Kalka–Shimla Railway

The Kalka–Shimla line is a 762 mm narrow-gauge railway built by the British to reach their summer capital, opened in 1903. It runs about 96 km from Kalka, in the plains, up to Shimla at roughly 2,075 m, through more than 100 tunnels — the longest at Barog — and over hundreds of bridges and viaducts. In 2008 it was added to the UNESCO 'Mountain Railways of India' World Heritage inscription. Trains range from ordinary passenger services to the Shivalik Deluxe and a glass-roofed rail motor car; the trip takes five to six hours.

1. Kalka is the railhead, connected to Delhi, Chandigarh and Ambala by broad-gauge trains.
2. Book Kalka–Shimla toy train tickets well ahead in the tourist season — seats sell out.
3. The line stops at Dharampur, Barog, Solan and Kandaghat, among others, if you want to break the journey.

March to June and September to November for clear views; December to February can add snow near Shimla but delays are more likely.

• It is slow by design — the appeal is the ride, the tunnels and the hillside views, not speed.
• The Shivalik Deluxe and the rail motor car are more comfortable but cost more and have limited seats.
• Barog station, near the long tunnel, is a well-known stop for its old refreshment room.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.