Picking places in Himachal is easy. Getting to them is where trips go sideways.
How far is Kalpa from Chandigarh, really? Is there a train to Dharamshala? Should you book that Bhuntar flight or will it get canceled the morning you fly? Who do you call when the road ahead is shut by a landslide? Those are the questions this guide tries to answer.
We’ve split the state by its 12 districts. Some sections are long, some are short, because Kullu and Kangra simply have more going on than Hamirpur. Every district gets approximate distances from Chandigarh and Delhi, the realistic ways in, tips on finding a cab, and a few government-run hotels you can book directly. Official sources are linked throughout, so check anything you’re unsure about.
Himalayas with a winding Himachal road
Read This First
The distances here are road distances, and they’re approximate. Diversions happen. New highway stretches open. A landslide can add 40 km overnight. Use these numbers to plan, then check Google Maps the day before you drive.
Hill driving is slow. Count on roughly three hours for 100 km in a lot of places, more in peak season (May, June and the Christmas–New Year rush).
And the monsoon. On several days in August 2026, the state’s emergency center reported over 100 roads blocked, with Mandi and Kullu the worst hit (Newsonair / All India Radio). Traveling between July and mid-September? Keep your hotel bookings refundable.
Getting to Himachal Pradesh
Nearly every trip starts in Delhi or Chandigarh. Of the two, Chandigarh is the better jumping-off point for most of the state. You land or arrive at the foot of the hills and skip about five hours of flat highway through Haryana.
Flying in
Himachal has three airports. All small, none fully dependable.
Kangra Airport at Gaggal (code DHM) is the busiest. It’s around 13–14 km from Dharamshala, with flights to Delhi and some to Chandigarh (ixigo). If your trip centers on Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, Palampur or Bir, it’s genuinely useful.
Kullu–Manali Airport at Bhuntar (KUU) sits about 11 km from Kullu and 52 km from Manali (Wikipedia). Seats are few. Fares jump in season, and weather knocks flights out often. The runway is short too, which caps how many passengers can take off (The Tribune).
Shimla Airport at Jubbarhatti (SLV) is 22 km out of town. Alliance Air has been the only airline flying there, with a small ATR plane, a short runway and room to park just one aircraft at a time (The Tribune). We wouldn’t hang a tight itinerary on it.
So for Shimla, Kasauli, Kinnaur and most of the Kullu valley, fly into Chandigarh (IXC) and drive up.
Taking the train
Broad-gauge tracks stop at the foothills. From there it’s a road or a toy train. The railheads you’ll actually use:
Kalka, for Shimla and Solan, where you change to the Kalka–Shimla toy train (it’s on the UNESCO World Heritage list). Chandigarh, for pretty much anywhere in central and upper Himachal. Pathankot, for Dalhousie, Chamba and Kangra, where the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley line heads toward Joginder Nagar.
Then there’s Una. The Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi runs to Amb Andaura six days a week, leaving New Delhi at 5:50 a.m. and pulling in around 11:05 a.m., with stops at Chandigarh and Una on the way (The Tribune). For the lower districts, that’s the quickest way in from Delhi.
Book on IRCTC. For live running status, NTES is more reliable than most apps.
Going by bus
HRTC, the state transport corporation, runs most of the buses you’ll need. Cheap ordinary buses, semi-deluxe, and the overnight AC Volvo and Scania coaches it calls Himsuta. You can book on HRTC’s own site, online.hrtchp.com, or through redBus and MakeMyTrip. From Delhi, most HRTC buses go from ISBT Kashmere Gate (redBus).
Flying out of Delhi on the last day? HRTC now runs direct Volvos from Shimla and Dharamshala to Terminal 3 at Delhi Airport (Coach Builders India). Schedules shift, so check the HRTC site first.
Driving
The Kiratpur–Manali highway has been widened to four lanes in sections. Twin-tube tunnels between Pandoh and Aut now skip one of the nastiest landslide stretches (LatestLY / PTI). It’s a far easier drive than it used to be. Monsoon damage still undoes some of that every year, though.
