How to reach Himachal Hill Stations like Shimla, Dalhousie, Manali, Spiti, KInnaur, Mcledoganj & Palampur etc.
For last few years, we have noticed various comments on our portal wherein folks want to know about various options to reach different Hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh. So we thought of sharing this Photo Journey with some details about Transportation mediums in Himalayan State of India - Himachal Pradesh.
If you are someone who doesn't want to break the journey, VOLVO buses are best for you to reach Himachal Pradesh. Take an over-night VOLVO for any of the destination in Himachal and you will reach early morning, which will give you enough time during the day. Travelling via VOLVO is one of the most efficient way. Direct VOLVO buses are available for Shimla, Manali, Dharmshala, Baijnath, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, Una, Mandi, Kullu, Sundernagar etc. There is no VOLVO bus for Dalhousie or Chamba, but 2*2 buses are there for Dlahousie region. Most of these VOLVO buses start from Himachal Bhavan, Mandi House, Delhi and ISBT is also a pick-up point. Seats can be booked in these VOLVO buses through HRTC website - http://www.hrtc.gov.in/hrtctickets/
There is an advice to do your VOLVO booking in advance (probably 2-3 weeks before your travel date.). VOLVO buses are very comfortable. These buses stop at nice place for dinner and then take another break at Chandigarh.
Time taken by VOLVO buses to different places in Himachal -
Shimla : ~8 Hrs
Dharmshala : ~ 10.5 hrs
Manali : ~ 14 hrs
Kullu : ~13 hrs
Mandi : ~ 11.3 hrs
Bilaspur : ~ 9-10 hrs
Solan : ~ 7 hrs
Hamirpur : ~10 hrs
Baijnath : ~ 12 hrs
Palampur : ~ 11 hrs
Sirmaur
Paunta Saheb
Renuka Lake
If you don't find place in HRTC VOLVO buses, there is another option. You can check Himachal Tourism VOLVO buses. These buses can be booked through http://www.hptdc.nic.in/bus.htm and they also start from Himachal Bhawan in Mandi House, Delhi. Please note that Himachal Tourism buses don't go inside ISBT Kashmiri Gate.
If you don't find place in VOLVO buses, then you can opt for TATA-AC buses. This can happen if you are planning the trip in very short time. TATA-AC buses also have adjustable & comfortable seats but these are comparatively old buses. These buses would not be as silent as VOLVO coaches. TATA-AC buses can also be booked through following website - http://www.hrtc.gov.in/hrtctickets/
![In October I was in Shimla and was coming back to Delhi in Night Bus. I reached new bus stand at 8:00 pm while bus had to start at 9:20 pm. New Bus Stand in Shimla is fabulous and I thought of doing some mobilegiri there... Above photograph was taken during day time while I was at Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, but shot is taken by HTC Desire Camera :) Before I start sharing photographs of Shimla Bus Stand, let me share something about HRTC services, which have improved a lot in my opinion. Now HRTC have Volvos, TATA-AC and Deluxe buses running between main stations in Himachal. Most of these buses are very comfortable. I don't think, I need to tell anything about Volvos, but at the same time TATA-AC are decent buses with confortable seating and AC. Main different is brand and the other can felt while in hills. So if you go to Shimla from Delhi, it would be hard to feel the difference between Volvo and Tata-AC, as road is wonderful. Deluxe buses have comfortable seating but no AC. Apart from that most of the TATA-AC and Volvos have got LCDs for running movies or other videos...Shimla Bus-stand has different parking areas located at different levels of this building. This particular area seems for Haryana buses and with time, all types of buses can be seen on a particular stand. So all of these buses would move to respective counter as they have to start for their next destinations.Here is the area with most of the hustle-bussle, as all passengers are looking for their buses and boarding accordingly.There is more than enough space inside the Bus-Stand to sit and wait. All the levels of this bus stand are clean as of now and well maintained. Hope Himachal Pradesh government and employees keep this going in same fashion.There are clean and appropriate options for eatable & drinks...All current and advanced booking counters are located on ground floor. Temporary counters are also available near the place where buses are parked to pick passengers.If someone is sitting inside the bus-stand and waiting for the bus, s/he need not to go outside to see if bus has come or not. Whole area is covered with transparent glass.Apart from that, LED displays are also installed at most of the places. These LED displays show the buses currently on counter with respective information like Departure time, Counter Number, Bus Number etc.Most of the levels are connected through stairs as well as lifts. I didn't come across any escalator, which was a bit surprising thing.Here is a photograph of frontal portion of new bus stand of Shimla, which is located near Tootikandi...This is a huge area and Shimla's new bus stand is considered as one of the best bus-stands in North India. In fact Delhi's Bus Stand is under renovation, so let's see how it turn out.From entry of this Bus stand, it looks like some shopping Mall or a very luxurious office space. It was hard to digest the fact that it's Bus Stand of Capital City of Himachal Pradesh :)Bokeh of colorful lights on surrounding hills...HRTC Buses can be booked online now at www.hrtc.gov.in/ . It's really very helpful for folks to see availability online and book their tickets without waiting in long queues.This was old Bus-stand of shimla, which has been converted into local bus-stand now. There are regular shuttles between local Bus Stand and ISBT Shimla.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9q5xyyWjoDn1UDmRb-zlfXsoNmepLFr8iuiGufPNZJvbJy04O1Y16mwxti-wiIaIHjs0LkkvS4Hb_sBGxT0EicKVPelm-dvJPLmO7mjk4imQ-Lhmerytbe8qndXL3yPww6uT1w8sdg0O/s640/Mobilegiri+at+Shimla+Bus+Stand+near+Tootikandi%252C+Himachal+Pradesh%252C+INDIA+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg)
Via Train -
There are very few places in Himachal which are accessible through Train. Following are the few of the railway stations in Himachal Pradesh.
