Weekend trip Shimla-Kalpa-Shimla in July - is this possible?

Hazard

Dear Folks:

I am an American University professor. I am going to be in Simla for a program on Indian history this July. The weekend of July 11-13 I may have a chance to travel up into the mountains. I would be able to leave Friday late afternoon and will need to be back by late Sunday night.

I want to go up to Kalpa, but I don't know whether it is just too far for the time available, and I also don't know whether the monsoon will make it impractical (and whether the clouds will close off the views of the mountains in Kalpa at that time of year). So I'm hoping the the resident experts can advise me. I need to stress that spending longer is not an option--this is the window I have available and it may be the one chance I get to do this. I want to know if it makes any sense to try.

If it is feasible, I would appreciate tips on how best to travel. Will it be significantly quicker by hired car than by bus? Will a local driver be willing to drive at night? Finally, if anyone has advice on where to stay on Kalpa, that would be great.

I look forward to everyone's thoughts.

Hazard

Balvar

Dear Hazard,

From your qpost its eeems that you r willing to Spend, quite a time in travelling. See two things are must one u need to hire a jeep from Shimla. Bus would tkae way to long. also whether in July for Kalpa won't be much of a issue. In kalpa i would recommend u make book your self at Kineer Villa, but do make prior bookings as u wud reach Kalpa arnd Mignight. So iterninary can be reach Kalpa late night,Enjoy the whole day at Kapla & Peo, then on Sunday morning start your Journey back to Shimla. its not like that it would be make sense or not there other good options less far from Shimla. Its upto u..........

referido

Shimla Bus Stations: From ISBT – to Rivoli Bust Station

Upon arrival in Shimla ISBT station (thru HPTDC or HRTC bus) early morning, will taxi take us to Rivoli Bus Station to catch early morning buses to Sarahan? What is expected cost?
If taxis don’t go to Rivoli station straight, what is the easies way considering that we will be carrying our backpacks and lift will not open till 8AM.

Dilliwala

Hazard, its 234 km from Shimla to Kalpa and will take at least 7 hours driving if all goes well. That's a hell of a distance to cover if you leave late afternoon; driving after dark is not advisable. Plus you'll really have only the Saturday and Sunday morning before you have to head back. I would advise leaving no later than 12.30 pm if it has to be Kalpa.

For a quiet getaway Sarahan (169 km) is just as good and can be reached in 5-5.5 hours. Closer to Shimla there are Narkanda and Thanedar which are also great for views, if it's clear. Of course it has to be said that these places receive more rain on average than Kalpa.

Hazard

It sounds like going up to Kalpa is not doable on Friday night. So either I need an alternative or I need to break journey Friday night someplace on the way to Kalpa. I am expecting to spend a lot of time in the car,and I understand that I will probably have no more than an afternoon and a morning in Kalpa if I go that far.

So where would a good place to break journey be? What time will it become too dark to be on the road in July?

And if I give up on Kalpa, what is more doable? Dilliwala suggests Narkanda or Sarahan. Does anyone have any other ideas? The attraction of Kalpa obviously is that it is right up at the base of a major range. Are their other closer spots that will have that kind of view?

Hazard

vistet

I would go for Sarahan. You have nice views ( not as spectacular as Kalpa though) , some nice walks .. and my guess is that the reconstruction of the Bhimakali Temple may still be ongoing , if so you get two for one : one finished , and a lot of carpenters working on the other tower. Staying in the temple guest house puts you in the middle.

The one drawback with Sarahan is when they fire up the PA system that would have been an object of envy for a certain colonel, in the wee hours.

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high road to ..

Dilliwala

Sarahan wud be fine as a night stop or end station. You cud go there and then take a call on Kalpa - obviously it's no point going to Kalpa if it's raining and there are no views. vistet is right about the PA system though - 6 am start! Altho on the second morning we were there they turned it off after 5 mins.

The HPTDC hotel at Narkanda is ideally situated on a hill top. Closer to Shimla is Fagu (22 km) where their hotel is also ideally situated - both locations offer great views on a clear day. Of course more distant ones, the Dhauladhar being nearer and the Kinnaur range far away.