Need advice - 8 days trip in Shimla and Manali
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Aug 18, 2012 1:26 AM Last Post By: nityin
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Need advice - 8 days trip in Shimla and Manali
Hi all,Would appreciate your advice/info on my upcoming trip to India - its my third time in the country but first to visit Shimla and Manali:
29 Sep 11pm - arrived Delhi airport
30 Sep early morning - take train to Kalka, change toy train to Shimla, arrive at shimla around 5pm
1 Oct - Shimla
2 Oct - take night bus from Shimla to Manali, start at 8pm, arrive at Manali at 6am
3 Oct - Manali
4 Oct - Manali
5 Oct - take bus back from Manali to Delhi
6 Oct - stay at Delhi, mn flight out
pretty much sort of the intercity routes from Delhi-Kalka-Shimla-Manali
however, as my flight arrives at Delhi at 11pm and we want to catch the 0540 train (Himalayan Queen?), so we will sleepover at airport and leave around 3am to go the train station. Just checked there is no public bus available, wonder whether I need to hire a private bus/taxi to get there? anyone knows how much will it cost approximately and how long will it take to go there? (we have 2 people)
another question - is the night bus from Shimla to Manali safe? I reckon it is on the hills so i wonder whether taking a bus at night will be the best option...but it definitely will save us sometime for sightseeing...
I know is realllllly rush trip and wayyyyyy tooooooo short for exploring India, but in any case....please do advise! Thanks in advance!
Thanks!
1
yes that's a rush rush trip......but okay some suggestions.,.instead of himalayan Queen book delhi-kalka by kalka Shatabdi you reach kalka at 11:45 am. That is a much more comfortable train and you will get B/Fast also. Toy train from kalka would be crowded unless you can book a seat in that on the indian railways website. Toy train is connected to Shatabdi and leaves at 12:10 pm.Otherwise from Kalka you can take taxis on per seat basis also.You reach Shimla faster by taxi e.g. 3pm.Toy train experience is better if you have time.It is a pity our metro is down so you will pay about 400-500 rupees to the train station Shatabdi starts from New Delhi station and Himalayan Queen from Sarai Rohilla. Yes Shimla manali bus is safe but tiring as the travel is in rainy season.Beware of touts everywhere.Take prepaid taxi from the airport to the train station...it will be safer......take care at 3 am in Delhi but two people should really not have much to worry2
- Get a prepaid taxi to Delhi railway station.
- As # 1 says, shatabdi is another good option.
- I will suggest Kalka to Shimla by bus(there is also Volvo from Chandigarh to Shimla) because toy train take more than 6 hours.
- Bus will take less time & cost less than taxi. Book your train tickets from Delhi to Chandigarh & take a bus to Shimla from there.
Please do book you train tickets in advance. Do not give a damn to touts.
cheers:)
3
Delhi Transport operates VOLVO coaches from IGI Airport to New Delhi railway station and Bus Station ISBT. You can also travel by these VOLVO coaches to New Delhi railway station from the airport.Board the VOLVO bus leaving to ISBT / Redfort and this will go via the New Delhi railway station. VOLVO buses are much more comfortable and safer. Here is the time table of VOLVO buses http://bit.ly/NPnCir Your boarding place will be T3 (Terminal 3) in case you are arriving by an international flight.
You need to take the VOLVO bus only if you are traveling by Shatabdi Express to Kalka. The Himalayan Queen starts from Sarai Rohilla station and these VOLVO buses do not go to this station.
As mentioned above, Shatabdi (Train no. 12011) is the best train on this route and leaves New Delhi station at 07.40 am. The connecting train from Kalka will be Himalayan Queen (Train no. 52455) to Shimla leaving at 12.10 pm. You can book the Chair car class on this train on IRCTC website. You have to give an Indian telephone no. and address while booking. You can mention the phone number and address of the hotels you have booked in Shimla or Manali.
Shimla Manali night travel should not be a problem. The bus leaving at 8.20 pm from Shimla will be a little more comfortable than the other buses on this route.
