When Shimla became a popular summer hill station and later a summer capital the Britishers needed a better way to reach this town. Sedan chairs and later -- after the Grand Hindustan and Tibet Road was built -- horses and bullocks were too tedious a way to reach Shimla and the construction of a new rail line was mooted.
~One of the last tunnels on the line is just short of Shimla. While the railway was being constructed it was discovered that the hill through which tunnel needed to pass belonged to a Taradevi, a goddess the locals revered. The locals were sure the devi would not allow the tunnel to be built. And sure enough one day a giant serpent was found blocking the tunnel and work stopped. Later, according to this tale, the serpent was discovered to be a long pipe and the tunnel came up.
Image: The Kalka Shimla Railway trains chugs along.
Also read: Dr Singh's daughter steps out of the shadows
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