A modern Indian train has taken on an almost surreal appearance in a spectacular aerial video from Karnataka.
The orange-and-white Vande Bharat Express was filmed winding through the lush, mist-covered Western Ghats, creating a striking contrast between modern railway technology and the monsoon landscape. The footage has since attracted huge attention online.
A Train Disappearing Into the Clouds
The video captures the train during a recent trial run on the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section, also known as the Shiradi Ghat section.
From above, the train appears to curve through dense greenery before briefly disappearing into thick mist and emerging again farther along the track.
Its bright orange-and-white coaches stand out against the deep green hills, giving the impression of a long orange streak moving through the forest.
Why Everyone Is Calling It an “Orange Snake”
The aerial perspective is what makes the footage particularly unusual.
Instead of seeing the Vande Bharat from a station platform or alongside a conventional railway track, viewers get a bird’s-eye view of the entire train following the winding route through the mountains.
The repeated curves make the train appear almost snake-like, while the surrounding mist creates a dramatic cinematic effect.
One of Karnataka’s Toughest Railway Sections
Behind the beautiful visuals is an extremely challenging railway landscape.
The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section passes through steep slopes and difficult Western Ghats terrain. Reports accompanying the footage say the route contains 57 tunnels, 258 bridges and 108 sharp curves.
That combination makes operating trains through the region a significant engineering and safety challenge.
A Trial Run Through the Western Ghats
The spectacular footage was recorded during a trial run as railway authorities assessed Vande Bharat operations on the ghat section.
The route forms part of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru railway corridor, adding a modern high-speed train to one of India’s most dramatic railway landscapes.
Railway Minister Shares the View
The video received an even bigger boost after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared it on X on August 23.
His post highlighted India’s newer generation of trains and quickly brought the striking railway footage to a much wider audience.
Where Technology Meets Nature
What makes the footage so captivating is the contrast.
On one side is a modern orange-and-white train representing India’s evolving railway network. On the other is the ancient-looking landscape of the Western Ghats, covered in monsoon greenery, clouds and mist.
For a few moments, the distinction almost disappears.
The Vande Bharat looks less like a train travelling through Karnataka and more like a bright orange ribbon weaving through a sea of green.
And that extraordinary view is exactly why this short piece of railway footage has become one of the most eye-catching travel visuals of the week.
