Amritsar to Shimla

The distance from Amritsar to Shimla is perfectly ideal for a road trip, that can be enjoyed with both family and friends. The distance between the two beautiful cities is 336 kilometres, and the journey duration can be somewhere between 7 to 8 hours, depending on the route taken, driving speed as well as the number of stops made.

If not self-driving, the journey can be best experienced by a chauffeur-driven cab. You can hire a taxi or cab from popular cab rental companies and make halts at your own convenience anytime and anywhere to enjoy short breaks. Some of the local car rentals are aha taxis, Jawala Travels, Car hires in Amritsar etc, with some popular go-to cab booking sites being Savaari, getmecab, gozocabs etc. You must make sure that you check for the cab operator's authenticity and vehicle conditions so as to avoid any unpleasant situation during the road trip. Some of these local taxi operators provide a whole taxi package, with a round trip as well as point tours in the city included. You can look for such taxi packages and avail them if you find them helpful. If you are insistent upon a budget trip, you can also book shared taxis or do carpooling from Amritsar to Shimla, because that way, it becomes cheaper than train or bus. If you are travelling with friends or family, the best option is booking an outstation taxi or cab, entirely dedicated to your use. If you want to save a few bucks, book it in advance, that is a minimum of 10-15 days before the journey date.

Route Options

The roads from Amritsar to Jalandhar to Phagwara to Ropar are in excellent condition, and you can be rest assured that the drive will be a smooth one. This part of the journey takes about 3 hours. The traffic is moderate. Amritsar to Phagwara is on NH 1, which is the Delhi Amritsar Highway. Phagwara to Ropar is a toll road that leads to Chandigarh also. The Himalayan expressway is very well-maintained and in good condition. Before reaching Nalagarh, you have to drive on NH21 leading to Manali for about 8-9 kilometres, which is again a well-maintained highway. After Nalagarh, you must take on the road towards Ramshahr, and this is a state highway road on which you have to drive for another 80 kilometres. This is relatively maintained road, with some patches and potholes in between. Up to Ropar, the road is good. From Ghanauli to Kalka it is a single road, via Nalagarh. It is recommended that you drive on this route during daylight.

Approximate Cost

If you are taking a shared taxi or carpool, the cost can be low. But, if you are booking a chauffeur-driven cab or outstation taxi, your fare will be calculated based on the kilometres travelled, which again will depend on the route taken. Usually, a four-seater hatchback or sedan cab takes ₹3500-3700 while a six-seater SUV can take about ₹4900-5000. If you are travelling in a big group, you can book a nine-seater, ten seaters or 12 seater Tempo Traveller which can cost about ₹9400, ₹10300 and ₹12000 respectively.

Eating Options on the Way

The state of Punjab is synonymous to dhabas. What makes this road trip more amazing is the countless number of dhabas and eating options that come on the way. AJ Dhaba, Inqalaab Dhaba, RD Dhaba, SK Seven Dhaba, Sandhu Malhi Punjabi Dhaba, Majha Food Court, Om Star Dhaba, Gagan Vaishno Dhaba, Kabir Vaishno Dhaba, Kulwant Dhaba, Kalnorian Da Dhaba, Sami Vaishno Dhaba are the some of the best dhabas on the way, where you can stop by and taste Punjabi food, especially paranthas and lassi. McDonald's and Café Coffee Day outlets also fall on the way, and one can stop by and chill out at these with friends.

There are no direct buses from Amritsar to Shimla. Hence you cannot travel by buses. Among public transport, shared taxis are the only means. If you have to travel by road, the best way to do so is by taking a taxi or cab from Amritsar to Shimla. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Amritsar to Chandigarh, which takes about 4 hours and then take a taxi or bus from Chandigarh to Shimla, which takes 2 hours in case of taxi and 4 hours in case of buses. In this way, you complete the journey in 6-8 hours, which is almost the same as direct taxi. Although travelling by buses can be relatively cheaper, the break journey can be tedious, so it not recommended.

From Chandigarh, you can take a Volvo, semi-deluxe or an ordinary seater bus from Sector 43 ISBT for Shimla. There are private as well as government buses operating from Chandigarh to Shimla. The tickets can be booked online on bus booking websites as well as HRTC website.

There are no direct trains from Amritsar to Shimla. But, tourists often prefer to travel by trains to Shimla, and there are several ways to do this:

1. Take a taxi from Amritsar to Kalka and then a toy train from Kalka to Shimla.
2. Take a train from Amritsar to Chandigarh, then a train from Chandigarh to Kalka and then a train from Kalka to Shimla.
3. Take a train from Amritsar to Chandigarh and then a bus or taxi from Chandigarh to Shimla.

Popular alternative: For a memorable journey, tourists often choose the first alternative. The toy trains are lazy trains that take you from Kalka to Shimla. Travelling in these toy trains is a must-do when you are visiting Shimla as it adds an essence of uniqueness to your trip and gives you a chance to experience the hilly terrain as the train climbs higher. Being one of the most scenic train journeys in India, this is the most popular way to reach Shimla from Kalka.