How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla – 2023 Updated

With spectacular views of Lahaul Valley and Spiti Valley, Kunzum Pass is a high altitude mountain pass which divides these both valleys. This blog will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla through different modes.  

Where is Kunzum Pass located?

Kunzum Pass is located in Lahaul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh, It is a high altitude mountain pass dividing Lahaul & Spiti valleys. Spiti river originates from here.

Name of the Place	Kunzum Pass (कुंजम दर्रा )
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Lahaul & Spiti
Elevation	4500  m, 14800 ft
Accessibility	By road
Best time to visit	June  – September

How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla

Kunzum Pass is connected by road and accessible majorly during summers.  There are two options to reach Kunzum Pass by road, 

One is via Shimla, Rampur which is open throughout the year except during heaving snowfall. The distance between Kunzum Pass from Shimla is around 510 Km. 

Another option is Via Manali which is open only for 4 months a year.

There are different modes by which one can reach Kunzum Pass.

How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla by Road

There are various options to reach Kunzum Pass by road.

 You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kunzum Pass.

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
8	Reckong Peo	215	7900	2400	07:00
9	Khab	290	8500	2600	08:45
10	Nako	325	12000	3650	09:25
11	Tabo	390	10800	3300	11:10
12	Kaza	420	12100	3700	12:40
13	Kunzum Pass	510	14800	4500	15:40

How to reach Kunzum Pass 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.   

Route – Shimla – Reckong Peo by bus and then Reckong Peo to Kaza and then Kunzum Pass by bus.

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 Kaza.

You can take a bus for  Kaza from Reckong Peo.

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	RECONGPEO	Kunzum Pass	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	RPO-KZA-01	5:30 AM	3:00 PM	9:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	RECONGPEO	Kunzum Pass	NO
2	RPO-KZA-02	7:30 AM	5:00 PM	9:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	RECONGPEO	Kunzum Pass	NO

From  Kaza  to Kunzum pass

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	KAZA	KUNZUM LA	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	KZA-KLU	5:00 AM	8:00 AM	3:00 Hrs	KEYLONG	ORDINARY	KAZA	KULLU	NO

Option – 2 Shimla to Manali, then to Kunzum Pass.

Bus service from Shimla to Manali is  frequent. You can easily reach manali 

From Manali to Kunzum Pass 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 Kunzum Pass from Shimla on your own Vehicle

If you can reach Shimla in your own Vehicle then reaching Kunzum Pass is not too difficult a task in Option-1

Option-1

.

1. Highway up to Karcham after that single-lane road.
2. Road near Kunzum Pass is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
3. You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
4. The road from Rampur to Kunzum Pass is considered among the most dangerous roads so driving should be done carefully.
5. 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.
6. There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.

For Option – 2

1. One can easily reach Manali from Delhi.
2. The route after a few kilometers from the Atal tunnel is totally bad in shape and opens for only 4 months a year. So please make sure you are well prepared for that terrain.
3. The travel time is more for Kunzum Pass from Manali, so please make sure you start early in the day as during the rest of the day the water level in the crossing is high.
4. There is no network/support on this route. Make sure you are having cold prevention set up in case you get stuck somewhere. 
5. If you are having a 4X4 vehicle then this is a good option.
6. The road from Kunzum Pass to Tabo is majorly okay but has some treacherous sections.
7. Cancel or postpone your travel if there is bad weather.
8. In Manali – Kunzum Pass route petrol pump is only at Manali.

How to reach Kunzum Pass 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 Kunzum Pass on the bike would be the dream for every adventure lover. Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kunzum Pass on a bike.

1. Every bike can reach Kunzum Pass but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine if you are with a pillion rider. 
2. 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.
3. Ride carefully as the road from Rampur to Kunzum Pass is considered a dangerous road so driving should be done carefully.
4. Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
5. There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
6. During winters Bike riding is not advisable as there will be snowfall / black ice on roads and bike riding is extremely dangerous..
7. 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 Kunzum Pass from Shimla on a Taxi

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

1. Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
2. Vehicle to be comfortable since travel time would be more than 8 hrs.
3. Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
4. Negotiate well before finalization.

How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla by Train

Kunzum Pass is not connected by train. The last station is at Shimla

How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla by air

Since Kunzum Pass is located deep  in the Himalayas, there is no major airport nearby.

Summary – “How to reach Kunzum Pass from Shimla”

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

• Kunzum Pass is a wonderful travel destination located in the Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh at around 510 KM from Shimla.
• Kunzum Pass can be reached during summers but the best time is from June to  September .

• Kunzum Pass can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
• Cheapest way to reach Kunzum Pass is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.

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

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions: