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Toy Train

The Toy Train's ninety-six kilometre narrow-gauge track through the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas is one of three Indian mountain railways which together constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built by British colonists, the Kalka-Shimla Railway is an extraordinary feat of railway engineering. The line negotiates 102 tunnels, more than 864 bridges and around 919 curves. Passengers have plenty of time in which to admire and marvel these features as well as the spectacular mountain panorama that line the route as the train makes its ascent to Shimla demands a leisurely pace.

3 results matching: Toy Train

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ClassicClassic
Taj Mahal, AgraTaj Mahal, AgraTaj Mahal, AgraTaj Mahal, AgraTaj Mahal, Agra
Five-Star India’s Golden Triangle & Shimla
4.7 stars(403 reviews)
2025SepOctNovDec
2026JanFebMarAprSep...

Follow in the footsteps of maharajas in India's regal Golden Triangle, staying in five-star hotels throughout. Embrace the wonders of this mystical country, from unwinding in the former colonial summer capital of Shimla in the Himalayan foothills to searching for Bengal tigers in the evocative wilderness of Ranthambore National Park. View Agra's...

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14 days from
£2,799 pp
per person
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LandmarkLandmark
The Maharajas ExpressThe Maharajas ExpressThe Maharajas ExpressThe Maharajas ExpressThe Maharajas Express
The Maharajas’ Express, Golden Temple & Shimla
4.8 stars(12 reviews)
2026JanFebMarOct

Retrace the steps of Indian princes aboard the Maharajas' Express - one of the world's most luxurious trains. Starting and ending in Delhi, this incredible voyage of discovery visits the former colonial summer capital of Shimla before showcasing spellbinding Amritsar as we witness the Wagah Border Ceremony and the Palki procession at the Golden...

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16 days from
£10,499 pp
per person
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ClassicClassic
Amritsar Golden TempleAmritsar Golden TempleAmritsar Golden TempleAmritsar Golden TempleAmritsar Golden Temple
Spirit of the Himalayas & Amritsar’s Golden Temple
2026FebMarOctNovDec

From iconic palaces and colonial hill stations to vast tea estates, the spiritual centre of Rishikesh to the Golden Temple of Amritsar at the heart of Sikhism, experience India's diverse cultural traditions. Stay in classic luxury and heritage hotels, based in pulsing cities, amid rolling hills beneath the source of the Ganges River, with an epic...

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16 days from
£3,599 pp
per person
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Our customers love our Toy Train tours
Five-Star India’s Golden Triangle & Shimla
1/May
MICHAEL
5 stars
“Wonderful trip. Magnificent scenery and wonderful people. Very well organised. Excellent tour manager and exceptional local guide.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Maharajas’ Express, Golden Temple & Shimla
28/Feb
E West
5 stars
“It was a fantastic experience. Good service, excellent food, and a welcome bonus of inclusive alcoholic drinks, which we were not aware of when we booked. The inclusive drinks were mainly locally brands but their quality was comparable to the better known international brands. There were some...
Collected by Trustpilot

A unique railway experience

Still owned and run by the Indian Government, the Himalayan Queen has been wonderfully preserved and maintained. Stepping aboard the Toy Train is akin to being transported back to India's British Colonial era. By their nature narrow-gauge trains are compact, but the Toy Train nevertheless offers Great Rail Journeys' customers a enthralling ride. The route itself is rarely less than spectacular. In the course of a journey lasting between five and six hours, our guests are treated to ever-changing vistas of sublime natural beauty, ranging from dense pine and acacia forests, mountain valleys and snow-capped peaks to terraced farmland and apple orchards.

These picture-postcard views are punctuated by the   Kalka-Shimla Railway's   many turns, switchbacks, bridges and tunnels. The longest tunnel, just before the railway station at the village of Barog, spans more than a kilometre and at the time of its completion in the late nineteenth century was the longest rail tunnel in the world. Most passengers agree that beyond Barog the route's scenery becomes even more spectacular as the   Toy Train   steadily climbs its way through forests of Himalayan cedar and rhododendron to the historic and culturally-rich hillside city of Shimla, former summer capital of British India.

Travelling aboard the Toy Train

Several trains travel the Kalka-Shimla Railway, offering every standard of travel from the most basic scheduled services to the thoroughly luxurious heritage coaches. At this latter end of the scale, two special carriages - The Shivalik Palace and The Shivalik Queen - allow passengers to make this remarkable journey in true colonial style and comfort.

Originally built in 1966 and 1974 respectively, both of these carriages were fully refurbished at the end of the twentieth century. Decorated and furnished in lavish style, both The Shivalik Palace and The Shivalik Queen offer comfortable seating, modern facilities and panoramic windows which offer perfect views of the railway's ever-changing and wonderful landscapes.

Please note the heritage coaches are not always in operation. See our individual tours for information around standard of travel on the Toy Train.

 

 

Toy Train

Useful information about the Toy Train

Most passengers agree that beyond Barog the route's scenery becomes even more spectacular as the Toy Train steadily climbs its way through forests of Himalayan cedar and rhododendron to the historic and culturally-rich hillside city of Shimla, former summer capital of British India.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway's location in north-west India can be prone to extreme weather conditions with summer temperatures reaching as high as 45°C, (113°F) and up to twenty-four inches of snow in the winter. The last tunnel on the line before Shimla, Tunnel 103, is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a British colonial gentleman who enjoys chatting to passengers as they travel through the tunnel.

 

 

 

Toy Train