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Barog: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Barog exists because of the railway: the station and its long tunnel are the heart of the place. The Kalka–Shimla line climbs from the plains to the summer capital, and Barog is the halfway point where trains stop for a break. This route follows the line from its bottom station to its top, by car or by train. By train it is about five hours end to end; by car you can stop at each station in a day.

Barog

A short history of Barog

Barog is a small station on the Kalka–Shimla Railway, which opened in 1903. It is named after the British engineer Barog, who was put in charge of digging the line's long tunnel. According to local lore, the diggers working from the two sides of the mountain failed to meet, Barog was fined, and out of shame he took his own life. The tunnel, more than a kilometre long, was completed after him, and today it bears his name.

The ten best sights in Barog

  1. Barog Tunnel
    1
    Barog Tunnel

    Tunnel No. 33 starts right by the station; you can walk to the mouth

  2. Kumarhatti
    2
    Kumarhatti

    Junction village on the highway where the road climbs to Dagshai

  3. Dagshai
    3
    Dagshai

    Old army cantonment on a hilltop; the jail museum is the reason to go

  4. Christ Church Kasauli
    4
    Christ Church Kasauli

    A stone church at the heart of the Kasauli cantonment

  5. Lawrence School, Sanawar
    5
    Lawrence School, Sanawar

    One of India's oldest boarding schools; seen from the road only

  6. Solan Brewery
    6
    Solan Brewery

    The old brewery gave its name to a railway halt

  7. Kasauli
    7
    Kasauli

    Quiet hill town 30 minutes west, with colonial lanes and views to the plains

  8. Monkey Point
    8
    Monkey Point

    Highest point of Kasauli, inside an Air Force area: carry ID, no cameras

  9. Karol Tibba
    9
    Karol Tibba

    A forested peak above Solan for a half-day hike

  10. Timber Trail
    10
    Timber Trail

    Cable car over a valley near Parwanoo, 25 minutes down the highway

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Barog →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Barog:

The toy-train line

Free walking tours in Barog

The toy-train line

Barog exists because of the railway: the station and its long tunnel are the heart of the place. The Kalka–Shimla line climbs from the plains to the summer capital, and Barog is the halfway point where trains stop for a break. This route follows the line from its bottom station to its top, by car or by train. By train it is about five hours end to end; by car you can stop at each station in a day.

  1. Kalka Station · The line opened in 1903 and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Mountain Railways of India in 2008.
  2. Barog Tunnel · At about 1,144 metres, Tunnel No. 33 is the longest on the line, and a train takes around two and a half minutes to pass through it.
  3. Barog Station · The station is named after Colonel Barog, the engineer who first dug the tunnel from both ends; the story goes that the two halves failed to meet, and he took his own life.
  4. Solan Brewery · Edward Dyer opened a brewery at Kasauli in the 1820s, often called the first in Asia; the business later moved here, and the railway halt still carries the brewery's name.
  5. Summer Hill · The last halt before Shimla is the suburb where Mahatma Gandhi stayed on his visits to the summer capital.
  6. Shimla Railway Station · The line ends here after 96 km, having climbed from about 650 metres at Kalka to over 2,000 metres.

Old cantonments of the hills

The British army built hill cantonments around Barog to keep its soldiers out of the heat and disease of the plains. Their churches, schools and barracks still stand in quiet pine forest, and parts are still army land. This route links the two old cantonments of Dagshai and Kasauli, a short drive apart. Half a day by car; carry ID, as some roads pass through military areas.

  1. Dagshai · In 1920 Irish soldiers of the Connaught Rangers mutinied in India in protest at events in Ireland, and Private James Daly was executed at Dagshai jail.
  2. Kumarhatti · Dagshai cantonment was founded in 1847 on land given by the Maharaja of Patiala, and Kumarhatti below became its gateway on the road from the plains.
  3. Lawrence School, Sanawar · Sir Henry Lawrence founded the school in 1847 for the children of British soldiers.
  4. Christ Church Kasauli · Bishop Daniel Wilson laid the foundation stone in 1844, but the first service was held only in 1853.
  5. Kasauli · The Central Research Institute, set up here in 1905, has made vaccines for India for more than a century.
  6. Monkey Point · By legend the hill is shaped by Hanuman's foot, which touched it as he flew back from the Himalaya carrying a healing herb.

