August 17-19, 2010 Shimla-Kalka-Shimla

On the 17th I took the narrow gauge (2 1/2 feet) rail trip from Shimla at about 7000 feet down to Kalka at a little over 2000 feet.  It's only about 60 miles, but took 6 hours on the narrow tracks surrounded by cedars and pines and many steep descents.  We left at 10:30 in misty weather and it stayed that way most of the trip.  There are something like 102 tunnels and almost a thousand stone bridges, one of them a four level aqueduct type bridge.  Quite a scenic and enjoyable trip.  I think there were only 7 of the tiny cars, plus the diesel locomotive.  I opted for the chair class ticket at about $3.50, five times the second class ticket.  My car was only about half full, all Indians (including four friendly civil servants returning from a short holiday in the hills) but for me, though there were quite a few Western tourists in the other cars.  The line was completed in 1903 to make the trip to Shimla easier.  There were stops at little stations along the way, where you could get tea and food.  Upon our arrival in Kalka almost everyone else on the train got onto the waiting broad gauge train bound for Delhi.  I bought a ticket to return to Shimla the next day and found a decent hotel and restaurant only a few minutes walk from the train station.

I took the return trip the next day in a much more crowded train, leaving just after noon and arriving about 5:30.  It surprised me that it took less time to ascend than descend.  The weather was about the same and I again enjoyed the beautiful trip. 

Spent the next day in Shimla.  It was foggy all day, with a big rainstorm in the afternoon, which I waited out at the local museum in what appears to be an old home from the British days..