One of the most exhilarating experiences of the Indian monsoon for diehard all-weather travellers in a journey through the fabulous vistas of the Western Ghat. What is truly amazing about this cinematic holiday experience is that it brings together the romance of a train journey, a comfortable way to enjoy the monsoons and a unique immersion in India’s natural heritage.

The Western Ghats are now a UNESCO-acclaimed World Heritage Site, ranked amongst the top eight biodiversity ‘hotspots’ in the world. And you will experience its lush beauty from the comfort of a Vistadome Coach with its massive picture-windows and anti-glare glass domed rooftop, and luxurious push-back revolving seats. It’s the finest way to soak up those 360° panoramas that unfold, as the train, with these special, fully air-conditioned coaches, slowly wends its way through the scenic landscape between Bangalore city and Mangalore on peninsula India’s western coast.

What’s also great is the sense of space you can enjoy as the 2x2 seating arrangement is accommodated in 11 rows (44 seats in all) in each coach. There’s also a small observation lounge at the end of each coach. CCTV cameras, free WiFi connectivity and a fire safety system provide that extra comfort.

The special train, which was launched by Indian Railways in July 2021, has since been climbing the charts as one of the best monsoon experiences in southern India.

For the best views if you are traveling from Bangalore to Mangalore, grab a seat on the right side. Have you lens at the ready as the train passes through dense forests pierced now and then by silver of seasonal streams and torrential waterfalls. Up hill and down dale it chugs along, navigating its way through 57 tunnels and 109 bridges, past plunging ravines, emerald paddy fields, evergreen shola grasslands, areca nut estates, and dinky villages where kids wave out joyfully, unmindful of the falling rain. The most picturesque part of this verdant ride is the much celebrated 45 km stretch between Sakleshpur (at an elevation of 3,000 feet) and Kukke Subrahmanya Road (400ft), in the Ghats. It is marked by stunning mist-wreathed mountainscapes and valleys, waterfalls and several meandering rivers. The Vistadome train offers links to major pilgrimage sites Dharmasthala and Shravanabelagola, apart from Kukke Subrahmanya.

Bags are stowed away in a special cabin, and the attached pantry serves up a nice selection of snacks and cold and hot beverages. The loos are clean and marked by sophisticated amenities like touch enabled mirrors and colour-coded features indicating the rest room is occupied or vacant.

Indian Railways has done a stellar job creating this memorable experience. It was a Herculean task cutting through the hilly terrain to lay the track through some of south India’s most luxuriant natural vistas. Grab this opportunity as the monsoon showcases its stunning spectacle this time of the year. Vistadome Coach services are also available on the Mumbai- Pune; Mumbai – Goa and Kalka-Shimla routes.