World | India
Kalka-Shimla rail line now a heritage site
The 105-year-old railway line that meanders through the hills between Kalka and Shimla, covering 102 tunnels and 800 bridges, was on Sunda officially declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
- IANS
- Published: 23:02 November 9, 2008
- The Kalka-Shimla route is a single-track, narrow-gauge line that winds up into the mountains through 102 tunnels, offering spectacular views.
- Image Credit: Bloomberg News
Kalka: The 105-year-old railway line that meanders through the hills between Kalka and Shimla, covering 102 tunnels and 800 bridges, was on Sunda officially declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Minister of State for Railways R. Velu unveiled the inscription plaque of the Kalka-Shimla Railway as a World Heritage Site at the Kalka railway station, around 25 kilometres from Chandigarh.
The Kalka-Shimla railway line was built in 1898 during British rule to connect the then summer capital of India, Shimla, with other parts of the country.
The two-feet-six-inches narrow gauge railway line that covers a distance of 96 kilometres was officially opened for traffic on November 9, 1903.
"This railway line actually deserves this status and everyone here is happy. Besides the fact that it is more than 100 years old, there are many things that reinforced our claim for this status," said Ajay Kochhar, station superintendent at the Kalka railway station.
Rare clocks, engines
"We have a good collection of old wheels, jack sand various mechanical tools that you will not find anywhere in the world. We also have rare wall clocks and steam engines. All these things have been now preserved at the museum in Shimla," said Kochhar.
Although the world has entered the computer age, the ancient communication and track control system, called Neals Token Instrument System, is still in use on the Kalka-Shimla route.
"There is a unique exchange of tokens at all stations on the route to get the line clearance. This old system exists nowhere else in our country," added Kochhar.
He said the rail line is the fourth in the country to get this status. Kalka is the last town in Haryana's Panchkula district on the state's border with Himachal Pradesh.
The journey that starts from Kalka at 656 metres above the sea level finishes at Shimla at an altitude of 2,076 meters above the sea level. The line offers a panoramic view of the hills.
"There are over 20 railway stations on this 96 kilometre stretch. A Unesco team visited the Kalka-Shimla railway line last year and we got confirmation of this status in August this year," said Kochhar.
The journey covers prominent tourist spots like Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra and Summerhill.
The train runs through 102 tunnels and crosses over 800 bridges on the journey. There are over 900 curves on the way, the sharpest one being 48 degrees.
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