Kalka to Shimla Trains

Shimla, the summer capital of the British Raj, is the capital and the largest city of Himachal Pradesh. It was the cool climate that attracted the British to this city. Nestled in the beautiful mountainous terrain of the Himalayas, the city gets its name after the Hindu Goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of Kali. Home to several neo-Gothic structures, temples, and churches, the city is a major tourist attraction. With an ice skating rink and several places of interest, Shimla is a visitor’s delight. The Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge railway line built by the British is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a major tourist attraction.

The distance between Kalka and Shimla is 96 kms. A typical Kalka-Shimla train will take around 6 hours on the meter gauge. The Shimla to Kalka train duration is average and depends on the train's route from Shimla to Kalka by rail.There are 3-4 trains that depart from Kalka to Shimla and vice-versa. The Shivalik Express is the luxury deluxe train service on this route with a few halts and a pantry facility. There is also the option of travelling through the Rail Car, a one of its kind on this route in India. The Kalka Mail from Delhi that runs overnight reaches Kalka in the morning and is the best time to catch one of the connecting narrow-gauge trains to Shimla. The Kalka Shimla Toy Train is one of the best modes to explore the rich colonial history of Shimla. There are 103 tunnels on the route, with the longest-running, 1.2 kms long. The scenic beauty of this journey is breathtaking and will let you unwind and relax.

Spanning about 60 miles, the Kalka-Shimla trains offer the most scenic railway journey in India. The route sprawls across some awe-inspiring landscapes running along the narrow gauge with splendid views of rugged terrains, waterfalls, pine forests and hills that will tempt you to sing glories in their beauty.The Kalka to Shimla train lets passengers revel in the mesmerising sights and hamlets across the route. Starting at Kalka at zero metres, the trains move upwards along the narrow track. The train for Shimla from Kalka passes through 18 stations to reach Shimla. Located at an elevation of 2,076 metres, the train passes through steep mountains and caves and travels at slow speed.Taksal, Gumman, Koti, Sonwara, Dharampur, Kumarhatti, Solan, Salogra, Kandaghat, Kanoj, Kathleegat, Shoghi, Summer Hill and Shimla are the stops along the Kalka to Shimla train.Barog is the station that has the longest tunnel, which stretches along 143.61 metres. Bridge No 226 is another architectural marvel along the Kalka to Shimla train route, passing over a deep valley surrounded by steep hills on both sides.There are tea stalls and snack carts available at each station to make the journey more memorable.The Rail Motor Car that looks like a bus with a glass roof is an express service with food along with the price along the Kalka to Shimla train route. It only stops at Barog.The Shivalik Deluxe Express is another super fast train that has food, reversible cushion seats, and soothing music to aid in soaking in the scenic beauty. There are no stops on the way but the journey is a pleasing one with gorgeous sights to behold.The Himalayan Queen has standard car seats with nine halts. You can get off the stations and feast your eyes on the breathtaking views.