Rishikesh to Dharmsala or Manali - please help!

drsdg · Jun 15th, 2008, 15:17

Currently in Rishikesh after a long series of travel mishaps and train cancellations - basically revamped our entire itinerary on the fly! As a result we aren't quite sure how to get out of Rishikesh to head out towards Dharamsala or Manali. Can anyone advise the best way to do this? I know there is a train in the opposite direction but as we are already here, that's not really an option.

We're also open to going elsewhere in the north if these aren't feasible options. Should mention that my husband is 6'6" and may have a tough time on the government bus for a long haul - not sure if private buses would be better? Would also be open to hiring a car, depending on the cost.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!

bigjed · Jun 15th, 2008, 15:19

we took a bus from Dharamsala to Dehra Dun - try a taxi to Dehra Dun from Rishakesh and book a bus - it must work the other way around!! I'm six three and the bus was a little rough but it wasn't even close to full until we got to Chandigarh - so I could stretch out a little.

Perhaps a bus from Haridwar to Chandigarh on to Pathankot by train - it's still a 10 hour bus ride initially. Then a taxi up the hills to Dharamasala.

You can bus from Rish to Dharamasla 15 hours leaves at 2:30pm. You gotta love the Lonely Planet!

kidsan · Jun 15th, 2008, 15:44

there is a train to pathankot (or maybe chakki bank...same town) from haridwar and then its a 4 hour bus journey up to dharamsala/mcleodganj...normally not tooo crowded and you should get a seat.

You can get times from the indian railways site or just go to a travel agent in Rishi...good luck

zoltan · Jun 16th, 2008, 09:55

I've been looking at a similar route myself.

1) Rishikesh... get a bus/train/taxi to Derah Dun. There's an airport that does daily (?) flights to Shimla. This will save you around 5 hours of travel time.

2) From Shimla, you can get one of the many buses which go to Dharamsala. This is still a 6+ hours journey, but at least you're going to be heading in the right direction.

My recollection is that there are only 2 airlines plying the Dehra Dun => Shimla route. One is a budget group & the other a more expensive one.

Just did another search. The airlines are: MDLR and Air Deccan.

Tickets are Deccan rs. 3,574 & MDLR are somewhere around rs. 5,225

Cheers
Zoltan

Dilliwala · Jun 18th, 2008, 03:14

http://www.indiamike.com/india/uttar...amsala-t41343/

Jun 15th, 2008, 15:17	#1
drsdg Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 11	Rishikesh to Dharmsala or Manali - please help! Currently in Rishikesh after a long series of travel mishaps and train cancellations - basically revamped our entire itinerary on the fly! As a result we aren't quite sure how to get out of Rishikesh to head out towards Dharamsala or Manali. Can anyone advise the best way to do this? I know there is a train in the opposite direction but as we are already here, that's not really an option. We're also open to going elsewhere in the north if these aren't feasible options. Should mention that my husband is 6'6" and may have a tough time on the government bus for a long haul - not sure if private buses would be better? Would also be open to hiring a car, depending on the cost. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!

Jun 16th, 2008, 09:55	#4
zoltan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 490	I've been looking at a similar route myself. 1) Rishikesh... get a bus/train/taxi to Derah Dun. There's an airport that does daily (?) flights to Shimla. This will save you around 5 hours of travel time. 2) From Shimla, you can get one of the many buses which go to Dharamsala. This is still a 6+ hours journey, but at least you're going to be heading in the right direction. My recollection is that there are only 2 airlines plying the Dehra Dun => Shimla route. One is a budget group & the other a more expensive one. Just did another search. The airlines are: MDLR and Air Deccan. Tickets are Deccan rs. 3,574 & MDLR are somewhere around rs. 5,225 Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Jun 15th, 2008, 15:19	#2
bigjed Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Burkina Faso Posts: 49	we took a bus from Dharamsala to Dehra Dun - try a taxi to Dehra Dun from Rishakesh and book a bus - it must work the other way around!! I'm six three and the bus was a little rough but it wasn't even close to full until we got to Chandigarh - so I could stretch out a little. Perhaps a bus from Haridwar to Chandigarh on to Pathankot by train - it's still a 10 hour bus ride initially. Then a taxi up the hills to Dharamasala. You can bus from Rish to Dharamasla 15 hours leaves at 2:30pm. You gotta love the Lonely Planet!

Jun 15th, 2008, 15:44	#3
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: heading for Mauritania... Posts: 669	there is a train to pathankot (or maybe chakki bank...same town) from haridwar and then its a 4 hour bus journey up to dharamsala/mcleodganj...normally not tooo crowded and you should get a seat. You can get times from the indian railways site or just go to a travel agent in Rishi...good luck

Jun 18th, 2008, 03:14	#5
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 3,102	http://www.indiamike.com/india/uttar...amsala-t41343/

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