Prepare to embark on one of the most gorgeous railway travels of your life aboard the Toy Train Kalka to Shimla. It is an essential part of any Himachal tour. The Kalka Shimla Toy Train keeps inviting you to experience Himachal Pradesh’s greeneries beauty by providing a relaxing view of beautiful green valleys, mountain ranges, rivers, and pine-covered forests. The Toy Train Shimla is one of the finest ways to discover the hill station’s rich colonial history.

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla: History

It was officially designated as the British Empire’s summer capital during the British occupation of India. There wasn’t any good way to get to Shimla during that time. Whatever route had been accessible, they were risky, dangerous, and time-consuming.

So, in November 1903, Britishers launched the narrow-gauge Kalka to Shimla toy train to provide easy and quick access to Shimla. Lord Curzon relished the first train ride, and the ride has been running continuously since then, except for service breaks.

Type of Toy Train’s Kalka to Shimla 

The three major tourist rail lines that operate on the Kalka Shimla railway route are as follows:

Rail Motor Vehicle: Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

Rail Motor Vehicle Toy Train Kalka To Shimla
Rail Motor Vehicle Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

The Rail Motor Car is a mono-coach train that runs from Kalka to Shimla and vice versa, providing one of India’s most popular train journeys. It has a clear glass rooftop with soft and comfortable chairs, an LCD, and air conditioning, and it is beautifully decorated with lovely tube light fittings. Furthermore, the chairs are comfortable and have two plug points for charging your phones, laptops, or other devices.

Shivalik Deluxe Train: Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

Shivalik Deluxe Toy Train Kalka To Shimla
Shivalik Deluxe Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

The Shivalik Deluxe Express luxury Toy Train, which features a carpet, large glass window frames, plush padded seats, improved toilets, and soft music, provides a calming ride from Kalka to Shimla and vice versa. It is elegantly designed, made of woodwork, and from wall to wall carpeting, curtains, and portraits.

Furthermore, the train has a proper seating arrangement and a total seating capacity of 120 passengers. To make the most of your journey, you can change the orientation of the seats or place your belongings on the collapsible side table.

The Himalayan Queen: Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

The Kalka Shimla Himalayan Queen Toy Train, also renowned as a standard train for exploring the elegance of the Himachal Pradesh hill station, has first as well as second-class carriages. It runs seven days every week and covers the distance at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour.

The Himalayan Queen Toy Train Kalka To Shimla
The Himalayan Queen Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

This train has only one chair coach and normal car seats to offer travelers to make their journey more enjoyable. Though food delivery is not accessible on the Himalayan Queen train, passengers can get meals at any of the train’s nine major stations. Barog, Dharampur, Jutogh, Solan, Summer Hill, Kumarhatti, Taradevi, Kandaghat, and Salogra are among these stations.

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Fare

Train NameArrive at Shimla
Adults (Rail Motor Car)₹320 per person
Children (Rail Motor Car)160 per person
Adults (Shivalik Deluxe Express)510 per person
Children (Shivalik Deluxe Express)255 per person
Adults (Himalayan Queen)470 per person
Children (Himalayan Queen)235 per person
Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Fare

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Time Table

Train NameTrain NoStarts from KalkaArrive at Shimla
Shimla Kalka Passanger524574:00 AM9:20 AM
Rail Motor724515:10 AM9:50 AM
Shivalik Deluxe524515:45 AM10:10 AM
Kalka Shimla Express524533:45 AM11:05 AM
Himalayan Queen5245512:10 PM5:20 PM
Kalka Shimla Toy Train Time Table

This time may vary according to the weather conditions. Please go to IRCTC WEBSITE to check exact train timings as per your preferences.


Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Route

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla departs from Kalka railway station in Haryana’s Panchkula district. It begins its first climb at 656 meters and begins a 96-kilometer journey to Shimla, which is located at an elevation of 6,812 feet among the Himalayan foothills and mysterious woods.

Taksal (6 km) Gumman (11 km) ➡ Koti (17 km) ➡ Sonwara (27 km) ➡ Dharampur (33 km) ➡ Kumarhatti (39 km) ➡ Barog (43 km) ➡ Solan (47 km) ➡ Salogra (53 km) ➡ Kandaghat (59 km) ➡ Kanoh (65 km) ➡ Kathleegat (73 km) ➡ Shoghi (78 km) ➡ Taradevi (85 km) ➡ Jutoh (90 km) ➡ Summer Hill (93 km) ➡ Shimla (96 km).

