A hidden Himalayan toy train route comes alive. It can match Kalka-Shimla magic
A little-known Himalayan toy train route, often overshadowed by the famous Kalka-Shimla Railway, is back on track after nearly four years. The colonial-era Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow-gauge
A little-known Himalayan toy train route, often overshadowed by the famous Kalka-Shimla Railway, is back on track after nearly four years. The colonial-era Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow-gauge line, which winds through the scenic Kangra Valley, resumed operations last week. And, the ride along the route is as good as its cousin, the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Ruskin Bond has written volumes on Himalayan railways. Though he didn't write much about this route, it carries the same old-world charm that runs through his stories set in the "Dehra". Read Full Story Heading to Himachal Pradesh, most tourists hop onto the iconic Kalka-Shimla toy train and crowd the crowded hill station further. But, tucked away northwest in the lower Himalayas is another mountain toy train route that isn't too well known. The sight of a growling ZDM-3D locomotive pulling tiny coaches beneath the snow-capped Dhauladhar range can rival the charm of its richer cousin, the Kalka-Shimla Railway, and just about any mountain rail journey in India. The Kangra Valley Railway originates from Pathankot in northern Punjab and snakes through Himachal Pradesh's plains, hillocks, tea gardens, villages and river valleys. The last leg is under the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains. Pro tip: sit on the left side. We are talking about the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow-gauge route because it resumed operations last week after remaining partially suspended for nearly four years after damage caused by flash floods. On August 20, 2022, flash floods in the Chakki Khad river washed away pillars and parts of the historic Chakki Bridge between Pathankot and Kandwal. Trains, however, continued on the 121-km Nurpur Road-Joginder Nagar segment.
Don't confuse Pathankot Junction NG, the narrow-gauge terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway, with the nearby broad-gauge Pathankot Junction on the Delhi-Jammu main line. (Image: Author) On May 2, Union Minister Anurag Thakur greeted the train at Kangra Railway Station. The restart offers a chance to rediscover India's most underrated rail route. The timing could hardly be better. But those willing to wait a few weeks for monsoon would be rewarded with an even grander and greener spectacle. HIMACHAL'S LONGEST TOY TRAIN THAT FEW TALK ABOUT The Kangra Valley Railway runs for around 164 kilometres between Pathankot in Punjab and Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. Opened in 1929 during British rule, it connects temple towns like Jawalamukhi, tourist spots like Palampur and Baijnath, tea estates and dozens of villages scattered across the route. The train runs beside the Pong Dam reservoir on the Beas River. It's scenic. Unlike the Kalka-Shimla Railway, which climbs steeply and passes through tunnels and bridges to reach the former summer capital of British India, the Kangra line follows a gentler course through valleys and foothills. You'll see mustard fields, tea estates, streams, temples, distant villages and cattle, and old market towns before opening up to spectacular views of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range. The train crosses more than 900 bridges. It remarkably has only a handful of tunnels. The scenery changes constantly. That charm has earned the railway route a devoted following among rail fans, despite it being less popular. The Pong Dam reservoir is also a Ramsar wetland of international importance. (Image: Generative AI) HOW KANGRA VALLEY RAIL IS DIFFERENT FROM KALKA-SHIMLA HIMALAYAN ROUTE Comparisons with the Kalka-Shimla Railway are inevitable since both are in Himachal Pradesh.
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