How to reach Himachal Hill Stations like Shimla, Dalhousie, Manali, Spiti, KInnaur, Mcledoganj & Palampur etc.

Small and Beautiful Railway Stations on Kalka-Shimla narrow track: Posted on www.travellingcamera.com by VJ: The Kalka-Shimla Railway built to connect the summer capital of India in 1903 at an altitude of 2076 meters offers a panoramic experience of the picturesque Himalayas from the shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several important points such as Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra, Summerhill, Shimla and beyond up to the silvery snow line near the towering peaks.Sonwara Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Himalyan Queen waits for 30 minutes at this station to let Shivalik Express pass through.... KOTI Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...I have clicked these photographs during recent visit to Shimla.... We reach KOTI Railway Station after crossing longest Barog tunnel....Jabali Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Located at an altitude of 4680 ft above sea level Kandaghat is the nice place in Himachal Pradesh for you if are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his palace in Kandaghat after which this place received the attention. Raja Bhupinder Singh was the ruler of Patiala and when he was expelled from Shimla, he set up base in Kandaghat. Today, this is one of the most popular destinations to travel in India. A reflection of Kandaghat Railway Station on train window...Dharmpur Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Just 15 km from Kasauli on the National highway No.22 Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka Shimla railway line.... Shoghi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...SHoghi is a small town near Shimla and now its being developed as new tourist destination in Himachal. There are many resorts with good facilities in Shoghi and have reasonable arrangements for tourist groups..Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Delux Rail-Car standing @ Shoghi Station...Tara-Devi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat, in the western side of Shimla. Temple provides an overwhelming view of the mountains below and Shimla Town. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Tara Devi temple, which has a great spiritual and heritage value. Historically speaking, the temple was built approximately 260 years ago ...Salogra Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Kalka Railway Station...Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana in India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based. SHIMLA became the summer capital of British India in 1864 and was also the headquarters of the British army in India. Prior to construction of the railway communication with the outside world was via village cart.The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Umbala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898. The estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500, however, the cost doubled during execution of the project. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines. However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,00,000.

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. 

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.
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.If you miss out on all above options, you will have few other options which are huge in number and hence high probability of getting booking. Deluxe (Non-AC), Semi-Deluxe and Ordinary buses by HRTC (Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation)

