Shimla Travel Guide
Summer Capital of British India
How to Reach Shimla
Shimla is one of the most visited hill stations of India. With its mountain views and colonial era charm, Shimla has captivated the mind of tourista for ages. Travellers from all over India and other countries come here all round the year. This page talks about how to reach Shimla considering 2 major aspects.
1. By using different transport modes
2. From major destinations within India
If you are from outside India and interested to know how to reach Shimla, this section will guide you with nearby airports with pros and cons.
You can use various transport modes to reach Shimla – by Air, By Rail, By Bus and By Car.
Distance of Shimla from Below Places
Place | Distance (Km) |
|---|---|
Delhi | 345 |
Chandigarh | 115 |
Manali | 250 |
Kalka | 96 |
Kufri | 15 |
Chail | 46 |
Shimla By Air
Major airports near to Shimla are Chandigarh (124 km) and New delhi (370 km). Most of the tourists coming to Shimla via air avail any one of these two airports and then hire a cab or take a bus to reach Shimla.
Nearest Airport – At Jubbarhatti, 25 km from Shimla.
Pros
Shimla is only 1-hr drive from the airport.
Cons
1. Only one daily flight from New Delhi.
2. Often ticket prices are on the higher side.
3. During bad weather conditions, frequent cancellation happen
Preferred Options – To reach Shimla by Air, Chandigarh and New Delhi are the most popular ones due to their connectivity with other places within and outside India.
airport | airport to Shimla (Km) | Airport to Shimla (Hrs) | connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|
New Delhi | 370 | 8-9 hr | Private car and Volvo AC/Non AC buses |
Chandigarh | 124 | 4 hr | Private car and AC/Non AC buses |
Shimla By Train
Shimla has its own railway station which is connected with Kalka by toy train. Kalka in turn is well connected with Delhi, Chandigarh and rest of India through a wide coverage.
Pros: kalka to Shimla toy train route is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route goes up the gradient from Kalka making its way through the curves and gradients offering the passengers a spectacular view of the mountain ranges. The route has 102 tunnels and 87 bridges along the way. No wonder, this journey itself is a prize for the tourists. You always need to book well in advance to get a seat in the toy trains
Cons: The toy train journey from Kalka to Shimla takes 5:30 hrs, while by car it takes 3 hrs to cover the distance.
Popular Options: Majority of the tourists coming to Shimla via train prefer the toy train route because its a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers great views of the Himalayan range. Five to six trains run on this route daily he Shivalik Deluxe Express, a luxury train only for the tourists.
Kalka – Shimla Train Timing
Train No | Train Name | Kalka | Shimla |
|---|---|---|---|
52457 | Shimla Passenger | 04:00 | 09:20 |
72451 | Rail Motor | 05:10 | 09:50 |
52451 | Shivalik Deluxe | 05:30 | 10:10 |
52453 | Shimla Express | 06:00 | 11:05 |
52455 | Himalayan Queen | 12:10 | 17:20 |
Shimla – Kalka Train Timing
Train No | Train Name | Shimla | Kalka |
|---|---|---|---|
52456 | Himalayan Queen | 10:30 | 16:10 |
52458 | Shimla Passenger | 14:00 | 20:10 |
72452 | Rail Motor | 16:25 | 21:35 |
52452 | Shivalik Deluxe | 17:40 | 22:25 |
52454 | Shimla Express | 18:15 | 23:20 |
Shimla By Bus
Shimla has a very good road connectivity with Delhi, Chandigarh and Kalka. Regular bus service to Shimla are available from all these locations.
Bus Types and Condition
AC and Non-AC buses including Volvo services operated by both government and private agencies are available.
Pros – Less travel cost and fescility of overnight or day journey from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Cons – Tiring road journey, less opportunity to enjoy the beautiful road compared to rented cab or own car
Information and Reservation
Himachal Tourism Volvo Service – www.booking.hptdc.in
Himachal Road Transport Corp – www.hrtc.gov.in
Shimla By Car
Shimla has a very good road connectivity with Delhi, Chandigarh, Kalka and Manali. The other advantage of reaching Shimla by car is that you can enjoy the beauty of the Himalayan mountain ranges along the route to its fullest. Photography enthusiasts can stop wherever they like and capture the shot of the moment.
Pros – The scenic road towards Shimla will make you mesmerized and you can stop and take snaps or relax whenever you feel like.
Cons – Expensive option; better affordable if traveling in a group.
Shimla Links
Popular Tour Plans - Himachal Pradesh
1-3 Days
1. Shimla (2N/3D)
2. Manali (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Shimla-Kulu-Manali (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Shimla-Kulu-Manali-Dharamsala-Dalhousie (10N/11D)
2. Kinnar (Shimla-Sarahan-Sangla-Chitkul-Kalpa-Shimla) (8N/9D)