Travelling to hill station is quite enjoyable. Set up in high altitude region of the mountain many people visit these spot to spend aome memorable time. However, Hill stations often have haunted folklore associated with them. The unique combination of dense, foggy landscapes, isolated environments, and lingering colonial history naturally inspires human imagination and eerie tales. On top of that, some of the well known authors like Ruskin Bond set classic ghost and mystery stories in hill stations like Mussoorie and Landour, cementing these regions in the public imagination as homes for the supernatural.
On my last visit to Solan, I was fascinated by the quietness of one such railway station. There are few of the station that were built right under the mountains. However one of the station does have one such haunted folklore that needs to be shared. It is Barog Railway Station situated in Kalka-Shimla train route.
Barog is famous for the longest straight tunnel on the railway line. When the train stopped at the platform, the atmosphere remains same as of any other Indian railway station. There is a unique stillness and quiten3ss in the atmosphere. People get down to buy some snacks while few started recording at the besutiful scenic beauty. One of the locals travelling with me, then disclosed the facts that the rsilways station is a haunted one. And there is a an old stories that goes around the British rule. I was surprised to learn about the story. As It was unbelievable to find such a beautiful location with a haunted tale
Many hill stations in India were built during the British era as summer retreats. Old, decaying Victorian buildings and tragic accidents from that harsh construction era leave behind a legacy of sorrow and dark folklore. This one is not different. When we reached the platform, it was a business as usual. But I got curious to know more about the stories. I reach out the local person again and asked him to share the entire stories. The old fella was also get excited to tell me the haunted tale.
The local stories that is associated took us to the British Era. The Tunnel is named after Colonel Barog, a British engineer who miscalculated the digging from both ends and failed to make the paths meet. He unable to get tye exact exit of the tunnel. This made the britisher to fine him. He was heavily ridiculed, leading him to commit suicide inside the incomplete tunnel. Locals say the area is haunted by his friendly spirit.
But there is no reason to get scared at the rsilway station as the actual tunnel, Under wh8ch he committed suicide was 1KM away from this spot. Tye tunnel was still incomplete, and rhis one was made as a makeshift for commuting purpose. Today, many toy train in this route passes through this tunnel and remembers the poor engineer.
Todays, people get down at the station buy snacks take selfie and enjoy tye cool abd pleasant weather. There were many hawkers selling snack item at your seat. Those snack were worth eating. The vegetable cutlet is a popupar dish to try at this station.
The station retains its original 1903 wooden architecture, antique. Unlike typical terrifying ghost stories, local legend portrays Colonel Barog as a gentle, lonely spirit who sometimes chats or shares a laugh with visitors inside the dark, echoing tunnel. I listned the whole stories and went on with loads of imagination in mind.
Connected to the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla Railway line, the myth adds a layer of romanticized mystery to an already popular scenic destination. The railway line is one of the few which runs on steam engine. There are quite a few operational but this line always pulls a lot of visitors.
In good faith - Peace!!
