Kalka Shimla Toy Train Experience

Have you seen the images of a beautiful toy train passing through green valleys and mountainous terrain? If yes, then maybe these were the images of the Shimla-Kalka toy train. Many people take a ride of this toy train from Shimla to Kalka to capture the most picturesque train route of the world. This train passes through scores of tunnels before reaching its final destination. Don't miss this unique ride while visiting Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla is a beautiful hill station in the magnificent western Himalayan mountain ranges in India. This has historically been a famous city and today is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful hill in north India, in the western Himalayas. To reopen the old school romance with your sweetheart, take a joy ride to Toy Train that commences from Kalka to Shimla.

Kalka-Shimla narrow-gauge railway route is counted as one of the most beautiful and dangerous routes in India. This route, 96 km long, was built by the British in 1903. The train passes through 20 stations, 102 tunnel and 864 bridges. This railway track is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- On a range you will find beautiful watches like Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Tara Devi, Barog, Salogra and Totu (Jutog). There are 5 trains every day from Kalka to Shimla - Himalayan Queen, Kalka Shimla Express, Shivalik Deluxe Express, Rail Motor and Kalka Shimla Passenger. Though you are not a kid anymore I bet you will love this ride.

With average speed, you can enjoy your trip to Shimla by travelling all across the city. Mesmerizing views of stunning valleys and the cool breeze takes you to some other world. To enjoy yourself, even more, it is recommended to ride the famous toy train in India.

Watch out the breathtaking snow vistas outside your window as the train takes you to the 102 tunnels and countless bygone era railway stations! It enjoys a striking geographical diversity, ranging from high desert plains to dense cedar forests and terraced orchards, from the snowy mountain ranges to the lakes and rivers fed by the meltwater that flows down from the Himalayas.

There are touristic centers, each one with its own beauties, that will catch you with its charm. Some of then are Kullu and Manali, Parvati Valley and Kasol, Dalhousie and Chamba, Dharamshala and Palampur, and Shimla. Shimla has an interesting colonial past and was once called the summer capital of India. Today tourists from all over India and all over the world travel to Shimla to enjoy a lovely vacation in one of the best hill stations in the country.

Being the capital and the largest city of Himachal, Shimla holds some of the most appealing scenes that are worth capturing. The beauty of this place not only lured Indians but, also Britishers who declared it as their Summer Capital during the colonial era. The spectacular views of lakes, rich greenery, mountains and British style buildings make Shimla an altogether different place!

The below zero temperature in winters allow you to pose in your fluffy winter apparels in Shimla. Set in the middle of gorgeous hillsides and mystical woods, Shimla has been a very popular hill-station among Indians and honeymooners considering that it's lovely, cozy therefore enchanting. Vacationers likewise go to the well-known Jakhu Temple as well as engage in sightseeing at various points of view during their trip to Shimla.

Shimla is connected to the rest of the country with a good road transport system and it also has an airport. However, the toy train in Shimla has become a tourist attraction for many people visiting the city. The Kalka Shimla Toy Train runs on the Kalka Shimla Railway Line. At an altitude of 2,076 meters it offers an incredible panoramic view of the Himalayas.

The Kalka Shimla Railway is a narrow gauge railway line that was built in the 19th and early 20th century during India's colonial rule. This railway line was built in the mountains between the towns of Kalka and Shimla. UNESCO has added this famous toy train railway route to the UNESCO World Heritage Site route.

The toy train that runs on this route has a historical charm to it and travelling on this route feels a little like travelling in trains of a different era. Built by British, the wonder of engineering in the 19th century served the highlands of Shimla, and it was erected as an escape route for the British from the heat of summer.

Kalka Shimla Toy Train experience snow

This picturesque route has 20 stations starting from Kalka and ending in Shimla. Kalka is connected to the rest of the country by the Delhi Kalka Broad Gauge line. Kalka is an important railway station in Haryana.

This route has a slow average speed of around 25-30 kilometers per hour for the toy train and this speed is perfect for travelers to enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountainous region between Kalka and Shimla.

Some of the stations on the route include Kalka, Taksal, Dharampur, Solan, Barog, Salogra, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Summer Hill and Shimla. The line stretches for about 96 kilometers and offers spectacular scenery along the entire route. There are many tunnels and exciting turns and some steep slopes which add to the adventure to the trip. This is the reason it becomes one of the popular Shimla attractions for every tourist.

The longest tunnel is over a kilometer long and the scenic beauty of the region is especially spectacular between Barog and Shimla. Another tunnel in Taradevi, crosses cutting through a hill at the top of which there is a famous temple, which has led to talk about the local superstition of the day when the goddess would not allow its construction.

When the construction was under way, a great excitement arose from the sightings of a huge snake in the tunnel that turned out to be a long iron pipe along the tunnel to transport fresh air.

There are hundreds of bridges in the mountains that are part of this journey which also make it more exciting to travel on this steep railway toy train journey. The Northern Railway manages the Kalka Shimla Railway and takes care of the day to day maintenance and management of the toy train on this route.

The route starts at a height of around 650 meters above sea level and gradually climbs to its destination in Shimla which is over 1100 meters above sea level. The route goes through the famous Himalayan Shivalik Hills foothills. This is a once in a lifetime experience for many travelers as the scenic beauty of this route is unmatched by any railway route anywhere in the world.

It is an important adventurous tourist-friendly route which has become a scenic attraction. Having said that it is this toy train route which also plays an important role in the transport infrastructure of Shimla.

This route and this toy train connect Shimla to the railway network of the rest of the country. This makes it easy for travelers who prefer the railway to visit Shimla by using this toy train between Kalka and Shimla.

Visiting Shimla is a lot of fun because of its hill station weather and tourist attraction. But the journey to visit Shimla on a toy train has also become a major tourist attraction for many tourists. This toy train journey is an ideal way to see the scenic beauty of the Himalayas and also visit Shimla which is one of the best tourist destinations in the country.

Himachal is one of the safest destinations to travel in India. It attracts tourists from all over the world who flock to it for experiencing its enthralling natural beauty and culture. This paradise on earth is rich with its mesmerizing beauty, snow capped mountains, rivers and various religious places. The people of Himachal are very helpful and cooperative.

Best Time to Visit Shimla


Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh is the Summer time, it's the peak season, people from all around the world visit Himachal in that season from Mid-March to Mid-August to chill out in the mountains and to beat the heat of the plains.

Then, other peak tourist season is December-January. People visit Himachal, celebrate Christmas and New Year here. You will also get a chance to see snowfall in this season.

In between Mid-august to mid-December there are not much tourists except on the festivals like Diwali or Dusshera.

March to June is the best season to visit Shimla. During this, the weather of Shimla is pleasant. The exhaust act is good for the load. Temperatures range between 15 and 35 degrees during these four months. Seating, camping, rafting or paragliding can be done easily during this season. However, you will not get to see snow in these months.

The weather from the end of December to February is good for enjoying the snow. During this time, Shimla as well as tourist places like Kufri, Nal Dehra, Chail etc. get snowfall. Going to some low-lying areas can also enjoy snowfall.

This is the safest place for solo travelers, women travelers and foreigners. One must check the weather condition before planning a visit to Himachal as at many places snowfall happens during winter season.
Kalyan Panja