Introduction

This can be a long day-hike that starts in Kasauli and ends again in Kasauli, or can be a shorter one where you can drive a part of the way.

Should you opt for the long hike, walk down from Kasauli to the railway crossing that lies between Dharampur and Koti and then turn off along the railway track up to Dharampur. From Dharampur, walk along the highway, till the turn-off that leads to the Lawrence School at Sanawar (this is well marked). You will cross the old cemetery on the side, near Sanawar, walk down to Garkhal and then climb back up to Kasauli past the old brewery.

A shorter walk can be done by driving down to the railway crossing, walking along the track up to Dharampur and then taking a vehicle back to Kasauli.

Should you choose to do the first, then plan for a day; if the second, then a half day will work. The walk over the tracks covers some of most ingenious engineering of its time and goes over high bridges that resemble Roman aqueducts, it snakes though pines and grasslands, goes past the quaint station of Sanwara and just before Dharampur passes a long tunnel.

It was on 9 November 1903 that this line was opened to traffic as a link from the Delhi- Ambala-Kalka branch of the East Indian Railway. The broad-gauge line and the puffing giants ended at Kalka and then, littler locomotives and ‘toy carriages’ took the thirty inch gauge. Initially, there were 107 tunnels and today, there are a 102. For tradition’s sake, the line is still referred to have a 103 - the figure it had for most of its life, but Number 46 is no longer there. There are eight hundred bridges and nine hundred curves and during its course through the picturesque countryside that characterizes the lower reaches of the Himalaya, at times the line goes through a succession of reverse curves of over thirty-six metres radii. The Kalka Shimla Railway line is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Special Attributes

Enjoyable hike along hill paths and UNESCO World Heritage Site Railway line

Nuisance

Occassionally, there are monkeys in the area.

Dressing restrictions

Comfortable

Connectivity

Taxis and walking

Enjoyed by

Walkers, nature lovers and railway buffs

Exposure

Yes. High level of UV, especially in summer.

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Limited

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction.

Tip

Try and leave Kasauli as early as possible and finish the walk by sundown. Check train timings and plan the crossing of bridges and tunnels accordingly - so that these do not clash.

Type of site

Paths and railway line