Month: September 2013 - Page 2 - Himachal Travel Guide

Himachal Tourism Bus Service from Chandigarh to Manali

For travelling to Himachal Pradesh most tourists come to Chandigarh from many parts of India by train and by air as it has good connectivity with rest of India.

If you like to travel to Manali from Chandigarh there are limited buses available from Chandigarh. The preferred way is to take the bus from Delhi as there are a number of government and private Volvo buses available. They depart in the evening and reach Manali early morning. You can also book the buses from HRTC website or for more information you can visit this website.

There are only two bus services from Chandigarh run by Himachal Tourism / Himachal Roadways. They are ordinary and Him Gaurav (Tata A/C) coaches run by Himachal Roadways from Chandigarh to Manali and vice versa. There are also other buses from Chandigarh to Manali run by private and government, but are few in number. It takes about 8-10 hours to reach Manali from Chandigarh.

The timings and the fare of the buses run by the Himachal Roadways from Chandigarh to Manali

S. No.	Source	Destination	Bus Type	Departure	Arrival	Fare
1	Chandigarh	Manali	Ordinary	20:25	07:30	525
2	Chandigarh	Manali	Volvo	20:40	06:45	1150
3	Chandigarh	Manali	Volvo	22:00	08:00	1150

The availability and the bookings of the tickets can be checked and done through the website www.hrtc.gov.in .

Kalka Shimla Rail Motor Car

[pe2-image src=”https://lh5.ggpht.com/-pfY13pVMmMY/UcQ3nXGTUvI/AAAAAAAABvI/fTqEVnxdsJQ/s144-c-o/rail%252520car.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/100975793388107024396/ToyTrain#5891895361862324978″ caption=”Rail Car at Barog railway station” type=”image” alt=”rail car.jpg” ]

The Northern Railway has introduced new train Kalka Shimla Special 52459/60 on the existing timings of Kalka-Shimla-Kalka Rail Motor Car (72451/52) on the World Heritage Kalka Shimla toy train section from January 26 2019 onward with six first-class modified coaches and a transparent roof vista dome coach. The existing Kalka-Shimla-Kalka Rail Motor Car will remain cancelled from January 26 2019 indefinitely till new modified modern rail motor car is introduced. The new rail, motor car will have glass roof top, LCD, air conditioning etc.

Rail Motor Car is a train that runs from Kalka to Shimla and vice versa, is a single coach train. It looks more like a bus running on the railway track. This is the most sought after train journey as this kind of motor car is available on this track only in India.

The train has a halt at Barog railway station for food.

Kalka Shimla Rail Motor Car numbers

The Rail Motor Car from Kalka to Shimla is numbered 72451. Fourteen persons can be accommodated in the Rail Motor Car. The train is numbered 72452 on the return journey.

Rail Motor car is beautifully designed with decorated tube light fittings, transparent fiber glass roof and designed cushioned chairs. The ambiance of the Rail Motor is comfortable and pleasing and assures a memorable journey to its passengers. So you can enjoy the the train ride.

Kalka Shimla Rail Motor Car timings and fare

The train departs from Kalka at 5.10 AM and reaches Shimla at 9.50 AM and the return from Shimla is at 4.25 PM and reaches Kalka at 9.35 PM. The fare per passenger in Rail Motor is Rs.247.

The rail motor car has connectivity with the Kalka Howrah Mail train for both arrival and departure.

Kalka Shimla Express

Kalka Shimla Express is a convenient train from Kalka to Shimla and vice versa. The train has many official stoppages between Kalka and Shimla like Barog, Solan, Shoghi and Taradevi.

The train number of Kalka Shimla Express is 52453 and of Shimla Kalka Express is 52454. The time from Kalka is 6.00 AM and reaches Shimla at 11.05 AM. The return journey by this train from Shimla to Kalka is 6.15 PM and reaches Kalka at 11.20 PM.

Kalka Shimla Express can be easily boarded by the passengers travelling from Howrah or Delhi by the Howrah Kalka Mail. The same way, the Shimla Kalka Express is a connecting train from Shimla for the Kalka Mail from Kalka to Delhi and Howrah.

There are First Class and 2 Seater Compartments in the Kalka Shimla Express. The fare per person for the First Class is Rs.280/- and for 2 Seater is Rs.55/-. More details will be given on IRCTC website and you ca also book the train from there.

