Toy trains, mountains and monkeys

Dharamsala (or Manali) to Delhi via Shimla

Shimla is where colonial England meets new India. Strolling along The Mall, you’ll find beamed English townhouses and ramshackle Indian street stalls side by side. It’s a lively hill station with a holiday atmosphere, panoramic mountain views and a large population of very cheeky monkeys. The main landmark of The Mall area is Christ Church, one of the grandest and oldest churches in India. On the way to or from Shimla, you can take a ride on the legendary toy train through the foothills of the Himalayas which was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008. It’s a unique and unforgettable Indian experience.

Duration	3 days, 2 nights Departs every day from Dharamsala/Manali.	Accommodation	Heritage hotels. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation).
Price	£194 per person from Dharamsala or, £216 per person from Manali based on 2 people sharing	Includes	2 nights accommodation with breakfast, private transport and train tickets.
Transport	Private A/C car, toy train and day train.	Excludes	Other meals, entrance fees, transfer to local station in Shimla.

Day 1: Dharamsala/Manali – Shimla

Travel time: approx. 7-8 hours

In the morning you'll be collected by your driver from your hotel in Dharamsala/Manali and transferred to another hill station, but with a very different personality - Shimla. It’s a long drive through fantastic scenery and winding mountain roads. There’s plenty to gaze upon en route to Shimla. Just ask your driver to stop if you need to stretch your legs, take some photos or take a tea break. During our Shimla toy train tour, you’ll stay in a comfortable heritage hotel packed with old world colonial charm. The hotel is reminiscent of an English country manor and set within a shady alpine forest, with terraced gardens and lawns. It is walking distance from your hotel up to The Mall where tourists and locals promenade and visit the viewpoints, shops and cafes.

Shimla toy train tour - The station master

Day 2: Shimla

After breakfast, you can wander through Shimla and relax and enjoy your surroundings. Once you have experienced the crumbling colonial charm of the main mall you can then explore the unnamed lower malls and bazaars that form winding, steep lanes full of stalls and eateries.

From ‘Scandal Corner’ there is steep climb up to the Jakhu Monkey temple which is one of the highest points on Shimla ridge. It is appropriately named as there are usually lots of monkeys around and some great views of the distant snow-capped peaks and valley below. You’ll spend another night in your charming heritage hotel just outside of the centre Shimla.

Day 3 – Shimla – Delhi

Travel time: approx. 6 hours by toy train and 4 hours day train

This morning, you’ll make your own way by taxi to the train station. Here, you'll board the toy train for the scenic journey from Shimla back to Kalka. The train goes at a steady pace and you can jump off at quaint little stations to grab a chai, admire the view and take some photos. The train is usually a very social occasion as everyone is enjoying the ride and also sharing smaller than average carriages!

We'll also arrange your reservation and tickets for the train journey from Kalka back to Delhi in comfortable air-conditioned chair class, arriving late in the evening. You'll get a chance to have a chai and stretch your legs at Kalka station between trains. As you arrive late after your Shimla toy train tour, we recommend another night in Delhi before you head off to your next destination or fly home so we have included a transfer from the station to your Delhi hotel.

From Delhi you could head to Varanasi by Air or perhaps south to Bangalore for our Easy Going Bangalore tour followed by our Kerala Silk Tour

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