The capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is simply heart-warming. Its beautiful mountain peaks covered with snow, curvy hill roads, aesthetic and beautiful houses, old buildings with historical importance, and an overall scenic existence make it one of the most suitable destinations for trips with family and friends.

The journey to Shimla is a more interesting and breath-taking experience than taking a road trip from Delhi. The capital of India, Delhi is among the most populated cities in the country. The overall distance from Delhi to Shimla is 344 km which takes around 7 hours.

About Delhi

Delhi, also known as the capital of India is among the most popular cities in the country with people from various parts of the world. The city consists of historic Old Delhi and modern New Delhi. The city ranges from historical monuments to crowded shopping malls, from an extensive network of the modern metro system to the Delhi University campus. Delhi is considered to be the city of heart as multiple personalities with different tastes for food and style of living could be found here. 

Places to visit in Delhi

India Gate: India Gate is a war memorial located in Connaught Place, New Delhi. It was built in honor of the 82,000 soldiers, both Indian and British, who died during the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

Qutub Minar: Qutub Minar is a minaret or a victory tower located in the Qutub complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi’s Mehrauli area. With a height of 72.5 meters (238 ft), Qutub Minar is the second tallest monument in Delhi. 

Humayun’s Tomb: Humayun’s Tomb was built in the honor of Emperor Humayun. Humayun’s tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India.

Hauz Khas Village: Hauz Khas Village or ‘HKV’ is amongst the top places to enjoy the electric nightlife with countless cafes, bars, and pubs along with art galleries, and boutiques. It is located in South Delhi.

Red Fort: The Red Fort or Lal Qila is a historical fortification in old Delhi. It was built in the mid-seventeenth century by Shah Jahan. 

Places to visit near Delhi

1. Manesar 

Famous for its rustic life and the glorious views of the wonderful Aravali Hills, this place is recognized as a farm tourism spot while traveling toward Jaipur. There are a few resorts in Manesar which offer a rural Haryanvi experience to their guests. Based on a concept similar to that of Choki Dhani of Jaipur, these resorts offer different activities for an entire day and campfires by the night.

In short, Manesar brings an interesting rural offbeat experience and a good change from the usual city life. Manesar is a developing city with industries growing every day and is fast turning into a preferred destination to experience the rugged rural life.

2. Noida

Noida is a growing city that is part of the National Capital Region. In recent years it has developed into a modern city with upcoming projects of one of the tallest buildings in North India, the inauguration of the Budhh international circuit for the formula one racing, Sunburn arena where international artists perform. It is considered to be one of the busiest cities in India. 

The city is impressively planned and comprises everything for everyone, be it parks, amazing street food, posh restaurants, shopping malls, street-side shopping options, amusement parks, pubs, and discotheques, or sports complexes.

3. Garhmukteshwar 

Garhmukteshwar is a heritage town which is located at about 110 km from Delhi. It is a part of the Hapur District of Uttar Pradesh. People usually follow this route from Delhi for road trips, and come here to take a bath in the Holy Ganges. This town is devoted to the worship of Goddess Ganga with four temples dedicated to her. The famous Mukteshwar Mahadev temple resides in this town. This region is also famous for dolphin sightings.

4. Vrindavan 

The city is situated cities on the banks of Yamuna and is the most visited place by Krishna devotees. Lord Krishna had spent his childhood in Vrindavan and thus this place if famous for his childhood stories. The name of the city has been derived from Vrinda (meaning basil) and van (meaning grove) which perhaps refer to the two small groves at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj. 

The city of Vrindavan hosts more than 5000 temples solely devoted to Lord Krishna and his love for Radha, the most famous ones being Banke Bihari temple and the world-famous ISKCON temple. 

About Shimla

Shimla, also known as the queen of hills is the capital of Himachal Pradesh situated at the height of 2276m. The city was the summer capital of British India. The beautiful colonial architecture, pedestrian-friendly Mall Road and the ridge lined up with multiple shops, cafes and restaurants maintains the authenticity of the city. 

Shimla is well connected to most of the cities with Chandigarh being the closest city. There is no direct train service from any city to Shimla. One will have to change his/her train from Kalka Railway Station. The weather remains pleasant for most part of the year with summers attracting most of the tourists. The winters are cold with some days of snow from mid-December till February end.

Places to visit in Shimla

The Ridge: The Ridge offers the most captivating view of the snow-capped mountain ranges. People usually come here to enjoy and capture the fascinating scenery. The Ridge has many shops and restaurants. Tourist come here for long walks along the beautiful view of the mountains.  

Jakhu Temple: Dedicated to the Hindu God – Hanuman, the Jakhu Temple is the highest point in Shimla located on the Jakhoo Hill. Jakhu Temple has the world’s largest Hanuman statue, which is visible from most parts of Shimla.

Green Valley: The Green Valley is a beautiful and breathtaking mountain range that falls on the way to Kufri from Shimla. The Green Valley is surrounded by verdant hills on all sides covered with thick pine and deodar forests. Tourists stop on there way to enjoy the magnificent views of the valley and capture it. 

Visceral Lodge: It was built in 1888 as the residence of Lord Dufferin, the British Viceroy of India. Now treated as a historic place best for history lovers. It is a six story building constructed in Scottish Baronial style.

Places to visit near Shimla

1. Kufri

Kufri is located at a distance of 20km from the main city of Shimla. It is a popular tourist destination famous for its skii slopes, Kufri Zoo and as starting point of treks. People visiting Shimla mostly visit this place to add some adventurous activities to their trip. To reach the main tourist spot of Kufri which is 2,720 metres above sea level, travellers have to either hike or take a pony from the parking lot.

The main attractions in Kufri are Mahasu Peak and Fagu Valley. Kufri has the highest Go-Karting track in the world and many other sports at the Kufri Fun World.

2. Chail

Chail is a pleasant and quite hill station which is about 44km away from Shimla and is known for the world’s highest cricket ground and a heritage hotel, Chail Palace. Chail is situated at an altitude of 2,250m above sea level. It is covered by pine and deodar trees.

You can stay in resorts to get a better experience of this beautiful place. For those who like trekking and camping along the rivers, Chail can be a good option as it is located on the banks of river Sandhupul. Travellers can also visit the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary here. 

3. Kasauli 

Kasauli is a beautiful hilly town located on the route from Chandigarh to Shimla. A person looking forward to plan for a peaceful holiday, especially for a weekend getaway, Kasauli can be the best destinations to cover. Kasauli is famous for its peaceful environment and soothing views of the hilly mountains. It is nestled by the woody forests of pines (Chir Pine), herbs (Milk Thistle) and cedar trees.

The town is 73km away from Shimla. Some popular attractions of Kasauli are – Christ Church, Central Research Institute, Monkey Temple, and Sunset Point. It has some holy importance as Lord Hanuman is believed to have rested here during his search for medicines for Lord Lakshaman.

4. Solan 

Located on the lower ranges of Himalayas, this city attracts hundreds of tourists with its temples and monasteries. It is popularly known as the mushroom capital of the country and has one of the oldest breweries in the country. The city has a bulk production of tomatoes. A 300 year old fort could be seen at the top which has a breathtaking view of the countryside. 

The Shoolini Mata Temple and Jatoli Shiv Temple are must-visits for both devotees and tourists. People travelling to Solan must visit the Yundung Monastery.

Shimla Connectivity

Shimla is connected to Kalka which is 96 km away and takes around 3 hours to cover the distance. There are trains available from Kalka to Shimla. The nearest airport from Shimla is Chandigarh Airport located at a distance of about 120 km from Shimla. Other than this, Shimla is well connected to all cities via road and can be easily covered by car, bus or bike. 

Delhi to Shimla Distance

The road distance from Delhi to Shimla is about 344 kms. Most travellers prefer going to Shimla from Delhi by road. Alternatively, one can take a train to Kalka from Delhi and then another train from Kalka to Shimla since there is no direct train from Delhi to Shimla.

Delhi to Shimla Distance by bus

There are several bus services for this journey which includes HTRC, City Land Travels, Himachal Tourist (Volvo bus), Northern Travels. The road is fairly well maintained, and it makes for a comfortable journey. The pick-up point generally is Delhi ISBT Kashmiri Gate, and drop off point is Shimla ISBT Tutikandi. The journey could take 7-10 hours to complete.

Delhi to Shimla Distance by car

The distance between the two cities is approximately 360 km. It takes about 7 to 10 hours to cover the distance. The road journey gets interesting as one passes through several different cities and town. Panchkula comes before Kalka and finally comes Shimla. From Kalka there is a hilly terrain of about 90 km.

Delhi to Shimla Distance by bike

A bike trip from Delhi to Shimla is roughly 350 kilometers which you can travel within 7 to 8 hours. The roads are safe and well maintained. 

How to Reach Shimla by Air

The nearest airport to Shimla is the Chandigarh Airport (IXC) which is approximately 125 km away. People coming by air till Chandigarh generally prefer to book cabs to reach Shimla, which will take 3-4 hours. There are regular bus services too which will lead you to Shimla at lower costs.

How to Reach Shimla by Road

Shimla is well connected by roadway from Delhi. Taxis are widely available to travel to Shimla from Delhi or from any other local places. Shimla is also very well connected with HRTC buses from almost all parts of Himachal Pradesh. So one either take a bus or hire a cab or drive his own car to Shimla and enjoy the trip.

How to Reach Shimla by Train

The nearest railway station from Shimla is the Kalka Railway Station which is only 90 km away and Chandigarh Railway station is also just 113 km away. Cabs and buses are easily available from both the Railway Stations. Shimla has its own railway station, but only narrow gauge trains from Kalka arrive here. 

Final thoughts for Delhi to Shimla Distance

Shimla is without any doubts one of the most beautiful and busiest hill stations in the state of Himachal and one visiting this city will come across a number of eye-capturing views of wonderful valleys and snow-caped mountains. For the people of Delhi a trip to Shimla could be very relaxing because of its pleasant weather. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Delhi to Shimla Distance

How far is Shimla from Delhi by car?

Shimla is around 344km from Delhi if you are traveling via car and it takes approximately 7 hours to reach there.

Is it safe to go to Shimla by car?

Yes, the road is good and quite safe to travel.

Is there any direct train from Delhi to Shimla?

Although, there is no direct train service from New Delhi (NDLS) to Shimla (SML), passengers can still travel from New Delhi to Shimla via Delhi-Kalka line and then Kalka-Shimla line.

Can a beginner drive to Shimla?

Yes it’s easy to drive from kalka to shimla if you have good experience of driving on hilly roads.

What is the best month to visit Shimla?

March to June: This is a popular tourist season in Shimla as the weather is quite pleasant and perfect for outdoor activities. The temperature is comfortable and usually varies between 15°C and 30°C. If you are into adventure sports then this is the ideal time to try paragliding, trekking, camping, and rafting.