Kalka कालका
—  Town  —
Kalka
Coordinates: 30°50′N 76°56′E / 30.83°N 76.93°E / 30.83; 76.93
Country	India
State	Haryana
District	Panchkula
Founded	1842
Elevation	656 m (2,152 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	30,887
Time zone	IST (UTC+5.30)
Post code	133302
Area code(s)	1733
Vehicle registration	HR-49

Kalka (Hindi: कालका) is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana, India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla, and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore, and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based.

History[link]

Kalka was acquired by British India from the Princely state of Patiala in 1843 as a depot for Simla, the summer capital of the Raj. It became the junction for the Delhi-Ambala - Kalka, and the Kalka - Simla railways. By 1901, the town, administered as a notified area, had a population of 7,045, a railway workshop, and was a market for ginger and turmeric.^[1] The Kalka municipal committee was created on 11 April 1933.

Climate[link]

Kalka enjoys a pleasant weather for most of the year, compared to nearby big cities like Chandigarh, Ambala, Delhi etc. Summers are hot during May and June. Monsoon bring in heavy rainfall for about 4 to 5 months starting around late May/June. Around October/November temperature start falling rapidly and chilling winter sets in by December. Winter season lasts for another 3–4 months. Kalka also receives some rainfall from Western Disturbance, near the end of winter. Winter season, even though being chilly, is mostly free of fog unlike most north Indian cities in plains.

Transport[link]

Road[link]

Kalka is situated along a slope. This makes it somewhat difficult to commute on foot. Local transport (within Kalka) is by shared auto-rickshaws. These autos ply to a distance of around 15–20 km. There are also shared cabs (not the luxury ones) for distances up to 25–30 km. Government and private buses are also very common for commuting to nearby towns. Many intercity govt buses start or pass through Kalka, connecting it with Chandigarh, Ambala, Delhi, Shimla and many other cities.

Kalka Bypass[link]

As Kalka falls on a major tourist circuit (Delhi-Shimla), it presents a major traffic snarl. During peak rush, traffic jams up to 1–2 hours were a common problem. To counter growing local and tourist traffic, NHAI is constructing Pinjore-Parwanoo link road which will bypass Kalka and parts of Parwanoo and Pinjore.^[3][4]

Rail[link]

Kalka has a railway station of Northern railways, Indian Rail (Station code KLK) serving as terminal station for broad gauge line (towards Chandigarh) and narrow gauge line (towards Shimla). Direct trains on broad gauge, connect to Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah etc.

Kalka Shimla Railway[link]

The Kalka Shimla Railway features on the UNESCO's World Heritage sites list as the Mountain Railways of India. Work on the railway line started in 1898 and it opened for traffic in 1903.

Places of interest[link]

Kali Mata Temple[link]

The ancient temple of the Hindu goddess Kali is situated on the National Highway 22 that runs through Kalka town. The temple is very popular with hundreds of devotees pay their respects annually during the Navratri. It is believed that this temple was build in the age of Mahabhrata by Pandvas, during "Agyat Vas" when they stayed here for some time.

Shri Balaji Temple[link]

In 1988 an ancient temple of Balaji (childhood incarnition of Hindu god Hanuman) was excavated on one of the hills overlooking the town. This temple has also become popular destination among devotees, including localites. Every year thousands of devotees come to pay there respects to the Hindu God [ [Hanuman]]. This shrine is getting more and more popular day by day.

Pinjore Garden[link]

The Yadavindra Gardens at Pinjore, believed to be built by Mughals, is another popular destination among people visiting the area. Every year a Mango Mela is organised here in which 500 varieties of mangoes are displayed for the visitors.There are many buildings which was made by Mughals and was of greenery only.

References[link]

Chandigarh portal

External links[link]

• Official Website of the Panchkula district
• Panchkula district
• Kalka

v t e Panchkula district topics Cities and towns Kalka Panchkula Pinjore Raipur Rani Monuments Mata Mansa Devi Mandir Nada Sahib Transport Kalka Mail Kalka–Shimla Railway NH 22 Lok Sabha constituencies Ambala