You cannot state that you have experienced it all when you take a trip to Himachal Pradesh if you haven’t taken your loved ones on a toy train ride there! A toy train ride and that too, in the state of HP, is an otherworldly experience! There are two toy train routes available in the state of HP. One is the Kangra Valley Railway, and the other is the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train.
You should keep in mind that the latter is included in UNESCO’s world heritage list of Mountain Railways! With that stated, let’s take a closer look into these in the following sections now, shall we?
The Kangra Valley Railway
The Kangra Valley toy train route connects Punjab’s Pathankot and HP’s Jogindernagar. The route covers two tunnels and 971 bridges! If you are craving some panoramic views of snow-clad mountains, then make reservations on this train for yourself and your loved ones as soon as you enter HP. The route meanders through a maze that consists of valleys and hills, thus captivating the imagination of travellers – irrespective of their age!
As soon as the train enters the foothills, you will witness that the grand spectacle of the Kangra Valley slowly begins to unfold. You will be riding comfortably and gazing upon the beauty of hillocks on both sides along with meandering streams! Don’t forget to take pictures of the Dhauladhar, as it slowly begins to emerge from the horizon. It stands tall at a height of thirteen thousand feet when measured from the valley floor!
Other interesting things that you would find in this route are:
- The Daulatpur tunnel
- The ruins of the old Kangra fort
- The tea gardens of the Palampur region
- The steep stretch between Baijnath and Joginder Nagar and
- Ahju – the highest point on the track.
The Kalka-Shimla Toy Train
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It was built by the British way back in 1903. The Kalka-Shimla Toy Train covers a mere ninety-six kilometres, but as the narrow-gauge train trots at a pace of 25 – 40 km per hour, you and your loved ones will be soaking in an unforgettable experience.
Here’s a rundown of it all:
- The toy train will take you through 103 tunnels and 969 bridges. The longest tunnel in the route will be the Barog Tunnel. As the toy train approaches this tunnel, please be patient since it would take around three long minutes for the train to get out of the tunnel! Other notable tunnels on this route are the Koti tunnel, Taradevi tunnel and Tunnel no. 103.
- The route itself has 919 curves which approximately add up to 68 km of the total 96 kilometres of the trip.
- You will come across 20 railway stations and
- 5 level crossings!
Himachal Pradesh is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful states in all of India. The best way to explore the state is by taking a toy train ride. Whether you are on a solo trip or a trip with your loved ones, by taking a toy train ride in Himachal Pradesh, you will witness the breath-taking beauty of this great Himalayan state in its full glory!