Shimla / Dharamshala / Others

shashank.aggarwal

Hi Guys, this weekend I plan to go somewhere for couple of days. I plan to drive on Friday night.

What all places do you think are in reach from Delhi for the weekend, and those are safe for driving in night. I rule out UP and UA on this front. So Himachal seems to be relevant option as driving through Haryana and Punjab is lot more safer. I plan to cover the plains in dark hours and would start on the hill at around 5:30 AM on Saturday.

So what all options I have ?

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ajitkommini

I drove from Delhi to Shimla, but that was some time ago (2004). I remember the road being very good. It's a toll road almost the entire way (till Ambala I think). Total distance was between 300-400 km

puchoo

Drive to Shimla is good like i was telling you minus the panipat bit and then between Ambala and Chandigarh thanks to it being a single carriage way under construction at that..but im sure this section would have improved a lot ...

Chandigarh to Shimla ofcourse is a good road. if you start climbing at 530 then you should be in Shimla by 830 max.

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shashank.aggarwal

what do you, is it sensible to start climbing at 5:30, or can it be done earlier...

My simple concern is night driving in Hills, what do you say ?

Secondly, I am seriously thinking about Mcleodganj as well...

puchoo

i personally prefer driving in the nigh because i can be faster thanks to being able to spot car curves and curves away coz of the headlights... but 530 is fine as such, maybe even 5. If you are not comfy dont drive and start as close to dawn as possible.

Sure, Mcleodganj is a good idea and if u haven't been there before then go for it..

shashank.aggarwal

I have been to both these place a looong time back, and with my parents...

I am not fixing any place, because once I work out the time I have available, I will do accordingly..

btw, how long does it take to Shimla, say if I start at 11 Pm from Delhi, not very aggressive, but mediocre driving style.. range between 90-120 Kmph..

puchoo

90-120 , ur saying thats not aggressive given our raods ??

On a more serious note u can manage about 90-100 consistently but there will be many many trucks doing antics all over the place so watch out for that.

If you leave at 11

Reach Karnal at around 1:30

Chandigarh at around 3:30

Kalka at 4:30

Shimla at 7:30

These are max times i have taken.

Plus if you stop for tea etc (which u should) then add another 1 hour for breaks and you are looking at 8:30 or so.

Would advise you stop at Karnal , then Kalka for the breaks and then maybe once more about 1 hour into the drive from Kalka.

shashank.aggarwal

Oh..I guess I am still loving in Rajasthan dream...there 90-120 is mediocre speed and 130-150 is what we call aggressive..

Have not driven on NH1 in a car yet..only bike, will see how does things materialize..I assume the trucks and buses would be same as on NH8, maybe a bit higher in number..

And what about Dharamshala, I guess either I can go through Pathankot or from the other side as well ?

rajeev1008

I think Dharamshala is too far for a weekend trip. Anyway, the shorter and preferred route for Delhi-Dharamshala is through Anandpur sahib (del-chd- anandpur ....). The road after chd is not comparable to the one to Shimal and it would be almost 11-12 hours on the road to reach Dharamshala.
But if its just a weekend, you could consider Kasauli too - cuts down on the travel time, but not on the views/weather.

rajeev1008

I have a friend who reached Shimla in 5 and half hours flat. I never sit in his car, since hearing about that trip .
Seriously, NH1 is as good as the Rajasthan roads but for the slow moving traffic. Nowadays you can find inter city Autos on NH1. The trucks used to stick to the left most lane, but not any more as that lane is hogged by two wheelers (motorized and unmotorized), autos, tempos. Early mornings are still good though.

shashank.aggarwal

11-12 hours is almost ok with me...I can start at 9 pm on Friday...but what the Anand pur sahib road..is it the one that goes Via pathankot ?

Can I have more details please ?

karma_mukti

Hi, this is my first post here....
To go to Manali you have to go via Anandpur Sahib, this stretch is pretty good till Rupnagar(Ropar) and then tends to deteriorate and you have to pay for toll too, but one wonders for what, may be they will make the road. <smile>

The route is : Delhi - Karnal- Chandigarh - Kharar(Via Mohali) Kurali - Rupnagar(Ropar)- Take right at petrol pump on the road before you enter the town, normally you have a cop directing traffic here to Anandpur Sahib - at anandpur sahib take a right to Manali ..... (No Pathankot)

Pathankot you will cross if you want to go to Dharamshala....

Anandpur Sahib for Manali.

shashank.aggarwal

welcome to the board..and I guess we are talking about Dharamshala only..

karma_mukti

[quote=shashank.aggarwal;480840][quote=karma_mukti;480833]
Pathankot you will cross if you want to go to Dharamshala....see i told you first post.....

If you need tips call me 09815145670
Karan

rajeev1008

Well, its much shorter and faster to turn right from Anandpur for Dharamshala too. One route is
Anandpur sahib - swarghat-bilaspur-hamirpur- nadaun -jawalamukhi-kangra-Dharamshala.

If you are a temples person, you may also choose to go straight from Anadpur Sahib - Nangal - Una - Bharwain - hamirpur- nadaun -jawalamukhi-kangra-Dharamshala.
then you can take a 3 Km detour from Bharwain to Chintpurni. And of course you could visit Jawalamukhi and Kangra temple on the way.