Rishikesh/Haridwar to Dharamsala

Hi,

I was wondering what the options are for getting from Rishikesh or Hardiwar to Dharamsala.

I don't really like the idea of overnight buses.

Are the roads quite bad, mountainous etc? Train would be better i think but what is the quicket, safest option? I am guessing via Shimla somehow.

Thanks
Verity

Verity, Overnight Bus which departs from Dehradun ( Just 1 Hour from Rishikesh) is a deluxe Bus by the Uttrakhand Roadways and is the most simplest travel to Dharamsala.

Starts at 5pm from Dehradun reaches early morning in Dharamsala at 6am.I have always used this Bus to come to Dharamsala.Let me know if you like to have a telephone contact of the Bus Services.I keep with me because of my regular Travel.

Road were bad before but now they good.

Or if u do not like to have the Bus Journey.
There is a train from Rishikesh to Pathankot , overnight journey.Pathankot is just about 100 Kms from Dharamsala.From there you can take a bus or Taxi making u reach in 3 hours from pathankot to Dharamsala.

If you don't like the idea of overnight buses and thinks it's a little scary to travel on the mountain roads, I would kind of advice you to go another route. I took the overnight bus Dehradun-Dharamsala during my first trip to India six years ago and I thought it was scary.

I'm making my 5th trip to India in about three weeks and I have changed my attitude to the mountain roads a little. I'm still scared, but I can do it now. So I guess it depends on your experience and how you feel about it.

If you are very concerned about the scariness of it, I would try to get to for example Chandigarh via the lowlands and then from there take a driver up the mountains so that you feel more in control.

You could always fly to Gaggal airport, that's really close. But you would have to go via Delhi (I think).

Good Luck!

While I agree that the 4609 Hemkunt Express from Rishikesh to Chakki Bank (not Pathankot) is the best train with the shortest following road-trip, the OP may not prefer it due to its lousy arrival time, 2.30 am. She'd have to wait 4 hours or so to get a bus.
Better-timed trains are available from Roorkee and Saharanpur.

Thanks for you replies, i will have a think.