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A Vande Bharat Express travelling through the mist-covered Western Ghats has caught the internet’s attention, with stunning aerial footage showing the train winding through the lush, mountainous terrain of Karnataka.
The video shows the semi-high-speed train navigating the challenging Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route. The railway stretch passes through dense greenery, steep gradients, sharp curves, tunnels and bridges, creating a dramatic backdrop for the modern train.
The footage was shared by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on X on Sunday. Sharing the video, Vaishnaw wrote, “New age trains! Make more in India.”
Vande Bharat takes on the Western Ghats
The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section is known for its difficult terrain and is one of the more demanding stretches on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru railway route.
Safety trials for Vande Bharat operations on the ghat section began in mid-August 2026, as railway authorities tested the train’s operation on the challenging route.
The aerial footage offers a particularly striking view of the train as it moves through the misty hills, with the bright Vande Bharat contrasting against the deep green landscape during the monsoon.
For many viewers, the combination of the modern train, winding railway tracks and rain-soaked Western Ghats made the footage feel like a cinematic travel sequence.
‘Beauty of Shiradi Ghat’
The video quickly attracted attention from viewers, with several comments focusing on the scenic beauty of the route.
“Beauty of Shiradi Ghat,” one user wrote, while another identified the location as the Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Road stretch.
Some viewers also pointed to the potential of India’s railway journeys as a tourism attraction. One commenter suggested that scenic train routes through the Western Ghats, Kashmir, Kerala, Odisha and the Northeast could be promoted more aggressively to international tourists.
The discussion was not limited to the scenery, however. Some users used the post to raise concerns about cleanliness and passenger behaviour on trains.
One commenter said that while “new age trains” are welcome, greater attention should also be given to public hygiene, including littering and spitting. Another suggested imposing heavy penalties on passengers who leave their seats or surrounding areas dirty.
Others simply marvelled at the engineering involved in operating a modern train through the difficult terrain, with one viewer wondering how the equipment needed to run the train was brought through the dense forest and ghat section.
As the monsoon transforms the Western Ghats into a landscape of mist, waterfalls and lush greenery, the footage offers a reminder that for many travellers, the train journey itself can be as spectacular as the destination.
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