Kalka–Shimla Railway (Toy Train)

Overview

The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a 96-kilometre narrow-gauge line, with tracks 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) apart, opened on 9 November 1903 to connect the British summer capital of Shimla with the plains. It climbs from about 656 metres at Kalka to about 2,076 metres at Shimla.

In 2008 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India. Its engineering is remarkable: 102 tunnels still in use, hundreds of bridges and many tight curves. The longest, the Barog Tunnel, is over a kilometre long.

What to look for

• The Barog Tunnel and station
• The arched viaducts and bridges on the climb
• Pine forest and valley views from the window
• The small stations with their colonial architecture

Visiting tips

• Book seats well ahead in the busy season; several services run, and your guide can help choose.
• Allow most of a day: the full trip takes about five to six hours.
• Landslides in the monsoon can interrupt the line, so keep your plans flexible.

Why visit with a private guide

A private guide shows you where to stand, when to arrive and what most visitors miss at Kalka–Shimla Railway (Toy Train), and fits the visit around the rest of your day.

More photographs

Nearby

Paragliding McLeod Ganj Monasteries Hadimba Temple Solang Valley Bhootnath Temple Castle Roerich Estate Christ Church Ridge Springs