Advise about visiting Himanchal Pradesh from Punjab

Jamna20

Hi,

My Husband and I are planning to visit India at the end of February 2006 for 4 weeks. We are starting in Punjab Jalandhar and then plan to visit Himanchal Pradesh and see some of the main attractions there i.e. Dharmsala and Simla. I would like some information so that we can do some planning:

1) What is the best way to get from Jalandhar (Punjab) to Himanchal Pradesh?

2) I'd like to do as much of the trip as I can by train, as I have visited India a few times before and the car drivers are terrible drivers, I have often felt like I wouldn't get to my destination in one piece. Can someone tell me where the nearest rail stations are for Dharmsala and Simla.

3) Apart from the two places I have mentioned (Dharmsala and Simla) is there any other place that is a must to visit and that we can fit into a 5 day round trip?

4) We are planning to do this trip in the second week of March, what will the weather be like up in the mountains?

5) Is it safe for two foreigners who know nothing of the Himanchal Pradesh to travel alone? I am of Indian decent, but my husband is white/English and will attract alot of attention. Should we take a local cousin with us?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Thanks

JO

nirola

hi
i suppose the best and fastest way to go is ofsource by ROAD

i dont know much about train from jalandhar i suppose you have to go to pathankot for train to dharamshala

and for shimla you will get train from kalka (near to chandigarh) YES! i recomend this journey through train

oh yes, apart from these 2 places u must visit Manali (my honeymoon city), Dalhousie, khaijar.(if interested in religious places all goodess temples are there in h.p)


weather will be good for u LONDANAIER it wont be tht much cold there but yes u do have to carry ur woolens

2nd week of march will be g8 as exams will be going on u will get a good discount and no crowd at these places

yes it will be more safe to get ur cousion along with as himachal pardesh people are nt good at english

hope tht will help u

nirola

also see to this
Favourite Places to Stay in Himachal

shere

1. Get a bus to Chandigarh from Jullundhar (you could get a bus form Jullundhar all the way to Shimla). Then from there get to Kalka (by bus or train) to catch the train that goes to Shimla.

2. I understand what you are saying about car drivers, I travelled to Kasauli,Shimla, Chail etc in 2000 and had one of the worst drivers ever. He actually used his hand on the clutch to find the biting point when reversing etc. If you do hire a car to go anywhere I would make it a habbit to check the condition of the tyres (shoddy remoulds held together by staples are common) and make sure there is a jack and wheel spanner in the boot. I hired a driver to get to Kasauli in 2004 and the driver was excellent.

3. I always like to go to Kasauli. It is about an hours drive from Chandigarh and very peaceful. But if you are catching the train to Shimla then it may not be practical to go there.

How about Shimla-Manali-Dharmashala-Dalhousie. After Shimla all the other places to visit will involve a journey by car or bus. From Dalhousie you can get to Pathankot and then on to Jullundhar.

5. The people in Himachal I have met have been amongst the best people you could encounter. I have found them to be trustworthy and honest. The state is a tourist destination so I doubt you will have any problems.

Jamna20

Thanks for all your advice. Can someone tell me, how easy it is to get good clean, safe and reasonably priced accomodation at these places.

Is it best to book before you go or is it just easy to fin something once you get there?

Alan D

I'm not quite sure what you mean by reasonably priced accommodation, but there are stacks of hotels of all categories in the places you have mentioned and guest houses too. As far as I know it's the off season so you should have no difficulty finding a room for the night.

Have to agree with others that Himachalis are totally welcoming, many work in the tourism business and you should have no problems, liguistic or otherwise.

__________________
What a long strange trip it's been!

poon123

Simla has plenty of small clean hotels ,the coolie's know them as they get a comission. stay at Ridge /Mall area hotels. As it will not be the tourist season ask for discount and see the room before you pay,if not happy the coolie will take you to a different hotel. I too am married to an englishman ,I always ask my husband to stay 10 steps behind when I am arranging the fare for Auto's, Hotels etc etc, you should see the looks I get when he quickly jumps in auto rikshaw etc.
Have a great time. I have fond memories os Simla as I studied for 8 years in a boarding school there.
Poon

PS .Take the train .Views are breath taking.

SHIMLA

__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

TimMakins

I'm glad someone else has mentioned Mandi. I had a great time there this summer, and feel too many people rush straight through on their way to Manali. If you want an excellent-value hotel with real atmosphere, stay in the Raj Mahal, next to the Palace. Its got lovely old Raj-style rooms and furniture, and a secluded garden for afternoon teas. Good food, and the Rajah himself is generally hanging around reception.

Tim in Ireland.

__________________
Travelling Tim - http://www.mapability.com/blogs/

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

himadventures

For DHARAMSHALA and MACLEOD GANJ-you have to go via HOSHIARPUR and KANGRA and from Maceod Ganj /Dharamshala you can reach MANALI or
SHIMLA.

SUGGESTION: Do not travel by bus..this is bit troublesome when you atrvel from Punjab to Himachal. Not due to any safety question but time consumed in travel and type of buses available. I understand about your concern about drivers..but not everyone is same..try...this is best mode which is very enjoyble in this journey.
If you have set mind on train...for DHARAMSHALA/MACLEOD GANJ you can catch JAMMU TWAI trains from JALANDHAT CANTT. and drop at PATHANKOT and get taxi/bus from there. But for going further to SHIMLA-you have to go by bus.SHIMLA you can reach by train from CHANDIGARH. But for that-you have to come back via same route to JALANDHAR and then get to CHANDIGARH.

I am of the view that you will be spending lot of time and money in this-get a car / SUV...

HIRE a taxi or SUV from Jalandhar and you both can travel comfortably. Ask someone in your relations..and this will be arranged within minutes.
You can find every type of hotel at all these places as HIMACHAL PRADESH is tourist happening place..

NO PROBLEMS-ANYWHERE....JUST ENJOY..AVOID PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Jamna20

Hi,

My husand and I have decided to travel from Jallandhar by Train to Chandighar (I am assuming there is one that does this trip) and then from Chandighar onto Shimla) Does anything know how long this journey will take?

How many days do you think we will need to look around Shimla?

JO

aebp25

The drive from Chandagar to Shimla will take about 3.5 hours. If you take the baby train up there it is about 5.5 hours, but the views are great. We spent 4 days in Shimla and saw all we really wanted to see. I think 3 there would be enough. But we loved walking around, going to the temple and meeting the people there. Everyone was wonderful!

shere

Is there a train that goes from Jullundhur to Chandigarh ?

Last I heard there was a major project underway to build a rail line from Ludhiana to Chandigarh.

A hired car is your best bet the journey from Jullundhur to Chandigarh will only take about 2.5 hours.

Jamna20

Wow, 5.5 hours on the baby train. I assume this makes regular stops on the way?

Do you have to take the baby train all the way or can you just take it part of the way and do the rest by taxi.

Or is it best to go by Taxi and come back via the train?

I am surprised that there is no train between Jallandhar and Chandighar, after all both of them are cities?

manreet_16

I think u should go for a nice Taxi..It is safe..Because these days registered Taxi are on the road..And the people who hire these taxis are registered and have no problems..its cheap,secure and dependable..