Updated on November 10th, 2026
Running through 103 tunnels, 969 bridges, and 919 stunning curves, the Kalka Shimla train track is one of the world’s most unique and scenic railway tracks. At 96 km from Kalka to Shimla, the line has 18 railway stations and 5 level crossings. The rail track rises from Kalka at 640 m to Shimla’s cool climes at 2,060 m. Compared with Australia’s oldest railway, Puffing Billy, I have named this article the Kalka-Shimla railway, the Indian Puffing Billy.
Both railway tracks were built almost simultaneously in the early twentieth century. Though the Kalka Shimla train route was completed on November 2, 1903, it was opened to the public only on January 1, 1906. It is said that this railway line was first drawn in November 1847, almost 50 years before it was actually constructed. Lord Curzon, the then British Viceroy of India, inaugurated this magnificent train in November 1903. The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during British rule, with the Indian rail system. The five-hour journey is one of Indian Railways’ best train journeys for tourists.
The train track passes through scenic landscapes
Natural beauty and pleasant weather greet you the whole way. A cool breeze sweeps across your face as the train crosses one station after another, like Taksal, Gumman, and Dharampur, before reaching Barog, almost the midpoint of the journey. This journey encompasses a vast display of awe-inspiring landscapes. Barog is a colonial showpiece with bougainvillaea clusters tumbling down the walls. This station is one of the most beautiful and well-maintained on this track. From here, you can see the towering mountains. At Barog, we pass through the biggest tunnel.
A tragic tale of Engineer Barog
A tragic story is associated with the construction of this railway track. The longest tunnel at Barog is named after Engineer Barog, who sacrificed his life while trying to build it but failed, wasting government funds. Barog committed the mistake of digging the tunnel from both ends of the hill. The tunnel ends could not meet because of a misalignment.
It is said that the British authorities fined him Rs 1 for wasting government money on the tunnel. The British engineer could not digest this humiliation and shot himself in sheer desperation while walking with his pet dog. He killed himself near what is now the state government-run Barog Pine Wood Hotel. After his death, the tunnel work at Barog was left unfinished, and a new tunnel was built a little farther from the old one. After Barog, other beautiful destinations include Solan, Shogai, and Koti, all with towering mountains and deep, lush forests. You feel like being amid nature throughout the entire journey.
UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2008
It is a heritage train, offering breathtaking views and stunning scenery throughout. Travelling through beautiful surroundings brings you closer to nature and is a wonderful experience. The train slows as it ascends through steep mountains and curves. This journey runs on a narrow gauge, taking passengers through breathtaking views of rugged mountains. Along the way, you’ll see lush pine forests and waterfalls. Picture-perfect hill stations line the route and will tempt you to disembark and bask in their beauty. The entire journey takes about five and a half hours.
Earlier, the train was powered by a steam engine, but now it runs on diesel. It runs at 40 to 45 km per hour, up from 22 km per hour. To preserve the railway’s heritage, it is suggested that steam engines be preferred, as with Australia’s Puffing Billy train.
In July 2008, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee added the Kalka Shimla train track to the World Heritage List. On 9th Nov 2008, UNESCO officially declared this railway line a World Heritage Site. The Guinness Book of Rail Facts also listed this track as India’s greatest narrow-gauge engineering achievement.
Special Trains on specific days
The service uses standard car seats and has nine halts. Passengers can get off at the stations along the way and nourish their eyes and souls with beautiful scenery. There are also two heritage carriages operating on this route: Shivalik Queen and Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach. Both are luxury services with ultra-modern facilities, including an onboard kitchen, refrigerator, dining table, and folding-cushion beds. These trains usually operate once a week, from March until September. During the high season (May-July, September-October, and December-January), several special holiday trains also run on this route due to heavy tourist traffic.
Another such heritage train in Melbourne is the Puffing Billy train, a blend of history, heritage, and a winery lunch
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