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 -

Last week 3rd Mughal Motorsports Rally happened in Jammu and Kashmir. This Photo Journey shares some moments with these flying machines at various places on Mughal Road. Let's check out this Photo Journey and know more about Mughal Rally and how it went..This Motorsports rally is organized by Himalayan Motorsports with 'J&K Bank' and 'J&K Tourism department'. Usually it's a three days event, which started on 29th with vehicle scrutiny. Whole day is dedicated to certify all vehicles as per rally guidelines. Every vehicle is checked on technical ground and ensured that driver & navigator are well equipped to drive during next two days. For more idea around the same, check out - http://www.xplorearth.com/program.htmThere were two competitions in Mughal Rally. One is called 'EXTREME' which is about speed. Each vehicle is released from start point afterregular intervals and they have to cover a particular terrain to reach final destination. Of course, vehicle with min time wins this but there are some penalty clauses as well. So calculation of winners is not that simple. First winner gets 2 Lac rupees and there are 5 prizes worth 2Lac, 1.25L, 1L, 50K, 25K. Entry Fees for each vehicle is 20K.Other competition is called 'ENDURO', which is more about disciplined and controlled driving. Other name is TSD (Time, Speed & Distance), which means that each vehicle has to move with constant speed, to cover a distance in specific time period. Vehicle with minimum delta wins this competition.After scrutiny on 29th June, first day of rally had to start at 2:30am on 30th. First day was on Mughal Road which connects Shri Nagar to Jammu through Peer-Ki-Gali. It was a wonderful stretch and J&K Tourism is working on this region to developfor tourism. This whole stretch has wonderful landscapes surrounded by snow covered hills and of-course waterfalls which are created out of melting snow on peaks.Local administration had wonderful arrangements for the rally. Most of the these roads were frozen for civil traffic, as it could have been dangerous. There are more than enough security on each turn of the Mughal Road. Ambulances, support vehicles and all other relevant resources were deployed upfront. All these rallies need lot of planning from organizer's point of view as well as local administration.First day completed with few minor break-downs due to which some of the participants were disqualified for day-2. One of the gypsy toppled and two girls started again within few minutes. It's amazing to see the passion & energy of these folks. Also this sport needs disciplined planning and straegic approach to reach the destination with full safety measures and keep yourself in competition. Every Vehicle has a driver and a navigator. Navigator is very important role of this game, which has critical responsibility with him. S/he keeps record of whole route and all minute details. So S/he keeps guiding the driver about the next movements.After tiring day on 30th June, it was time to relax for some time as next day had to start at 3:30 am again. So on first day, we started from Shrinagar and came back to Shrinagar after long drive through Peer-ki-gali. Second day was on other side of the Mughal Road. So we started at around 3:30am from Hotel Centaur (Shrinagar) and reached Sinthan Top between Kishtwar & Daksum. Sinthan Pass is a wonderful place capped with snow all around. Chilly wind was flowing around Sinthan HillsSecond day stretch had all dirt roads with melting snow flowing all over. All the roads were extremely narrow and plenty of turns. From the top of Sinthan Pass, we could see a stretch of 20 kilometers which was full of curved roads into the valley. On first day EXTREME folks had come back to Shrinagar, while ENDURA folks had gone to Jammu. On second day ENDURA folks had to come back through Sinthan Pass only. So, for EXTREME folks it was to & fro stage and for ENDURA, it was one side stage from Jammu to ShrinagarDifferent kinds of vehicles were participating in Mughal Rally, many of them were gypsys and others were TATA vehicles like XENON, SAFARI... Mahindra XUV500 was also there... Maruti's Grand Vitara... Detailed information about eligibility criteria for participating in Mughal Rally, check out - http://www.xplorearth.com/program.htFirst day of the rally was towards Rajouri district of Jammu&Kashmir and second day was towards Anantnag district.Third day is kept for prize distribution and podium finish ceremonies. But this year, these ceremonies were cancelled due to death of a rally participant on second day. One of the ENDURA vehicle went out of the way and got down to a deep valley. Driver died on the spot and navigator went to coma for some time. So third day ceremonies were cancelled.Some high end motorbikes also participate in Mughal Rally. After the event, one another scrutiny takes place to ensure that all vehicles were in right state and none of them was using any avoidable material.
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 ! 

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Perched atop Observatory Hill and surrounded by dense deodar forests, the Indian Institute of Advanced Study is one of the most fascinating landmarks in the Himalayas. At first glance, it feels like a European castle lost in the hills—but step closer, and it unfolds as a layered narrative of empire, transition, and intellectual pursuit.

Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla: Where Power, Philosophy, and Pines Converge


It's impossible that I don't visit Viceregal Lodge, while in Shimla. I visited Shimla in Oct, 2011 and had a very quick visit to Indian Institute of Advanced Studies as well. Let's check out a quick PHOTO JOURNEY to Viceregal Lodge, Shimla !!!There is a huge lawn in front of this building and initially people were allowed to relax here, but due to some reasons now tourists are not allowed to walk over this lawn. There are dedicated paths around this lawn to enjoy the beauty of this place.Viceregal Lodge in Shimla was designed by Henry Irwin who was an architect in the Public Works Department at that timeViceregal Lodge or IIAS, Shimla is situated on a hill top near Summerhill (Shimla-05). Like other forts in India, this is place was chosen because of security reasons as most of the surrounding places were visible from boundaries of this building. There are some wonderful views of surrounding hills from this building. Now mainly Tutoo region is clearly visible and others are hidden by dense forest !!Thereare two wonderful gardens around Viceregal Lodge. One is near this lawn and other is in the backyard. The one in backward is famous one among couples of Himachal Pradesh University :) ... But now, it's not that popular as other options are available..The Viceregal Lodge had electricity as far back as 1888 which is much before the rest of the town of ShimlaThere is no ticket for getting access to Viceregal campus but one needs to buy a ticket to see it inside. various areas of Viceregal Lodge are well preserved. The room where Gandhi met other officials on Pakistan matter is well preserved along with various things used that time. A Bell made of eight metals which was presented by the king of Nepal was available to be admired by tourists.Here is top view of Viceregal Lodge in Shimla. Some text is carved on top of it, which probably explain about it's construction year and relevant details. You can notice Indian Flag on top of Viceregal Lodge !!This is first view if we reach Indian Institute of Advanced Studiesthrough a steep climb from Boileuganj. This is place is main market near Himachal Pradesh University... This is the main place to get buses for different parts of shimla. Tutoo is on one side, Chakkar is on other and Shimla Bus stand of forth angle.Viceregal Lodge which is also known as Indian Institute of Advanced Studies now, was equipped with an sophisticated fire fighting mechanism through wax tipped water ducts. Many historic decisions have been taken in Viceregal Lodge during the Indian independence movement.The Simla Conference was held here in 1945.And the decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also taken here in 1947.After India gained independence, the building was renamed Rashtrapati Niwas and was used as a summer retreat for the President of India.However, due to its neglect, Dr. S Radhakrishnan decided to turn it into a center of higher learning, which was quite a good decision. The summer retreat of President was shifted from here to a building known as


Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India and that's why we also receive lot of queries through form on our blog. Most of the folks commonly ask - Shimla Weather, Shimla Hotels, How to reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh, main places to visit in Shimla, Shimla mall road etc. In past, we have shared some of these details on our blog, but here is an attempt to write a comprehensive post which helps you with details about various ways to reach Shimla from Delhi, Chandigarh or Kalka.


Planning a trip to Shimla? This detailed travel guide covers everything you need—where to stay, top things to do, a practical 3-day itinerary, and complete cost breakdown—to help you plan a perfect mountain getaway. Whether you’re visiting for snowfall, colonial charm, or a quick escape from Delhi, this guide is designed to help you make smart travel decisions and avoid common mistakes.


Planning a trip to Shimla? This detailed travel guide covers everything you need—where to stay, top things to do, a practical 3-day itinerary, and complete cost breakdown—to help you plan a perfect mountain getaway. Whether you’re visiting for snowfall, colonial charm, or a quick escape from Delhi, this guide is designed to help you make smart travel decisions and avoid common mistakes.








Saturday Evenings and Mall Road in Shimla have a very strong connection. During my sabbatical, I was there in Shimla on Saturday and planned to have a round of Mall Road as well. This Photo Journey shares some moments spent around Mall Road on Saturday Evening and the associated memories.During my graduation from Himachal Pradesh University, we used to stay at Shangati, which is around 6 kilometers from Mall Road, Shimla. And every saturday we used to walk from Shangti or summerhill to Mall Road via Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Chaura Maidaan & Vidhan Sabha.It was part of our default routine to visit Mall Road to take 4-6 rounds of Mall Road & Ridge and have quick-snacks at Chachu's Tea shop on other end of the Mall Road. Friends who had girl-friends, they used to roam around other places like Top Breads, Barista or other fancy places to eat :).Why Saturday is so special. Basically most of the folks of shimla used to come to Mall Road during evening. All School & College Kids, Office working people etc. Don't know why but it has become a strong trend in Shimla to visit Mall Road on Saturday Evening. During the recent visit, we explored some of the new cafes and really loved the Wake & Bake Cafe, which is just in front of Shimla Town-Hall on Mall Road. Above photograph shows one of the art-work on walls of Wake & Bake Cafe.We met a gentleman who shared different stories about Shimla and some interesting observations on Mall Road which can't be shared on this blog. Aneesh encouraged him to have some detailed discussion about army and Indian politics. After all those conversations he also tried to tell Aneesh about his future and related stuff. It seems, this gentleman is found on Mall road every evening.Here is a photograph showingone portion of Gaiety Theatre building which is being used by Himachal police department. It's a beautiful building in front of Town-Hall Shimla.A beautiful night view of Mall Road Shimla - Town-Hall building on right. Most of the shooting on Kareeb movie has happened in this region. Town-Hall which is on right was shown as hospital and there is Fire-Station on left which was shown as laundry where Bobby Deol used to stay. Anyways, many other movies are shot around these beautiful buildings on Mall Road of Shimla. Most of the shops/buildings on Mall Road have old architecture and the ones which are new have been designed to match with overall feel on the town. Most of the old buildings are from British era. The beautiful architecture if the one of the reasons which make this city beautiful.Fruit vendor near Willow Bank building who welcomed us with plates full of fresh fruits - Cherries, Kiwi & Strawberries. Probably he chose best of the lot for us. Every piece was amazingly tasty. He is a big fan of Aneesh's bike stunts and an old friend when Aneesh used to live in Shimla.


