Kalka Shimla Railway

Historical Buildings

Though the whole of Kalka Shimla Railway section is a living example of functional heritage, the heritage structures of special significance on Kalka Shimla Rail section are Shimla Railway station building, Wood Bank Officer's Rest House at Shimla, and Crow Borough Officer's Rest House at Shimla, amongst others.

Wood Bank Officer's Rest House at Shimla offers a dream stay for railway officers with modern amenities in a charming old heritage house kept directly under Railway Board. The front of the Rest House is facing south and presents a panoramic view of the valley through its wooden windows. It is a wooden structure constructed in 1920. Single storey building situated about 170 m from Shimla station building with main entry through stairs from NH-22, and another entry from the main Mall Road side of Shimla.

This rest house has been constructed beautifully with wooden posts, beams, wooden planks, ceiling and sloping sheets (galvanized iron) roof. This rest house has two suites provided with drawing room, bedroom, side room, attached toilet cum bath, and kitchen.

Crow Borough Officer's Rest House at Shimla is another rest house offering dream stay for railway officers with modern amenities in a charming old heritage building at Shimla, that is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. The front of the Rest House is facing south and presents a panoramic view of the valley through its wooden windows.

It is a double storey building constructed in the year 1921 and is being maintained as heritage building. It is situated on NH-22, just 50 m from Shimla station building. Its first floor is having direct approach from national highway. This beautiful building is made of attractive stone masonry in lime mortar with galvanized iron sheet sloping roofs. On the first floor, cement concrete flooring has been provided over the jack arch roof of the ground floor. There are 4 luxury suites in the rest house, each with a spacious bedroom, 2 baths cum toilet, a drawing cum dining room, side room, a kitchen with attached pantry and a visitor's room. Every kitchen has a separate approach through staircase from the backside to avoid any disturbance to the occupant. Fireplace has been provided in bedroom and drawing room of each suite. There are some precious antiques available from the time of construction, such as old wooden windows, wooden staircase, door/window fittings still functional (tower bolt, handle, special mortise brass latch locks).

Shimla railway Station Building is another Heritage structure of special significance. Visitors feel happy to arrive and alight at one of India's significant hill tourist destinations and capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla. The Shimla railway station was constructed in 1903 under the supervision of then 'Chief Engineer and Agent of KSR' Mr. H.S. Herington. This building was modified in 1921 with a new double storey design for the offices (Station Master, staff and control), accident relief arrangement, waiting room, shelter, shed for handcarts and a horse stand. The walls of the building were constructed with brick masonry in lime mortar plastered from outside as well as inside.

Later on, in 1944, the platform shelter collapsed due to heavy snowfall, and consequently a new shed over the station building and platform was constructed under the supervision of Mr. M.W. Bouldwin, the then Engineer of KSR. At the same time, additional offices were also constructed on the first floor. Over the years, many development work have been undertaken for Shimla Railway station. These include end-to-end platform shelter, tourist information office, railway telephone exchange, ticketing office, computerized reservation office, ten retiring rooms and a spacious waiting hall that offers panoramic view of the valley to the visitors.