Distance Cheat Sheet
All 12 districts in one table. Distances are approximate, by road, to the main town or the most visited spot.
| District | Top places | From Chandigarh | From Delhi | Nearest airport | Nearest railhead |
| Shimla | Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Sarahan | 115 km (3–4 hr) | 350 km (7–8 hr) | Chandigarh / Shimla | Kalka, Shimla (toy train) |
| Solan | Kasauli, Chail, Barog | 60–110 km (2–3 hr) | 300–350 km (6–7 hr) | Chandigarh | Kalka, Dharampur, Barog |
| Sirmaur | Renuka Ji, Paonta Sahib, Churdhar | 90–130 km (2–4 hr) | 250–300 km (5–7 hr) | Dehradun / Chandigarh | Ambala, Dehradun |
| Kullu | Manali, Kasol, Tirthan, Naggar | 270–300 km (8–9 hr) | 520–550 km (12–14 hr) | Bhuntar / Chandigarh | Chandigarh, Kiratpur Sahib |
| Kangra | Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, Bir, Palampur | 240 km (6 hr) | 480 km (10–11 hr) | Kangra (Gaggal) | Pathankot, Kangra Valley line |
| Chamba | Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Chamba, Bharmour | 315–335 km (7–8 hr) | 560–580 km (11–12 hr) | Kangra / Amritsar | Pathankot |
| Mandi | Rewalsar, Prashar Lake, Barot, Janjehli | 195 km (5 hr) | 440 km (9–10 hr) | Bhuntar | Chandigarh, Joginder Nagar |
| Kinnaur | Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa, Nako | 330–360 km (10–11 hr) | 575–600 km (14–15 hr) | Chandigarh / Shimla | Shimla, Kalka |
| Lahaul & Spiti | Sissu, Keylong, Chandratal, Kaza | 330–470 km (9–13 hr) | 580–720 km (14–17 hr) | Bhuntar | Chandigarh |
| Bilaspur | Gobind Sagar, Naina Devi, Bhakra | 110–120 km (3 hr) | 360 km (7–8 hr) | Chandigarh | Kiratpur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib |
| Hamirpur | Baba Balak Nath, Sujanpur Tira | 165–200 km (4–5 hr) | 410–440 km (8–9 hr) | Kangra | Una, Amb Andaura |
| Una | Chintpurni, Mairi (Dera Baba Barbhag Singh) | 140–170 km (3–4 hr) | 390–410 km (7–8 hr) | Kangra / Chandigarh | Una, Amb Andaura |
Delhi distances assume the NH44 route via Chandigarh/Ambala (~245–250 km to Chandigarh). Verify any figure you quote in a headline.
1. Shimla District
Shimla gets the most visitors in the state, and on a Sunday afternoon on Mall Road you’ll feel every one of them. Still worth it. It’s also the simplest district to reach.
The Ridge, Shimla
Where to go
Start in town. Walk the Ridge to Scandal Point, poke around Lakkar Bazaar for the woodwork, then climb (or take the ropeway) up to Jakhu Temple. The Viceregal Lodge, now Rashtrapati Niwas, looks its best in late-afternoon light. Weekends get crowded by noon, so go early.
Kufri is about 16 km further on. In January, with snow on the ground, it’s fun. In May it’s mostly pony rides and traffic. We’d skip it in summer.
Naldehra is the calmer pick nearby. Pine forest, an old golf course, half a day well spent.
Further out, Narkanda is roughly 60 km beyond Shimla on the old Hindustan–Tibet Road. Apple orchards line the road, there’s a small ski slope in winter, and a forest track climbs to Hatu Mata temple at the top of Hatu Peak.
And if Kinnaur is next, stop a night at Sarahan. The Bhimakali Temple there, all stacked wood and stone, doesn’t look like anything else in the state.
Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan
How far
Shimla is about 115 km from Chandigarh, 2.5 to 3.5 hours by road (HPTDC). From Delhi it’s around 350 km. Narkanda adds about 60 km. Sarahan is roughly 275 km from Chandigarh and 160 km from Shimla (HPTDC).
Getting there
There’s no direct broad-gauge train to Shimla. You ride to Kalka (the Kalka Shatabdi is the comfortable morning option from Delhi) and switch to the toy train. The Shivalik Deluxe is the premium one and it sells out first, so book 30 to 60 days out on IRCTC (TravelTriangle). Five-ish hours to cover 96 km. Slow, yes. That’s the fun of it.
HRTC buses leave from ISBT Kashmere Gate in Delhi and ISBT Sector 43 in Chandigarh. They arrive at Shimla’s inter-state terminal at Tutikandi, a little outside the center.
Flying? Land in Chandigarh and drive.
