Arrive in New Delhi. India's capital city is home to the region's largest international airport, named after assassinated Indian leader Indira Gandhi. Round-trip economy flights from New York to Delhi usually cost between $850 and $1,500 or more, depending on the carrier and the time of year. If you land in the middle of the night (which is likely), find a hotel.
Catch a cab to the city's central train station. Any cab driver will be able to take you there.
Buy a train ticket to Kalka. The ticket will cost anywhere from a few dollars to $80 or more, depending on the level of comfort you desire. Typically this train leaves early in the morning (between 7:00 and 8:00). Board the train.
Enjoy the ride. The Indian countryside is beautiful, and the train will pass small villages and sizable towns as well as desert, forest, and plain. You'll pass through the capital of the state of Punjab, Chandigarh, the largest city along your route after Delhi itself. Finally, you'll arrive in Kalka, the entire ride having taken around four hours.
Decide on a method of transport from Kalka to Shimla. There are three major options. First, you can take the famous Toy Train, which looks like a miniature train--the kind of train you might see at an amusement part. This is the slowest option (it takes about six hours), but many people enjoy the train's charm as well as the leisurely scenic journey, all for a few dollars. The second option is the bus. This is the cheapest way to get to Shimla, but it is usually quite crowded. Cost: less than a dollar. The final option is to take a jeep or private car, which will cost between $20 and $40, but stands as the fastest, most comfortable option.
Enjoy Shimla. Take a walk around the Mall at dawn and at sunset, enjoy day hikes in the surrounding, forest-covered hills and admire the grand colonial architecture of the erstwhile summer capital of the old British Raj.
