2 week jeep circuit of Himachal

Naga

My plan is to go by train/taxi from Delhi to Shimla, arriving in the afternoon. The next day is spent relaxing in Shimla and arranging the car and driver hire for 2 weeks. I think because of my height (188cm) Qualis will be the most comfortable even though we'll only be a group of 2 people.


Day 1: Shimla to Kalpa
Day 2: Kalpa
Day 3: Kalpa to Tabo
Day 4: Tabo
Day 5: Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar
Day 6: Kaza to Keylong
Day 7-11: base in Keylong making day trips to Udaipur/Trilokinath and various monasteries in Lahaul.
Day 12: Keylong to Manali
Day 13: Manali to Mandi
Day 14: Day trip to Rewelsar Lake from Mandi
Day 15: Mandi to Shimla, catching evening toy train to Kalka and overnight train back to Delhi.

Does this sound OK, not too rushed? I know it has a few long driving days, but I thought with full-day stops at Kalpa and Tabo it would be balanced and also allow for comfortable adjustment to the altitude.

arunchs

I feel two weeks is just perfect.

Also make a visit to Chandratal. Kaza to Keylong in one day, while doable is a little long stretch. But this also most beautiful section of the road. I suggest spending a night in Batal or Chhatru on the way.

__________________
My India travel blog and my Images from India

rishabh6296

you can spend 2 days in Kaza and explore Ki, Kibber,Gette,Tashigong,Langza and Kaumik villages, chandratal would be a good option as well.

Naga

Thanks for the suggestions.

Maybe I'll try to see Dhankar on the afternoon of day 4, and then on day 5 visit Kungri Gompa in the Pin valley and stop for the night there or at Kaza. Then day 6, see more stuff around Kaza. And day 7 go over the Kunzum la, but maybe stop for the night at Khoksar or Sissu instead of driving all the way to Keylong in one day.

Khak

Shimla to Kalpa in one day is do-able, but it will be around 10-12 hrs of journey......... or you can end day 1 at Sarahan (7-8 hrs journey, see the Bhimakali temple and start from Sarahan next day and reach Kalpa in 3-4 Hrs

__________________
~Khak~

Life is Beautiful

Dilliwala

You can do Rivalsar as a drive-by - Mandi-Rivalsar-Ner Chauk, a few hours there is sufficient to see the place. Unless you wanted to visit the monasteries also. I did exactly the above last Oct.

Do you WANT to take the toy train? Otherwise it'd be no point to cut across from Mandi area to Shimla - just keep going on NH 21 till Chandigarh, you can catch a train there.

voyager61

Hi! In a car Shimla to Kalpa should not take longer than 6-7 hours.The same or just a bit more should be the time for Keylong. Again I would avoid Batal like the plague, and Chatru is not so much better. I would go straight to Keylong.

Naga

In Rewalsar I wanted to see the monasteries and Padmasambhava's cave. I was thinking maybe 3 or 4 hours including lunch. I wanted to stay in Mandi at the Raj Mahal hotel and to look around the city a little.

I was thinking of riding the toy train just for the experience because we won't be using it on the way up from Delhi, but I may consider bypassing it as you suggest.

Thanks for your opinion on the driving times.

I was also factoring in 2 nights at Mandi partially as a buffer in case we decide to stay in Lahaul an extra day, then we can cut a day from Mandi and still get back to Delhi on time.

rishabh6296

i have done shimla-Kalpa twice in 8 hrs flat with 3 stops.

khaadu75

Seems u have ur calculations way off ... Simla - Sarahan is not more than 4 hrs ( stretched ) and then if Kalpa is 3-4 hrs , how is Simla - Kalpa 10-12 hrs ???

lets not post info that we not sure about as it can confuse a first time traveller in planning his itinerary . Lets not post for the sake of posting .

Thanx

soledad

Well,I just came across your calculation,and I was taken aback;
I am doing the distance this month,and by all means, I can't think of Shimla-Sarahan less than 8 hours [170Km]
Please correct me,if I am wrong; Then,Kalpa would take another 2-3 hours at least, isn't it ?

khaadu75

Why would you take 8 hrs for a 170 kms trip that too on good wide roads ? Who gave you that figure ...

Simla - Narkanda - 2 hrs , max 2.5 hrs
Narkanda - rampur - 1.5 - 2 hrs max
Rampur - Sarahan - 1.5 hr max

Correct me if Im wrong !! And these times are on the slower side - I do Simla to Narkanda in 1 hr easy !!!

Cheers

Dilliwala

Umm, you're a local. I'll request to keep that in mind, i.e. not everyone can drive that fast. Nor is there a need to, in my considered opinion.

5 hours is good and safe to get from Shimla to Sarahan. By car.
And let's be clear, folks, the bus takes even longer.

khaadu75

I aint recomending fast driving at all, infact I dont recomend city drivers to drive in the hills as a lot of them create chaos in the hills coz they dont know the hill driving fundas ... wonder where you got that idea from !!

if you calculate the times I posted in my last post ... its slower than the 5 hrs you suggest . Pls read before commenting .

Cheers

soledad

Thanks for telling me that; Actually,I am nowhere near that region,and all the figures about timing about that I received from the driver,I am going to hire while doing that route later this month; This would be really helpful for me,thanks a lot;