How To Reach Shimla

The popular honeymoon destination of Shimla is synonymous with spectacular landscapes and beautiful moments to be enjoyed in the company of your loved one. The capital city of Himachal Pradesh and one of the more beautiful hill stations of India, Shimla is located at an altitude of 2202 metres above sea level. The ‘Queen of the Hills’ is connected to other parts of India by air, rail and roads. Read on for some vital travel tips to reach Shimla. 

Shimla’s airport, Jubbarhatti is located 23 kms from the main city. Dornier flights connect Shimla to Chandigarh and New Delhi; however, currently the sector is not being serviced. The closest international airport is the IGI Airport, New Delhi which is practically connected to the entire world by regular flights. You can opt to charter a helicopter to Shimla from Delhi. Contact Shimla Helipad, Air Charters India, Jettech Aviation, Helimanali, etc. for the same.

Tourists can take pre-paid cabs to the main city from the airport. Do keep in mind that flights and choppers to Jubbarhatti tend to get delayed or cancelled often due to bad weather. Please check your flight schedule till the last moment. 

The small Shimla Railway station is located a kilometre away from the city centre. The closest station is Kalka which is connected by a metre gauge line. Major cities of India including but not limited to New Delhi and Chandigarh have regular trains connecting to the Kalka Railhead by Broad Gauge lines. You should not miss the 6 hour toy train journey from Kalka to Shimla which is interspersed with 107 tunnels and numerous arched bridges. Luxury trains that ply to Kalka are the Shivalik Deluxe Express and the Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach.

A road journey to Shimla is a visual delight with its picturesque hills and lush greens. Do keep your cameras charged for this one. This popular tourist destination has a very good road network connecting it to nearby cities of New Delhi (350kms), Chandigarh (115 kms), Dehradun (230kms), etc. through well maintained national highways. NH1 and NH22 connect this city to the Indian capital. State buses by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation and other private operators run luxury as well as standard buses to Shimla on a daily basis. Due to the hilly terrain, we suggest keeping medicines for motion sickness in your kit as a precaution. A road journey from New Delhi should take approximately 8 hours and leave you with a camera full of cherished memories.

With most attractions within the city being limited to the Ring Road area, much of the sightseeing can be done on foot. For places nearby the city, we suggest booking a pre-paid taxi or renting a car. Do remember to fix a rate before getting into a taxi or an auto as often the fare metres are not in working condition. Oh, also, don't forget to try the ropeway. 

While in Shimla, a walk down the busy Mall Road is a must. Make a visit to the Bhimakali Temple, Jakhu Temple. For the adventurous, there is Heli-Skiing and the Hip Hip Hurray Amusement Park and the Kufri Fun Park with exciting rides. The Chadwick Falls is an unforgettable experience, especially in the monsoons. If you visit in the winters, you could also go Ice Skating. A trek to the nearby hill tops or a tee off at the Naldehra Golf Course is also an option.