How To Reach Shimla
Shimla is the one-time summer capital of the British Rule. It is a colonial heritage and is blessed with infinite natural beauty. It is a hill station of many facets. The ancient glory of Shimla is still very much alive and Shimla continues to entertain a large number of tourists all through the year. Shimla attracts a large number of tourists also on account of it being strategically located. Shimla is extremely accessible and very frequented. It is a summer destination with soaring mountain ranges on all sides. It is connected to all major cities by means of all types of transportation: by road, by rail and by air. The major tourist destinations such as the Indian capital of Delhi and other famous hill stations such as Kullu, Manali, Mussorie along with the famous cities of Northern plains of India such a Chandigarh and Ambala are also not very far off and are well connected.
By Air
The closest air base to Shimla is the Jubbarhatti Airport, which is about 20 km from the heart of the Shimla city. It is the closest domestic airport to this mesmeric hill station and has regular flights connecting the major cities of New Delhi and Chandigarh. There are five connecting flights to Shimla from Delhi per week. Delhi to Shimla flight is not very popular but saves time. Travellers and visitors can easily avail their tickets from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi. IGI Airport is also the closest international airport to Shimla at a distance of around 360 kilometres. IGI/Delhi airport is well connected with the major cities all across the globe. One can also opt for road transport via taxis/cabs or luxury buses or via trains to reach Shimla comfortably. Even the hotels arrange for airport transfers on request.
By Train
Usually, hill stations do not have railway stations on account of terrain issues. The railway stations are generally located some distance away from the central city. The closest railway station to Shimla is Kalka railway station. It is situated at a distance of approximately 96 kilometres. Kalka is well connected to major Indian cities. Kalka has frequent trains to-and fro from New Delhi and Chandigarh for Kalka railway station. The Kalka Shatabdi train connecting Delhi and Kalka is a very popular medium of transport for people looking to reach Kalka by noon and then go forth for Shimla via the famous narrow gauge Toy Train service. One can also opt for private cabs or taxi service to reach Shimla same day.
By Road
A road journey to Shimla is a visual delight. Shimla is well connected to other nearby hill stations such as Dehradun (approx. 230 km). It is also conveniently connected to the major cities of plains such as New Delhi (approx. 350 km) and Chandigarh (117 km). The national highways are immaculately maintained and the route offers very picturesque scenic beauty of hills, plains, valleys and through well-maintained national highways. It seem to be a pleasurable short 8-hour fun-filled drive via smooth roads and with lots of stop over options along the way to grab a coffee or a sandwich. There are some very reputed restaurants offering tasty treats and refreshing drinks and snacks to weary travellers.
Even the state transport system namely the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) run innumerable buses to suit all categories of travellers right from budget tourists to luxury lovers. The bus service has a good frequency and gives a comfortable ride to your destination. The National Highways, NH 1 and NH 22, connect Shimla to New Delhi. Bus passengers usually board the buses from the famous terminus of ISBT Kashmiri Gate and depending upon the traffic take approximately 8 hours of journey time to reach Shimla. Generally, buses leave in the morning or at night from ISBT. But the timings might vary depending on seasons. Visitors have the option of checking online reservation prior to booking. Similarly, other cities such as Chandigarh and Ambala also has plenty of bus service options for a smooth ride to Shimla any time of the day.