Delhi to Dharamshala by road
| Distance | Driving time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| About 475 km | 10–11 hours | via Ambala, Ropar and Una |
From Delhi we follow the GT Road to Ambala, branch off at Ropar for Nangal and Una, and climb into the Kangra valley through Dehra and Kangra town. You see the Dhauladhar range for the first time near Ranital. It is a full day, so we start early and plan lunch in Punjab before the hills.
Coming from Delhi, the Kangra temples sit right on this road: Chintpurni near Una and Jwalamukhi near Dehra add an hour each. Families visiting the Dalai Lama temple or the cricket stadium often stay three nights so the long drive is worth it. On the way back, an evening Shatabdi from Chandigarh is an option if anyone needs to return faster.
Pickup in Delhi
We pick up from your home anywhere in Delhi NCR, IGI airport (T1, T2 or T3), New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.
Arriving in Dharamshala
We drop you at hotels in Dharamshala or up in McLeodganj; a few lanes there are too narrow for any 12 seater, so we stop at the nearest point. Worth your time in Dharamshala: the Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj, Bhagsunag waterfall, the HPCA cricket stadium and Norbulingka. See our Dharamshala page for more.
What a Delhi to Dharamshala trip costs
A 3-day return trip covers about 950 km. Outstation trips are ₹40 per km with a minimum of 300 km a day, so the estimate is 950 km × ₹40 = ₹38,000 plus tolls, driver included.