In 1846, there was a major failure of cotton crop in America. To avoid facing heavy financial loss in future, the textile merchants in Great Britain decided to seek alternative markets. They turned their attention on India, one of British colonies then, rich in cotton crop.

However, cotton was produced in various parts of the Indian sub-continent and it took days to bring it to the nearest port to transport it to England through ships. The East India Company's Court of Directors had been for considerable length of time mulling over the idea of introducing railways in India from political, military and commercial point of view. The failure of cotton crop in America expedited the matter.

People who had a better understanding of India’s topography and geography, opposed the construction of railways as a "premature and expensive undertaking" and a "hazardous and "dangerous venture". Fortunately, these voices remained unheard. The process of building a railway network that would one day not only captivate the nation but the world began.

The task proved to be daunting and the challenges formidable. As many as 45,000 Indian men were regularly employed in construction activities…hundreds died on the job as diseases swept through their makeshift accommodations.

The first train in India (and in Asia) was flagged off on April 16, 1853, between Mumbai and Thane (about 34 km) amidst loud applause and to the salute of 21 guns. The importance of the day can be gauged from the fact the Bombay government declared the day as a public holiday. The train, hauled by three engines, carried about 400 passengers in its 14 coaches. Tents were erected at Thane to welcome the first train and a feast was served to all the passengers.

162 years later, the Indian Railways continue to chug non-stop. It is an integral part of the nation, a network that holds together the huge population. A self-propelled social welfare system, it was Railways that first brought to life the concept of a united India all those years ago and played an integrative role during the independence movement.

Indian Railways is currently the largest rail network in Asia and the world's second largest under one management. It has a workforce of about 1.65 million, running some 13,000 trains daily. It transports over 25 million passengers every day. That’s nearly the total population of Australia and New Zealand put together!

When the British were ruling India, during the peak of the summers they would rush to the nearest hills from the main administrative centres – Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and Madras. To make the hills better accessible they built massive rail network to the nearest hills and thus developed the fascinating ‘hill trains’, also known as ‘toy trains’ of India.

India has four major historic mountain railways with "toy trains" that run up to some of its most popular hill stations. Although these trains are slow, the scenery is spectacular, making the journeys really worthwhile.

• Kalka-Shimla (to escape the heat in Delhi): Started in 1903, it is one of the most scenic train journeys in India. The train passes through over 100 tunnels and many hundred bridges.


• Nilgiri Toy Train (to escape the heat in Madras): It was built in 1899 and passes through rolling hills, plantations and river valleys.


• Darjeeling Train (to escape the heat in Calcutta): Built in 1881 in the hills of Eastern Himalayas. This train is only partially working now. Another spectacular example of British train engineering.


• Matheran (to escape the heat in Mumbai): Another great train over a century old, snakes it way up the hills of Western Ghats.

Luxury Trains in India take you to places in style. These elite trains cater to tourists who wish to experience the rich cultural heritage in the lap of opulence. They come with massive grandeur, lovely interiors, and royal meals.

Here are the details of some of the well-known luxury trains:

• Palace on Wheels: This is a 7-day journey which covers Delhi, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittor, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, and Agra.


• Maharaja Express: Offers 4 pan-Indian itineraries crisscrossing across some of the most fascinating terrains and covering some of the most prominent destinations.


• Deccan Odyssey: It operates on 6 different tour circuits of 7 nights each


• The Golden Chariot: Offers three 7-day tours across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Pondicherry.