Train Travel Through Himalayan Paradise

A joint venture between the State Tourism Corporation and the Northern Railways, the tour begins in Delhi with a special II-AC coach attached to the Kalka mail, taking the tourists to Kalka, from where the Shivalik Express, a toy train takes them to Shimla.

The tour through Himachal Pradesh from Shimla, handled by HPTC, takes the travellers to Narkanda, with Naldehra and Chail en-route. It ends with the toy train bringing the passengers back to Kalka and then Kalka to Delhi by the same train.

All of it, costing less than Rs. 6,000. The package, since it was introduced a year ago, is gradually attracting tourists to the state and increasing HPTDC’s revenue too.

"The tour is encouraging tourists to come to the state in the lean months when, otherwise, the tourism machinery comprising hotels and transport facilities among others would be lying unused," says Ajay Tyagi, Managing Director, HPTDC.

According to Tyagi, the package tour is proving to be of help in HPTDC’s efforts to increase winter tourism in the state.