How to Reach Himachal Pradesh ?

Himachal Pradesh is among the most visited top mountain tourist places in the Himalayas region. Himachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful destinations in North India for tourists to visit and explore.

 The State is a part of the lower Himalayas, hence there are some amazing spots with the incredible climate. This is one of the most visited hill stations with the mystical dreamy charms wrapped in enchanting charm that is just amazing to watch it. The best places in da country are Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala. With technology at our disposal, arriving to Himachal Pradesh is not even the least bit complicated anymore from neighbouring towns and cities.

Himachal Pradesh is a picture-perfect state that impresses visitors with scenic hill stations, attractive villages, snow-covered mountains, lush valleys, varied flora and fauna, unblemished nature and plentiful trekking trails. It is a veritable haven for nature lovers, adventurers, and backpackers.

Himachal Pradesh is surrounded by Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, owing to which it has great connectivity from the rest of the country. The popular hill stations of Himachal Pradesh are flocks of tourists throughout the year due to the pleasant and calming weather, which makes the sightseeing tour memorable. The detailed information about how to reach Himachal Pradesh is mentioned below, which allows tourists to plan their Himachal trip hassle-free. 

How to reach Himachal Pradesh most conveniently by Train, Road, and Air mediums. Through the mediums of air and railways, it is very easier to travel though taxis that need to be done to travel or explore Himachal Pradesh. 

How to reach Himachal Pradesh by train

How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Train
How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Train

It can be more enjoyable, fast and affordable. Being a mountainous area, surrounded by lofty hills, there are no major railway tracks anywhere within the state. However, with the best efforts, train does run into the state.

Mainly, There are two functional railway stations that are in the city of Una and Solan. These trains usually run from Pathankot in Punjab. From here, you either have the decision of going by street or riding the renowned toy train into the beautiful uneven areas of this amazing location. The Toy train also connects Shimla to Kalka offers scenic views and is quite enjoyable.

 Another narrow-gauge railway station in Himachal Pradesh is in Joginder nagar which is connected by Pathankot. There are trains to Kalka from a few significant urban areas in the country.

For instance, the Kalka Mail which is considered as the oldest train in India runs from Howrah in West Bengal to Delhi and then to Kalka. Tourists can hop on the toy trains and explore the enchanting beauty of the hilly area. Going by train ends up being an incredible decision as they are normally economical, comfy, well preserved as well as a whole lot even more fun than a flight journey. 

People usually take overnight trains to Himachal to make sure that they get to really feel rejuvenated. The train provides a very nice sleeping facility hence it makes sure that everyone arrives travel and adventure-ready. A taxi can be taken to travel to a particular destination. The ride is a lot of fun as the line bends and cuts across the hilly terrain.

By Kalka-Shimla Toy Train

The simplest and another way to reach Shimla which is capital of Himachal Pradesh, is by taking the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train. This tourist train service connects Kalka (Haryana) and Shimla (Himachal).

 It runs for almost 60 miles, going through 18 railway stations, 864 bridges, 102 tunnels and 900 curves. With changing landscapes encompassing mountains, picturesque valleys, lush forests of pine and oak, and misty meadows, the journey is breathtaking. It requires around six hours to arrive at Shimla. Along the way, you will pass through some stunning destinations. Some of the major passenger points are Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Tara Devi, Barog, Salogra, Totu, and Summerhill – in that order. Two special heritage carriages also operate on the Kalka-Shimla route that is Shivalik Queen Tourist Coach and Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach.

How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Road

How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Road
How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Road

Himachal Pradesh is One of the most enjoyable Destinations to visit. To reach Himachal Pradesh by Road is one of the most common ways and it is enjoyed by a lot of people especially those who live just close to Himachal Pradesh or in Delhi region. Himachal Pradesh is very well connected to the major cities. 

There are a total of 9 National Highways and about 19 State Highways that cover all the major districts in the states connecting them also to places like Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Leh-Ladakh. 

The distance from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh by road can be covered in just about 7 hours or maximum 7 and a half hours. The roads are very well maintained and even during the monsoon season, and are safe to travel through, the drive still needs to be done cautiously. Road trips are more fun trips sometimes. 

This is the cheapest and most convenient way to reach Himachal Pradesh. A small car is more preferred on a road trip to Himachal Pradesh. There are a lot of restaurants, food outlets and Dhabas which provide some of the best food and a huge variety to choose from. There are regular buses ply from Delhi, Chandigarh, Panipat, Jammu, Amritsar, and other towns for the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists can also travel in their own car or hire a taxi. 

Through the use of the road all the travelers can indulge in various activities like going hiking or visiting another city close to them. Through the road trips the travelers can experience some of the most magnificent mountains and green tracks.

Road Transport by Bus

Traveling by bus is cheaper and perfect for travelers on a tight budget. Buses are the major form of public transportation, and there is an extensive network of them operating in and around the state. 

