Punjab to Shimla in December

alouise · Jun 28th, 2009, 20:12

Hi everyone, I think I just tried to post this thread in the wrong forum. I wanted to know if things were now peaceful in Punjab around Jalandhar and Ludhiana, after the riots in May.

I am planning in late december-early January to go either Jalandhar -Ludhiana then to Rupnagar via Chandigarh and then on to Shimla. After Shimla I would be catching a train from Kalka into Rajasthan. I was also wondering about the weather (snow?) and how safe the driving would be towards Shimla in late December. Or is it better to take the train fron Kalka to Shimla? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

namaste_cat · Jun 28th, 2009, 22:53

If you could move your trip up by even 1-2 wks, you would have no snow issues. I made almost this same trip you are (except for the Rajasthan part) in Dec last yr. At the time Punjab was peaceful, only issue is fog. In other words, train/plane/bus delays.

It's around a 2.5-3 hr drive from Chandigarh to Shimla, very pretty and comfortable drive. You shouldn't have any problems w/ snow b/c you're not going up to Sangla Valley and from Shimla you're taking train from Kalka, so you should be ok there.

Do know that it usually snows around Xmas time in Shimla until around mid-Jan. When that happens, hordes descend upon Shimla and it gets packed.

alouise · Jun 28th, 2009, 23:02

Thanks namaste, the drive does sound like a good option. the toy train is too slow, and I'm not a big fan of train tunnels anyway.

Unfortunately my times aren't so flexible and I'll probably be arriving in Shimla for New Year... hopefully the snow hangs off until after I arrive. Do you have any suggestions about a good place to stay in Shimla? Preferably somewhere with reverse cycle AC to keep warm at night, as I imagine it will be pretty chilling otherwise

namaste_cat · Jun 28th, 2009, 23:24

alouise, there's something for every budget there so if you're in a splurging mood, the Oberoi Cecil is rather fancy

I rather like Clarke's hotel which is a heritage hotel and rather quaint. Also it's right on Shimla's main promenade - The Mall, so it's easy to get around esp if there's snow on the ground.

Radisson and places like that are more modern and not as expensive. Definitely should have proper heat facilities

One of my friends told me about a new hotel there called Lemon Tree, it's a chain apparently. She rather liked it, but I've never been there so can't say.

Hope you have a super trip!

alouise · Jun 28th, 2009, 23:28

Thank you so much namaste for your suggestions, you've given me plenty to thinks about.

Jun 28th, 2009, 20:12	#1
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	Punjab to Shimla in December Hi everyone, I think I just tried to post this thread in the wrong forum. I wanted to know if things were now peaceful in Punjab around Jalandhar and Ludhiana, after the riots in May. I am planning in late december-early January to go either Jalandhar -Ludhiana then to Rupnagar via Chandigarh and then on to Shimla. After Shimla I would be catching a train from Kalka into Rajasthan. I was also wondering about the weather (snow?) and how safe the driving would be towards Shimla in late December. Or is it better to take the train fron Kalka to Shimla? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Last edited by alouise : Jun 28th, 2009 at 20:13. Reason: typo

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Jun 28th, 2009, 22:53	#2
namaste_cat Kashmiri-Punjabi Sherni Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amreeka Posts: 940	If you could move your trip up by even 1-2 wks, you would have no snow issues. I made almost this same trip you are (except for the Rajasthan part) in Dec last yr. At the time Punjab was peaceful, only issue is fog. In other words, train/plane/bus delays. It's around a 2.5-3 hr drive from Chandigarh to Shimla, very pretty and comfortable drive. You shouldn't have any problems w/ snow b/c you're not going up to Sangla Valley and from Shimla you're taking train from Kalka, so you should be ok there. Do know that it usually snows around Xmas time in Shimla until around mid-Jan. When that happens, hordes descend upon Shimla and it gets packed.

Jun 28th, 2009, 23:02	#3
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	Thanks namaste, the drive does sound like a good option. the toy train is too slow, and I'm not a big fan of train tunnels anyway. Unfortunately my times aren't so flexible and I'll probably be arriving in Shimla for New Year... hopefully the snow hangs off until after I arrive. Do you have any suggestions about a good place to stay in Shimla? Preferably somewhere with reverse cycle AC to keep warm at night, as I imagine it will be pretty chilling otherwise

Jun 28th, 2009, 23:24	#4
namaste_cat Kashmiri-Punjabi Sherni Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amreeka Posts: 940	alouise, there's something for every budget there so if you're in a splurging mood, the Oberoi Cecil is rather fancy I rather like Clarke's hotel which is a heritage hotel and rather quaint. Also it's right on Shimla's main promenade - The Mall, so it's easy to get around esp if there's snow on the ground. Radisson and places like that are more modern and not as expensive. Definitely should have proper heat facilities One of my friends told me about a new hotel there called Lemon Tree, it's a chain apparently. She rather liked it, but I've never been there so can't say. Hope you have a super trip!

Jun 28th, 2009, 23:28	#5
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	Thank you so much namaste for your suggestions, you've given me plenty to thinks about.