Cabs and help on the ground
Taxis are easy to find in Shimla. Look near the Old Bus Stand, at Tutikandi and around Victory Tunnel. Private cars aren’t allowed on the Mall or the Ridge, so you’ll walk up or use the public lift from Cart Road. For bookings or questions, HPTDC’s office on The Mall is helpful (0177-2652561, shimla@hptdc.in) (HPTDC contacts).
Where to stay
Hotel Holiday Home is HPTDC’s flagship in Shimla. Central, with a travel desk that can arrange taxis. Call 0177-2812890 (HPTDC).
For somewhere quieter, Hotel Golf Glade sits right at the edge of the Naldehra golf course (HPTDC).
At Sarahan, Hotel Srikhand looks straight at the Srikhand peak over apple orchards. Call 01782-292434 (HPTDC).
2. Solan District
Two hours from Chandigarh and you’re among pines. No wonder Solan fills up every Friday night.
Monkey Point view Kasauli, solan
Kasauli is a small cantonment town of old cottages, Christ Church and quiet forest walks. Nightlife? None. Big sights? Not really. People come for the stillness.
Chail feels greener and a few degrees cooler. The Maharaja of Patiala built it as a summer retreat, and his palace is now a hotel. The town’s cricket ground is often billed as one of the highest in the world.
Barog is mostly famous for its railway station and the long Barog tunnel on the toy-train line. Darlaghat, on the Shimla–Bilaspur road, isn’t a place to visit so much as a good spot to stop for lunch.
Kasauli is roughly 60–65 km from Chandigarh, about two hours, and around 300 km from Delhi. Chail is about 110 km from Chandigarh and 350 km from Delhi. Barog sits roughly 60 km up the Shimla highway.
The toy train from Kalka stops at Dharampur (closest station to Kasauli), Barog and Solan. Buses on the Chandigarh–Shimla route also stop at Dharampur, Solan and Kandaghat. From Dharampur, grab a local bus or taxi up to Kasauli. Chail is easiest via Kandaghat. For flights, use Chandigarh.
Taxis wait at Dharampur, Solan bus stand and Kalka station. A Chandigarh taxi can do Kasauli as a day trip without any trouble.
To stay somewhere memorable, book The Chail Palace, the old royal residence that HPTDC now runs as a heritage hotel. Rooms and rates are on its heritage hotels page. On the highway, HPTDC’s Hotel Baghal at Darlaghat has 16 rooms from around ₹1,600 plus GST a night. Call 01796-248116 (HPTDC).
Kasauli also has an HPTDC property (Ros Common). Confirm it’s still listed on the HPTDC district page before naming it.
3. Sirmaur District
Hardly anyone puts Sirmaur on their list. Their loss, if you like quiet lakes and a proper climb.
Renuka Ji Lake Sirmaur
Renuka Ji is the biggest natural lake in Himachal. Locals will tell you it’s shaped like a sleeping woman. There’s boating and a small zoo, and in November the Renuka Ji fair packs the place.
Paonta Sahib, on the Yamuna, is an important Sikh pilgrimage site linked to Guru Gobind Singh. Calm, clean, well looked after.
Nahan works as a base. It’s an old hill town with a neat, planned center.
Then there’s Churdhar. The highest peak in the outer Himalaya, and a real two-day trek from Nohradhar. Bring proper boots and a local guide.
Paonta Sahib is about 120 km from Chandigarh, around two hours, and 50 km from Dehradun (HPTDC). From Delhi count on 240–250 km. Nahan is roughly 90 km from Chandigarh, with Renuka Ji another 35–40 km on.
Ambala and Dehradun are your railheads (Yamunanagar works for Paonta too). HRTC and Haryana Roadways buses run to Nahan and Paonta from Chandigarh, Ambala and Delhi. For flights, Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport is actually closer to Paonta than Chandigarh is. Taxis wait at the Nahan and Paonta bus stands.
HPTDC’s Hotel Yamuna in Paonta Sahib is barely 100 meters from the gurudwara and overlooks the river. Call 01704-222341 (HPTDC).
4. Kullu District: Manali, Kasol, Tirthan
This is where most first trips to Himachal end up. Snow, rivers, cafés, treks, paragliding, all within a couple of hours of each other. The traffic jams come with the territory.
