The Ridge
town · 64 m away
viewpoint20 min from Shimla
Kalka-Shimla Railway
The Kalka-Shimla Railway, built 1898–1903 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, is a narrow-gauge line through more than a hundred tunnels to Shimla.
What it is
A 2-foot-6-inch narrow-gauge railway running from Kalka to Shimla through mostly mountainous terrain, built between 1898 and 1903 under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington. UNESCO recognised the line on 8 July 2008, as part of the broader Mountain Railways of India listing. The route passes through around 102 tunnels, and for many visitors the journey itself is as much the point as anything waiting at either end.
Getting there
The railway's Shimla terminus sits about 20 minutes by road from the edge of town, roughly 9 km — most visitors experience it by arriving on the train itself rather than visiting the line as a standalone stop.
The visit
Early locomotives came from Sharp, Stewart and Company, with the larger Hunslet-built engines following later; diesel and diesel-hydraulic locomotives took over in 1955 and 1970 respectively. The idea of a rail link to Shimla first appeared in print — a letter to the Delhi Gazette back in November 1847 — decades before anyone actually broke ground on it.
> ahead — most other trains on the line only open booking 30 days before departure.
When to go
Any time of year the line is running — the mountain scenery changes with the season, and there's no single best window the way there is for an outdoor sight.
Around it
The Ridge and Christ Church, a short walk from the Shimla terminus, are the natural first stops after arriving by train, followed by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and Jakhoo Temple — see the one-day loop.
Plans that include this
All Shimla itineraries →
Day plan · First visitClassic
One day in Shimla — the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo
A single-day Shimla loop: the Ridge, Christ Church, the former Viceregal Lodge, and Jakhoo Temple's giant Hanuman statue. Free, copyable itinerary.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days in Shimla — the Ridge and Kufri
A two-day Shimla plan: the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo Temple on day one, then Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic
Three days in Shimla — the full circuit
A three-day Shimla plan: the colonial town core on day one, quieter temples and a waterfall on day two, Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day three.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
What makes the Kalka-Shimla Railway a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
UNESCO recognised it on 8 July 2008, folding it into the wider Mountain Railways of India listing alongside its 2-foot-6-inch narrow-gauge engineering through mostly mountainous terrain, all of it built between 1898 and 1903 under Herbert Septimus Harington's direction.
How many tunnels does the Kalka-Shimla Railway pass through?
Around 102 tunnels along the route, one of the reasons the journey itself is treated as a destination rather than just transport. Locomotives have run diesel and diesel-hydraulic since 1955 and 1970 respectively, after starting out entirely steam-powered.
How do I book the Kalka-Shimla Railway?
Most trains open reservations only 30 days ahead, though the Shivalik Deluxe Express follows the standard four-month advance window most Indian long-distance trains use, and serves meals on board. Book well ahead in the busy peak season, since seats sell out fast.