Kalka is situated close to Pinjore and Parwanoo where a considerable amount of industrial development has taken place. However, the town of Kalka is quite unaffected by these developments and has retained its pure and chaste environment which attracts tourists by the score to this city every year.
It is situated between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Station. The Chandimandir Cantonment, which serves as base of the Western Command of the Indian Army, is also located near Kalka.
Some of the important tourist destinations in Kalka are the Kali Mata Temple, Shri Balaji Temple and Pinjore Garden. The Kali Mata Temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali and is situated on the National Highway 22. The temple is thronged by hundreds and thousands of devotees during Navratri. According to popular belief, this temple was built by the legendary Pandavas of the Mahabharata during their exile.
Another important attraction of Kalka is the Pinjore Garden. Believed to be built by the Mughals, the Yadavindra Gardens at Pinjore hosts the mango mela every year. It is a beautiful garden which also showcases some excellent architecture built by the Mughals.
There is also the Shri Balaji Mandir, which was discovered in 1988 during an excavation expedition. This shrine, which is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, is a popular tourist spot and innumerable tourists and locals visit the temple to pay obeisance.
Being situated on the National Highway 2, Kalka is well connected to nearby cities by road. The city features on the UNESCO’s World Heritage sites list as the Mountain Railways of India. The city has its own station and serves as the terminus for the Kalka Shimla Railway.
