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If you’re wondering how to reach Shimla by road, then do note that this is the most popular way to reach Shimla. Since Shimla is one of the favourite tourist destinations in India, there are regular buses to the city from places like Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Haryana, and Punjab. People also hire cabs to take them to Shimla by road from Chandigarh or Delhi. Shimla is well-connected to most cities in North India through bus services like Himachal Road Transport Corporation and other private operators as well. While Chandigarh is not too far away, if you do plan to travel to Shimla from Delhi by road, it’s a good idea to take the overnight airconditioned luxury bus so that you can leave at night and by the time morning rolls around, you’re already in Shimla. There are buses which go to Shimla in the morning or late at night. Timings change from season to season and it’s a good idea to make reservations online before booking your tickets.
Travelling to Shimla by train is a lovely experience. For those who want to know how to reach Shimla by train, there is a small railway station in Shimla which is just a kilometre away from the centre of the city. But only narrow-gauge trains from Kalka arrive here. The famed toy train from Kalka to Shimla takes 7 hours to reach Shimla passing by some beautiful views of mountains and valleys and going through several tunnels which certainly makes up for the extra time that the route takes. The toy train ride is an experience in itself and one that should not be missed if you have time. Kalka Railway Station however is a broad-gauge railway station and is connected to Chandigarh and Delhi through regular trains. If you plan to come to Kalka first, then the Kalka Shatabdi is a good choice from New Delhi which goes via Chandigarh. Whichever you choose, travelling to Shimla by train requires you to come to Kalka first.
Since Shimla is connected to most cities through the highways, driving your own car is a good option too. You can drive to Shimla from Delhi through the Ambala route which is the shortest and takes around 7 to 8 hours through NH 44, 152 and 5. The other routes are longer, with the Yamunanagar route taking around 10 to 11 hours and the Dehradun route which is the longest, taking around 12 to 13 hours. However, both these routes are quite scenic and offer plenty of sights to see along the way.
Now that you have figured out how to reach Shimla, you need to know how to travel around in the city as well. There are local bus services which are available from 7 am to 9 pm and they usually run along the Ring Road. There’s also a special bus reserved only for women. If you want to check out the local sightseeing scene, then Himachal Pradesh Tourism runs special buses that take you to all the tourist spots that you would have read about. You can also hire a private taxi which is easily available. These charge around Rs. 800 to Rs. 1500 per day for local sightseeing and can actually turn out to be economical if you’re travelling with your family. Do note however, that reaching places like the Mall Road, and the Ridge has to be done on foot as there are no vehicles allowed there. If you have decided on how to reach Shimla, then it’s time to look at the SOTC website and make your booking as there are some excellent offers and deals on Shimla tour packages and Himachal tour packages .
For those wondering how to reach Shimla by air, the city’s airport – Jubbarhatti Airport is around 20 kilometres away from the city. It’s probably one of the few hill stations to have its own airport and the airstrip is also very small. Flight landings can be quite bumpy here and the airport is not functional throughout the year. Once you land, you can take a cab to reach Shimla which is not too far behind. However, most people instead of wondering how to reach Shimla by flight, choose to fly to Chandigarh or Delhi as the connecting airport and then take a cab to reach Shimla. Most often, people fly to these airports, especially Chandigarh, and from there, they either take a cab or a bus to come to Shimla. It usually takes around 3 to 4 hours to travel from Chandigarh to Shimla. From Delhi however, it takes another 7 to 8 hours by road.
