View from the tracks

McDonald, a former freelance photo journalist began photographing trains plying in hill regions of India three years ago, while living in Dharamshala. 8220;I started with trains on the Kangra valley network which runs through regions in Himachal Pradesh. I was intrigued by the functioning of this archaic rail network and how a dedicated workforce of engineers kept it functional. When the trains go by, the past comes alive,8221; explains McDonald. He has previously exhibited works on Tibet and Maldives in his home town Melbourne.

Be it a quiet moment between a married couple in a train compartment with eavesdroppers crowding around or a cow ambling across the tracks as a train chugs to a halt, McDonald8217;s exhibition illustrates the historical importance of these trains. 8220;The scenery, even the people on these trains are so different from anywhere else in the world,8221; he says, pointing to his favourite image of a train emerging from the dense jungle cover along an elevated railway bridge. His collection of images can be seen on his website hilltrainsofindia.com.

McDonald8217;s favourite heritage train in India is the Kalka Railway recently named a World Heritage Site. 8220;The Kalka railway is 77-years-old and offers the best scenic views,8221; he says. He will return to Australia soon to work on a book about landscapes there.

The exhibition is on till December 24.

Curated For You

Dhurandhar Movie Box Office Collection Day 25 Update: Ranveer Singh starrer is highest-grossing Indian film in a single language

Kannada TV actress who refused to quit acting for government job dies by suicide in Bengaluru

WATCH Magnus Carlsen slams table yet again, this time after losing to Arjun Erigaisi