Manali with snow-capped peaks / Solang Valley
Manali and around
Manali works best as a base. See Hadimba Temple, tucked in the cedars. Cross the Manalsu stream into Old Manali for the cafés. Soak in the hot springs at Vashisht. The Mall Road is fine for an evening, nothing more.
Solang Valley is 13-odd km up the road, with paragliding, a ropeway and snow in winter. Keep going and you hit the 9 km Atal Tunnel, which runs under the Rohtang range to Sissu in Lahaul. No permit needed for that.
Rohtang Pass is a different story. It’s about 51 km from Manali and you do need a permit, booked online at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. The tourism permit costs ₹550 a vehicle, numbers are capped daily, and the pass usually opens mid-May and stays open until heavy snow, around late November (TravelTriangle). Plenty of people now just do the tunnel and skip Rohtang altogether.
Naggar is 20-something km away and a good slow afternoon. There’s the old Naggar Castle, and the Nicholas Roerich art gallery up the hill.
Parvati Valley, Tirthan and Jibhi
Kasol is the backpacker hub. Riverside cafés, Israeli food, and the trailhead for the Kheerganga trek. A few kilometers on, Manikaran has a gurudwara built around hot springs.
For quiet, go to Tirthan Valley and Jibhi. Trout streams, wooden homestays, and the Great Himalayan National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very different Kullu from Manali’s.
Kullu Dussehra
If you can, come to Kullu town in October. For a week, village deities are carried down to Dhalpur ground in procession. It starts on October 20 this year (HappyFares).
Kullu Dussehra procession
How far, and how to get there
HPTDC lists Manali at 298 km from Chandigarh, about nine hours (HPTDC). The new four-lane bits shave some off, so think 270–300 km. From Delhi it’s around 520–550 km and 12 to 14 hours. Kasol is roughly 250 km from Chandigarh; Jibhi around 230.
Most people take the bus. HRTC’s overnight Volvos from Delhi and Chandigarh get into Manali in the morning (book on online.hrtchp.com). For Kasol, get off a Manali bus at Bhuntar and change to a local one.
No train reaches Kullu. Chandigarh is the practical railhead. Joginder Nagar on the narrow-gauge line is closer on paper, but slow.
Bhuntar airport is the nearest, around 11 km from Kullu and 52 km from Manali (Wikipedia). Flights are few and expensive and the weather cancels them regularly. If yours goes, Chandigarh is plan B.
Cabs and help
Manali and Kullu taxi unions are strong. Outside taxis often aren’t allowed to run local sightseeing to Rohtang, Solang or the Atal Tunnel, so you’ll hire a local union cab for those days. Get the rate in writing before you set off. Taxis meet flights at Bhuntar.
HPTDC has a marketing office on The Mall in Manali (01902-253531) and one at Dhalpur in Kullu (01902-222349) (HPTDC contacts). For road and snow updates, check the Kullu district website (hpkullu.nic.in).
Where to stay
Hotel Kunzam is HPTDC’s most central Manali hotel, right by Mall Road. Call 01902-253197 (HPTDC). A little away from the noise, Hotel Rohtang Manalsu sits in its own lawns on the road to Hadimba Temple. Call 01902-252332 (HPTDC).
Families tend to like The Log Huts, about 2 km out of town. Each wooden cottage has two bedrooms and a kitchenette. Call 01902-253225 (HPTDC). Hadimba Cottages, in the deodar forest near the temple, is another HPTDC option (HPTDC).
In Naggar, you can actually sleep in the castle. HPTDC runs it as a heritage hotel (HPTDC Heritage Hotels).
5. Kangra District: Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, Bir, Palampur
If we had to pick one district for a first trip, it might be this one. Tibetan monasteries, tea estates and the best paragliding in the country, with the Dhauladhar range hanging over all of it. It’s also the easiest to fly into.
McLeod Ganj with Dhauladhar range in background
Places worth your time
McLeod Ganj is upper Dharamshala, about 10 km up the hill. Visit the Dalai Lama’s temple complex, Tsuglagkhang. Walk to Bhagsu waterfall. Eat momos and thukpa until you can’t. If you’re fit, do the Triund trek for the view of the Dhauladhars.
Bir Billing is one of the world’s top paragliding spots. You take off from Billing and land in Bir. Only fly with a registered operator.
Palampur is slower. Tea gardens, a tea factory tour, a long walk.