Jakhu Temple is very popular Temple in Shimla and know for various reasons. People who have never visited Shimla, know Jakhu for hundreds of monkeys around it. Different Monkey stories are popular and Jakhu is one of the important keyword in those stories. Let's check out this Photo Journey by Amit Aggarwal to know more about Jakhu Temple and other specialties of the place..In 2010, a huge statue of Hanuman is built near Jakhu Temple in Shimla. This is considered as world's tallest statue at 108 feet at the highest altitude of over 8100 feet and constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crores, which surpasses the current tallest statue of 'Christ the Redeemer', which measures at 98 feet and stands at an altitude of 2296 feet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Over the years Jakhu has become one of the important part of Shimla town and authorities have improved the conditions in past few years. Now this campus has enough space for families to have fun around the Temple. There are some special arrangements for kids.Basically this temple is located on a hill called Jakhu and that's why the temple is also known as Jkhu Temple.It's hardly 2 kilometers from the Ridge and is an uphill climb through the beautiful deodar trees. It's a trek of approximately 2 kilometers from Ridge ground near Mall Road. The Jakhu Temple of Simla is dedicated to the monkey God, Hanuman. The Jakhu temple is located at a height of 2455 meters and is situated on the highest peak in Shimla. The scenic view that surrounds this beautiful temple of India is absolutely breath taking and splendid.Here is a photograph of Jakhu Temple !Jakhu temple has an interesting legend behind it. It is said that a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. A priest diagnosed Lakshmana and said that he needed a particular Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas to cure Lakshmana. Hanuman was sent to get that herb from he lofty mountains. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured.After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for sometime. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's weight! The temple has been built around the place that is supposed to have the footprints of Hanuman. It is a highly revered religious place of Shimla and devotees throng in huge numbers to prayJakhu is a hotspot for monkeys who flock here in great numbers and generously accept eatables that are given to them by devotees and touristsJakhu is derived from Hindi word Yakhsa. Yakshas are the mythological character in Hindu mythology, who are a link between human and gods. The original dates of temple is not known, but it is believed to be existing from the times of Ramayana, a pre-historic event as per ancient Hindu texts. The Jakhu hill is the highest peak around Shimla, and is famous for its trekking options. The Jakhu hill offers excellent views of sunrise, sunset, mountains and town. The hill is full of narrow paths and roads which are an enjoyable walks.There are lot of other stories associated with this temple, which can be seen at different web portals online.Overall it's a lovely hill around Shimla with some amazing views. Don't afraid of Monkeys and try to avoid the opportunities for them to follow you - Try not to carry anything in your hands, just follow the path and don't pay attention to the etc. Even someone comes to you and tries to check your pockets, let the things happen and you will be safe !


While coming back from Kinnaur, I spent two days in Shimla. While roaming on the Mall Road, we happen to visit a Cafe called 'Wake & Bake' and really loved being there during evening. This Photo Journey shares some of the moments I spent at Wake & Bake, Shimla. So here is the first view you get from the Cafe Windows. Wake & Bake Cafe is on 2nd floor of the building just in front of Shimla Town Hall on Mall Road, Shimla. It has decent place to sit on 2nd floor as well as open air terrace with a great view of the deep valley on other side.Here is the view we get from open air terrace of Wake & Bake Cafe. This view is something that you may get from other restaurants or cafes as well, but the one towards Mall road is special for me. Above view showsn two huge huge buildings - High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Holiday Home Hotel by HPTDC. Colorful view during evening was really amazing. Cafe has some vibrant colors with colorful lighting on Town Hall Building on the front & the blue sky in the background. Here is an amazing art-work on the walls of Wake & Bake Cafe. During daytime, this wall looks normal (but of-course, interesting artwork ) but in evenings all these colors pop-out to give a 3D view. It's really awesome and shiny colors make this art perfect. We also got to know the view of artist who created this wonderful piece of art on walls on Wake & Bake cafe on Mall Road, Shimla. Closer look at the wall. I loved this portion of the wall. This was looking awesome from distance. Because of good number of people at cafe, I couldn't click it from right place. Never mind, will try to get better shot next time :)I am sure that above photograph will give you a perspective about the place. This is clicked from main counter of the Cafe. As we enter into the cafe, this is first view we get. An open window facing Shimla Town Hall building and wonderful artwork on the right wall. I have nothing to share about eatable at Wake & Bake, as I don't remember what I had there. I was so busy in appreciating in beauty around that I didn't bother to focus on eatables or drinks there. But I am sure that it must be great as the place iAneesh keeping an eye on seating place around roof top of the Cafe..Here is the view of Shimla Town Hall on Mall Road.. This is shot from entry of the Wake & Bake Cafe.. There is a series of stairs that lead to the cafe on second floor.A view of street where Wake and Bake Cafe is located. The blue board on one of the building on left is exactly the place and yellow windows behind that belongs to Wake & Bake Cafe. On the right side is Shimla Town Hall on Mall Road in Shimla.Here is another view from windows of Wake & Bake Cafe. This Gaiety Theatre complex and this particular portion is used but Police. I love architecture of these buildings.If you are around Shimla and roaming around mall road, I highly recommend this place to spend some time. And if you happen to visit, please drop your comments with experiences. 
 

