How To Reach Kullu

Placed in between the Lower and the Greater Himalayan ranges, the Kullu valley is famous for its majestic hills, the ever so beautiful pine and deodar forests and the river that crafted the valley itself, the Beas. The valley of Kullu is accessible almost throughout the year via one or the other form of transport. Within Kullu there are bus and taxi services that travellers can avail to get around town. And for those who want to wander off into the mountains, there are a number of bike rentals they can chose from. 

The closest airport to Kullu is located around 11 kilometres from the valley in Bhuntar, usually referred to as the Kullu-Manali airport. There are flights from across the sub-continent connected via Delhi and Chandigarh available almost every day of the week. There might be some changes in flight schedules and timings depending on weather conditions, otherwise the schedule and timings remain unchanged. Having arrived at the Kullu-Manali airport, travellers can take taxis to Kullu or also use the bus service. The taxi fares depend on the size of the vehicle but are usually around 2000 to 3000 INR. The journey from the airport to the valley is usually around 30 minutes.

Kullu does not have a railway line yet and the closest you can get to Kullu by rail is the Joginder Nagar Railway Station, which is approximately 100 kilometres away. The Joginder Nagar rail head is connected to Pathankot by a narrow gauge line known as the Kangra Valley Railway. There are passenger trains that run every day between Joginder Nagar and Pathankot but the journey can be tedious since it takes about 7 hours to cover a distance of about 150 kilometres. The other railway stations close to Kullu are Pathankot, Shimla and Chandigarh. Taxis and bus services are available from each of the above railway stations.

Travelling to Kullu via road can be a rewarding experience in itself. Although sometimes a little challenging, the road to Kullu is lovely. The roads are open almost throughout the year, but it would be advisable to check weather reports before setting out.

There are taxi services to Kullu from almost all major cities in Northern India. There are ample private services that operate on this route. The rates depend on the point of origin. From Delhi, an economy car would cost around 9000 to 11000 INR and a larger car would be around 13000 to 15000 INR depending on operators.

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation provides bus services to a range of major cities in northern India almost every day of the week. There are buses from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun and so on. The corporation provides both air conditioned and non-air conditioned vehicle services. The prices are very reasonable too. Rates can vary from 600 to 2000 INR depending on the point of origin and the kind of service one chooses. Taking a bus is the most convenient way of travelling to Kullu.