History buffs should head to Kangra Fort, one of the oldest in India, perched above the meeting of two rivers. And don’t skip the Masroor rock-cut temples. Carved straight from a single rock, they get compared to Ellora, yet hardly anyone goes.
Pilgrims have Jawalamukhi, Baijnath and Chamunda across the valley. In winter, Pong Dam lake fills with migratory birds.
Paragliding at Bir Billing
Distances
Dharamshala is about 238 km from Chandigarh, around six hours (HPTDC), and roughly 480 km from Delhi. Jawalamukhi is about 187 km from Chandigarh (HPTDC). Palampur and Bir are both somewhere around 240–270 km.
Getting in
Kangra airport at Gaggal is about 14 km from Dharamshala, 20 minutes by car (HPTDC). It has regular Delhi flights, plus some to Chandigarh.
By rail, Pathankot is the main station. The narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway carries on toward Kangra, Palampur and Baijnath. It restarted on June 2, 2026, after flood damage in 2022 shut it down, but you can’t book regular trains online; buy tickets at the station counter (Outlook Traveller). Landslides have stopped this line before, so ask locally (Kangra district administration).
Overnight HRTC Volvos run from Delhi to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj. There’s also a direct Dharamshala–Delhi Airport Volvo.
Cabs and help
At Kangra airport, taxis come from the Gaggal Airport Taxi Union. Buses don’t come into the airport, but the Gaggal stop on the highway is a short walk (ixigo). In town, try the stand at Dharamshala’s main bus station or the one in McLeod’s main square. HPTDC’s Dharamshala office is at Kotwali Bazar (9418022250) (HPTDC contacts).
Palampur tea gardens
Where to stay
Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala is central and looks out on the mountains and the Pong reservoir. Call 01892-224926 (HPTDC). For the temple, Hotel Jawalaji is about 350 m from the shrine and 100 m from the bus stand. Call 01970-222280 (HPTDC). Coming in late from Pathankot? Hotel Nupur in Nurpur makes a handy first night. Call 01893-220076 (HPTDC).
HPTDC also lists properties in McLeod Ganj (Bhagsu) and Palampur (T-Bud). Confirm on the HPTDC Kangra district page before naming them.
6. Chamba District: Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Bharmour
Chamba is rougher around the edges than Kangra. We like it more for that. Dalhousie is colonial and calm, while Chamba town and Bharmour have temples that have stood for over a thousand years.
Khajjiar meadow with deodar trees
Dalhousie is spread over five hills, with old churches and two long walking roads, Garam Sadak and Thandi Sadak. Nothing much happens. That’s fine.
Khajjiar is a wide meadow with deodars all around and a little lake in the middle. Signs call it “Mini Switzerland.” Get there early, before the horses and zorbing balls take over.
Down in Chamba town, sit on the Chaugan, the big grassy ground in the middle of town, then walk to the Lakshmi Narayan temples and the Bhuri Singh Museum.
Bharmour is the old capital. It has the Chaurasi temple complex, and every August–September it’s the starting point for the Manimahesh Yatra.
Dalhousie is about 315 km from Chandigarh, roughly seven hours, and 86 km from Pathankot (HPTDC). Chamba town is about 332 km from Chandigarh and 102 km from Pathankot (HPTDC). From Delhi, call it 560–580 km. Khajjiar is 25 km from Chamba and 26 from Dalhousie (HPTDC).
Take a train to Pathankot, which has direct trains from Delhi, then a bus or taxi up. HRTC also runs from Delhi, Chandigarh and Pathankot. The nearest airport worth using is Kangra (Gaggal), about 120 km from Dalhousie. Amritsar has more flights but a longer drive.
Taxis are easy to get outside Pathankot station and at Dalhousie’s bus stand. A Dalhousie–Khajjiar–Chamba day trip is a standard package with every driver there.
HPTDC has a good spread here. In Dalhousie, the deluxe Hotel Manimahesh has snow-range views (01899-242793) (HPTDC), while Hotel Geetanjali is the budget choice (01899-242155) (HPTDC). Hotel Devdar sits right on the Khajjiar meadow, and lots of rooms look over the lake (01899-236333) (HPTDC). In Chamba, Hotel Iravati and Hotel Champak are both a short walk from the Chaugan (01899-222671) (HPTDC).
7. Mandi District
People drive straight through Mandi on the way to Manali. Mistake. Some of the best lakes and quietest valleys in Himachal are an hour off that highway.
