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A walk along the railway lines From Dharmapur to Kumarhatti Dagshai |
I love to walk. Only walking presents the character of the place. One you walk at a place only then you know about it. I have done this walk several times and will do it again and again if Creation is willing.
This walk is from Dharmapur to Kumarhatti along the railway line.
A six km walk; very soothing and peaceful.
First step of this walk is to get to the Dharampur either by Shimla Kalka toy train (Station name is Dharmapur Himachal) or by bus. It is just 25 kms from Kalka where mountain begins and about 1 hour journey by bus and 2 hours by train.`
Dharmapur is a small town with lots of hotels and fine restaurants. I stay at Happy night stay. This place is owned by Sardarjee and I rent the top floor. Actually it he rents bed but I take the whole second floor and he charges me for all 4 beds and still it is a bargain. I love the location because scenes are superb from this small and inexpensive hotel.
From the back window in your room you can see the Kasouli mountains area and whole of the railway station. And from the front court yard you can watch the Dharampur town sprawling on the mountain.
Dharmapur has plenty of restaurants, all kinds; inexpensive to expensive and all kind of rooming facilities. Main bazaar is situated just by the railway station. You get to the station to begin your walk. Make sure you pack up some food and a bottle of water because you will be away from any shop or village for the next 6 km. Of-course you may see many villages on the mountains far far away.
I usually begin my walk at about 9AM in the morning after stuffing myself up with a couple of hearty parothas form the nearby restaurant on the main road. A very simple dhaba run by 2 brothers. Then I have my cup of tea just by the stairs leading to the station from the market and then I am all set for this walk.
So you begin walking towards Shimla side.
Don’t worry about trains because you’d know it from the miles. There are several tunnels on the way but still it is safe to cross them by foot. Village folks all walk in the tunnels and also cattle.
And you will be waling upon many scenic bridges.
View of Dharampur form the railway lines.
After just about 200 yards of walk; town abruptly comes to an end and then some railway guest house in very serene setup and then; it is you and Himalayas. A treat of fresh air of mountains and aroma of pine.
After a couple of turns town of Sabathu is visible at your left and then it disappears behind the mountain at the next curve.
After some turns road becomes visible at your right side but it is quite high and far to be accessed.
I am walking on these railway tracks for the last 20 years. Once a friend of me joined me when he came to Chandigarh. He was simply spellbound on this walk; he said that for years he was coming to Chandigarh on official errands and many times he had to stay there for a couple of days but never knew if such a wonder exists near and cost of staying and having this joy was substantially lower than a day’s stay in Chandigarh.
Not to forget that it is a level track so train is not climbing or descending whereas from Kalka to Dharampur it is some serious ascent. Then from Dharampur to Solan is almost level track.
Mountains offer more joy if you walk. I love to walk along the train tracks because there is no traffic and crowd; one is in peace with nature except once a while when train comes. Actually at that time whole place becomes electrified with the roar and scene of the train.
I wrote a post about my walk on the tracks in Ooty area. That was also a memorable walk.
Along the way you will find many ledges and ridges where you’d love to simply sit and look at the mountains. I complete this walk in several hours because I get lost in the views.
As we begin to come near Kumarhatti, road too is coming closer and here comes the Kumarhatti station. Bazaar is just after climbing some stairs and food and everything is available in the bustling market.
Kumarhatti is a small village but all buses stop here. You can go to Shimla, Solan, Barog or back to Dharmampur.
The reason I love waling along the scenic railway routes is that year after year these scenes are unspoiled. Whereas on almost all roads ugly unplanned urbanization is spreading all over India. For example this Kalka Shima route is turning into a bazaar by each year. More homes, hotels and shops are appearing. In my life time I have seen many scenic stretches of the road but then in the years they simply vanished because concrete jungle gets woven around the roads. Whole India is turning into a big bazaar actually.
Hi Praveen,
Walking on the train tracks is even better than being on one.
Will try doing it.
Thanks for the idea and nice photos too!
Nirdesh
Praveen, I think that I can understand your fascination for walking along railway tracks…..concrete jungles do not “weave themselves around” railway tracks the way they do along roads, as you have so beautifully put it. Thanks for the insight.
However, I disagree with you on one point; I think that India is too big to become a bazaar…the real danger is desertification due rapid environmental degradation caused by deforestation and indiscriminate mining.
Very nice descripton, I love to see trains and beauty of Hills showing in fotos. Incrediable India. In North America you not allowed to go to railway track and minimum distance from railway line should be 50 mtrs.
Thanks may be I will visit this town.
Dear Mr. Praveen
बहुत ही सुन्दर फोटो हैं.
मुझे यह बात बहुत अच्छी लगी कि आप भी कुछ मेरी तरह सोंचते हैं. अगर आपने मेरी हरिद्वार से केदारनाथ यात्रा पढी हो तो आपको याद होगा मैने भी कुछ ऐसा ही महसूस करके लिखा था कि व्यवसायिकरण इस कदर बढ गया है कि अब कब एक शहर के बाद दूसरा शहर शुरु हो जाता है यह वहां पर लगे साइन बोर्ड से ही पता चलता है. वर्ना मुझे अपने बचपन की याद है, शहर की सीमा खत्म होते ही सड़क के दोनो तरफ हरे-भरे खेत नजर आते थे.