There are among the 18 stations it serves. The train stops for a few minutes at each station so passengers can sample the local cuisine while sipping tea and snacking on the way.

The most relaxing aspect of the journey is the experience of gazing out at the breathtaking sights, inhaling in the cool air, soaking in the pleasant atmosphere, appreciating the green hills, grooving to the tunes of birds whistling, and grazing along the path.

Route details of Toy Train Kalka To Shimla

Number of Trains from Kalka to Shimla6 Trains
Distance from Kalka to Shimla By Train96 Km
Fastest Train from Kalka to ShimlaSHIVALK DLX EXP(52452)
Slowest Train from Kalka to ShimlaSML KLK EXP(52458)
Toy Train Route Kalka Shimla

How to Book Kalka To Shimla Toy Train?

If you intend to take the Kalka Shimla Toy Train, be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time, particularly during April, May, and June. Similarly, during the Dussehra holidays, which usually fall in October, Shimla tends to attract a large number of tourists. Aside from that, there will be a rush during the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is crucial to book train tickets ahead of time during these times.

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Toy Train booking steps:

Step 1: Go to the official website of IRCTC i.e. irctc.co.in
Step 2: Log in to your IRCTC account or register yourself.
Step 3: Select the railway stations, here you will select KALKA (KLK) to SHIMLA (SML) then select the dates of your travel.
Step 4: Select the Train and Seat availability as per your preferences.
Step 5: Check details and confirm on the popup.
Step 7: The ticket reservation page will appear here you have to check if the train details are the same as you opted
Step 8: Fill in Passenger Details and Make the payment.
Step 9: You will receive the ticket as an SMS or an email with all the ticket details.

​​Toy Train Kalka To Shimla Map

Toy-Train-Kalka-To-Shimla-Map
Toy-Train-Kalka-To-Shimla-Map

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Image

Toy Train Kalka to Shimla Travel Tip

  1. Kalka railways station doesn’t have proper parking and parking your car in the area is risky and no one will take responsibility. They have parking near the Kalka bus stand but again its risky after that you have to take an auto to reach the railway station. Please ignore carrying your car in the area.
  2. To get the most out of your toy train Kalka to Shimla ride, sit on the right-hand side of the train during your travel from Kalka to Shimla and on the left side when returning home from Shimla to Kalka.
  3. When you reached Shimla please take some time and do visit the Toy Train Museum in Shimla near the bus stand.

How To Reach Kalka

There are several ways to get to Kalka from both Delhi NCR and Chandigarh. The three main modes of transportation are as follows:

Train: Several trains that run from Delhi to Kalka. The Shatabdi Express, which departs early in the morning offers the most comfortable train. It takes roughly 4 hours to get there and covers a total distance of 269 km.

Road: To get to Kalka from Delhi or Chandigarh, take a private car or a taxi. You can also travel by Volvo bus, which departs from Delhi and is usually reserved in advance online. Also, you can also take a bus to Kalka from sector 17 Chandigarh bus stand.

Air: The closest airport to Kalka is Chandigarh Airport. So, if you’re short on time, it’s best to take a flight from Delhi. After arriving, you can search for a local taxi or cab.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) For Kalka To Shimla Toy Train

Which is the best Toy Train Kalka to Shimla?

To make the most of this journey, I recommend taking the Shivalik Deluxe Express, Rail Motor Car, or Vistadome Him Darshan.
The rail motor car is the fastest, taking only 4 and a half hours to travel between Kalka and Shimla.

Is food available on Toy Train Kalka to Shimla?

Food is not supplied in these trains after covid. However, snacks and drinks are available at Kalka and Barog railway stations. Bring your food if at all possible.

Where should you stay in Kalka?

Kalka has many accommodations where you can stay. You can also stay in Chandigarh or Panchkula, both of which are about 20 kilometers from the Kalka railway station.

Can we bring luggage to the Toy Train Shimla?

The toy train has very little storage under the seat. Two seats can be accommodated in one large suitcase. The overhead chamber is a tight squeeze that can barely fit two backpacks.

How long until we can book a toy train from Kalka to Shimla?

Bookings for the Kalka Shimla toy train open one month in advance, as opposed to other trains, which open multiple months in advance.