Prashar Lake with the floating island
Mandi town has so many old temples along the Beas that people call it the “Varanasi of the Hills.” Shivratri week is when it really comes alive.
Prashar Lake is the one to see. A high lake with a little floating island and a three-tiered pagoda temple beside it. Go for sunrise. The last part of the road is rough, so a taxi beats a small hatchback.
Rewalsar Lake is sacred to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists alike. A huge statue of Padmasambhava looks down on it.
Barot is a riverside valley known for trout. You’ll also see an old haulage trolley left over from the hydro project. Janjehli and Shikari Devi are proper offbeat country, all forest and meadow with quiet trails. Chindi, on an alternative road between Shimla and Kullu, is a sleepy orchard village.
Mandi town is about 195 km from Chandigarh on the four-lane via Kiratpur, about five hours, and around 440 km from Delhi. Chindi is about 165 km from Chandigarh and 58 km from Shimla (HPTDC). Prashar Lake is roughly 50 km from Mandi town, Rewalsar about 25.
Every Manali-bound HRTC bus stops in Mandi. Local buses go to Rewalsar; Prashar doesn’t get much service, so hire a car. Bhuntar airport is around 60 km away. Joginder Nagar is the end of the narrow-gauge line, but Chandigarh is the realistic railhead. You’ll find taxis at Mandi’s main bus stand. Agree on waiting time before a lake trip.
For a stay, HPTDC’s Hotel Mamleshwar in Chindi is surrounded by woods and orchards and makes a good halt between Shimla and Kullu. Call 94594-10238 (HPTDC).
HPTDC also has hotels in Mandi town and Rewalsar. Confirm current listing on the HPTDC Mandi district page before naming them.
8. Kinnaur District
Past Rampur, the Sutlej gorge narrows and Himachal gets dramatic. Kinnaur is apple orchards, wooden temples, and the Kinner Kailash range filling the sky every morning. The road is part of the adventure. Nervous passengers, sit on the hill side.
Kalpa with Kinner Kailash peaks
Sangla Valley is wide and green between high peaks. Add Batseri village and Kamru Fort while you’re there.
Chitkul is the last inhabited village on this road before the Indo-Tibet border. Wooden houses, the Baspa river running cold and clear, and very little reason to leave.
In Kalpa, set an alarm. Sunrise on the Kinner Kailash range is about as good as it gets in Himachal.
Nako, a lake village high on the road to Spiti, rounds things off.
Kalpa is about 338 km from Chandigarh, roughly 11 hours, and 222 km from Shimla, about 8 hours (HPTDC). Delhi to Kalpa is around 575–600 km. Sangla and Chitkul are about the same distance from Chandigarh.
HRTC runs from Shimla to Reckong Peo, Sangla and Kalpa. Slow, cheap, and the locals rely on it. The nearest railheads are Shimla and Kalka; for flights, Chandigarh.
Chitkul village
Indian citizens don’t need any permit for Kinnaur. Foreign nationals do need a Protected Area Permit to go past the inner line, which in practice starts around Jangi on the Spiti road. The SDM office at Reckong Peo is one of the places that issues it (Kinnaur district administration).
Taxis are available in Reckong Peo and Rampur. A lot of people book one Shimla taxi for the whole Kinnaur–Spiti loop. If you do, pick a driver who’s run this road many times.
HPTDC’s The Kinner Kailash in Kalpa has one of the finest views in the state. It shuts from December to March. Call 01786-226159 (HPTDC). Its Sun & Snow Cottage nearby is open April to November (HPTDC).
9. Lahaul and Spiti District
Cold desert. Monasteries clinging to cliffs, villages above 4,000 meters, lakes in a shade of blue that doesn’t look real. Spiti needs a week, not a weekend.
Key Monastery, Spiti
Coming out of the Atal Tunnel, Sissu is your first stop, with a waterfall and a broad open valley. Keylong, the district headquarters, has monasteries close by.
Chandratal is a crescent-shaped lake at about 4,300 meters, reachable only in summer.
Kaza is Spiti’s main town and where you’ll base yourself. From there, the classic loop takes in Key Monastery on its hilltop, Kibber, the fossil village of Langza, Hikkim with its famously high post office, and Komic, one of the highest villages you can drive to. Further down the valley, Tabo Monastery is over a thousand years old, and Dhankar sits on an absurd cliff edge.