Yes Correctly said
The whole India is turning into a big bazaar and concrete jungle . Once again a great post and beautiful pictures.
3rd pic from the top is breath taking.
beautifully decorated post.
Cheers!
this third picture is not from this section originally…if you will look closely you will find its NDM loco,runs only in Darjiling and Matheran railways [0.6mt rails]… and i m very sorry to inform you all that this 3rd pic does not belong to Mr.Wadhwa … am i right Mr.Wadhwa Ji???
plz dont violent Copyright rules..it may cause further problems…
and section you visited has only ZDM locos [0.7meter gauge]
for more details you can be with me and at FB group for Narrow and meter gauges railways..
[http://www.facebook.com/groups/irfcamgng/]
i am also a ghumakkar and a die heart Indian Railfan and a IRFCA member…
http://www.irfca.org
sirf 3RD? mujhe lagta hai all the photographs of this post are breath taking. it also depends upon how u click the camera. wadhwaji ki ek hi khsiat mujhe inka fan banati hai wo ye ki inke post us jagah ke baare me hote hai jo popular destination ke enroute hote hai par wahan jaldi koi rukta nahi hai ya dhyan nahi deta,wadhwaji usi ko explore karte hain,aur usi ko aapke anusar itne badhia se decorate karte hain,ki aapka khud ka man bhi us jagah ko jaane ka hone lage.
this third picture is not from this section originally…if you will look closely you will find its NDM loco,runs only in Darjiling and Matheran railways [0.6mt rails]… and i m very sorry to inform you all that this 3rd pic does not belong to Mr.Wadhwa … am i right Mr.Wadhwa Ji???
plz dont violent Copyright rules..it may cause further problems…
and section you visited has only ZDM locos [0.7meter gauge]
for more details you can be with me and at FB group for Narrow and meter gauges railways..
[http://www.facebook.com/groups/irfcamgng/]
i am also a ghumakkar and a die heart Indian Railfan and a IRFCA member.
http://www.irfca.org
Yes it appears that third picture gotten mixed up. It is from Darjeeling section.
Hi Praveen ji, what a wonderful post decorated with beautiful pictures! Like you, am also crazy about walking and try to walk maximum whenever i am in the hills. While doing Shimla-Kalka train, i was wondering if one is allowed to walk on these tracks, though i saw many locals doing it. After this post, i will surely do a walk here one day. Thanks for bringing the memories back and introducing a new way of travel experience on these lovely trails…
Praveen ji,
Because of some technical reasons I couldn’t see even a single photo of this post, those were not getting opened in my computer. So based on the narration I can say that the post was excellent, I found it very unique and strange to walk along the rail track from one to another village.
Thanks for sharing.
Mukesh Saab
Those pictures are from my Facebook profile and if you cannot open Facebook then probably you cannot open these on your browser.
well written nice post along with beautiful pictures of Trains…..
Thanks
Wadhwa Ji- as per my info,and my love for NG/MG trains, i can be sure that third pic is not of Darjiling section…it is of Matheran-Neral Narrow Gauge railway… (near Mumbai)
please also verify by Google…
and join this group for more info and updates of MG and NG railways of India..
http://www.facebook.com/groups/irfcamgng/
Thanks a ton, Praveen sir, for introducing us to such little known gems. Dharampur looks so laidback and inviting to us urban souls.
Venkatt Ji
Time to time I walked over this whole railway line form Kalka to Shimla but I am posting about just one section because this is the most accessible and easiest for all. Lodging is plenty and inexpensive in Dharmapur and track is level.
Forget to mention. Picture No.3 – a bird’s eye view of the train passing through the tunnel looks absolutely stunning. Thanks again for a wonderful post.
I walked on the tracks from Matheran to Narel and also from Narael to Matheran and also took several pictures and posted those pictures on several sites for the last many years. Some day I will write a post on that walk too.
Dear Support,
I am unable to see photos of this travelogue. Is there any issue related to my PC or some software is required to install on my PC. Photos on others T.L. are visible very well. Please suggest.
Thanks a lot ,
I am a born ghumakkar and likes mountains and beach,but never think about toy train walking ,from where you got the idea? great yaar thanks again. i am just packing my beg for toy train walking from pathankot. thanks again for brillent idea.
I suggest; you walk form Kangra to Nagrota or beyond.
@ Praveen – I guess the 3rd picture is now taken off.
Now to the log, I have been on this train but never walked on the tracks. Probably should do. May be I can get down at Kumarhatti and take the railtrack while I request my wife to drive the car and meet me at Dharampur. :-). We have stayed at Kasauli, Subhathu, Chail, Barot areas for weekends.
@ Vijay – There may have been a temporary problem. Can you please try again. It seem to be working for others. Please also try accessing facebook since the photos are actually being linked from there.
Hello Praveen. Good choice of trail. Mountain rail tracks are easy hiking trails as they guarantee you are on right path, there is no traffic/crowd and get scenic views. I have been to this area and can imagine how beautiful the walk would have been.
I have traveled on this beautiful track from Kalka to Shimla. But walking on the tracks have never happened so far. I have to take some inspiration from you.