Shimla to Dharamshala by road
| Distance | Driving time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| About 235 km | 7 hours | via Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra |
The road drops from Shimla to the Sutlej at Bilaspur, runs past the Gobind Sagar lake, then rolls through Hamirpur and climbs into the Kangra valley under the snow line of the Dhauladhar range. Most groups stop for lunch around Hamirpur. Leave by 7 am to reach Dharamshala before dark; with an extra hour you can stop for darshan at Jwalamukhi or Brajeshwari Devi on the way.
The road is good tarmac most of the way, with a few narrow stretches near Ghumarwin where we take it slow. Groups visiting both hill stations usually spend two nights in Shimla, then make this transfer and finish with McLeodganj and Palampur. It is also the start of many Kangra temple trips.
Pickup in Shimla
We pick up from the ISBT at Tutikandi, Shimla railway station, Jubbarhatti airport or your hotel anywhere in town, Kufri or Mashobra.
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 Shimla to Dharamshala trip costs
A return trip covers about 470 km. Both ends are in Himachal, so our daily rental applies: ₹9,500 a day with up to 250 km. That fits in 2 days, about ₹19,000 with the driver, plus tolls.