Keylong is about 370 km from Chandigarh, roughly 11.5 hours, and just 70 km from Manali (HPTDC). Kaza is about 183 km from Manali and 419 km from Shimla (HPTDC). From Delhi, Kaza via Manali is around 720 km.
You can get into Spiti two ways. The Manali side, through the Atal Tunnel and over Kunzum Pass, is shorter but only open in summer. The Shimla–Kinnaur side is longer but stays open more of the year, and climbing slowly helps your body adjust. Most experienced travelers go in through Kinnaur and come out via Manali.
Chandratal Lake
HRTC runs a handful of buses on both routes. Long, bumpy days. Bhuntar is the closest airport, about 235 km from Kaza (HPTDC).
A word on altitude. Kaza is at about 3,800 meters and altitude sickness is common here. It can turn serious. Sleep a night lower down first, drink plenty of water, skip alcohol for the first day or two, and head down if you feel worse. Kunzum and Chandratal are usually only open from late May or June through October.
Hire your taxi in Manali or Shimla, with a driver who knows these roads. In Kaza, local taxis can be booked in the main market. Phone signal is patchy, so let someone know your plan.
HPTDC runs Hotel Chanderbhaga in Keylong, facing Kardang monastery and the snow peaks. It’s open June to October. Call 01900-202247 (HPTDC). In Kaza there’s Hotel Spiti, with a dormitory for budget travelers, open May to October. Call 93170-22752 (HPTDC).
10. Bilaspur District
Bilaspur is on the main road to Manali, so most people only see it through a windshield. Slow down for a few hours.
Naina Devi temple
Gobind Sagar is the reservoir the Bhakra Dam made on the Sutlej. There are water sports in season, and in spring, when the water drops, old submerged temples come up out of the lake bed. The Bhakra Dam itself, one of India’s tallest gravity dams, is near the Punjab border.
Naina Devi temple sits on a hilltop near the border too. It’s one of the most visited shrines in Himachal and gets overwhelmed during Navratri.
Bilaspur town is around 110–120 km from Chandigarh on the four-lane, about three hours, and roughly 360 km from Delhi. Naina Devi is about 110 km from Chandigarh via Anandpur Sahib. Any Manali-bound HRTC bus goes through. Kiratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib are the nearest stations, and Nangal Dam works for Naina Devi. Fly into Chandigarh. Taxis are at Bilaspur’s bus stand and in Anandpur Sahib.
HPTDC’s Hotel Lakeview is right on the highway, on the edge of the lake, and its restaurant is a favorite pit stop on the way north. Call 01978-222838 (HPTDC).
11. Hamirpur District
Small and mostly residential. But Hamirpur has one of the busiest temples in Himachal, plus a fort town known for its Holi.
The Baba Balak Nath cave temple at Deotsidh draws huge crowds, especially on Sundays and in March and April. Sujanpur Tira has an old fort and a vast open ground where a well-known Holi fair takes place.
Hamirpur town is about 165–175 km from Chandigarh and around 410 km from Delhi. Deotsidh and Sujanpur each add 30–45 km, depending on which way you’re coming. Una and Amb Andaura are the closest railway stations, and the Delhi Vande Bharat makes Una quick to reach (The Tribune). HRTC buses run from Chandigarh and Delhi, and Kangra (Gaggal) is the nearest airport. Taxis are at Hamirpur’s bus stand and outside Una station.
Baba Balak Nath cave temple at Deotsidh
Hamirpur has HPTDC and private hotels in town. Check the listing on the HPTDC website, or the state’s Him Atithi guesthouse portal, for what’s available.
12. Una District
Flat by Himachal standards, warm, and visited mostly for faith. It’s now the fastest district to reach from Delhi by train.
Chintpurni is one of the major Shakti Peeths in north India, with long queues on festival days. Dera Baba Barbhag Singh at Mairi is a Sikh shrine that draws big crowds around Holi.
Una town is roughly 140 km from Chandigarh and 390 km from Delhi. Chintpurni is about 50 km on from Una.
Chintpurni temple
The New Delhi–Amb Andaura Vande Bharat stops at Chandigarh, Una and Amb Andaura. Amb Andaura is closest for Chintpurni. The Himachal Express also runs on this line (RailMitra). Check the running days on IRCTC before booking. HRTC and Punjab buses run often from Chandigarh, Hoshiarpur and Delhi. Fly into Chandigarh or Kangra. Taxis wait outside Una and Amb Andaura stations and at the Chintpurni bus stand.
