Overview
Ride the Kalka–Shimla railway, part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India, and let a car take care of everything else. We drive you from Chandigarh to Kalka for the narrow-gauge train, which climbs about 96 km through more than 100 tunnels to Shimla in five to six hours. Your luggage goes ahead in the car, which meets you at Shimla station. Two more days cover Kufri, Chail and the town, and on the way back down you stop for a night in Kasauli, a quiet cantonment town above the plains.
Best for: Rail lovers, families with children and foreign visitors who want the heritage railway without the hassle
- The Kalka–Shimla toy train, a UNESCO World Heritage railway
- Luggage carried by car, so you ride light
- Kufri and Chail by private car
- Christ Church and the Ridge in Shimla
- A night in quiet Kasauli
- Train tickets booked for you
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Kalka, toy train to Shimla
About 120 kmOvernight: Shimla
An early transfer to Kalka station for the morning train. The line twists up through Dharampur, Barog's long tunnel and the pine-covered hills to Shimla, with a stop at Barog for tea. The car takes your bags up by road and meets you at Shimla station.
- Day2
Kufri, Chail and the Mall
About 110 kmOvernight: Shimla
The car takes you to Kufri for the views and then along the forest road to Chail and its palace. Return for an evening on the Mall, with a look inside Christ Church, completed in about 1857.
Road guide: Shimla to Chail → - Day3
Shimla to Kasauli
About 75 kmOvernight: Kasauli
A morning for Jakhu temple or the State Museum, then a drive down to Kasauli. Walk the Upper and Lower Mall and, at sunset, go to Sunset Point or the Christ Church of Kasauli.
Road guide: Shimla to Kasauli → - Day4
Kasauli to Chandigarh
About 60 km
A slow morning in Kasauli and a short drive down to Chandigarh, about two hours, in time for an afternoon train or flight.
Road guide: Kasauli to Chandigarh →
About the Kalka–Shimla railway
The line opened in 1903 to link the summer capital of British India with the plains. It runs on a 2 ft 6 in gauge and climbs about 1,400 m through 100-plus tunnels and hundreds of bridges. In 2008 UNESCO added it to the Mountain Railways of India World Heritage listing, alongside the Darjeeling and Nilgiri lines.
The longest tunnel, at Barog, is over a kilometre long and named after the engineer who first worked on it.
Why the car is still useful
The train takes you up, but Shimla's best day trips, to Kufri, Chail and Kasauli, aren't on the railway. Having the same car and driver for four days means your luggage is never a worry and the return to Chandigarh is quick.
Choosing a train
Several trains run daily between Kalka and Shimla. The early-morning departures fit best with a Chandigarh start, and some of them connect with overnight and morning trains from Delhi. Ordinary trains have simple seats; the more comfortable services and the glass-roofed vistadome coaches, when running, have reserved seats and sell out first.
We book the best available train for your date as soon as you confirm, and tell you exactly which coach you're in. Food is limited on board, so take snacks and water; the stop at Barog has a station canteen that's been serving travellers for decades.
Who this suits
Rail enthusiasts and families with young children love this trip, and it suits visitors from abroad who have read about the toy train but don't want to manage tickets, luggage and connections themselves.
If you want more time in the hills, add Narkanda after Shimla, or go on to Manali by car after the train ride; we'll re-price the trip.
Route and price at a glance
The Shimla by Toy Train trip covers about 365 km by road over 4 days, with overnight stops in Shimla and Kasauli. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 1,000 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 3 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹12,000 for 3 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹24,200 for the car and driver and a ₹5,610 service fee: ₹43,010 in all, or ₹21,500 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Chandigarh to Kalka, toy train to Shimla (about 120 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 2: Kufri, Chail and the Mall (about 110 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 3: Shimla to Kasauli (about 75 km, overnight Kasauli)
- Day 4: Kasauli to Chandigarh (about 60 km)
Shimla by Toy Train price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹21,500 ≈ US$255 | ₹43,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹17,000 ≈ US$200 | ₹68,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹18,000 ≈ US$210 | ₹1,08,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹12,000
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹24,200
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹5,610
- Total for both₹43,010
Included
- 3 nights in Shimla and Kasauli, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 4 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Chandigarh and drop at Chandigarh
- Kalka–Shimla toy train tickets (reserved chair car) for the group
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Chandigarh
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- Seats on the popular morning trains sell out weeks ahead in summer and at holidays; we book as soon as you confirm.
- The ordinary trains have basic seats; the Shivalik Deluxe Express and vistadome coaches are more comfortable when running.
- If the train is cancelled, the car drives you up instead at no extra cost.
When to go
- • The railway runs all year; mornings in winter can be foggy.
- • Snow occasionally closes the line for short periods in January and February.
- • In the monsoon, landslides sometimes suspend services; we have the car as a backup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Shimla by Toy Train package cost?+
About ₹18,000 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹21,500 per person for a couple, for all 4 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
How long does the toy train take?+
About five to six hours from Kalka to Shimla, depending on the train.
Is the train ticket included?+
Yes, for the class we confirm with you; vistadome seats cost more.
Can we take the train down instead of up?+
Yes, though going up gives you the afternoon arrival in Shimla, which suits most travellers.
Is the toy train good for children?+
Most children love the tunnels and stations. Bring snacks; the journey is long.
Which car do we get on the Shimla by Toy Train trip?+
A sedan for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Kalka–Shimla railway · UNESCO: Mountain Railways of India · Wikipedia: Kasauli · TravelTriangle: Himachal tour packages and prices
