Taradevi railway station
Taradevi railway station is a small railway station in the Shimla city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The station lies on UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway. The station is located at an altitude of 1,849 metres above mean sea level, 8 km from Shimla Rai…
Taradevi (TVI) is the sort of whistle‑stop that beats a selfie‑hunt for authenticity, perched at 1,849 m on the UNESCO‑listed Kalka–Shimla Railway and barely a handful of platforms away from the crowds of Shimla station. A 30‑minute train ride from Shimla, it sits at the foot of the pine‑clad slopes that dominate the upper valley, offering a rare glimpse of the colonial‑era wooden shed still serving the daily “toy‑train” that rattles through the hills. The real draw isn’t the station itself – a modest brick building with a lone bench and a rust‑stained sign – but the short trek northwards to the eponymous Taradevi Temple, a garland of incense and a panorama of the Sirsa and Jeru valleys that makes the effort worthwhile. Arrive at the 09:00 am departure from Shimla to avoid the midday rush and to catch the soft light that turns the surrounding deodar forest gold; the train windows become a moving postcard, and the occasional stop at Barog lets you stretch your legs. Stay in Shimla’s Lakkar Bazaar or, if you want the full road‑less experience, book a night at the guesthouse in the nearby village of Ghora Kothi, but be prepared for no Wi‑Fi and power cuts. Skip the “tram‑tour” from Kalka if you’re short on time – the 8 km stretch from Shimla to Taradevi is enough to satisfy any railway‑buff without the tourist‑laden crowds of the lower section. Late monsoon (July‑August) can turn the track into a slurry of mud, so the sweet spot is October to early March when crisp air and clear vistas make the modest station feel like a portal to a quieter Himachal.
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