Kalka: At the Bottom of the Himalayas

Kalka is a city offering a spectacular experience to tourists, sitting right at the foot of the famous Himalayas. Visiting Kalka is the best way to see for yourself what the Himalayas have to offer! From Pinjore Gardens to Sunset Point, there is something for every traveler to visit.

The city of Kalka

The town of Kalka is located at the bottom of the Himalaya mountain chain. It is a city with a small population of 34,000 (2011). While it may not have many inhabitants, it is certainly a location of interest for tourism. The city has train tracks leading right to it for easy accessibility. The country can be found in India, where the view of the Himalayas is spectacular.

The railway station

Kalka is mainly known for two reasons, the first is being so close to the Himalayas, and the second being their historic railway station. The railway was built by the Delhi-Panipat-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company in the early 20th century and officially opened for trains in 1903. The railway remains one of the most narrow tracks in India, with a width of just 2ft! The train station primarily serves for transporting people to the city of Shimla. Even if you do not need to move to another city, visiting this railway track is a great idea. Tripadvisor has given the Certificate of Excellence to the railway between Kalka and Shimla. This certification is given only to the point of interest of tourists that get constant good reviews from travelers.

In 2007, the railway track was declared a heritage asset by the government of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Today, the train still does not move too fast. The quickest it can move is 40 km/h, and the slowest is 25 km/h. It offers a nice relaxing ride with lots of fabulist scenery out your window. Later, in 2008, the UNESCO Team visited the railway and examined it to become a potential world heritage site. The railway was then approved and is now considered a world heritage site.

The Kalka - Shimla railway passes over 103 operational tunnels; however, the longest of the 103 is the Barog Tunnel. The train takes around two and a half minutes to go through this one long tunnel and covers a distance of 1344 meters.

The start of the railway project

When the railway was first built around 1900, the estimated cost for the construction of the railway was Rs 86, 78, 500. However, by the end of the construction, that budget had doubled.

To conclude, if you are ever visiting India, visiting Kalka is undoubtedly something to add to your “to-do list.” You’ll be amazed by what it has to offer and will be able to brag that you were standing right at the foot of the Himalayas.