Copyright@shravancharitymission
We often call it the Toy-Train, that chugs on, the Kalka-Shimla, UNESCO, world heritage railway track.
The mountain railways of India, is now collectively designated as world heritage site, by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and is still, fully functional, and operational.
Three railways form this heritage site—The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, The Nilgiri Mountain Railway and The Kalka-Shimla Railway. These mountain railways are over hundred years old and known the world over for their engineering and scenic views. The mountain railways of India were first declared a heritage site in 1999. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first to be declared and the remaining two followed suit. Let us analyse them one by one.
KALKA-SHIMLA RAILWAY
The train runs between Kalka and Shimla. This narrow gauge railway was built in 1898 by the British to connect their summer capital of Shimla, with the rest of the Indian Rail System. H.S. Hanington was the Chief Engineer of the project. At the time of its construction, nearly 107 tunnels and 864 bridges were built throughout its course.
Kalka-Shimla Railway is a recent addition to the heritage list, after it was added by UNESCO as an extension of the Mountain-Railways of India in 2008.
THE NILGIRIS MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS
This high altitude railway connects Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Mettupalayam. Its construction was first proposed in 1854, but commenced only in 1891. Construction of this 45.88 km long metre-gauge single-track railway got completed in 1908. It has the steepest track in Asia. The train passes through 16 tunnels, 208 curves and over 250 bridges. It scales from a height of 326 metres to 2203 metres.
It was added to the mountain railways of India heritage in 2005 by UNESCO. Prior to its entry, the heritage site was known as Darjeeling Himalayan Railways.
THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first railway to be inscribed by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1999. The other railways were added later. It is a narrow-guage railway that connects New-Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Construction commenced in 1879 and got completed in 1881. It runs for a distance of nearly 88 km. It travels through different elevations from 100 metres to 2258 metres. Ghum at 2258 metres is the highest station on this route and also in India. Batasia Loop is one of the most scenic points on the route.
So hop on to these beautiful trains that chug through the mighty mountains of India.
Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
*
https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com
*
Share it if you like it
*
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
*
Our publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day to day life. The book is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
*****
Shravan charity mission 