Barog and Dagshai: tunnels, pines and an old cantonment on the way to Shimla
Two quiet stops just off the Chandigarh–Shimla highway: Barog, where the toy train enters its longest tunnel, and Dagshai, a hilltop cantonment with a jail turned museum.
- ~1,560 m Barog
- ~1,143 m Tunnel 33, the longest on the line
- ~65 km from Chandigarh
- 1–2 nights weekend trip
Photo: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates
Barog is a small hill station at about 1,560 m in Solan district, about 65 km (2 hours) from Chandigarh, best known for its station on the Kalka–Shimla toy train and the line’s longest tunnel, Tunnel No. 33 (about 1.1 km). A few kilometres away, Dagshai is one of the oldest cantonments in the hills, established in the 1840s; its old jail, built around 1849, is now a museum. Both are quiet, pine-covered and easy weekend escapes from Chandigarh and Delhi, and can be combined with Kasauli and Solan. They are pleasant all year; December–February brings cold nights and only occasional snow.
- HeightBarog about 1,560 m; Dagshai about 1,700 m.
- DistancesChandigarh → Barog ~65 km; Barog → Solan ~8 km; Barog → Kasauli ~25 km.
- Toy trainBarog is a stop on the Kalka–Shimla line (UNESCO World Heritage).
- DagshaiOld cantonment; jail museum (usually closed on Mondays — check locally).
- Best monthsAll year; March – June and October – November are the most pleasant.
Solan and Kasauli weather today
Barog and Dagshai share the weather of Solan and Kasauli. Current temperature and the next days’ high, low and rain.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
Barog and its tunnel
Barog grew up around the railway. When the Kalka–Shimla line was built in the early 1900s, the long tunnel here — Tunnel No. 33, at about 1,143 m the longest on the line — was the hardest piece of work. Local stories tell of the engineer, Colonel Barog, after whom the place is named. The station, with its neat platform and café, is one of the prettiest on the line.
Take the toy train for a stretch through the tunnel, walk the pine-covered slopes above the town, or simply sit with a cup of tea and watch the trains. For the latest on services, see Kalka–Shimla toy train status.
Dagshai cantonment and jail museum
Dagshai, on a hilltop above the highway, was established as a cantonment in the 1840s and is still an army station. Its jail, with rows of solitary cells along stone corridors, was built around 1849 and has been turned into a small museum about its history. Nearby are an old church and a European cemetery dating from the 1840s. The quiet roads through the pines make a lovely walk; follow the cantonment’s rules on photography.
| From Barog | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Solan | ~8 km | 20 min |
| Dagshai | ~12 km | 30 min |
| Kasauli | ~25 km | 1 h |
| Chail | ~40 km | 1.5 h |
| Shimla | ~55 km | 2 h |
| Chandigarh | ~65 km | 2 h |
How to reach Barog and Dagshai
By road, Barog is just off the Chandigarh–Shimla highway (NH5) between Dharampur and Solan — about 2 hours from Chandigarh and 6 hours from Delhi. By rail, take the Kalka–Shimla toy train from Kalka to Barog (about 2½–3 hours). See our Chandigarh to Shimla taxi, Delhi to Shimla taxi and the Himachal distance chart.
Barog and Dagshai in pictures
Barog station and its tunnel, the hills around, and Dagshai’s old jail and cemetery — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Around Barog
Combine Barog with these.
Weekend trips near Chandigarh
Hotels, meals and a private car — one written quote.
Planning a weekend at Barog?
Tell us your dates and group. We suggest a stay in Barog, Kasauli or Chail, check toy train services, and send one written quote with hotel, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Barog and Dagshai: frequently asked questions
How long is the Barog tunnel?
Tunnel No. 33 at Barog is about 1,143 m long, the longest on the Kalka–Shimla railway.
How far is Barog from Chandigarh?
About 65 km, roughly 2 hours by road.
Does the toy train stop at Barog?
Yes, Barog is a station on the Kalka–Shimla line.
What is there to see at Dagshai?
The old jail museum, a church, the European cemetery and quiet walks through the cantonment.
Does it snow in Barog?
Only occasionally, in cold spells between December and February.
Is Barog good for a weekend?
Yes — it is quiet, close to Chandigarh and easy to combine with Kasauli, Dagshai and Chail.
Sources
Photo credits
Barog station and tunnel — Photo: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The end of Tunnel 33 — Photo: NikkSingh, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Barog station sign — Photo: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The hills around Barog — Photo: Ganeriwala, CC BY-SA 4.0 · A tunnel on the line — Photo: Amitabha Gupta, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dagshai Jail Museum — Photo: Pankajkukreti03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Inside the old jail — Photo: Pankajkukreti03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The old cemetery — Photo: Pankajkukreti03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kumarhatti-Dagshai station — Photo: Utcursch, CC BY-SA 3.0