Rulers of the foothills

Before the British, these hills were split among small hill kingdoms, Sikh chiefs and Mughal governors, and each left a garden, a palace or a shrine. Barog sits in the middle, so all of them are within an hour or so by road. This route goes down to the plains first and then up to the palaces on the ridges. A full day by car; the hill roads are slow, so do not plan too many stops.

  1. Pinjore Gardens · The terraces were laid out in the 17th century by Fidai Khan, a foster brother of the emperor Aurangzeb.
  2. Gurdwara Nada Sahib · Sikh tradition says Guru Gobind Singh halted here after the Battle of Bhangani in 1688.
  3. Solan · The town is named after the goddess Shoolini, and today it is known as the Mushroom City of India, home of the national mushroom research centre.
  4. Chail Palace · Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala made Chail his summer seat after he was barred from Shimla, and built a cricket ground at about 2,444 metres.
  5. Mashobra · The Retreat at Mashobra is one of the President of India's official summer residences.
  6. Viceregal Lodge · Finished in 1888 for the viceroy Lord Dufferin, it was the seat of British rule in the summer months.
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Getting to Barog and getting around

  • Barog Station · Toy-train stop in the pines; most trains halt here for a few minutes
  • Solan Station · The nearest real town on the line, 10 minutes up the track
  • Kasauli Bus Stand · Local buses to Kalka, Chandigarh and Solan

Cheap eats in Barog

Barog is a station and a few hotels in the pines, so food is simple: tea, parathas, maggi noodles and rajma-chawal at roadside dhabas. For more choice, Solan is 10 minutes away and Kasauli half an hour. Prices are low, and a full plate costs little more than a coffee in Europe.

  • Barog Station refreshment room · Tea, snacks and simple meals on the platform, about ₹30-200
  • Barog Valley FoodPoint · Roadside dhaba for parathas and rajma-chawal, about ₹80-250
  • Pahadi Cafe · Hill café near Timber Trail for tea and maggi, about ₹50-200
  • Sunrise Cafe · Snacks and tea with a valley view, about ₹50-200

Museums in Barog

  • Dagshai · The old jail museum and the British cemetery
  • Christ Church Kasauli · Colonial church in the cantonment
  • Lawrence School, Sanawar · Historic campus, seen from outside
  • Viceregal Lodge · Guided tours in Shimla, an hour up the road

Nature and day trips near Barog

  • Monkey Point · Short climb to a temple and wide views
  • Chail Palace · Deodar forest and the high cricket ground
  • Karol Tibba · Forest hike above Solan
  • Kasauli · Pine walks and views to the plains

Things to do in Barog with kids

  • Barog Tunnel · Watch the toy train vanish into the long tunnel
  • Kalka Station · Start a short toy-train ride from the bottom
  • Timber Trail · Cable-car ride over the valley
  • Pinjore Gardens · Lawns and fountains to run around

Where to eat in Barog

  • Chail Palace · Dinner in a maharaja's palace, now a heritage hotel
  • Ojas Hotel · Hotel dining near Barog for a quiet dinner
  • Timber Trail · Resort restaurant across the cable car
  • Barog Valley FoodPoint · Simple dinner of dal, rice and rotis
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Frequently asked questions about Barog

What is there to see in Barog?

The top sights in Barog are Barog Tunnel, Kumarhatti and Dagshai. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Barog?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Barog without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Barog?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Barog, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The toy-train line.

How do you get to Barog and get around?

The main ways are Barog Station, Solan Station and Kasauli Bus Stand. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Barog, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Barog that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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