How to reach Kalpa from Delhi – 2023 Updated

Kalpa in Kinnaur is a major peaceful, non crowded destination in the hill state of Himachal. This blog will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kalpa from Delhi through different modes.  

Where is Kalpa located?

Kalpa is situated in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It was the district headquarter of Kinnaur and is situated on top of a hill that lies on the left bank of the Satluj river. It is a major tourist spot with a clear view of the Kinner Kailash range. 

Kalpa is 6 Km ahead of Reckong Peo which is a major town and current headquarter of Kinnaur district.

Name of the Place	Kalpa ( कल्पा )
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Kinnaur
Elevation	2800  m, 9200 ft
Accessibility	By road
Best time to visit	April – June, September – October
Travel Distance by road	586 Km
Travel Time by road	15:45 Hrs  (approximately)

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi

Kalpa is connected by road and accessible throughout the year except during heavy snowfall or during heavy rainfall. The distance between Kalpa from Delhi is around 586 Km. There are different modes by which one can reach Kalpa.

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi by Road

There are other options for reaching Kalpa by road.

 You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kalpa.

Sr. No.	Location	Distance (Km)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	Time  (Hr)
1	New Delhi	0	700	225	00:00
2	Zirakpur	250	1000	320	05:00
3	Solan	316	5100	1550	07:00
4	Shimla	364	7200	2200	08:30
5	Kufri	380	8500	2600	09:15
6	Narkanda	425	8900	2700	10:45
7	Rampur	485	3300	1000	12:30
8	Bhaba Nagar	535	5100	1550	14:15
9	Tapri	555	5600	1700	14:45
10	Karcham	565	5900	1800	15:00
11	Reckong Peo	580	7900	2400	15:30
12	Kalpa	586	920	2800	15:45

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi on a Bus

If you want to travel to Himachal with a limited budget then traveling by Bus would be the best option. Unlike other hilly states, the bus network in Himachal is very good and night service is also available.

Himachal Pradesh State Owned Buses are called HRTC buses ( Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses). They are usually green/blue in color.   

There are multiple options to reach Kalpa by bus. You can take a bus to major bus stands / ISBTs and then a further connecting bus can be taken.

Before moving to the options we need to understand the route map. 

Option – 1 Delhi – Reckong Peo by bus 

There is only one Bus from Delhi Below are the bus details you can choose

From Delhi to Reckong Peo:

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RECONGPEO	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	556	8:10 PM	3:00 PM	18:50 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RECONGPEO	YES

From Reckong Peo to Kalpa:

There are multiple options for Kalpa  from Reckong Peo. You can take a connecting bus or a taxi further. Kalpa is hardly 6 Km from Reckong Peo

Option – 2 Delhi to Chandigarh, then to Kalpa via Reckong Peo.

 If you want comfortable travel then this option is the best one.

From Delhi to Chandigarh:

There are many buses between Delhi and Chandigarh. You can easily get an ordinary/deluxe / Volvo bus very frequently.

From Chandigarh to Kalpa Travel you can read this blog with complete details of Buses. 

Option – 3 Delhi to Shimla, then to  Kalpa via Reckong Peo.

Similar to Chandigarh, bus service from Delhi to Shimla is much more frequent. You can easily reach Shimla based on the connecting bus from Shimla.

From Shimla to Kalpa Travel you can read this blog with complete details of Buses. .

 For online booking of buses on the HRTC website kindly Click here

Note: If you are planning to take an offline HRTC bus, kindly confirm the timings from the HRTC Depot office before finalization. Click here to know the phone numbers. 

  How to reach Kalpa from Delhi on your own Vehicle

If you have good exposure to driving on mountainous roads and your vehicle is an SUV then this is a perfect option to travel to Kalpa. Below are key things to be considered while traveling to Kalpa on your own driving.

1. Around 16.00 Hrs is required to reach Kalpa from Delhi.
2. Roads till Solan are very good ( separate lanes for up and down traffic).   
3. Rest Highway is also good.
4. You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
5. The road from Rampur to Reckong Peo is considered among the most dangerous roads so driving should be done carefully.
6. There would be many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
7. In winter there would be high snowfall above Shimla to Narkanda and then in the Kinnaur district so weather updates to be taken before the start of the journey.
8. There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi on a bike

Nowadays traveling into the Himalayas on Bike is becoming a trend. Lots of bikers every year travel to remote areas and enjoy the beauty. Reaching Kalpa on a bike would be the dream of every adventure lover.

Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kalpa on a bike.

1. Minimum of 16.00 Hrs is required to reach Kalpa from Delhi on a bike.
2. Every bike can reach Kalpa but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine if you are with a pillion rider. 
3. You will feel the major variation in the temperature while traveling on a bike as there is a gain and drop of altitude. Shimla to Narkanda at a higher altitude than Rampur at a lower altitude.
4. Ride carefully as the road from Rampur to Kalpa is considered a dangerous road so driving should be done carefully.
5. Carry rain covers along as there might be rainy uphill while there is a clear sky on the plains.
6. There would be many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
7. During winters Bike riding is not advisable as there will be snowfall / black ice on roads and bike riding is extremely dangerous..
8. There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur so please plan and fill the tank based upon the fuel consumption of your bike. 

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi on a Taxi

Taxis can easily be hired for Kalpa and there are many options available on the online platforms. Following key things to be considered while taxing taxis to Kalpa.

1. Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
2. Vehicle to be comfortable since travel time would be more than 16 hrs.
3. Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
4. Negotiate well before finalization.

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi by Train

The nearest railway station en route to Kalpa is the Shimla railway station. But this station is on the narrow gauge. You need to change trains from Kalka railway station. The Kalka railway station is for both broad gauge and narrow gauge.

• Pros
  • This route is a UNESCO world heritage site.
  • Best train route to see beautiful Himalayan mountains.
• Cons
  • Travel time is much high since the maximum speed of this train is around 30 km/hr
  • The frequency of the trains between Kalka and  Shimla is quite low.

The major train station en route to Kalpa is Chandigarh railway station.

• Pros
  • There are many regular trains between Delhi and Chandigarh.
  • Taxi service, as well as bus service, is available for further journeys.
• Cons
  • Since Chandigarh is only 250 km from Delhi, the rest of the journey will be covered on the road so it is better to travel the whole journey by road.

How to reach Kalpa from Delhi by air

Since Kalpa is located in the Himalayas, there is no major airport nearby.

1. The nearest airport en route to Kalpa is Shimla airport.
   • Pros
     • More than half the distance can be covered.
     • Kalpa can be covered in a day if started early from Delhi.
   • Cons
     • The frequency of the flights between Delhi and  Shimla is quite low. 
     • Total travel costs will be much higher.
     • Total distance is not covered.
2. Another airport en route to Kalpa is Chandigarh airport.
   • Pros
     • There are many regular flights between Delhi and Chandigarh.
   • Cons
     • There is not much time saving on flights from Delhi to Chandigarh.
     • It will be difficult to cover Kalpa in a day.
     • Total distance is not covered.

Summary – “How to reach Kalpa from Delhi”

Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog  “How to reach Kalpa from Delhi ”

• Kalpa is a wonderful travel destination located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh at around 586 KM from Delhi.
• You can reach Kalpa in 16 hrs from Delhi
• Kalpa can be reached throughout the year but the best time is from April – June and then from September – October.
• Kalpa can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
• Nearest railway station is  Shimla which is narrow gauge. The major railway station is Chandigarh railway station.
• Nearest airport is Shimla airport.
• Cheapest way to reach Kalpa is by the HRTC bus.

We hope you have got a good understanding of “How to reach Kalpa from Delhi ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions: