Sonīpat

Last night’s dinner buffet at the hotel was really sumptuous, as was today’s breakfast, and it’s good to know we can sample these delights again as we return to the ITC Maurya, Delhi twice later on in the trip. However, alarm set for 05.30 (short bursts of sleep only for me with the jet-lag) and off promptly at 6.30 am on the coach to Delhi Station.

From the coach dropping off point we took our lives in our hands (about 32 in the group) in order to cross the road and walk to the station, literally walking between tuk-tuks and other vehicles- hesitation is fatal! Delhi station was a scene of chaos but the Shatabdi Express to Kalka departed on time at 7.40 am. Complimentary tea and biscuits and further snacks were served - anything not factory packed we are avoiding! The amount of rubbish (mounds in many places) and scenes of abject poverty observed through the train windows is shocking and it’s a good job that the uploaded video goes fairly quickly as lots of locals were performing not only No. 1s but No. 2s in many cases….. not for the faint hearted! Ted and I enjoyed the tea and biscuits, but didn’t go overboard on further drinks in order to avoid the onboard delights of the lavatory arrangements 😱 So 4 hours on the Shatabdi Express to Kalka, a quick dive over to the other platform and onto the Toy Train to Shimla - a tour highlight and where we spend the next 3 nights.

Our main luggage went by road as there is no room in the Toy Train for much other than people and an overnight bag. I had seen it on the TV but really didn’t realise that it can take up to 6 hours plus to reach Shimla, the hill station where the British Raj went in the hot summer months to get some cool relief from the weather and from where they ruled for 8 months of the year. It took us 5 hours with various very short stops and a packed lunch to eat on the way. The train wound up the hillsides through 109 tunnels gradually getting to 6000 plus feet above sea level with spectacular views. Chaos on Shimla station, a dash out to the waiting cars for the last 15 mins to the Oberoi Cecil Hotel, a beautiful colonial style hotel.Read more