Vanrani – A Mini Toy Train Inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park Mumbai

“About 25 to 27 years now, ‘Vanrani’ a mini toy train running in SGNP (Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Formerly ‘Krishnagiri Park’) which was named in Hindi with meaning in English being Van ‘Jungle’ Rani ‘Queen’. Yes, this beautiful slowly moving Jungle Queen toy train with about 20 to 25 seating capacity is one of the oldest attractions for tourist in Mumbai. Lets know some more details like timings, ticket rates and more of this narrow gauge train..”

Mini Toy Train Details

Children are first to get excited seeing pictures of this train that gives a feel of Jungle safari ride and actually it is a mini safari of about 15 minutes inside Borivali National Park jungles covering 2 to 3 locations. As said its a limited seating capacity narrow gauge train running on small railway tracks and covers up to 2.5 kilometre distance, this beautiful ride lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes. This TATA brand / make of toy train in green colour now was actually yellow coloured previously and is a Ring Route train which starts and comes back to the same location inside the park. Not just children, adults too loves this train ride to enjoy greenery and biodiversity of national park, the biggest park of Mumbai. For maintenance reasons this train was stopped running in 2001 and started again in 2004. Lately in summer of 2015 people got unhappy hearing rides were closed for 3 months which finally started again in July 2015.

3 Major attractions of routes covered by this toy train starting every half hour in morning and afternoon (See Timetable below) are the Deer park, if lucky one can sight group of deer running and seating in the open belt green zone ground area. More to enjoy the tunnels and mini bridges on the route which also covers Memorial location of late Shree Mahatma Gandhi. Since its a low seating train for joyride inside park, their are about 4 tiny ladders on both side to climb easy for kids and elderly people. Train is wide open from all side with roof shade on top to protect from Sun rays, Monsoon Rains and accidentally falling branches. Its not just on tourist attractions list but also once a choice of location for Hindi films (Bollywood) shooting, Movie songs like ‘Humko Tumse Hogaya Hai Pyaar Kya Kare’ location of Amar Akbar Anthony released on 7th January 1977 and another song ‘Jawani Ki Rail Gadi’ from movie Coolie released on 14th November 1983, both staring Amitabh Bachchan was shoot here on this Vanrani then in Yellow colour.

Vanrani Timings and Ticket Rates

Rates (Cost Per Head) : For Adults Rs.31 and For Children / Kids its Rs.12

Timings
Below is the timetable for this mini train running Tuesday to Sunday (Monday Closed). Minimum 20 adults are required for this train ride to get started. So if you are in big group, Its good. Monsoon (June, July, August & September) and Winter (November, December, January and February) seasons are best time to visit and get Vanrani ride on.

You might also like to know about toy trains at Matheran Hills station near Mumbai.