Shimla Package from Delhi by Train

Shimla can be reached by train from Delhi via Kalka. There are five trains that run between Delhi and Kalka. Further there are narrow gauge toy trains from Kalka to Shimla, which are very famous and liked to be traveled by the tourists. So you will need to change the train at Kalka.

The most convenient train from Delhi to Kalka is the Shatabdi Express, which departs from New Delhi station at 7:45 AM and reaches Kalka at 11:45 AM. There is a connecting train, Himalayan Queen which departs from Kalka at 12.10 PM and reaches Shimla at 5.10 PM. The other trains from Delhi can also be taken to reach Kalka accordingly to the tourists’ convenience.

The other famous train is the Howrah Kalka mail which departs from old Delhi railway station at night and reaches Kalka station in early morning. It has connectivity to Shivalik Deluxe train which starts at 5:30 in the morning and reaches Shimla t 10:15 AM

The tour for Shimla from Delhi would be best planned at least for a minimum of four days; the first day would be just for travelling from New Delhi and reaching Shimla by train. On the second day of the tour, all the local places in Shimla can be visited by a private cab and by evening reach the hotel and relax that night. The third day of the tour can be either a trip to Kufri, Fagu and Naldhera or a trip to Tattapani which has Sutluj river with sulphur springs and Naldhera. The third day trip can be customized according to the tourists’ choice and interest. The fourth day would be the check out from the hotel and proceed for the return journey to Delhi by train. Further if the tourists have more time to visit and stay in Shimla, the tour can be customized accordingly.

For any further information on Shimla package tours we from Sunrise Travels are always there to guide you. Our websites https://www.sunriseholidays.net/ and https://www.sunrisetravels.in/ can be referred for more information on package tours

To know about the trains in detail and to check the availability website www.indianrail.gov.in can be referred to. You can also do the train booking online.

Off Beat Places in Himachal Pradesh

Tourists generally visit the places which are famous and most visited by all. There are many places in Himachal Pradesh, which are worth visiting, but are not known to many tourists. These places are very picturesque and away from the main cities and towns. These places are known as off-beat places and you can enjoy the beauty of these places.

Some must to visit off beat places in Himachal Pradesh

Tirthan Valley

Tirthan valley is a very beautiful location in Himachal Pradesh. It is located in the Kullu district. It is one of the best places for camping, Hiking, Rock climbing, Rope activities and Trekking. This valley is likea paradise for nature lovers and adventurous people. Tirthan valley is named after the Tirthan river originating from the glaciers of the Great Himalayas. This valley is surrounded by the Great Himalayan National Park.

Kullu Valley

Kullu valley is also popularly known as ‘The Valley of the Gods’. The valley is best during the spring season for the colourful atmosphere surrounded with white and pink blossoms and higher regions with gorgeous Rhododendrons. In December, there is no greenery seen and only the pine trees and surroundings covered with snow can be seen in the valley.

Spiti Valley

Spiti Valley is located in the North-Eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, in the Kinnaur district and covered with snow for most of the year. The valley is very beautiful for the silence and the breathtaking atmosphere. It is not much explore by most of the Indians, is mostly visited by the Foreigners, most probably due to the extreme cold weather. The Buddhist culture is mainly followed in this valley. The famous Ki Monastery and the Tabo Monastery are located in this valley.

Baspa Valley

Baspa valley is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. This valley is surrounded by fruit orchards, oak, pine and deodar trees. The Batseri village near the Baspa valley is famous for the houses built of wood and the excellent wooden craftwork. It is also famous for the handicraft items of hand woven shawls and Kinnauri caps. The Bapsa valley is also famous for the very old Kamakshi Devi temple with a huge statue of Lord Buddha at the entrance, Saffron farm, Tibetian wood carving centre, Chilgoza and Royal Red Apple orchards. This valley is an ideal location for Paragliding.

Barot

Barot is a calm and peaceful place away from the usual crowded places. This place is very picturesque for the terraced fields, thick cedar forests and outdoor activities like trekking. The main attraction is the Uhl river, flowing on the either side of the Barot village. Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Barot, which is a home for Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and a variety of pheasants. Barot is located in the Mandi district, 40 km from Jogindernagar and 66 km from Mandi.

Chamba Valley

Chamba valley is just 56 km from Dalhousie. The valley is well known for the magnificent scenery. The three well defined snowy ranges, the Dauladhar, the Pir Panjal and the Zanskar ranges are located in the Chamba valley. This valley is famous for the beautiful temples and the unique miniatures and handicrafts.