Riding the Kalka- Shimla- Kalka Toy Train-A Ride to remember

At Kalka Train yard

 I love train journeys. I have traveled in plain-trains many times, but not once have I traveled in hill- trains. That is why the Shimla toy train has been an experience I have been eagerly awaiting to experience for many years. I have always imagined how nice it would be to rush in and out of tunnels, cruise though the green forests and sail past beautiful waterfalls on the way.


Inside MY train FINALLY

 Our train was scheduled to leave Kalka station at 5.30 am. We woke up before dawn and it was still dark when we trooped into Kalka station and hurried into our waiting train with only five minutes left for its departure. But alas, just as we were expecting the train to begin its journey, we heard an announcement saying that our train would be departing two hours later as its link train ( Howrah Kalka Mail) was running late. What a disappointment.
In the spare time that we had, I visited the train yard and was thrilled to see so may toy trains. At another corner of the station in the broad gauge section, I came across a funny sight - a reluctant goat was being dragged into a passenger train by its master. The animal was braying in full blast. Hearing it, a dog too got curious and tried getting into the train but was shooed away by the people. I am sure  the goat will have been entertained all the train passengers with its braying all through the journey.

Barog station, in front of Barog tunnel - in blue

Finally the train started and within fifteen minutes we were in the heart of the hills. We crossed forests, beautiful sceneries as I had imagined. There were 103 tunnels with Barog tunnel ( see above) which is the longest tunnel in this section even having a resident ghost in it. The story goes like this- Mr. Barog was an engineer deputed by the British to build the railway. However, he passed away during the construction of the tunnel and his ghost is still believed to live in this tunnel. People have seen and even talked with him. How interesting !

Crosing a viaduct

The train also passed over a number of viaducts which is nothing but a series of arch bridges- one above the other. We finally reached Shimla at 2 pm. We were staying in the retiring room and is was really fun to stay amidst the hiss, roar and whine of the engines.

Shimla Mall

Afternoon we went to the Mall in Shimla, which has a number of beautiful British Era buildings. Here you are seeing me stand in front of the Christ Church ( extreme right). I had wanted to see this building ever since I saw "3 Idiots." Rancho too had been here and I was happy to follow his footsteps.

Train yard, Shimla

Next morning it is was time for the return journey. I wandered about a bit in the train yard in Shimla. Then I bid good bye to the hill station and boarded my train for the return journey.

A Fun-filled family Trek to Deoriatal, Tunganath ad Chandrashila

 

A few days ago, my cousins from Calcutta along with their parents came to Dehradun. My mother, who works in the Himalayas as an architect had planned a family trek to Deoriatal, Tunganath and Chandrashila for all of us.

On 16th October we set out for Sari village from where we would  trek to Deoriatal. The route crossed the Tehri dam and ran like a snake through the mountains. I had traveled on this route earlier in April this year when I had accompanied my mother to Guptkashi so I knew that we would come across broken roads, wiped out villages, broken bridges- remains of the Kedarnath disaster. But the others had not travelled on this route after the disaster and were horrified on seeing all that.

 We reached Sari quite late in the evening. Next morning as we set out for the trek before dawn,. It was really thrilling to walk in the dark with a guide leading the way in torchlight . I imagined the wild animals through whose home we were walking.

 

We reached Deorital a little before sunrise. The sight of the Himalayan peaks reflected in the clear waters of the lake was so beautiful that it we could not stop admiring it.

We spent quite a lot of time there, having picnic breakfast on the banks of the lake, climbing a watchtower , running about on the rolling meadows.

 Tungnath has the highest Shiva temple in the world. The 4 km trek to this mountain top starts from Chopta and passes through oak forests, green meadows. In the last stretch the tree line just vanishes and it is just rock, rock and bare rock all around.

Tungnath is very high and very cold. We stayed at a guesthouse next to the temple. The moment I stepped out of the room, the famous Himalayan cold pounced on me like a hungry tiger. I hurriedly stepped back and retreated to the warmth of the blankets, refusing to come out again.

But next dawn again we, three reluctant kids were again woken by our parents and we trekked to Chandrashila to watch the sunrise. It was very cold up there, but the sight just before and after the sunrise was such an inspiring sight that I forgot all the discomfort. Here I was at the top of the world, clouds below me and I was looking straight into the face of the majestic Chaukhamba peak.

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It was a wonderful feeling which I have carried back with me to Dehradun.