Do you know, the Prominent place in India with the purest air to breathe is Kinnaur? Kalpa in Kinnaur is also a major stop before heading toward Spiti valley. This blog will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kalpa from Shimla 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 | 221 Km |
| Travel Time by road | 7:15 Hrs (approximately) |
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla
Kalpa is connected by road and accessible throughout the year except during heavy snowfall or during heavy rainfall. The distance between Kalpa from Shimla is around 221 Km. There are different modes by which one can reach Kalpa.
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla by Road
There are various options to reach 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 | Shimla | 0 | 7200 | 2200 | 00:00 |
| 2 | Kufri | 15 | 8500 | 2600 | 00:45 |
| 3 | Narkanda | 60 | 8900 | 2700 | 02:15 |
| 4 | Rampur | 120 | 3300 | 1000 | 04:00 |
| 5 | Bhaba Nagar | 170 | 5100 | 1550 | 05:45 |
| 6 | Tapri | 190 | 5600 | 1700 | 06:15 |
| 7 | Karcham | 200 | 5900 | 1800 | 06:30 |
| 11 | Reckong Peo | 215 | 7900 | 2400 | 07:00 |
| 11 | Kalpa | 221 | 9200 | 2800 | 07:15 |
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla on a Bus
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.
Option – 1 Shimla – Kalpa by bus
Below are the bus details you can choose
From Shimla to Kalpa.
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | KALPA | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 1512 | 11:30 PM | 10:00 AM | 10:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KALPA | NO |
Option – 2 Shimla – Reckong Peo and then to Kalpa
Below are the bus details you can choose
From Shimla to Reckong Peo.
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 333 | 3:40 AM | 4:00 PM | 12:20 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | POOH VILLAGE | YES |
| 2 | 633 | 4:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 9:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | THANGI | NO |
| 3 | 1220 | 5:00 AM | 2:15 PM | 9:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | HARIDWAR | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 4 | 556 | 5:45 AM | 3:00 PM | 9:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 5 | 255 | 6:56 AM | 4:40 PM | 9:44 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SOLAN | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 6 | 1513 | 9:00 AM | 7:00 PM | 10:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 7 | CHD-RPO | 10:30 AM | 7:00 PM | 8:30 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 8 | 273 | 6:30 PM | 3:30 AM | 9:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | YES |
| 9 | 1511 | 10:20 PM | 7:00 AM | 8:40 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 10 | CHD-SML-RPO | 10:30 PM | 7:00 AM | 8:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 11 | 1512 | 11:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 9:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KALPA | NO |
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 – 3 Shimla – Rampur by Bus and then Rampur to Kalpa via Reckong Peo.
Below are the bus details you can choose
From Shimla to Rampur:
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RAMPUR | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 1510 | 12:30 AM | 5:45 AM | 5:15 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RAMPUR | NO |
| 2 | 333 | 3:40 AM | 9:30 AM | 5:50 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | POOH VILLAGE | YES |
| 3 | 633 | 4:30 AM | 8:25 AM | 3:55 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | THANGI | NO |
| 4 | 1220 | 5:00 AM | 10:45 AM | 5:45 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | HARIDWAR | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 5 | 538 | 5:30 AM | 9:00 AM | 3:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | RAMPUR | NO |
| 6 | 556 | 5:45 AM | 10:40 AM | 4:55 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 7 | 255 | 6:56 AM | 12:15 PM | 5:19 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SOLAN | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 8 | 518 | 7:15 AM | 12:30 PM | 5:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | SANGLA | NO |
| 9 | 1225 | 8:25 AM | 12:55 PM | 4:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | HARIDWAR | SARAHAN | NO |
| 10 | CHD-KLK-KFN | 8:30 AM | 1:00 PM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KAFNU | NO |
| 11 | 1513 | 9:00 AM | 2:45 PM | 5:45 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 12 | CHD-RPO-2X2 | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 13 | 1726 | 11:30 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:45 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | SARAHAN | NO |
| 14 | 1618 | 1:55 PM | 7:15 PM | 5:20 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | AMBALA CANT | RAMPUR | NO |
| 15 | 191 | 3:20 PM | 8:40 PM | 5:20 Hrs | SHIMLA RURAL | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RAMPUR | YES |