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) run a fleet of government buses from Delhi and neighboring cities to Himachal, including AC Sleeper, Volvo AC, Volvo AC Sleeper, AC Seater, Non-AC Seater and Non-AC Sleeper. 

Most of the buses ply between Delhi and Shimla, Manali, Kullu and Khajjiar on a regular basis. As Himachal has mountainous terrain, expect to have a bumpy bus ride.

How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Air

How to reach Himachal Pradesh By Air
How to reach Himachal Pradesh By Air

Himachal Pradesh has three domestic airports – Kullu-Manali Airport in Bhuntar, Dharamsala Airport in Gaggal near Kangra, and Shimla Airport in Jubbarhatti, approx. 13.6 miles from Shimla. These airports connect Himachal Pradesh to the rest of the country.

 The airports have flights from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi as well as Chandigarh. You can comfortably take a trip by means of air as well as come down to the flight terminal closest to the cities you wish to visit. That’s why, Traveling through the air has become a more preferred route. 

One of the best things about traveling through air is that it takes very little time. Jubbarhatti is the nearest airport to Shimla, the capital of the state and is 23 km from the city of Shimla.

How to Reach Himachal Pradesh from Top 10 Cities of India By Road:

CityDistanceSuggested RouteStop Over Suggestion
Delhi500 kmDelhi >Chandigarh >Bilaspur> Mandi> Himachal PradeshChandigarh
Mumbai1750 kmMumbai -> Vadodara -> Udaipur -> Jaipur-> Delhi-> Chandigarh- Himachal Pradesh.Varanasi & Delhi
Kolkata1850 kmKolkata < Varanasi < Lucknow< Delhi< Chandigarh Himachal PradeshVaranasi & Delhi
Banglore2500 kmBangalore – Hyderabad – Nagpur- Jhansi – Agra -Delhi Chandigarh Himachal PradeshHyderabad and Delhi
Chennai2650 kmChennai -> Bangalore -> Pune -> Ahmedabad -> Udaipur – Delhi- Chandigarh-> HimachalPradeshBanglore & Udaipur
Ahmedabad1350 kmAhmedabad – Udaipur – Jaipur – Delhi – Chandigarh to HPUdaipur & Delhi
Pune1750 kmPune-Vadodara-Udaipur- Jaipur-Delhi-Chandigarh-Himachal PradeshVadodara & Delhi
Surat1600 kmSurat to Vadodara, Udaipur, Jaipur, Delhi (NCR Region), Chandigarh and last stop Himachal Pradesh.
Udaipur and Delhi
Jaipur800 kmJaipur -> Delhi -> Chandigarh -> Himachal PradeshChandigarh

How To Reach Himachal From India Top Cities Via Air

CityAirport NameNearest Airport NameTravel To Himachal Pradesh
DelhiIndira Gandhi International airport – DEL Chandigarh Airport (around 250 km from Shimla)Shimla: Fly directly to Chandigarh and then drive down via road (4-5 hours)Kullu-Manali: Take a flight to Bhuntar Airport, Kullu from Delhi (1 hour) and then drive down to Manali( 1-2 hours).Dharamshala: Board a flight to Gaggal Airport (Kangra) from Delhi which is approx 1 hr, after that it will take around another half an hour road drive for Dharmash-ala.
MumbaiChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport – BOMChandigarh AirportThe easiest way to reach there is via Delhi( through Chandigarh).
BangloreKempegowda International Airport Chandigarh AirportThe easiest way to reach there is via Delhi( through Chandigarh).
KolkataNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportChandigarh airportThe easiest way to reach there is via Delhi( through Chandigarh).
ChennaiChennai International AirportChandigarh airportThe easiest way to reach there is via Delhi( through Chandigarh).

Travel Tips

Airline tickets: Book your Flights in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons (summer and winter).

Documents: You should carry all documents, including check-in info and cab & driver details This allows us to have a stress-free mountain trip.

Weather Conditions: Kangra, Hamirpur, Solan, Una and Sirmour are fairly hot to hear in the summer. Therefore, these are the wintery paradise areas. 

Identity Proof: Another essential is your Id proof, you will have to provide it while checking in at the resort or hotels. One of the most important travel tips for Himachal Pradesh is that it will come handy in case you lose them or find yourself daunted by an emergency.

 Health Precautions: If you are going to visit Himachal Pradesh, then health precautions must be taken. For example, you should not eat from street vendors and small restaurants. Keep drinking bottled water.

Your personal medication, thermometerAlcohol-based sanitizerTensor bandage & etc. Prevent Nausea and Vomiting Take A Rest

 Permissions: Do keep in mind that a few places (like Rohtang Pass) and buildings such as IAS, Shimla or Chail Palace need special permission to visit. Therefore, you need special permission to visit these places before you plan your trip.