a spiritual or relaxed getaway should choose Haridwar and Rishikesh because both these places are located on the banks of the Ganges and have numerous daily trains connecting them with Delhi.
Haridwar is known for the evening ceremony of Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, while Rishikesh has earned an international reputation as the place of yoga and meditation and adventure activities such as river rafting.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 4 to 5 hours to Haridwar |
| Popular trains | Dehradun Shatabdi, Nanda Devi Express |
| Best for | Spirituality, yoga retreats, nature |
Amritsar
Another beautiful destination, which also bears great historic significance, is the city of Amritsar. There is the most sacred and beautiful temple in India, which is called the Golden Temple. Besides the historic site, Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar also offers the Wagah Border ceremony to tourists.
Amritsar can be reached by overnight train from Delhi and is thus easy to visit as a weekend destination.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 6 to 7 hours |
| Popular trains | Shatabdi Express, Golden Temple Mail |
| Best for | Spirituality, history, food |
Varanasi
Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities that continues to be inhabited, provides an experience different from any other city of India. Watching the sunrise on the Ganges from the boats, surrounded by the noise of temple bells and morning rituals is something which many visitors remember forever.
Aside from the ghats, Varanasi is well known for its small streets, temples and the site of Buddhism at Sarnath.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 10 to 14 hours |
| Popular trains | Vande Bharat Express, Kashi Vishwanath Express |
| Best for | Spirituality, culture, photography |
Shimla
If you want some cool climate and mountain views, you can visit Shimla. Even if there is no direct train which covers the whole journey, people use trains up to Kalka and board the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kalka-Shimla train.
Shimla is a place where you will find colonial architecture, walks in Mall Road and also close hill stations.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 4 hours to Kalka, then 5 to 6 hours on the toy train |
| Popular trains | Kalka Shatabdi, followed by the Kalka Shimla toy train |
| Best for | Hill station getaways, scenic train rides |
Lucknow
Lucknow is a destination city known for its distinguished Culture, Nawabi heritage, and world-famous cuisine. It is thus quite a relaxing and enjoyable destination to travel to by train from Delhi. The time required to reach Lucknow has been greatly reduced due to fast trains in the recent past. Before starting your journey, travellers can use RailMitra PNR Status to check their booking status and stay updated about their train reservation.
The most visited spots in Lucknow include the Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, and a street food scene famous for kebabs, biryani, and traditional sweets.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 6 to 8 hours |
| Popular trains | Vande Bharat Express, Lucknow Mail |
| Best for | History, architecture, food |
Udaipur
Udaipur is often called the City of Lakes and ranks high on the list of romantic cities to visit in Rajasthan. Although it is farther from Delhi than other popular destinations, an overnight train makes visiting Udaipur convenient without taking away from your sightseeing itinerary.
Some of the popular sights in Udaipur include the City Palace, Lake Pichola, and numerous rooftop restaurants overlooking the lake.
| Detail | Information |
| Travel time by train | Around 11 to 13 hours, usually overnight |
| Popular trains | Mewar Express |
| Best for | Romantic getaways, lakes, palaces |
Tips for Train Travel from Delhi
A few pointers could help make train travels convenient.
- Book tickets well ahead, especially during the peak season and holidays as popular routes tend to get full fast.
- For longer travels, board the night trains and enjoy the luxury of not spending an extra night at a hotel.
- Know the real-time status of the train using the IRCTC app.
- Have some snacks and water in stock as most long-distance trains have pantry service.
- Go for AC classes in case of long-distance travels, especially during the hot summer days.
Conclusion
The central location of the city with respect to railways makes some of the famous places in India easily accessible via train from Delhi. From historic Agra to spiritual Varanasi, from Shimla with its hills to culturally rich Jaipur, all are accessible via trains from Delhi. Travelling in trains gives you the chance of enjoying the changing landscape of Northern India. Thus, on your next trip, do consider taking a train trip to enjoy the ground scenic view and meet different people in your journey.
