Mountain railways of India
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
| Location | India |
| Includes | |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
| Reference | 944ter |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
| Extensions | 2005, 2008 |
| Area | 89 ha (0.34 sq mi) |
| Buffer zone | 645 ha (2.49 sq mi) |
The Mountain railways of India are the railway lines that operate in the mountainous regions of India. Though the term is primarily used to denote narrow-gauge railways operational in specific locations, it might also include some broad-gauge railways in mountainous terrain.
Three of the lines, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka–Shimla Railway, are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Mountain Railways of India". Two more, the Matheran Hill Railway and the Kangra Valley Railway, are on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the only rack and pinion railway in India. Other narrow-gauge railway lines include the Kangra Valley Railway and Matheran Hill Railway.
The Jammu–Baramulla line, completed in 2025, uses broad-gauge. Mountain railways, such as the Chota Char Dham Railway, are currently under construction, and others are in the planning stage, such as the Bhanupli–Leh line and Sivok–Rangpo line.