#Heritage Simla-Kalka Railway

[spiceholiday]

Things To Do Activities In Shimla

Shimla, also known as Simla, is the capital city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located in the western Himalayas at an average altitude of 2,205 meters (7,234 feet) above sea level. Shimla is renowned for its scenic beauty, pleasant climate, and colonial architecture.

Tourist Attractions:

The Mall: The Mall Road is the main street of Shimla, lined with shops, restaurants, and colonial buildings. It is a popular spot for leisurely walks and shopping.

Ridge: Located at the heart of Shimla, the Ridge offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. It is a hub for cultural events and celebrations.

Christ Church: Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in North India and is known for its beautiful stained glass windows.

Jakhu Hill: This hill offers breathtaking views of the city and houses the famous Jakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It is also known for its population of monkeys.

Kufri: Located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Shimla, Kufri is a popular hill station known for its skiing slopes, scenic views, and the Himalayan Nature Park.

Adventure Activities: Shimla offers various adventure activities such as trekking, paragliding, river rafting, camping, and skiing (during winter months). These activities attract adventure enthusiasts from around the world.

Toy Train: The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kalka-Shimla Railway is a narrow-gauge toy train that connects Shimla to the town of Kalka. The train journey offers stunning views of the mountains and valleys and is considered an engineering marvel.

Local Cuisine: Shimla offers a range of culinary delights, including Himachali cuisine. Popular dishes include Madra (a lentil curry), Dham (a traditional feast), Tudkiya Bhath (a spiced rice dish), and Sidu (a steamed bread).

[casualflowerglitter]

FACTS ABOUT SHIMLA ( INDIA)

1. Shimla is One Of The Youngest Cities in The Country

55% of the population is in the 16- 55 age group. And 28% of the rest is below the age of 15

2. Before the British, Shimla Region Was Ruled by the Nepalese. Shimla Was A Part Of The Kingdom Of Prithvi Narayan Shah Of Nepal Before The British. It was declared the summer capital of India in 1864.

3. Nathuram Godse’s Trial Took Place at (Now) Peterhoff Hotel. The building was the residence for seven Viceroys and the location for the Punjab High Court.

4. Indian Institute Of Advanced Studies – IIAS Had Power Supply Way Back in 1888. It was built as a residence for Lord Dufferin in 1884 and now houses the IIAS.

5. Shimla is Located On 7 Hills. Prospect Hill , Observatory Hill, Summer Hill, Inverarm Hill, Bantony Hill, Jakhoo Hill and Elysium Hill.

6. Shimla Hosts The MTB Himalaya, The Biggest Mountain Biking Race In South East Asia.

7. The Kalka-Shimla Railway Is Recognized As A World Heritage Site By UNESCO.

8. Shimla Has The Only Natural Ice Skating Rink In South Asia.

9. The Durand Football Tournament Was Held at Annandale Ground In 1888.

10. Lord Combermere Was The First Commander-In–Chief Of The Indian Army To Visit Shimla In 1828.

11. The Founder of Indian National Congress Lived at ‘Rothney Castle’ in Shimla

12. The Town Hall Was Built In 1888. It Is An Earthquake Proof Building.

13. Gandhi first came to Shimla on 11th May, 1921.

14. Shimla is the Birth Place Of Anupam Kher, Prem Chopra, Balraj Sahni, Priya Rajvansh

15. The Jakhoo Temple Shrine, Believers Say, Holds the Foot Prints Of Lord Hanuman.

16. The Houlme Is The Birth Place Of Amrita Shergill, One Of India’s Most Well Known Artists.

The house also has a studio that her father very lovingly constructed for her.

17. Shimla had its first newspaper – Simla Akhbaar in 1848.

It was run by the Muslim Community but was soon shut down by the British

18. The first shop opened in Shimla was a butchery run by Messers Barret & Co.

19. Auckland House School Is The Only Girl School In India To Introduce Scuba Diving.

20. The Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling Monastery In Sanjauli Is One Of Its Kind In India.

There is only one other in Tibet that teaches the practice of ‘ Kalachakra. ‘

21. BCS Shimla Is One Of The Oldest Boarding Schools In Asia.

The school has been operational since 1863. They actually have a closed door in the building from where 100 Muslims students left at partition.

22. The First Road Of Shimla Was Constructed In 1828.

The Mall was actually called the ‘Thandi Sarak’ in the British Era.

