Planning a trip to Dharamshala and Shimla in Himachal

How to plan a trip from Dharamshala to Shimla - A complete Guide  

Are you in Dharamshala and looking for a travel information and route from Dharamshala to Shimla. Do you want to plan a trip to Dharamshala and Shimla together. Here are some tips which you must read before you plan your trip to Dharamshala and Shimla. 

 

Shimla is approximately 235 kilometers from Dharamshala by road. The travel time now is around 8-9 hours; however, a four-lane road is under construction from Kangra to Shimla which will reduce the travel time from 9 hours to 5 hours. Here are a few options for traveling from Dharamshala to Shimla: 

 

How to reach Shimla from Dharamshala 

1. Shimla By Road: There are two different routes from Dharamshala to Shimla 

• The route 1 is National Highway 503 (NH503) via Mandi and Bilaspur. The travel time is around 8 hours, and may take long time in rainy season. 

 

• The second route is National Highway 205 (NH205) via Palampur, and Mandi. This route is comparatively longer but, on the way, you will enjoy better scenic views. The travel time on this route is also around 8 hours. 

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2. Dharamshala to Shimla By Bus: 

• From ISBT Dharamshala you will find a regular bus service. HRTC or Himachal Road Transport Corporation operates buses on both the Shimla routes. The journey by bus also takes around 8-9 hours, depending on the traffic and the type of bus. 

3. Dharamshala to Shimla By Train: 

• Unfortunately, no train service is available from Dharamshala to Shimla. There is no Rail line in Dharamshala and the nearest broad guage railway station is Pathankot Cantt. Trains from Pathankot to Kalka are available and from Kalka you can take Shimla Toy train which offers a mesmerizing and scenic journey through the Green Hills. The toy train ride takes around 5 hours to reach Shimla. 

4. Dharamshala to Shimla By Air: 

• The nearest airport in Dharamshala is Gaggal Airport or Kangra Airport. Regular flights from Dharamshala to Chandigarh are available. From there, you can take a flight to Chandigarh Airport or Shimla Airport. Please note that flights to Shimla are very limited, and very expensive. It is advisable that after reaching Chandigarh, you can continue your journey by road or public transport.