Caution - Kalka Train Station

landoormama

I was at the Kalka Train Station coming down by the Toy Train along with an English Family, from Shimla which reaches kalka @ 16.05 hrs .We had about 5 luggage bags
We had a connecting Train to Delhi -Shatabdi Express which leaves Kalka @ 17.45 hrs .
The Shatabdi was already at the Platform and we decided to board the Train ,the doors to the bogies were still shiut so we had to wait at the Platform No 3 .
After a while we were surrounded by about 20 to 25 persons ,who enclircled us ..staring ..bemused ..
The scene was scary and they had every INTENTION of Lifting/Stealing our luggage ..
We were Lucky the police arrived & then the miscreants ran away..
BEWARE ..this happens in most Train Stations in NORTHERN INDIA .. with both foregin and domestic Tourists .. especially with Westeners .
THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO SIT IN THE WAITING ROOM AT THE TRAIN STATION & BOARD THE TRAIN 20 MTS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE

mknoke

Crowds gathering around and staring at you is not unusual in India. Sure it can make you uncomfortable but I never felt threatened by this.

How did you determine they were intent on stealing your luggage?

edwardseco

I doubt this very much although it certainly can happen with lone travellers as it did to me once in the then Bombay. Still, they wanted cash not used clothes. Always use a moneybelt, etc..

landoormama

For sure it is not unsual for a few staring at you ..but acrowd of around 20 persons ,is unsual .
Furthermore, when the police arrived and trashed them and chased them away .The crowd had no reason to run away & disappear when the police arrived if they were innocents and had no '' Honourable Intentions''
I was told by other passengers at the Train Station in Kalka that the crowd who had gathered around were unruly elements & the modus operandi is that they can just pick up one bag and run away..and when you chase them the other members come and Lift the other Bags .
Well, I JUST WANT TO CAUTION OTHER TRAVELERS AND NOT GET INTO A DEBATE . Believe it or not , the choice rests on an individual

shashank.aggarwal

If you don't mind me asking, how many females were there in the group and what were they wearing ? (In your group)

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Travelogue - Around India

trustindia

What a load of rubbish, this may have happened to you in Kalka I can't argue with that but to suggest this is the story in most stations in north India is just misleading.

Valini

Valid point; never forget that a low cut top can attract more attention than intended (not that this was forcably the situation in the OPs case).
I'm still unsure about the vertainty that they would steal your belongings. Let's say there may have been the odd person who was an opportunist and waited for you to turn your back, but perhaps the others were just bemused by a group of funny looking foreigners (because as a foreigner we are 'funny' looking to many indians!)

I have on occasion felt uncomfortable waiting on platforms, but to be honest I don't feel any safer waiting for the tube in London or Paris, I still hold my bag infront of me etc.

karnail

I have seen instances where people got robbed at railway and bus stations before my eyes but where in the world does this not. Kalka is that region of north India where there is no rowdism, hooliganism or day light robberies taking place (I mean it). I am myself disturbed by the fact they were 20 and grownup males(?)and had to be driven out by the police. Some individual(gang members also) can cheat you, drug you and at times can even hurt you at some big stations where there are army cantts and migratory labour but I can assure any body that this is not very common on the north Indian stations that some 20 persons will surround you making offensive gestures and one of them will run with your bag.............

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