How to Reach Shimla
Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh, lies at an altitude of 2202 meters above sea level. The mountain roads and railway tracks connecting Shimla are well constructed. The high altitude ride is not only thrilling, it also offers picturesque views of the Shivalik Mountains of the Himalayan range. Shimla is also easily accessible by air. Indianholiday.com gives you the details on how to reach Shimla.
Reach Shimla by Rail
The best way to travel to Shimla is by train. The trains run on the track connecting Shimla to Kalka. This 96 kilometer long railway track offers a magical train ride through 102 tunnels, 87 bridges, sharp curves, gradients and spectacular views of the Himalayas. For the construction of this track engineers and construction workers took great risks. No wonder this narrow gauge track was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It takes around 5 hours to reach Shimla from Kalka by train. You can reach Kalka from all major cities of India. Trains start plying from 4 am onwards from Kalka station and offer chair car seating. Breakfast is provided by some trains, though it is advisable to order your breakfast when you buy your ticket. You can buy tickets by booking online. Some of the trains are Shivalik Deluxe Express, Shivalik Express (also called the toy train), Rail Motor, Himalayan Queen and Holiday Trains. Holiday trains run only during tourist seasons.
Reach Shimla by Road
The undulating mountain roads to Shimla also provide an enchanting experience as the train journey does. All major cities of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana and Punjab are connected to Shimla by road. Some distances are given below:
- The city nearest to Shimla is Kalka (80 km away)
- Chandigarh connects to Shimla through the NH-22 (119 km away)
- The national capital of Delhi is 370 km away
Several state and private run buses can be boarded from bus stations of the various cities and towns around Shimla. They charge according to the distance and comfort offered. The most comfortable buses are Volvos. They are air-conditioned and provide television screens with a CD/DVD player for entertainment. You can also select lower priced deluxe buses, other air conditioned buses, JNNURM buses and ordinary buses.
Reach Shimla by Air
Jubbarhatti is the airport at Shimla. Situated at a distance of 23 kilometers from the city, there are daily flights from Delhi and Kullu. If you wish to fly from any other part of the country or abroad you will have to change flights at Delhi.
