Places to visit in May in India by train favour cooler hill and northern stops, since the plains are at their hottest. The Ooty toy train runs 46 km from Mettupalayam into the Nilgiri hills. Road distances and flights are not confirmed here, so check timings and fares before booking.
Why May changes your rail plan
May is the month to plan around on India's plains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) names May as the peak month for heat waves. It declares one on the plains once a station reaches 40°C and runs well above its normal, or when it reaches 45°C outright. Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha are among the states most prone to them.
The numbers make the point. Jaipur's average May high is 41.1°C, and New Delhi (Safdarjung) averages 39.9°C. Compare that with Srinagar at 24.7°C, Shimla at 24.1°C and Leh at 19.8°C. Those are the stops where a May rail trip feels like a different season.
If your itinerary includes a wider loop of northern India, a Golden Triangle Tour Package covers the classic plains cities. Treat it as a related trip to weigh up against the hill routes below, not as a replacement for them.
Rail options confirmed in our sources
Our sources confirm three rail options for this guide. The table shows what each one offers. Where a source does not state a time or fare, we say so rather than guess.
| Option | Route | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooty toy train (Nilgiri Mountain Railway) | Mettupalayam to Ooty, 46 km | Not stated in our sources; verify | Not stated in our sources; verify | A scenic first ride into the hills |
| Coonoor to Ooty toy train | Coonoor to Ooty section of the same line | Not stated in our sources; verify | Not stated in our sources; verify | A shorter hill ride |
| Vande Bharat Sleeper | New Delhi to Srinagar, overnight | Departs 7:00 PM, arrives 8:00 AM, as reported; verify | ₹2,000 (3AC), ₹2,500 (2AC), ₹3,000 (AC First), as reported; verify | Overnight travel to the cooler Kashmir Valley |
Two gaps matter here. No source gives a road distance or drive time for any of these routes, so this guide does not offer one. No source confirms a flight on these routes either. Check airlines directly before assuming any air link exists.
For a hill ride that suits a shorter day, a Ranthambore tiger safari is worth reading about as a separate, further-reading option for Rajasthan. It is not on any of the rail routes above.
The Ooty toy train and the Nilgiri hills
The Ooty toy train is the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge line finished in 1908 by the British to connect Ooty with the plains. It is 46 km long and leaves from Mettupalayam. From there it climbs through lush green hills, misty forests and tea-covered valleys, curving around hillsides and crossing old bridges.
Ooty is the hill station at the end of the line, and the Coonoor to Ooty section is a shorter ride within the same railway. The route is well documented, which makes it a sensible first rail experience in the hills. If you are also planning a trip, our Mehrangarh Fort Tour may help.
Before you book, check the current timings, ticket classes and the best month to ride with official information. Our guides cover these details, but the sources available to us are incomplete on fares and schedules, so treat any figure from them as a starting point, not a final answer.
Overnight rail to Kashmir and the cooler north
The Vande Bharat Sleeper runs overnight from New Delhi to Srinagar. Our source reports a 7:00 PM departure and an 8:00 AM arrival, with fares of ₹2,000 for 3AC, ₹2,500 for 2AC and ₹3,000 for AC First. The service was described as starting in January 2025, so confirm that it is running and that these fares still apply before you plan around it.
The payoff is the temperature. Srinagar's May average high is 24.7°C, against 39.9°C in New Delhi in the same month. An overnight journey that ends in the cool of the morning suits travellers who find the plains hard going in May.
IMD's May data also tells us that Ladakh's roads reopen around this time, which our overview of the month mentions. We have not confirmed the exact opening dates, so check the current status with official sources before you plan a visit to Leh.
Plains stops and how to handle the heat
Delhi is a practical first stop. Its average May high is 39.9°C and its average rainfall is 29.4 mm. Plan the heritage sights for the first or last hours of the day. If you want a guided route through the old city, Experience My India runs heritage walks in Old Delhi that you can consider as a helpful resource.
Jaipur is hotter still, with an average May high of 41.1°C and an average low of 27.1°C. Its walled city and Amber Fort are best seen in the cooler hours. For a structured visit, a guided Jaipur city tour is one option to compare with going alone.
Shimla, at an average May high of 24.1°C, gives a clear contrast to the plains. Treat it as a hill stop in the same way as Srinagar. Check the rail and road options for reaching it directly, since our sources do not cover them.
Whatever route you take, follow the same heat rules. Start sightseeing early, carry water, use sun protection, and rest through the middle of the day. Shade and a slower pace will do more for you than any plan that ignores the heat.
If you are heading into Rajasthan's desert cities, a Mehrangarh Fort tour in Jodhpur is worth reading about before you go, though it is a separate trip from the rail routes in this guide.
Best option for a first time international visitor
For a first rail trip in India in May, the Ooty toy train from Mettupalayam is the clearest choice in our sources. It is short, scenic and well documented, and it takes you out of the heat into the hills. It is a hill route, not a plains route, so it does not help with the Delhi or Jaipur legs of a journey.
Book through official channels, and confirm the timings on the day of travel. Carry your passport or other photo ID, since you will need it for bookings and boarding. Arrive early, keep your ticket and documents together, and ask station staff if a platform or coach is unclear.
On etiquette, dress modestly at religious sites, remove shoes where asked, and ask before photographing people. Share your compartment with courtesy, and keep noise down on overnight trains.
The right choice depends on your route, your dates and how well you handle heat. The distance and drive-time gaps in this guide are still open, so verify them before you finalise a plan. If food is part of your trip, a guided Mumbai street food walk is a useful further read, though Mumbai is not on the routes covered here.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride the Ooty toy train in May?
Yes, the route runs from Mettupalayam and covers 46 km. Our sources do not confirm May timings or ticket classes, so check them with official sources before you travel.
Is it too hot to travel by rail on the plains in May?
It can be. IMD names May as the peak heat wave month on the plains, and Jaipur's average May high is 41.1°C. Travel early or late in the day, carry water and use shade during the middle of the day.
Are there flights to these rail stops?
None of our sources confirm a flight on these routes. Check airlines directly before assuming any air link exists.
