From Kalka to Shimla – the summer capital of the British Raj. The railway opened in 1905 to bring the British and their entourage north to escape the summer heat of Delhi and the plains. One of three UNESCO World Heritage listed Indian hill railways, sadly this one is exclusively diesel hauled but probably the […]
Summer Capital
From Kalka to Shimla – the summer capital of the British Raj. The railway opened in 1905 to bring the British and their entourage north to escape the summer heat of Delhi and the plains. One of three UNESCO World Heritage listed Indian hill railways, sadly this one is exclusively diesel hauled but probably the most dramatic.
The line rises from Kalka at 656 metres above sea level to Shimla at 2,075m in just 96 km; so that’s why it takes at least five hours. 988 bridges and 102 tunnels, with a steepest climb of 1 in 33 guarantee continuing interest.
