Accommodation in Kalka?

Hi,

I'm planning to take the Shabtadi train in September leaving Delhi at 17:15 and arriving in Kalka at 21:15. I'm planning to catch the toy train to Shimla the next morning.

Alternatively, I might take the toy train from Shimla to Kalka arriving in Kalka at 20:15, and catch a train to Delhi the next morning instead. Can anybody recommend a place to stay overnight in Kalka?

Thanks.

Hi Charley
There are several possibilities.

You could sleep in a retiring room at the railway station because there is very little tourist infrastructure in the town of Kalka. It is really only a small place.

Consider getting the overnight Howrah Kalka Mail train (from Calcutta) which leaves Old Delhi Station at about 10.30pm each night (not New Delhi Station which is a couple of km to the south) and arrives at Kalka just before the departure of the toy train. You will get a good sleep especially if you get 3AC or 2AC. The toy train will usually wait if the mail train is a little bit late.

Or you could get a day train and then catch a share taxi or bus up to Shimla.

The toy train trip is a bit like a raga, I often think.Best savoured.

Have a great trip!

HPTDC runs Hotel Shivalik at Parwanoo, which is just 3 kms. from Kalka.

Hi, Last year i broke the journey by staying at kasauli its a beautiful laidback quiet place in the hills 1-2hrs above chandigarh but accomodation there is on the pricey side. kk

Shimla, do you have the phone number of that place you mention by any chance??
We are in the same postion, need to catch that early train and arrive there at night...could we stay in Charnidighar??(pardon my spelling....

Cheers

You can take overnight kalkamail (accomodation easly available)from Delhi, reach kalka in the morning and take the toy train.

You can stay at Chandigarh, but unless you plan on spending some time in the city, its better to stay at Parwanoo. From Parwanoo you can easily take a taxi to Shimla.

This is the link to Hotel Shiwalik:

http://www.hptdc.nic.in/cir0101.htm#hshiw

Hi, that's what we ended up doing, and it was probably easier than having to search for accomodation in Kalka.

Book the seating accomodation on the toy train in advance.( for those intending to take similar route).

Good luck

We rested at the Waiting halls - there was a diff one for the ppl using the (so called) 'toy train' (ps - I guess you know that they do not use the steam engine any longer). They were ok. Though we were woken up early morning by the gushing of a train engine. Felt kinda romantic at that time!

Definitely at Parwanoo at Hotel Shivalik. Good location, reasonable tarrif, good food & a well stocked bar.