At Chintpurni you’ll find temple trust rooms, dharamshalas and budget hotels. HPTDC lists its pilgrimage-town properties on its religious hotels page.
Permits
For Rohtang Pass, vehicles going up for sightseeing need a permit, and you can only get it online at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. Older blogs link to other sites; ignore them. Driving through the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul doesn’t need this permit.
For Kinnaur and Spiti, only foreign nationals need a permit (a Protected Area Permit) to go past the inner line. Indian citizens don’t (Kinnaur district administration).
Some treks and protected forests need forest department permission or registration. Ask the local DFO office or check Himachal Tourism.
When to Go
March to June is the safe bet. Clear days, roads open, everything running. It’s also when everyone else goes, June especially.
July to mid-September is monsoon. Gorgeous and green, but landslides and road closures happen all the time. By early September 2026, rain-related damage had already passed ₹1,000 crore (NewsBytes). Stay off the backroads of Kinnaur, Mandi and Kullu when heavy-rain alerts are out.
Late September to November is our favorite. Clear skies, apple harvest, Kullu Dussehra, and the crowds have thinned.
December to February is snow season. Shimla, Manali and Narkanda can get a lot of it. The high passes close, and the Manali–Atal Tunnel road can shut for a day or two after a storm.
Who to Ask Before You Go
Official sources post updates before anyone else does.
Himachal Tourism is run by the state’s Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and lists destinations, rules and registered operators.
For government hotels, go to HPTDC at hptdc.hp.gov.in and book at booking.hptdc.in. Booking or refund trouble goes to the Tourist Information Office in Shimla, 0177-2658302 (HPTDC contacts). HPTDC also has offices in the plains: Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, Chandigarh (0172-2637504), and Himachal Bhawan on Sikandra Road in New Delhi, near Mandi House Metro (011-23716689) (HPTDC contacts).
Bus schedules and tickets are on online.hrtchp.com. Trains are on IRCTC, with live status on NTES. Rohtang permits live at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in.
Weather alerts by district come from the IMD Meteorological Centre in Shimla. Every district also has its own official site, such as hpkullu.nic.in, hpkangra.nic.in or hpkinnaur.nic.in, where road and weather advisories get posted.
In an emergency, dial 112. For the district disaster control room, dial 1077.
Finding a Cab in the Hills
Ola and Uber work fine in Chandigarh. Up in the hills, mostly not. Plan on local taxis.
Most hill towns have a taxi union with a fixed rate chart. Ask to see it. Then get the final price in writing before you leave, even a WhatsApp message.
If you’ve hired a car from Delhi or Chandigarh for the whole trip, ask your driver early what he’s allowed to do. Union rules in places like Manali often stop outside taxis from doing local sightseeing.
Staying at an HPTDC hotel? Many offer taxi on demand, which is a safe fallback. And for long routes like Spiti or Kinnaur, keep one experienced driver for the whole trip instead of changing cars town to town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which district is best for a first trip to Himachal?
Kullu, for Manali, or Kangra, for Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj. Kangra is easier to fly into. Shimla is easiest by road and rail.
What’s the cheapest way from Delhi to Himachal?
An HRTC ordinary or semi-deluxe bus from ISBT Kashmere Gate. Pay a bit more and the overnight Volvo is far more comfortable.
Is there a direct train from Delhi to Shimla or Manali?
Not to either. For Shimla, ride to Kalka and take the toy train. Manali has no railway at all, so go to Chandigarh by train or bus and continue by road.
Which airport is best for Manali?
Bhuntar is closest, but flights are scarce and often canceled for weather. Chandigarh is more reliable, then roughly eight to nine hours by road.
Do Indians need a permit for Spiti or Kinnaur?
No. Only foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for areas past the inner line.
Is it safe to visit during the monsoon?
You can go, but leave slack in your plans. Stick to well-connected places like Shimla, Kasauli or Dharamshala, and don’t attempt long drives on days with heavy-rain alerts.
One Last Thing
Don’t try to do six districts in a week. Pick two, give them time, and leave a spare day for the road that’s closed or the river you don’t want to leave. Check the official links before you set off. The mountains change plans more often than you will.
Leave a Reply