How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh – 2023 Updated

Once the summer capital of India, Shimla is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. It is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and Occasionally called “Queen of Hills” and It is a weekend destination for North Indian Tourists.  This blog will share complete knowledge of how to reach Shimla from Chandigarh through different modes.  

Where is Shimla located?

Shimla is a small town situated on Hindustan Tibet road National Highway -22 in the Southern side of Himachal Pradesh. 

Name of the Place	Shimla ( शिमला  )
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Shimla
Elevation of Place	2200 m, 7200 feet
Accessibility	By road, By Rail & By air
Best time to visit	Round the year, For Snow Mid-Dec to Mid -Feb
Distance from Chandigarh	Around 120 Km

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh

Shimla is well connected by air, train and by road. Accessible throughout the year except during very heavy snowfall. 

 The distance between Shimla  from Chandigarh is around 120 Km. There are different modes by which one can reach Shimla.

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh by Road

There are various options to reach Shimla by road.

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

Sr. No.	Location	Distance (Km)	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	Time  (Hr)
1	Chandigarh	0	700	225	00:00
2	Solan	70	5100	1550	02:00
3	Shimla	120	7200	2200	03:30

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh 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 Shimla by bus. You can take the 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. 

 Chandigarh to Shimla

SR. No.	SERVICE NO.	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	DURATION	DEPOT	TYPE	ORIGIN	DESTINATION	ONLINE BOOKING
1	301	12:20 AM	5:30 AM	5:10 Hrs	SHIMLA RURAL	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	KHAMADI	NO
2	93	1:00 AM	5:01 AM	4:01 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RAMPUR	NO
3	556	1:10 AM	5:45 AM	4:35 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RECONGPEO	NO
4	1220	1:25 AM	5:00 AM	3:35 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	HARIDWAR	RECONGPEO	NO
5	538	1:30 AM	5:28 AM	3:58 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	RAMPUR	NO
6	176	2:24 AM	6:00 AM	3:36 Hrs	SHIMLA RURAL	HIMGAURAV 2X2 AC	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
7	46	2:25 AM	6:44 AM	4:19 Hrs	SOLAN	HIMGAURAV 2X2 AC	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
8	20	2:40 AM	7:00 AM	4:20 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
9	591	3:00 AM	8:15 AM	5:15 Hrs	TARADEVI	HIMDHARA 3X2 AC	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
10	9	3:01 AM	8:00 AM	4:59 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	HIMACHAL BHAWAN DELHI	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
11	518	3:15 AM	7:15 AM	4:00 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SANGLA	NO
12	570	3:25 AM	7:40 AM	4:15 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
13	579	3:30 AM	8:45 AM	5:15 Hrs	KARSOG	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	KARSOG	YES
14	CHD-KLK-KFN	4:00 AM	8:31 AM	4:31 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	KAFNU	NO
15	36	4:01 AM	8:30 AM	4:29 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
16	22	4:30 AM	8:50 AM	4:20 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	HIMACHAL BHAWAN DELHI	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
17	373	4:31 AM	9:00 AM	4:29 Hrs	ROHRU	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	ROHRU	YES
18	564	5:40 AM	9:30 AM	3:50 Hrs	TARADEVI	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
19	CHD-RPO-2X2	6:05 AM	10:30 AM	4:25 Hrs	REC PEO	HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO
20	1730	6:12 AM	10:15 AM	4:03 Hrs	ROHRU	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	ROHRU	YES
21	1726	6:36 AM	11:30 AM	4:54 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SARAHAN	YES
22	175	7:48 AM	11:50 AM	4:02 Hrs	ROHRU	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
23	1618	8:45 AM	1:55 PM	5:10 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	AMBALA CANT	RAMPUR	NO
24	501	10:30 AM	3:30 PM	5:00 Hrs	SHIMLA RURAL	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
25	6	11:00 AM	4:30 PM	5:30 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	HIMACHAL BHAWAN DELHI	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
26	1550	11:36 AM	3:45 PM	4:09 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
27	146	11:48 AM	4:00 PM	4:12 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	AMRITSAR	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
28	1551	12:30 PM	4:39 PM	4:09 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
29	1552	1:54 PM	6:03 PM	4:09 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
30	7	2:00 PM	6:55 PM	4:55 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	HIMACHAL BHAWAN DELHI	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
31	592	2:05 PM	7:00 PM	4:55 Hrs	TARADEVI	HIMDHARA 3X2 AC	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
32	159	2:06 PM	6:00 PM	3:54 Hrs	TARADEVI	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
33	129	2:35 PM	6:50 PM	4:15 Hrs	TARADEVI	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
34	510	4:15 PM	9:15 PM	5:00 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
35	1553	4:40 PM	8:49 PM	4:09 Hrs	SOLAN	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
36	657	5:00 PM	10:00 PM	5:00 Hrs	SHIMLA RURAL	ORDINARY	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO
37	1511	5:50 PM	10:20 PM	4:30 Hrs	REC PEO	HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	YES
38	CHD-SML-RPO	6:00 PM	10:30 PM	4:30 Hrs	REC PEO	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	RECONGPEO	NO
39	6707	6:30 PM	11:00 PM	4:30 Hrs	NALAGARH	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
40	1512	7:00 PM	11:30 PM	4:30 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	KALPA	YES
41	1510	8:00 PM	12:30 AM	4:30 Hrs	RAMPUR	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	RAMPUR	YES
42	48	8:01 PM	11:00 PM	2:59 Hrs	DW TARADEVI	HIMSUTA AC VOLVO / SCANIA 2X2	CHANDIGARH AIRPORT	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	YES
43	1729	8:20 PM	1:00 AM	4:40 Hrs	ROHRU	ORDINARY	CHANDIGARH	ROHRU	YES
44	551	9:30 PM	2:40 AM	5:10 Hrs	SOLAN	HIMDHARA 3X2 AC	DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE	SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI	NO

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 Shimla  from Chandigarh on your own Vehicle

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

1. Around 3:30 Hrs are required to reach Shimla from Chandigarh.
2. Roads till Solan are very good  separate lanes for up and down traffic) and in the rest part till Shimla construction is going on the road..   
3. You don’t require a 4X4 or a SUV as the normal vehicle can reach there.
4. In winter there would be high snowfall around Shimla. Please plan your journey by checking the weather.

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh on a bike

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

1. Every bike can reach Shimla but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine if you are with a pillion rider. 
2. Carry rain covers along as there might be rainy uphill while there is a clear sky on the plains.
3. During winters Bike riding is not advisable as there will be snowfall / black ice on roads and bike riding is extremely dangerous..

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh on a Taxi

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

1. The Driver should be experienced in traveling these areas.
2. Vehicle to be comfortable since travel time would be around 5 hrs.
3. Negotiate well before finalization.

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh by Train

The nearest railway station en route to Shimla 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. You can easily reach Kalka railway station from Chandigarh which is less than an Hour.

• 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.

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh by air

The nearest airport en route to Shimla  is Shimla airport but there is no direct service available on the plane from Chandigarh.

Heli service is available from Chandigarh to Shimla. 

Summary – “How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh”

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

• Shimla is a wonderful travel destination located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh at around 120 KM from Chandigarh.
• You can reach Shimla in one day from Chandigarh.
• Shimla can be reached throughout the year but the best time is from April – June and then from September – October.
• If you want to see snowfall the best time is mid dec to mid feb.
• Shimla can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
• Nearest railway station is  Shimla which is narrow gauge. The train can be taken from Kalka.
• Cheapest way to reach Shimla is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.

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

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions: