Although, there are many routes long and short to reach Shimla but one of my old time favourites has been taking the Toy train from Kalka. Though, the tracks of this special rail seem quite narrow, this route has prevailed to be a surreal journey between Kalka and Shimla.
The narrow path of this toy train, popularly known as meter gauge track, was set to motion by the British Government back in 1903. It covers a distance of 96km between Shimla and Kalka thereby passing through 102 tunnels and 87 bridges.
The most adventurous part of this train travel is its interlocked tracks systems that connect Kalka at a height of 656 meter and Shimla at 2076 meter from mean sea level. Though called a toy train, this warrior treads through around 900 curves and the sharpest curve is of 48 degree. This uniqueness makes the five hour journey, one of the best train journeys operated by Indian railway.
The Historical Appeal –
Shimla, then spelt Simla, was established under the British rule. Located at 7,116 feet in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Shimla – Kalka Train route had already developed as a major base for the British by the 1830s. As a result, Simla was turned into the summer capital of British India by 1864. Later, it also became the headquarters of the British army in India.
The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898 under an expensive budget of Rs.1,50,000 which was a great deal back in those times. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka–Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines.
On this route, you may also pass through a small city named Solan, which is also known as mini Shimla. It has its own aesthetic beauty nestling under the shady mountain belts of Himachal.
However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,07,748. And after about a century, in mid-August 2007, the government of Himachal Pradesh declared the railway a heritage property thereby preparing it for UNESCO’s review trip.
Post UNESCO visit around 2008, the Kalka–Shimla Railway was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the World Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India.
So, the next time you plan your trek-way to Shimla, this heritage ride would be just the most pleasant experience for you. And if you long for a hearty meal that completes this toy train travel, then order your food from TravelKhana, India’s leading on-the-go fresh and delicious food service. To place your order, call 8800138811.
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