Kalka is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh; it is located on the National Highway 5 between Chandigarh and Shimla, and it is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway.

Railways and Industrial development have led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka gained major economic benefits due to being the only highway destination until 2010 from Shimla.

Kalka was acquired by British India from the Princely state of Patiala in 1843 as a stopover and depot for the Simla, the summer capital of the Raj.

[2] The main center part was established by Pundir Rajputs of Haryana and the area was under them and this town was governed by local Rajputi zamindars.

In the 1800s, the British occupied the land from local zamindars for rail development, which led to an economic boost for the town.

Many intercity govt buses start or pass through Kalka, connecting it with Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Delhi, Shimla, and many other cities.

In recent years, trains have been started from Kalka to Shirdi, Maharashtra, and to Katra, Jammu which run on specific days of the week.

The ancient temple of the Hindu goddess Kali is situated on the National Highway 22[citation needed] that runs through Kalka town.

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.