Kanchan Kanya Express: ডুয়ার্সের রাণী - Joydeep Roy

An excellent outing for a day from Indore.

1. How to catch this train?
You can avail bus service from Indore to Mhow which will drop in front of Mhow (DADN) railway station.
Best...
more...

is 14116 Prayagraj DADN Express. (If its running late but departs Ujjain by 0840-0845 hrs, you'll safely catch 52965 at Mhow) (Broad gauge & meter gauge platforms are adjacent). Can take 0940 am Ratlam DADN DEMU too.

2. Stops:-
(a.) Patalpani station - 15 mins halt, don't know why as we were informed if just halt, not about its purpose. Its regular halts for other trains too.
(b.) Patalpani waterfalls - 30 mins halt. There is viewing gallery in railway premises only which gives a good view of the falls. You can go out of the railway boundary too if permitted. (Today we were not due to sec 144 issued due to red alert for heavy rains by meterological department). Beware of monkeys & their companion species, especially if you have something to eat in your hands.
(c.) Choral River Bridge - 30 mins halt. Gives a beautiful view of choral river flowing through the green valley.
(d.) Kalakund - Terminating station, 2 hr halt (if returning by same train).. There is a small park for kids beside the river. You can relax, have lunch beside the river with your group (carry a bedsheet for this)..

3. Food - Available only at Kalakund. One small stall on platform selling kalakand (10 rs a piece). For lunch, cross the tracks & go to officers rest house & there lunch is available for 150 rs. (2 roti, rice, dal bafla, matar paneer, dal, kadhi, papad, sweet). Food is good.

4. If you have sr. ctzns travelling with you, be cautious while boarding & deboarding. The stations are low level & at choral river bridge, there is no platform, so it becomes bit difficult to board & deboard.

5. Return :-
From Mhow, take 5 PM DADN - Indore DEMU or buses are waiting just outside the station. But be quick in deboarding & then going to counter to take the ticket to Indore (only one counter was working when I went & by the time I took mine, i could see a long line behind me.

Do remember to book returning ticket for 52966, as some passengers think DADN KKD ticket as return ticket too & ultimately have to pay the fine while returning (though these things are decreasing now, initially it was bit common).
My take - Book in CC while going to Kalakund (opt for C2 for back glass view, if booking on irctc) & return in 2S. (Total cost - 285 at PRS & 337 on irctc )

Overall, you will love this journey.