[saubi2299]

If anyone is planning to go to Shimla from NCR, all traffic is diverted to the service lanes at Delhi-Sonepat border, which eats up 20 minutes atleast. Thereafter, traffic is diverted to villages after Ambala, which can waste up to 1 hour. Had to go through the narrow lanes, but everyone remained disciplined and stuck to their lane, without any honking.
Route from Panchkula to Shimla is same as 2 years back, with 2 of the 4 lanes closed at many places due to minor rocks falling. So, stick to the speed limit as you will have to often change lanes.

Another option is to take Shahbad-Saha-Panchkula route, which avoids the Ambala diversion. This is a good 4-L Highway, except for the 1 km stretch at Saha.

If you are travelling in evening and even late nights, avoid going through Delhi and take KMP/KGP depending on where you are. Lots of construction going on near Airport and on Ring Road, and as the construction is on full swing during night, it takes more time than predicted by Google.

[kushagra452]

Hello dear BHPians,

I and my wife plan to visit Shimla in the last week of August 2024. It will be a 2 nights, 3 days trip. We will be reaching Kalka from New Delhi by Shatabdi. Arrival time is 11:40am.

What are different options for our onward journey to Shimla?

Are there any self drive car rental facilities in Kalka?

Thank you.

[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by kushagra452

Hello dear BHPians,
What are different options for our onward journey to Shimla?

As you are going to Kalka by train, the top option for traveling to Shimla will be the toy train available from Kalka and enjoy the scenic beauty of the hills around the heritage track. Though you will need to book the tickets in advance which usually remain fully booked.

Thereafter you can explore the tour packages to visit the nearby places in and around Shimla. Some hotels also provide such packages including the accommodation.

Since you have more than couple of days in hand, I would suggest to visit Chitkul valley, book a stay there for the night, enjoy the sunset and the sunrise in the valley. Then go upto Kalpa next day and back to Shimla for the night stay. Most of the the road is good upto Kalpa but the stretch of approx 30kms going towards Chitkul is narrow and bad and takes time to reach there.

[kushagra452]

Originally Posted by tbppjpr

As you are going to Kalka by train, the top option for traveling to Shimla will be the toy train available from Kalka and enjoy the scenic beauty of the hills around the heritage track. Though you will need to book the tickets in advance which usually remain fully booked.

Thereafter you can explore the tour packages to visit the nearby places in and around Shimla. Some hotels also provide such packages including the accommodation.

Since you have more than couple of days in hand, I would suggest to visit Chitkul valley, book a stay there for the night, enjoy the sunset and the sunrise in the valley. Then go upto Kalpa next day and back to Shimla for the night stay. Most of the the road is good upto Kalpa but the stretch of approx 30kms going towards Chitkul is narrow and bad and takes time to reach there.

Thanks. Are self drive options available in Kalka? Traveling from Shimla to Chitkul valley and then to Kalpa by public transport might be too much of a hassle. Last option would be to book a cab.

[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by kushagra452

Thanks. Are self drive options available in Kalka? Traveling from Shimla to Chitkul valley and then to Kalpa by public transport might be too much of a hassle. Last option would be to book a cab.

Have been there only by driving our car and no personal experience with the self drive rental cars so far but you can search online, there are few options available in Shimla, talk to them.

Though Kalka to Shimla should be preferred in the toy-train due to the scenic experience it offers on the 100+ years old UNESCO world heritage railway line. Even the toy train journey is in my cards also.

I have done the toy train journey in the hills of Ooty in my childhood during the steam engine era when the coaches were made of wood with open roofs (or maybe the roof corners were made of glass giving the open roof feeling). Want to refresh those blurry memories again by attempting the toy train journey someday in the hills of Shimla, though today's toy trains are not like the old time but they are still small and run slowly on very narrow tracks.

Another option is to go upto Kalka in your car, park it at the Kalka railway station and then travel in the toy train and visit the areas in and around Shimla only.

Third option is to attempt Delhi to Shimla in your own car, the road going towards Shimla is mostly wide four lane and some places its wide two lane unlike other narrow hilly roads. Visit the desired areas in your car and allot one day for the toy-train journey from Shimla to Kalka and back to Shimla same day in the returning train. Though keep in mind that if its weekend or holiday then the roads in and around Shimla will be packed.