23. Shimla Falls In Seismic Zone IV.

According to officials, even 2% of the buildings will not able to withstand an earthquake of high intensity. Shimla is bursting on the seams with residents, as it was only planned for 16000 residents.

24. The northern slope of Ridge is sinking.

The Grand Hotel west, Lakkar Bazaar are going down. Alarmingly Shimla has 187 buildings with more than five floors.

25. The Shimla Convention Is A Century Old. Tibetans Are Still In Exile.

26. From the North Side of Ridge the Rain water drains into Sutlej River and is carried into Arabian Sea, South side drains into Yamuna and flows to Bay of Bengal.

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[blogamyamykinslove-blog]

“Bob-Ji” my pet spider in Simla. don’t be scared, he guarded my bathroom well!

Coffee House rear balcony view.

Heritage train station on Simla-Kalka Heritage rail

Heritage Railway Station

View from Heritage Railway

Adorable “Bloom Rooms�� Hotel in Dehli.

Woke at the crack of dawn to find that my body was doing it’s  natural female letting go thing, which definitely explained yesterday’s tearfulness on the physiological level…

But, no rest for the wicked, as they say, so I got myself up and power-walked back to The Coffee House for another fantastic breakfast and coffee sitting on one of the back balcony overlooking the town terraces and Himalayan foothill mountains.  On the way back out of town to fetch my luggage, I observed a family of monkeys clambering down the side of the last building of The Mall from the roof using drainpipes and telephone cables, and was deeply touched by the baby of the family making his brave yet cautious effort while her mum watched intently.  The wee one made little noises of trepidation the entire time “ooh, eeeh, umm, ohoooh” I could hear his thoughts, “Umm, I’m going to try this out… Um, oh dear, ok, annnd…. umm, ok I’ll try this this way, oh jeez, I’m not sure now…” Of course he made it safely and he and mum caught up to the rest of the group.  It was very sweet. These are the kinds of monkey behaviours I like, and when they’re quietly preening each other while basking in the sun on top of the walls, etc.  I snatched my bags after bidding good-bye to my pet spider “Bob-Ji” (all my pet spiders are named “Bob”, but since this was an Indian spider, I felt he should have an Indian inflection to his name) who kept guard in my bathroom during my stay, and walked downhill to the train station.

I was sorry to be leaving Simla.  I realized that like Dharmsala it’s “India-Lite” in that it’s a friendly, clean and safe tourist town, though in two days I had seen most of what it had to offer.  I was also super excited for the excruciatingly slow “toy”train ride along the  World Heritage Simla to Kalka line (built in 1906, one travels 96kms, through 102 tunnels, and over 988 bridges in 6 hours).  I got into the 1st class car, and was astounded by how narrow and tiny the train was altogether- economy class in airplanes have higher ceilings and more leg room- and I felt deeply sorry for the gigantic German tourists squeezing themselves onto the miniature bench seats.  Everyone in the train was very friendly, but we had to be as we sat knee to knee!  This train ride, despite the heat, distance and cramped quarters was absolutely worth doing! The picturesque multiple-tiered and arch supported stone bridges, tunnels short and long, gorgeous and ever-changing mountain vistas, and changing vegetation were stunning.  There are a number of heritage train stations along the line that are also beyond adorable, and seem to have no other function except to be perfectly kept up with gardens, lovely hanging planter baskets and shining sky blue and white tiled water stations, so the station master cum gardener can stand proudly in front of it and wave the train on with his green flag.  I was sitting facing the rear of the train, so had real difficulty getting photos of these quaint jewel-like train stations in time.  I would go back and do it all again to get a lot more photos.  There were many instances where we on the train were looking down onto roadways, and they had an awful lot of views of rock faces, landslide areas, and dust.  The vegetation as we wound our way down from elevation was an ever-changing delight and wonder.  The tops of the mountains in Himachal Pradesh are very dry, water is pumped and trucked up to towns and city cisterns, so leaving Simla initially the landscape was quite sere with short grass, shrubs, pine trees and stands of Prickly Pear and Danda Thor cacti! Only at elevation, there was also a rarely seen tree with fine pink blossoms that rivaled cherry blossoms in loveliness, although they were far more delicate.  We later reached the pine forest level, and it was a gorgeous sight as each pine needle glinted and gleamed in the sunshine as if it had been polished, and the colour was  vibrant and fresh. As we continued to descend, the pine gave way to deciduous trees like mountain ash and arbutus, which, again, if you live in British Columbia and have ever been traveling through the interior and Okanagan, they don’t seem so exotic- but it was good to see that a lot of these forests have been preserved and the hills not completely denuded. And of course, the wildflowers grew in colourful profusion at every point down the mountains. The flowers in India… Incomparable.

We finally arrived at Kalka, a completely unremarkable and purely utilitarian transportation hub town on the border of Himachal Pradesh.  There I joined a tour group of Canadians, Brits and Germans in the “Executive” waiting room, which had a lovely washroom, air-conditioning and comfey couches to enjoy while waiting for the Kalka to Delhi train.  Amusingly, a couple of the ladies there recognized me from my wanders in the streets of Dharmsala, and they happened to be from Vancouver.  We all got onto a regular express train to Delhi, and I appreciated the reclining chair, A/C- and the meal and 1L water bottle provided.  It wasn’t immaculate, but it was definitely a clean train- I might have been one of the dirtiest things on it!  Train travel is definitely an improvement over bus travel, but one does get a view of the town garbage tips and constant litter beside the tracks, which is quite sad.  Except for the upsetting amount of garbage Indians strew everywhere (it’s not their fault, the caste system makes it very difficult for the upper castes to put their minds to problems that are “beneath” them, like sanitation, garbage collection, sewage. It’s actually quite ridiculous that India has no recycling program nor proper sewage and water works, but it’s definitely a hangover from India’s historical context. Bureaucrats and officials in high levels of government LITERALLY have not been capable of wrapping their heads around managing garbage because it should not even be on their radar- they’re too “upper class”, it’s not something they have ever been concerned about) , the views are still much more picturesque, and a waxing gibbous moon was shining outside my window.

I was picked up from the New Dehli train station with little hassle by the driver supplied by “Bloom Rooms” hotel.  The poor guy (whom I discovered was, you guessed it, from Dharmsala) had to run to the opposite side of the station when I failed to wait for him on the platform.  I was sorry to have done that to him because Sanay was one of those devastatingly handsome, tall, bearded Indian men.  Oh yes, there are a lot of very tall, devastatingly handsome, full bearded Indian men in India. When Indian men are devestatingly handsome, they are truly and ridiculously handsome. It’s devestating.  Anyway. I was sorry to see him go.

“Bloom Rooms” in New Dehli, by the way, is an absolutely charming contemporary hotel very near to the train station that takes one to Agra.  I highly recommend it.  Everything is very Western design and Western clean- and the charming beech wood, white and yellow rooms have bunkbeds! I tumbled myself into the gorgeous shower and then into bed as quickly as possible.  Next stop is Agra for the Taj Mahal… tomorrow.

Simla-> Kalka-> Delhi Oct. 14 ’16 Woke at the crack of dawn to find that my body was doing it's  natural female letting go thing, which definitely explained yesterday's tearfulness on the physiological level...

[singh-life]

VISIT SHIMLA- QUEEN OF HILLS (PLACES TO VISIT, HOTEL & TRANSPORTATION)

To read this article with beautiful photographs, visit the link to website:

https://singh-life.com/visit-shimla-queen-of-hills-places-to-visit-hotel-transportation/

Shimla also famous by the name of “Queen of Hills” is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh state in Northern India. It was the summer capital of India under British Government before Independence and was declared as the capital of Punjab after the independence of India. Then it was made the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is the principal commercial, cultural and educational center of the state.

Shimla is at a distance of approximately 150 KM from Patiala and I have been there twice before this third visit. I planned this 3rd trip to Shimla in the month of November 2021. Previously I traveled there via my personal car, but this time I completed my journey via the famous Kalka-Shimla Heritage Toy Train. 

If you are interested to know more about the Kalka Shimla toy train (travel experience, timing, fare, and other facilities), then you can read my previous blog post by clicking on the link is KALKA SHIMLA RAILWAY (KSR) - TOY TRAIN TRAVEL EXPERIENCE - Travel | Photography

Where is Shimla situated?

Shimla is located at 2276 meters (7467 ft) from the sea level in northern India against the snow-covered mountains of the Great Himalayas. It is also spelt as Simla. It is situated at the distance of approximately 110 KM from Chandigarh, the capital city of Punjab, and 350 KM from Delhi, the National Capital of India. It is a famous hill station in India.

