Kangra Valley Railway

Kangra valley rail

The Kangra Valley Railway lies in the sub-Himalayan region and covers a distance of 164 km (101.9 mi) from Pathankot, Punjab to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Kangra valley railway comes under the Firozpur division of Northern Railway. It is one of two railways that run in Himachal Pradesh, the other being Kalka-Shimla Railway, which has been designated as world heritage site by UNESCO. Indian Railways has identified Pathankot-Jogindernagar route to be converted into 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and to extend it to Mandi, and eventually to Ladakh via a new Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Railway.[1]

Kangra is a hilly region in Himachal Pradesh which has an average elevation of 733 m (2,405 ft).

History

The railway line was planned in May 1926 and commissioned in 1929. The highest point on this line is at Ahju station at an elevation of 1,290 meters (4,230 ft). The terminus at Joginder Nagar is at an elevation of 1,189 meters (3,901 ft).[2]

About

Kangra Valley Railway
0 km Pathankot Junction
83 km Jawalamukhi Road
94 km Kangra
109 km Nagrota
127 km Palampur
141 km Baijnath Paprola
164 km Joginder Nagar

The Kangra Valley is not one place in particular. It happens to be the name given to the entire region that lies between the Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas to the north and the last strangling foothills to the south. So, roughly speaking, this talk is about a narrow rectangular belt running 150 km (93 mi) in length and 50 km (31 mi) in breadth through the mountains. To the north, the peaks rear skyward; first a low chain of ridges followed by an extensive line averaging between 15,000 and 16,000 ft (4,600 and 4,900 m). Directly behind those are massifs rising from 13,000 ft (4,000 m) to well over 16,000 ft (4,900 m). Then the snows.

Anything else would have ruined it. A different alignment, a different mode of taking the railway through the maze of hills and valleys would have spoilt its picture postcard perfectness. This unique line has just two tunnels, one of which is only 250 ft (76 m) and the other 1,000 ft (300 m) in length. The traveler must remember this is a total distance of 103 mi (166 km). Instead of boring his way through the mountains, the railway engineer has skillfully avoided running head first into the hillside. Instead of following dizzy curves, he has cleverly chosen to avoid the awkward corners and straighten his turning. For the Kangra Valley Railway presents to the traveler, a chance to gaze as long as he likes on the ever present panorama of snow-clad ranges and the gold green fields without being swung round every few minutes on a narrow arc before his eyes can greet the scenery.

Certainly the scenery through which the train passes is ample compensation for the extra distance covered as compared to getting there by road. The most picturesque parts of the valley are exposed to the view – the stretch of 18 miles from Mangwal to Kangra, for example, lies through country unsurpassed for its majestic grandeur with the majestic Ban Ganga gorge and the deep Kangra chasm as two piece de resistance. As one approaches Palampur, the ever present background of snowy chain peaks, 15,000 and 16,000 ft (4,600 and 4,900 m) in height is barely ten miles (16 km) away. From here onwards, the line runs parallel to the Dhauladhar range and much nearer to it than any other railways in India that ever comes so close to the eternal snows.

Services

Currently all the services are passenger trains i.e. the trains stop at all stations of II-class and some trains also have FC-class of accommodation. Some specials are run during the holiday season. Chartered trains can also be booked.

Tariffs

At present, reservation of seats is not enabled on this section and therefore the tourists are required to occupy available seats on arrival.

Scheduled Services

Pathankot – Joginder Nagar (N.G.)

Actual Distance (km) ↓ Station Name → Train No. Pass. 1PBJ Pass. 1PB Pass. 3PB Pass. 3PBJ Pass. 5PB Pass. 7PB Pass. 1JP
.... Pathankot 02:40 04:30 07:00 09:50 12:55 16:15 17:00
47 Jawanwala Shahr 0350 0540 0840 1200 1515 1745 2000 - -
83 Jawalamukhi Road 0553 0802 1034 1334 1633 2005 2120
94 Kangra 0623 0832 1108 1410 1758 2047 - -
109 Nagrota 0702 0909 1208 1526 1858 2120 - -
127 Palampur 0755 0956 1303 1634 1957 2156 - -
141 Baijnath Paprola 0905 1040 1350 1730 2045 2245 - -
164 Joginder Nagar 1115 - - - - 1940 - - - - - -

Joginder Nagar - Pathankot (N.G.)

↓ Station Name → Train No. Pass. 2JP Pass. 2PB Pass. 4PB Pass. 2PBJ Pass. 4PBJ Pass. 6PB Pass. 8PB
Joginder Nagar - - - - - - 07:20 12:20 - - - -
Baijnath Paprola - - 04:15 07:20 10:45 15:55 14:10 17:35
Palampur(HP) - - 04:53 08:02 11:27 16:41 14:51 18:17
Nagrota - - 05:37 09:02 12:15 17:29 15:33 19:05
Kangra - - 06:18 09:50 12:52 18:05 16:10 19:42
Jawalamukhi Road 04:45 06:57 10:28 13:25 18:33 16:40 20:12
Jawanwala Shahr 06:29 08:26 12:20 15:08 20:32 18:23 22:13
Pathankot 08:40 10:45 14:30 17:10 22:45 21:10 23:40
Baijnath Paprola station
ZDM engine at Baijnath Paprola
Towards Jogindernagar
Train crossing the river at Baijanath
Ahju Station

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rail link to Leh: Centre seeks Plan panel nod
  2. ↑ http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/6337
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