Pathankot Railway Station - Nearest Railway station for Dlahousie, Chamba, Dharmshala, Mcledoganj and Palampur.
Una Railway Station - Nearest Railway station for Hamirpur. This can also be an option for folks visiting Mcleodganj or Palampur.
Kiratpur Railway Station - Nearest Railway station for Kullu, Manali, Mandi, Bilaspur & Sundernagar.
Chandigarh Railway Station - For Shimla, Kasauli, Solan & Kinnaur
Apart from these main Railway stations, Himachal Pradesh also has two narrow gauge railway tracks wherein one can continue the journey in Toy Trains. Of-course, these journey would take more time to reach your destinations.
Shimla - Toy trains for Shimla start from Kalka Railway station and it takes 7 hours to reach Shimla from Kalka. These Toy trains cross through Solan town as well.
Jogindernagar - Toy trains for Jogindernagar start from Pathankot and crosses through Kangra, Palampur, Baijnath towns.
Near-by Railway Stations around different tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh -
Shimla : Chandigarh and Shimla(Toy Train)
Dharmshala : Pathankot and Una
Manali : Kiratpur
Kullu : Kiratpur
Mandi : Kiratpur
Bilaspur : Kiratpur
Solan : Chandigarh & Solan(Toy Train)
Hamirpur : Una
Baijnath : Pathankot and Una
Palampur : Pathankot and Una
By Air -
There are three airports in Himachal Pradesh - Shimla, Kullu (Bhuntar) and Kangra. Schedule of various flights to Himachal from Delhi are listed on following link - http://www.hptdc.nic.in/access2.htm. Mainly Kingfisher and Air India operates in Himachal Pradesh.
Own Cars/Taxis/Tempo-Traveller -
If you are visiting Himachal in a group, you can plan to have your own Taxi or Tempo traveler, depending upon the number of folks in the group. Roads in Himachal are pretty good and this is a recommended mode because you get freedom to roam around the main tourist destinations and also have freedom to stop wherever you want.
Apart from above details, I would like to mention transportation modes for Kinnaur, Kaza, Lahual & Spiti and Leh.
One needs to go to Kinnaur/Kaza region via Shimla. So transaportation modes for Shimla are shared above. One can halt in Shimla for a day and move further in Deluxe buses or can hire taxi from Shimla. If you are in a group, I won't recommend to hire the taxi from Delhi, It's recommended to have local driver with you. Roads beyond the boundaries of Shimla district are tricky and local driver would be a good companion for the journey ahead. Same rule applies for Lahaul and Spiti.
If you plan to go to Leh via Manali. Head to Manali through one of the modes mentioned above then you have few options. Hire Bikes from Manali, if you want. Or you can also take Himachal Tourism bus to Leh. There is a halt and Tourism department takes care of stay on the way. It's quite economical as well. But best is to have your own vehicle because landscapes on the way are very beautiful and you may want to have freedom of stopping whereever you want.
Please feel free to comments back in case you have some specific queries on this.
Cheers !
Comments
Further to the above mentioned information in this Blog. This Toy Train is not From Chandigarh Station, its from Kalka Station. Please correct this in your Blog.
Thanks and Regards,
Sumit Malhan
With reference to you above mentioned Lines in this blog. I want a Correction, this toy Train starts from Kalka Station instead of Chandigarh. if i am wrong, please let me know.
Regards,
Sumit Malhan
Thanks Again !
Pretty informative. I will be travelling to kasol soon and will be alighting at Delhi aairport earlier in the day. So can u please suggest the best mode of transport to kasol preferably ac mode. Also if 10 days is too much to spend in kasol if I hardly undertake any trek And any other places that I can visit without rushing here and there.
Thanks
Thanks
My whole family is planning a himachal tour, Can u pls suggest me the best way and what are the main places to visit. Our duration time is 8 days
We are planning to go Shimla, Manali, Sangla, Kalpa.
Your reply will helps me a lot in this journey
vivek here..I am planning a solo visit in 2016 to Places in HP.
My first stop is Manali.
I will be departing from delhi.
Preferring non AC local buses..cheap & economical ones.
As you mentioned above i can get them from ISBT.
Can you tell me if i go directly & buy ticket on same day when i am leaving, will i get it or one i have to buy the tickets 2-3 days before my journey ?
i mean like we do when plying in DTC buses of delhi..same time buy..same time leave type...
& also pls tell me what is the cost of ticket in local NON AC buses..if u have info
Thanks VJ :)
Your blogs and information providing is pretty good.
I have already booked tickets to kasol for 2 nd week of July.
I would like to know abt the return from kasol to delhi. We have to get to bhuntar to catch bus?
Buses from Kullu , Manali will be stopping in bhuntar or we hav to do prior booking.??
Is there any buses during morning or afternoon?
I am planning to visit kasol this month I wanted to know the expense information.
I just have info about Delhi to bhuntar wanted to know about bhuntar to kasol, tosh, kheerganga, malana and manikaran.
Can somebody help me I am traveling alone...
Hope someone who visited recently comments here to help you.