Sankat Mochan Temple is one of the popular Temples in Shimla Town. It's not exactly in Shimla, but quite near to it. Let's have a quick Photo Journey from Sankat Mochan Temple by Amit Agarwal.. Sankat Mochan Temple is actually located near to Tara-Devi which comes on the way to Kalka from Shimla Town. It's approximately 10 kilometers from Shimla Town. Place is surrounded by green mountains all around. Temple is adjacent to the National Highway - 22. The temple is a place where one can actually meditate and enjoy the calm and peaceful surroundings.The very first photograph above shows a temple on left, which is located just after main entry into the Sankat Mochan Temple. This temple is created in South Indian Style.Around 1950, a Baba came to this beautiful place and discovered the perfect spot for meditation and soulful introspection. After staying here for 10 days, he desired that a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman should be built here. Baba's faithful devotees included the governor of Himachal Pradesh, who along with Bhagvan Sahai took up the task of building the temple and fulfilling their Guru's wish.Sankat Mochan temple has many facilities for people and also includes a three-storey building that is used for many purposes. Every Sunday, the huge hall in the building is used for distributing Prasad, also known as Langar. Langar at Sankat Mochan is quite different and very well managed. One portion of the building is used to conduct marriage ceremonies and is rented out to people who want to conduct marriages. The temple charges a very nominal fee for this. Apart from marriages, there are many other sacred rituals and ceremonies that can be conducted over here. Priests and the maintenance staff, who work here day and night, use the rest of the building as a residential complex. The temple also has an Ayurvedic clinic...Here is a photograph showing interiors of main Sankat Mochan Temple.There are few small Temples in the campus which are dedicated to different godsSankat Mochan Temple is dedicated mainly to Lord Hanuman, though one finds idols of Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganesha in separate complexes. There is a specially made temple for Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj also. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha has been built in the South Indian style of architecture and is worth the visitSankat Mochan Temple is popular temple in Shimla region, which attracts people from all ages and genders who come here to pay obeisance to Lord Hanuman. Sankat Mochan Temple is second most famous temple after Jakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This temple located 5 km away from a beautiful hill station ShimlaOne can have easy transportation to Sankat Mochan Temple from Shimla Bus Stand and other places. From Shimla there are frequent buses till Taradevi and have a stoppage near Sankat Mochan Temple. If you there on Sunday, don't miss the Langar. Langar at Sankat Mochan is quite different and lovableAbove photograph shows the view of Shimla Town from Sankat Mochan Temple.


Small and Beautiful Railway Stations on Kalka-Shimla narrow track: Posted on www.travellingcamera.com by VJ: The Kalka-Shimla Railway built to connect the summer capital of India in 1903 at an altitude of 2076 meters offers a panoramic experience of the picturesque Himalayas from the shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several important points such as Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra, Summerhill, Shimla and beyond up to the silvery snow line near the towering peaks.Sonwara Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Himalyan Queen waits for 30 minutes at this station to let Shivalik Express pass through.... KOTI Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...I have clicked these photographs during recent visit to Shimla.... We reach KOTI Railway Station after crossing longest Barog tunnel....Jabali Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Located at an altitude of 4680 ft above sea level Kandaghat is the nice place in Himachal Pradesh for you if are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his palace in Kandaghat after which this place received the attention. Raja Bhupinder Singh was the ruler of Patiala and when he was expelled from Shimla, he set up base in Kandaghat. Today, this is one of the most popular destinations to travel in India. A reflection of Kandaghat Railway Station on train window...Dharmpur Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Just 15 km from Kasauli on the National highway No.22 Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka Shimla railway line.... Shoghi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...SHoghi is a small town near Shimla and now its being developed as new tourist destination in Himachal. There are many resorts with good facilities in Shoghi and have reasonable arrangements for tourist groups..Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Delux Rail-Car standing @ Shoghi Station...Tara-Devi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat, in the western side of Shimla. Temple provides an overwhelming view of the mountains below and Shimla Town. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Tara Devi temple, which has a great spiritual and heritage value. Historically speaking, the temple was built approximately 260 years ago ...Salogra Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Kalka Railway Station...Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana in India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based. SHIMLA became the summer capital of British India in 1864 and was also the headquarters of the British army in India. Prior to construction of the railway communication with the outside world was via village cart.The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Umbala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898. The estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500, however, the cost doubled during execution of the project. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines. However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,00,000.


