Planning a Trip | Himachal Pradesh | India
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Himachal Pradesh

By plane[edit]

Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra or Pathankot (for Dharamsala) have small airports, with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse weather. In addition, the airport in Pathankot (Punjab) can be a convenient connection for Dharamsal] and Dalhousie. If you are on a tight budget you might want to skip this option as it is way more costly than other modes of transportation. Airfare on this route is one of the highest in the world for a given unit distance. The airport for Shimla is at Jubbal Hatti, which is around 40 km away from the main Shimla City.

By train[edit]

While there are few railways within Himachal Pradesh, it is an effective way to get to within a short distance of the state. Chandigarh is well-serviced and has bus connections to Manali and Shimla, and Pathankot is a good choice if heading to Dharamsala. Due to transfer time, it would likely be slower to reach these destinations by a combination of train and bus, but it would be more comfortable.

By bus[edit]

Bus is the cheapest and only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest have direct services from Delhi. There are three different entry routes to Himachal if you are coming from Delhi.

  • Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kaza route.
  • Delhi-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Keylong-Leh
  • Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Dharamsala or Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Chamba

All three routes are interconnected within Himachal. There are Volvo buses operated by Himachal State Transport Corporation on these routes.