There are some experiences that leave an everlasting impression on your soul, the one that gives you a sweet memory. For me, it was a Kalka Shimla Toy Train Ride during my recent Shimla trip from Delhi. Imagine experiencing a slow ride with beautiful scenes through the foothills of Himalayas, passing through the green forests, charming hamlets and beautiful valleys. This train is an engineering marvel that passes through 18 stations, 103 tunnels, and more than 900 bridges – Amazing right? Not only this but it offers the most beautiful views, it also stands as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. From train numbers to fare details and booking process in this blog, I will share my wonderful journey and will give you all Details of Kalka Shimla Toy Train Ride.
This toy train was a 96 km journey from the small town of Kalka that is located at the base of the Shivalik Hills. Kalka to Shimla distance by toy train is relatively short, but because of the mountainous terrain the train moves slowly thus allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. To cover this distance, the time taken by toy train from Kalka to Shimla is around 5 to 6 hours depending on the train you choose.
How the Trip Started
I planned this trip in the snowy month of January, for which I have booked 4 Days Shimla Sightseeing tour package that includes all facilities as car on rent, train tickets, Shimla Sightseeing by car and return trip to Delhi by car. Here I have explained all details of Delhi to Shimla Travel Route.
How to reach Kalka?
Reaching Kalka was easy by timely and professional Car rental service. As I was travelling with my family, Swift Dzire Car on rent was our choice for entire journey in Delhi and Shimla both. You can travel from your respective places to Kalka, I started my journey from Delhi by train. Delhi to Kalka distance is 257 km which makes it a journey of 4- 5 hours depending on the train you choose. I travelled by Kalka Shatabdi express, which departs from New Delhi Railway Station. We took Train scheduled at 5 PM which has arrival time of 9 PM in Kalka. This train runs twice so you can travel according to your schedule. We stayed in Kalka overnight to catch the early morning Toy Train- Him Darshan Express by 7 AM.
There are other ways too to reach Kalka like by road. It would be a journey of 5 to 6 hours. You can go by a self-drive or you can hire a taxi from Delhi to Kalka. The best route is via Panipat Expy and NH44. Alternatively you can go by bus too that you can take from ISBT to Kalka. For those who prefer air travel, the nearest airport to Kalka is Chandigarh Airport after which you will have to take a taxi or bus to reach Kalka.
What is Kalka to Shimla Toy Train route?
This scenic journey of toy train started from Kalka Railway Station which was at a height of 656 m from sea level. After this it climbs up to Shimla Railway station that is located at an altitude of 2076m. It passes through some of major stations like Barog, Solan, Shoghi, Taradevi, Kandaghat etc. The Barog route was full of beautiful views of valleys whereas Solan is the mushroom city. Kandaghat, Shoghi and Taradevi offered the most enchanting landscapes and then comes Shimla – the final destination. The Kalka Shimla Railway Track has a total of 18 sections that are –
Kalka – Taksal – Gumman – Koti – Sonwara – Dharampur – Kumarhatti – Barog – Solan – Silan Brewery – Salogra – Kandaghat – Kanoh – Kathleeghat – Shoghi – Taradevi – Jutogh – Summer hill – Shimla .
From rolling hills covered in pine trees to deep valleys and terraced fields, every turn of the track showed the beauty. This was a scenic journey and what I loved the most was the Barog tunnel which was the longest tunnel on the route. As the train passed through the dark tunnel it looked like I entered some other world. And after reaching the other bright side there was a gorgeous view of mountains which was no less than heaven. You can check best time to go Shimla and have wonderful snowfall experience.
List of Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla
There are several trains that ply on Kalka Shimla Route, these are with different timings and classes. I chose the Shivalik Deluxe Express but the following are the prominent ones that you can choose according to your preference–
Kalka to Shimla toy train no – 52451/52452
Shivalik Deluxe Express – This train departs from Kalka around 5:45 am and reaches Shimla around 10:15 am. It is a Deluxe Chair Car and the journey will take you around 4 and a half or 5 hours. The best thing about this train was the comfortable seating, large windows and the food service.
The fare for Shivalik Express is around –₹ 500 to ₹600
Kalka to Shimla toy train no – 52455/52456
Himalayan Queen – The departure time of this train from Kalka is around 12:10 pm and reaches Shimla around 5:30 pm. This is a Chair class car with a journey time of around 5 and half hours. These are budget-friendly options that offers you a decent comfort and scenic views throughout the Journey.
The Fare for Himalayan queen train is ₹300 to ₹400
Kalka to Shimla Toy Train no – 72451/72452
Rail Motor Car – This train starts at 5:25 am from and reaches Shimla around 9:35 am. This is a single coach, Vintage rail car that will take around 4 hours to reach. The ticket fare of this toy car is normal and the best is the unique experience of open vintage car.
The fare of Rail Motor Car is ₹400 to ₹500
Kalka to Shimla Toy Train no – 52457 / 52458
Kalka – Shimla Passenger- This is the general class train that departs from Kalka at around 3:30 am and reaches Shimla at 8:55 am. The time taken by this train is around 5 and a half hours. This train is best for the people on budget travellers who are okay with travelling early.
The fare for Kalka Shimla Passenger train is ₹50 to ₹100
Note– These are the general prices but there might be a change by the time of peak season. It is advisable to book in advance to avoid the rush.
Another unexpected and pleasant experience was the food on train. Breakfast was included in the fare and the meal was surprisingly tasty. It included Poha, Bread butter and hot tea. However if you enjoy travelling and snacking together, I would recommend bringing your own snacks.
How to book Toy train from Kalka to Shimla?
Before embarking this journey I had a stress about how to book the toy train, but thankfully the process was easy and convenient. You can book tickets online as well offline, here’s how –
For Online
- Visit the IRCTC site https://www.irctc.co.in/.
- Search for trains from Kalka (KLK) to Shimla (SML).
- Select the date, train and class of your preference.
- Complete the payment and you will receive the e-ticket.
For offline
- You can directly go to the railway station counter and buy tickets for Kalka to Shimla.
- You can get help from travel agencies that will not only help you with the booking process but also will provide you with the options for customizable tour packages.
Pro -Tip – Do book tickets one month before planning this trip as tickets for this Kalka Shimla Toy Train open 1 month before the travel date unlike other tickets time of 4 months.
Conclusion
This journey of Kalka to Shimla toy train had been the best train journey that I have ever had. Entire journey was overwhelming with snow all around and spectacular views from the glass window. It was not just going from one place to another, it was an unforgettable experience. If you ever find yourself planning a trip to Himachal then do try this journey.
I know it might not be more fun than reaching my destination but the journey is what makes it count. Not just Train trip, our entire Shimla Tour was fascinating with exploring trending places near by as Kufri, Narkanda, Mashobra, Naldehra and Tattapani. To find a perfect Shimla Tour plan, find the Best Places to visit near Shimla.