The northern most scenic hill state of Himachal is undoubtedly one of the most popular holiday destinations. From Manali to Spiti this place truly represents nature in all forms and makes you feel a lot closer to the natural surroundings you are blessed with. People from all over the world and also abroad stay here for months on end and some don’t even go back as they fall in love with the sheer beauty, untouched avenues, and the hospitality of the local people. This place especially caters to the travelers and people living in the outskirts or the neighborhood cities of the state especially during a long weekend or people who wish to explore the region on a bike or a car trip.
Here is a detailed account of how you can reach Himachal Pradesh in the most convenient and the best possible manner:
By Road
Himachal Pradesh can be best experienced through a fun-filled and exciting road trip. It is a great way of exploring the natural wilderness of the Himalayas especially for the people of nearby states like Punjab, New Delhi, etc. If you are planning on taking a road trip through Delhi then it will take you around 7-8 hours to reach the state with ease depending on the speed and breaks you take during the trip. Some roads leading up to this beautiful state are very well maintained and strong but one must be very careful if planning a trip especially during the monsoon season. Other than that you can plan a road trip to Himachal any time of the year and have a safe trip with your family and loved ones. No matter where you plan on traveling from the roads are very well connected and cater to travelers from anywhere in India. You may travel to Himachal by bus or even hire a cab or a taxi service that are all available at one of the many travel agency available here.
Pro Tip: If you are traveling on a budget then a bus journey is most preferred since cabs and taxi services may prove to be expensive.
By Railway
Being located on the lap of the Himalayas resulting in a hilly terrain which makes laying down train tracks extremely inconvenient, difficult, and impossible in some places. the rocky terrain makes reaching here by train impossible in some parts as mentioned above, however, train services are available from the railway station at Pathankot in Punjab. This will be a journey of around 7.5 to 8 hours to the railway stations located in Solan and Una. People generally prefer to reach Punjab from any other part of India by flight and then take the train headed for Himachal. This is another way of not stressing yourself too much during your travels and explorations. Going to Himachal by train is not only affordable but is also extremely comfortable, tension-free, and filled with a whole lot of fun and excitement. it is a great option if you are traveling with a large family or on a shoestring budget.
Pro Tip: Shimla Railway station (UNESCO world heritage site) falls on the Kalka Shimla railway line and is also accessible to many other sightseeing places.
By Air
The travel options to and fro Himachal is very limited with only a selective few options available. there are only 3 domestic airports present in the state – Kullu Manali airport in Bhuntar is operating only to the private flights whereas the Dharamshala Airport or Kangra airport in Gaggal close to Kangra and the Shimla airport in Jubberhatti also serve the purpose of catering to various domestic flights from different parts of the country. Shimla airport is located around 13.6 miles away from the main town of Shimla and you will be required to reach your final destination via a road journey in a car or a cab service which is easily and very widely available here. All these airports cater to a number of different flights from various different parts of the country via regular flights through air India. This is also one of the most expensive yet a quicker way of getting to Shimla, especially if you have something urgent to deal with.
Pro Tip: Make sure to plan your flight trip to Himachal accordingly as during the winter season the flights do not operate for some time owing to the harsh weather conditions.
By Kalka – Shimla toy train ride
Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site this is probably one of the easiest and the most scenic ways of getting to Shimla which is the capital city of Himachal. This is one tourist train service that successfully connects Kalka in Haryana to Shimla in Himachal and covers somewhere around 60 miles making its way through 18 different railway stations, 864 elaborate bridges, 900 incredible curves and 102 tunnels. Before the main railway station of Shimla, you will be crossing Solan, Dharampur, Barog, Tara Devi, Salogra, etc. Over a travel duration of around 6 – 7 hours.
Pro Tip: You can easily make a reservation for the train on the official website of the Indian railway on IRCTC.com or at any of booking counter for Indian railways.
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