| 16 | 321 | 4:40 PM | 9:45 PM | 5:05 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RAMPUR | YES |
| 17 | 273 | 6:30 PM | 11:00 PM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | YES |
| 18 | 1511 | 10:20 PM | 2:45 AM | 4:25 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 19 | CHD-SML-RPO | 10:30 PM | 3:00 AM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 20 | 1512 | 11:30 PM | 4:45 AM | 5:15 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KALPA | NO |
From Rampur to Reckong Peo:
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | RAMPUR | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 866 | 1:15 AM | 5:25 AM | 4:10 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | UDAIPUR | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 2 | 1511 | 2:45 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 3 | 1512 | 4:45 AM | 9:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KALPA | NO |
| 4 | 930 | 4:55 AM | 11:00 AM | 6:05 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | PANGI | NO |
| 5 | 977 | 5:00 AM | 9:15 AM | 4:15 Hrs | DHARAMPUR | ORDINARY | DHARAMPUR MND | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 6 | 633 | 8:25 AM | 1:30 PM | 5:05 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | THANGI | NO |
| 7 | 1616 | 8:30 AM | 1:10 PM | 4:40 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | RAMPUR | KALPA | YES |
| 8 | 333 | 9:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 6:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | POOH VILLAGE | NO |
| 9 | 1220 | 10:45 AM | 2:15 PM | 3:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | HARIDWAR | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 10 | 255 | 12:15 PM | 4:40 PM | 4:25 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SOLAN | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 11 | 781 | 1:45 PM | 7:00 PM | 5:15 Hrs | SUNDERNAGAR | ORDINARY | MANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 12 | 1513 | 2:45 PM | 7:05 PM | 4:20 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 13 | CHD-RPO-2X2 | 3:00 PM | 7:10 PM | 4:10 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 14 | 273 | 11:00 PM | 3:30 AM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 15 | CHD-SML-RPO | 3:00 AM | 6:55 AM | 3:55 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
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
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 Shimla on your own Vehicle
If you can reach Shimla in your own Vehicle then reaching Kalpa is not too difficult a task.
- The travel time is around 7 hrs so please make sure you start early in the day so that you reach Kalpa in the evening..
- You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
- The road from Rampur to Kalpa is considered among the most dangerous roads so driving should be done carefully.
- 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.
- There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla 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 the bike would be the dream for every adventure lover. Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kalpa on a bike.
- Every bike can reach Kalpa but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine if you are with a pillion rider.
- You will feel the major variation in the temperature while traveling on the bike as there is a gain and drop of altitude. Shimla to Narkanda at a higher altitude than Rampur at a lower altitude.
- Ride carefully as the road from Rampur to Kalpa is considered a dangerous road so driving should be done carefully.
- Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
- There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
- During winters Bike riding is not advisable as there will be snowfall / black ice on roads and bike riding is extremely dangerous..
- 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 Shimla 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.
- The Driver should be experienced in traveling these areas.
- Vehicle to be comfortable since travel time would be more than 12 hrs.
- Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
- Negotiate well before finalization.
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla by Train
Kalpa is not connected by train. The last station is at Shimla
How to reach Kalpa from Shimla by air
Since Kalpa is located inland in the Himalayas, there is no airport nearby. The Last airport is at Shimla.
Summary – “How to reach Kalpa from Shimla”
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 217 KM from Shimla.
- You can reach Kalpa in one day from Shimla.
- 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.
- Cheapest way to reach Kalpa is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.
We hope you have got a good understanding of “How to reach Kalpa from Shimla ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:
Question – Shimla to Kalpa bus
Answer – There is Single bus from Shimla to Kalpa and there are many direct buses from Shimla to Reckong Peo with online booking also. You can read this blog to know further.
