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10-year anniversary of the rail line with the straightest tunnel in the world

Posted by: Laurence Wiseman
10-year anniversary of the rail line with the straightest tunnel in the world  supporting image

A highlight in the Great Rail Journeys Indian tour portfolio

Today marks the 10th anniversary since UNESCO added the Kalka–Shimla railway to the mountain railways of India World Heritage Site. This anniversary year, traversing a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to the former British Raj hill station of Shimla, the narrow-gauge railway in North India has become one of the worlds' 'must travel aboard' heritage lines.

 

 

Throughout the 1900’s Shimla, former headquarters for the British Army, established itself as the popular summer capital for English gentry escaping the hot weather of the plains. The journey along the 59-mile railroad, completed in 1903, is as spectacular to travel today as it was in those early years.    With 107 tunnels, 864 bridges and 919 curves the journey begins at 656m climbing to peak elevation of 2,076m at a gradient of 1:33 (3%). Emerging from the longest tunnel on the line, the Barog Tunnel (no.33) at 1,144m, Shimla-bound adventurers are treated to the magnificent views of the Himalayan mountains. It is also reputed to be the straightest tunnel in the world.

 

Journeying aboard the Kalka-Shimla toy train is one of the trips highlights and one of the iconic rail journeys included in the Great Rail Journeys (01904 527180) worldwide collection. Featuring three of the Great Rail Journeys escorted group tours from the wider portfolio of Indian tours across both Rail Discoveries (01904 734 812) - 3 tours, Great Rail Journeys (01904 527 180) - 14 tours.  The journey is also a key element of any tailor-made holiday developed for individual travelers by the team at GRJ Independent (01904 527 181).

 

Some of the escorted group tours available are:

 

Breath-taking : India's Golden Triangle – 13 days from £1,895pp

Departures in 2018:9 tours remaining scheduled between Sep - Dec

Departures in 2019:25 tours scheduled between Jan - Dec

 

Mesmerising : Spirit of the Himalaya – 11 days from £2,345pp

Departures in 2019:3 tours scheduled between Mar – Nov

Early Booking Offer applies: saving of up to £75 per person when booking on or before 14/08/2018

 

Fascinating : India's Palace on Wheels – 15 days from £4,995pp

Departures in 2018: 5 tours remaining scheduled Oct Departures in 2019:7 tours scheduled between Jan – Nov

Early Booking Offer applies: saving of up to £200 per person when booking on or before 14/08/2018

On selected tours, customers of Great Rail Journeys will enjoy a talk from guest speaker Raaja Bhasin.

 

TAILOR-MADE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS:

 

Captivating: Golden Triangle of India - 13 days from £2,125pp

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Ben Martin
1631 days ago

Thanks for the information provided in this article and as I can see here are some Golden Triangle Tours too so I would like to share some Golden Triangle Tours and Holidays provided by the Citrus Holidays and they are pretty good. rnrnhere is an offer you can have a look - https://www.citrusholidays.co.uk/Holidays/India/5-Nights-Luxury-Golden-Triangle

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