Hidden among the snow covered hills of Shrikhand Mountian Ranges, which are known for their mythological significance and is said to be one of the adobe of Lord Shiva, this unknown village beckon those with an adventurous spirit as its beautiful landscape and lush green valley will take your breath away.






Recently Sourav sent us a message - ‘ Hi VJ, i am planing to visit Himachal Pradesh in this January with my friends. We are planing to visit in 4 places. Dalhousie, Dharmashala/Mcleodganj, Manali, Shimla. We have total 7 days in our bucket so can you please tell how we can split 7 days among this 4 places....Thanks in advance….’ and frankly it’s never recommended to plan for 4 places in 7 days and here we are talking about 3 corners of Himachal Pradesh. So I would recommend to skip one of the destination if you only have 7 days.



Comments

Sumit said…
Shimla - Toy trains for Shimla start from Chandigarh Railway station and it takes 7 hours to reach Shimla from Chandigarh. These Toy trains cross through Solan town as well.

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
June 23, 2014 at 7:44 PM
Sumit said…
Shimla - Toy trains for Shimla start from Chandigarh Railway station and it takes 7 hours to reach Shimla from Chandigarh. These Toy trains cross through Solan town as well.

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
June 23, 2014 at 7:46 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Thanks for pointing this Sumit. I have corrected it and can't believe that we made this mistake :(

Thanks Again !
June 23, 2014 at 10:03 PM
Unknown said…
Hi.. im planning to go more than a couple of places -kasol malana mcleodganj dalhousie.. Can you pls suggest me a good solid plan so that i dont end up taking detours again n again??
April 3, 2015 at 7:12 PM
Travellingcamera said…
unknown :) - I need to know the duration of your trip, so that I can suggest accordingly.
April 3, 2015 at 8:07 PM
Viraj said…
Hey!
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.
May 9, 2015 at 2:44 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Hey Viraj, HRTC Volvo buses are comfortable and you need to take Manali Volvo. And you already know how to do the booking :)
May 9, 2015 at 3:18 PM
Unknown said…
Hi . I am planning to visit kasol , shimla n manali . Please suggest a plan . My duration time is 5 days.

Thanks
December 22, 2015 at 11:05 PM
Unknown said…
Hi . I am planning to visit kasol , shimla n manali . Please suggest a plan . My duration time is 5 days.

Thanks
December 22, 2015 at 11:06 PM
Azeez Shaik said…
Hi Sharma,
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
April 28, 2016 at 1:17 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Hi Mr Azeez - Please go through various posts on Shimla, Manali, Sangla, Kalpa and various parts of Kinnaur. If you still have specific questions, please drop a comment with exact details you need.
April 28, 2016 at 1:34 PM
vjrock said…
Hi
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 :)
May 25, 2016 at 10:38 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Try to book in advance.
May 25, 2016 at 10:59 PM
nitzzz said…
Hey
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?
June 23, 2016 at 8:01 AM
Nand kishor said…
Hi,
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...
September 2, 2016 at 1:35 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Nitzzz - Sorry I missed your comment and couldn't respond on time.
September 2, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Travellingcamera said…
Nand - There is probability to find shared jeeps and buses, but you need to have time for waiting :) ... I am not very well aware of scenario these days and the commute frequency also varies from month to month (read season and off-season).

Hope someone who visited recently comments here to help you.
September 2, 2016 at 6:07 PM
nitzzz said…
Dear NAnd kishor.... You will get shared cabs, jeeps and buses are also der from bhuntar to kasol. You will get transport to tosh , malana and manikaran from kasol. Kheerganga is mainly trek.
September 3, 2016 at 10:03 PM
ratna said…
Are tata ac buses comfortable to travel to palampur from delhi?
June 9, 2017 at 5:30 PM
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