Shimla Travel - Nearest Airport, Station and driving distances

Location

Shimla is located in the middle western ranges of the Himalays. The Shimla city spreads over the hill at an average altitude of 2000 metres above the mean sea level. Shimla is well connected with New Delhi, the capital city and other states such as, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, etc. by rail, road and air’s

How to reach

Road

Shimla is connected by road to Chandigarh (119 km), Dehradun (344 km), Amritsar (322 km), Delhi (343 km), Pathankot (351 km), and Ambala (151 km), Kullu 220 km, Manali 280 km, Mandi 150 km, Chail 45 km, Dehradun 240 km, Dharamshala 235 km, Dakhousie 336 km. Himachal Pradesh Tourism as well as private operators run luxury buses from these cities to Shimla.

Conceptual planning for the ISBT has envisaged a five level building with lower level for the arrival and departure of interstate/ long route buses towards Pathankot side and upper level for the arrival and departure of interstate/long route buses towards Bharmour side. Separate bus stand, within the site, has been allocated for local buses.Shimla is well connected by road to most towns within the state and to all major towns in Punjab and Haryana. It is linked by bus and coach to Delhi and Chandigarh as well.

Rail

Shimla has a daily train to Kalka (100 km away). A narrow gauge line, the train offers great views but it is slow (takes about 6 hours), can't carry too many passengers and is always crowded. A better option would be to take a train till Kalka and then hit the road. Kalka has train connections to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Amritsar, among others.

Barog's railway station, on the Kalka-Shimla, is one of the most picturesque stations, modelled in the Scottish-style. This building has existed since 1903, when the line was opened and was built on a curvature. The belly of the Choordhar Mountain holds the longest railway tunnel on the Kalka-Shimla route-exactly 1,143m long. KALKA-SHIMLA railway is often termed as a scientific fiction. Only train plying between Shimla and Kalka joins them through railways network.

Shimla is connected by a narrow gauge line with Kalka (% kms) which in turn is connected with the major cities in India. The Toy train journey from Kolka to Shimla is entrancing with 107 tunnels and lofty arched bridges.

Air

Just 23 km away from Shimla, the Jubbarhatti airfield has regular flights from Delhi, Chandigarh and Kullu. However, air connectivity from December to February is subject to weather conditions. In that case, you could fly till Chandigarh, 120 km away, and then drive down.

Travel Direction

The Jubbarhatti airport is 23 km from Simla and this is where major domestic airlines connect Simla to Delhi. Simla's toy train runs upto Kalka, passing picturesque valleys and beautiful landscapes. From Kalka, one can take trains to other parts of the country. Simla is also connected by road to other places in the state as well as to major towns and cities in the country. There are regular bus services from Delhi and Chandigarh.

Arrival and departure

Train from Delhi (15 ½ hrs) or Chandigarh (7 hrs) with a change at Kalka to narrow gauge line. The rail motor service is more expensive (unless you have an Indrail Pass) than first class on a regular train, but worth it for the all- round visibility. Tourist and regular buses from Delhi, Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, etc.

Distances

16 km from Kufri

60 km from Narkanda

12 km from Mashobra

65 km from Chail

75 km from Kasauli

65 km from Tattapani

90 km from Jubbal

40 km from Nalagarh

120 km from Chandigarh

343 km from Delhi