near the end of winter. Winter season, despite being chilly, is mostly free of fog unlike most North Indian cities in the plains. Transport Road Kalka is situated along a slope. This makes it somewhat difficult to commute on foot. Local transport (within Kalka) is by shared auto-rickshaws. These autos ply to a distance of around 15–20 km. There are also shared cabs for distances up to 25–30 km. Government and private buses are also very common for commuting to nearby cities. Many intercity govt buses start or pass through Kalka, connecting it with Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Delhi, Shimla and many other cities. Rail Kalka railway station is the northern terminal of the Delhi-Kalka line of Northern Railway, Indian Rail (Station code KLK) serving as terminal station for broad gauge line (towards Chandigarh) and narrow gauge line (towards Shimla). Direct trains on broad gauge, connect to Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah etc. In recent years, trains have been started from Kalka to Shirdi, Maharashtra and to Katra, Jammu which run on specific days of week. Kalka Shimla Railway The Kalka Shimla Railway features on the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list. Work on the railway line started in 1898 and it opened for traffic in 1903. Demographics According to the 2011 census, the population of Kalka is 34,314. The Kalka Metropolitan area population is 86,550, which consists of the adjoining cities of Kalka, Pinjore and Parwanoo. Local language is Baghati but Punjabi, Haryanvi and Hindi is also used by the residents in the town. Places of interest Kalika Devi temple The ancient temple of the Hindu goddess Kali is situated on the National Highway 22 that runs through Kalka town. The temple is visited by devotees who pay their respects annually during the Navratri. According to oral tradition, the original temple was built by Pandavas of Mahabharata of Vedic era during their Agyatvas (exile) when they stayed here for some time. Annual religious mela (fair) is held in March–April every year. Shri Trimurtidham Balaji Hanuman Temple Sri Trimurti Dham is situated amidst the Shivalik Hills. It is located on a hill-top beside the eastern fringe of Kalka town in district. Panchkula (Haryana) overlooking the industrial city Parwanoo. The literal meaning of 'Sri Trimurti Dham' is "a place where Teen Murtis (three idols) exist together". Shimla Shimla is situated in the south-western range of Himalayas. It is only 88 km from Kalka and can