About Tunnel Number 33
Tunnel Number 33, also known as Barog Tunnel, is the longest tunnel on the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla Railway at approximately 1,143 meters. Located near Barog Railway Station in Solan district, this historic railway tunnel was completed in 1903 and represents a significant British colonial engineering achievement in the Himalayan foothills.
Visitors guide
Visitors can view the tunnel entrance from Barog Railway Station and surrounding areas while experiencing the heritage railway atmosphere. The tunnel is part of an active railway line, so viewing is primarily from safe public spaces near the station. The area offers scenic mountain surroundings with pine trees and quiet hill-station ambiance suitable for photography and railway heritage appreciation.
Key highlights
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Longest tunnel on the Kalka-Shimla Railway route at 1,143 meters
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Part of UNESCO World Heritage Mountain Railways of India
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Historic connection to Colonel Barog and early 20th-century railway engineering
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Scenic railway station surrounded by pine and deodar forests
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Active heritage railway experience via Kalka-Shimla toy train
History of Tunnel Number 33
Tunnel Number 33 was constructed between 1898 and 1903 as part of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. The tunnel is associated with Colonel Barog, a British railway engineer who initially attempted construction but faced alignment difficulties. After his death, Chief Engineer H.S. Harrington completed the tunnel in 1903, reportedly with guidance from local diviner Baba Bhalku. The tunnel and station were named in honor of Colonel Barog.
Culture & Context
The tunnel is part of the Kalka-Shimla Railway, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 under the Mountain Railways of India. It represents colonial-era railway engineering in the Himalayas and holds local cultural significance through legends and stories associated with its construction.
Route
| By train |
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