Shimla, a beautiful hill station in the northern region of India is a place beloved not only by the locals but also by all those who travel there. It is also one of the most visited weekend getaways by Indians when they want to escape from the scorching heat and travel to somewhere more pleasant. This beautiful hill station is the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
It is laced with thick beautiful and dense forests gladdened with pine, oak and deodar. It has many recreational activities waiting for tourists to enjoy and experience. It is very picturesque making it the perfect getaway for photographers looking to capture nature in all its glory. Accommodations and food is very reasonable. It caters to any kind of budget; be it expensive or reasonable and affordable.
People from Delhi often seek the pleasantry of the cool and mild climate of Shimla as an escape from the summer heat. It is a refuge for those who want an ideal, fun, lazy getaway with great food and great accommodation and pristine beauty of nature.
Apart from flight there are other ways to travel to Shimla from Delhi. You can take the train, a bus or also your own car. And although the journey via bus and car can prove to be a bit longer as compared to the other two, the journey is worth it.
You can compare the price of flight ticket to that of a bus and a train and make your choice accordingly.
1. By Flight
The Shimla Airport is located around 23km away from the main city in a place called Jubbarhatti. Search for flight ticket which starts from ₹1000 and it varies depending on the date of travel, the airline and also the class that you wish to travel in. The approximate time taken to reach Shimla from Delhi is around 1hr 10 mins; given that there are no layovers.
After you have landed, there are taxis everywhere around the airport so you can easily book one and travel to the main city. It will also be more convenient if you can book the taxi in advance via travel or tourism agencies in Shimla or Jubbarhatti so that you don't have to waste precious time looking for taxis especially during peak tourist season.
2. By Bus
If you don't want to travel by flight, you can also choose buses as a means of transportation. The distance between Delhi and Shimla is around 355 km. The time taken to arrive will be a lot more if you choose to travel by bus because it takes around 10 hours to reach the destination. However if you still want to travel via bus, you can easily head over to Kashmiri Gate where the ISBT is located.
There you can find many buses that travel back and forth from Delhi to Shimla. The tickets start from ₹500- ₹1000 depending on whether you want to travel in a non AC, AC, a Volvo etc because prices differ accordingly.
3. By Train
Currently there are no direct train services from Delhi to Shimla. However you can take trains that connect these two cities. You may take the Delhi-Kalka line from Delhi and upon reaching Kalka you may board the line that connects Kalka-Shimla. The journey from Kalka to Shimla is breathtaking and also you will be taking the famous toy train that connects these places. It has been considered a world heritage and also you will be able to enjoy the serene and tranquil beauty of the hill station.
4. By Car
If you want to save money on train, bus or flight and want your journey from Delhi to Shimla to be a road trip, the best route you can take is via NH 44, 152 and 5. This route will save you more time and will help you get there within 7-8 hours. There are also many nice rest stops like roadside restaurants, beautiful monuments, parks, sanctuaries and temples between these two places if you take the above mentioned route.
It will help you get out and relax instead of being stuck inside your car for hours. However, be mindful of the weather conditions of the different places you’ll be passing through before reaching Shimla if you decide to travel by car. Do a complete update on the road conditions and also the weather before you decide to embark on your journey.