To Read the full article, please visit the link below:

https://singh-life.com/visit-shimla-queen-of-hills-places-to-visit-hotel-transportation/

[airmanisr]

Kalka-Simla Railway (India) - Photo Album by Historical Railway Images Via Flickr: Barogh tunnel (3,900 feet long) and station Barogh is a small hill station in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The station lies on UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway, in the mountains. Barogh tunnel is the longest of the 103 operational tunnels on the route of the Shimla-Kalka Railway, at 1143 meters. Barogh station is immediately after the tunnel

[foodloosein]

In a throwback to our colonial past when Simla used to be the Summer Capital of British India, I finally had the leisure to undertake a toy train journey from Shimla to Kalka. It is a beautiful station which is also a @unesco world heritage site. It is one of the three mountain railways other being Udhagamandalam ( Ooty ) & Darjeeling . The slow , languid pace with which it moves is charming passing through 103 tunnels the elevation descending from 2100 m ( Shimla ) to 600 m( Kalka) . Scroll to see how the vegetation changes from the lush deodars of Shimla to the deciduous ones around Barog. Highly recommended if you have the time. #foodloose #shimla #kalka #mountainrailway #unescoworldheritage #vintage #narrowgauge #narrowgaugerailway #himalayan #railway #traincarriage #barog #himachal #rail #throwback #travelwithme #lonelyplanet #india #clearsky (at Shimla railway station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIxIffGl3GgunZH6A4hY48DPZvuSTbQNxoNGi80/?igshid=1vlnvr93l30s4

[fairy1312]

Shimla Himachal pradesh

Simla, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab and was later made the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.

Shimla is home to a number of buildings that are styled in the Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture and churches, the temples, and the natural environment of the city attracts tourists. Attractions include the Viceregal Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road, the Ridge and Annadale which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has the largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions.

[everydayholidayedh]

Shimla (then spelt Simla) was settled by the British shortly after the first Anglo- Gurkha war and is located at 7,116 feet(2,169m) in the foothills of the Himalaya. By the 1830s, Shimla had already developed as a major base for the British. It became the summer capital of British India in 1864, and also the Headquarters of the British army in India. The Kalka- Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the Indian rail system. "The Guinness Book of Rail facts & feats" records Kalka Shimla Railways as the greatest narrow gauge engineering in India. It is indeed true, construction of 103 tunnels (102 Existing) aggregating five miles and over 800 bridge in three years, that too in rough and hostile terrain was not an easy task. The Historic, approximate 114 years old KLK-SML Railway line which was opened for public traffic on 9th Nov.1903, became UNESCO Declared world Heritage Railway line, when it was conferred Heritage status on 10th July 2008 & listed under "Mountain Railways of India". _ _ _ पर्यटन का मजा जरूर लीजिये, ऑफिस में कैद कर खुद को सजा न दीजिये. _ _ _ क्या रखा है शहर 🏙️ की भीड़ भाड़ में, कुछ दिन तो गुजारो हमारे पहाड़ 🏔️ में। _ 🌲🌲🙏 जय हिमाचल🙏🌲🌲 _ #himachalpradesh #hrtc_rocks_himalyan_routes_full_on_danger_still_chilling😍✌️🚌🚌🚌 #hrtckangra #rainydays #awesome #awesomeview #instalike #insta #instagram #instashot #photooftheday #photographys #travelphotography #traveller #travelling #travelstory #mountains #bustravelling #himachali_swagger #himachalpradeshtourism🗻 #himachal_diaries #roadtrip #jannatofhimachal #jannatehimachal _ _ _ _ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ @everydayholiday.in @ghumoindia.edh @himachaltourismofficial _ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴀʀᴇ _ 🙏ᴊᴀɪ ʜɪᴍᴀᴄʜᴀʟ _ 🙏ᴊᴀɴɴᴀᴛ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍᴀᴄʜᴀʟ _ 🙏ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛ _ _ हिमाचल आओ प्लास्टिक मत लाओ। ❤️🧡देव भूमि हिमाचल प्रदेश 🧡❤️ _ इस पेज को इतना प्यार देने के लिए धन्यवाद! _ (at Kalka Shimla Toy Train) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAh7ENjJUbU/?igshid=5wdiad8gbjra

[jnrglobetrotters]

Chugging up to the Clouds

While the British Raj in India left behind an institution that is maintained and cherished to this very day—a sprawling railway system – no part of it is more impressive and breathtaking than the three mountain railways; grouped together as a single World Heritage Site: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka-Shimla Railway. (The fourth, Neral Matheran Railway, in the western ghats near Bombay/Mumbai; which connects Neral to Matheran, has been shut down recently.)

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal (northeast India) and runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling; the Nilgiri Mountain Railways is situated in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu (South India) and extends from Mettupalayam to Ooty/Udhagamdalam; and the Kalka-Shimla Railway is located in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh (Northwest India), connecting Kalka with Shimla/Simla.

Popularly known as “toy trains,” they offer a delightful ride, chugging along as they wind up the steep ghats, offering an unmatched adventure on tracks. Since their construction, these Mountain Railways have demonstrated the application of bold and ingenious solutions to establishing an effective link across  hilly terrains. Fully operational and still functioning, they are living examples of the engineering enterprise of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Further, they have also acted as socio-economic lifelines for isolated communities in this mountainous region.

The station of origin in the foothills base is accessible by conventional rail lines or road. Each route is linked to a connecting train, from where travellers switch over to the Mountain Railway. Further, While each of the threetrains to Darjeeling, Ooty & Simla, and their routes has its own special identity, distinct from the others, all are accompanied by panoramic view of the passage on the way up.

Being immensely popular with visitors, seat reservation needs to be done in advance, especially during the holidays. The routes are also subject to occasional weather-related closings, including high snowfall in the northern mountains and monsoon washouts. The best time to travel is usually after winter (around March) till the start of the monsoon (in June).

[toobasabri]

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN NORTH INDIA

1.      NEW DELHI, NCR

New Delhi is the national capital of India. Delhi has several monuments and heritage places that are the tribute to its rich cultural and political past. It also features local markets, and street food, and many more things. Delhi is also famous for many Historical places.

Places you must go and visit in Delhi are Red Fort, Purana Qila, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid, Jantar Mantar, Lotus Temple, Agrasen ki Baoli, National Rail Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Chandhi Chowk, and Connaught Place.  

You can come to visit Delhi through different modes of transport like airways, rail, road, etc. Nearest Airport is The Indira Gandhi International Airport where International flights also land and take off.

2.    SHIMLA, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla is popularly known as Simla, it is the capital of Himachal Pradesh as well as the largest city of Himachal Pradesh. Come for a holiday in Shimla and get opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones. Stay close to Mother Nature and make your trip more relaxing and fascinating. The Britishers designated the town as the Summer Capital of India. You can reach Shimla by different modes such as by taxi, by air, by road, or by train.

Places to visit in Shimla are The Ridge, Mall Road, Jakhoo Hill, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Christ Church, Himachal State Museum, Green Valley, Tara Devi Temple, etc.

3.      AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH

Agra is mostly famous for the Taj Mahal, it is counted among the top places to visit in North India. World Heritage sites, several enticing gardens, vibrant local markets, emporiums, and lip-smacking street food also make Agra the world famous.  

Places to visit in Agra are Taj Mahal, Mughal Gardens, Taj Museum, Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh, Akbar’s Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid, Chini-ka-Rauza, and I’timād-ud-Daulah or Baby Taj.

4.    AMRITSAR, PUNJAB

Amritsar is a treasure for spiritual and architectural beauty. It is home to the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, it is popularly known for the Golden Temple or Sri Harmandir Sahib. The city is a reminder of India’s freedom struggle as bullet marks are still visible on the walls of the Jallianwala Bagh. The Change of Guard ceremony performed every evening at the Wagah-Attari border by soldiers of the Indian and Pakistani army is another reason for people to come and visit Amritsar.

Places to visit in Amritsar are Durgiana Temple, Gobindgarh Fort, Golden Temple, Company Bagh, Jallianwala Bagh, Akal Takht, Partition Museum, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Central Sikh Museum, The Old City Bazaar, Sada Pind, Harike Bird Sanctuary, and Wagah Border. Learn more about historical places in Amritsar.

5.    LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH

Lucknow is also known as “the City of Nawabs”, it is a charming place known for its tehzeeb. Islamic monuments and Chikankari handicrafts are also one of the reasons to come and visit lucknow. The city has an artistic ambiance and has number of historic monuments, museums, palaces, temples and mosques that attracts history lovers and explorers. There are also a number of heritage homes in the old city of Lucknow.

Places to visit in Lucknow are Chandrika Devi Temple, Kaiserbagh Palace, Jama Masjid, Constantia House, Satkhanda, Sikandar Bagh, State Museum, Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Ambedkar Memorial Park, British Residency, Chattar Manzil, Dilkusha Kothi, Husainabad Clock Tower, Amrapali Water Park, Aminabad Market, Indira Gandhi Planetarium, and Nawab Wahid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, etc.

Also check out these places:

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