Key hubs
Shimla airport and railway station
- Nearest airport
- Shimla Airport (SLV) is 23 km south; flights arrive from Delhi but are infrequent. Chandigarh Airport (roughly 4 hours by road) is the practical main gateway.
- Railway station
- Shimla Junction is at the base of the old town. The Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge train departs from Shimla Railway Station and runs to Kalka Junction (roughly 5 hours by train; a small section of the line is currently under repair; check before booking).
- Getting around
- The town centre and Ridge are walkable. For temples, forests and surrounding villages, a car and driver or app cab is practical. The toy train is experience in itself.
How to reach Shimla by air
Shimla Airport (SLV), about 23 km south, has infrequent flights mainly from Delhi; Chandigarh Airport, roughly 4 hours by road, is the more practical gateway.
How to reach Shimla by train
Shimla Junction, at the base of the old town, is the terminus of the scenic narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla railway, a roughly 5-hour journey from Kalka Junction (check for track maintenance closures before booking).
How to reach Shimla by road
Shimla is about 4 hours by road from Chandigarh on NH5, a generally good hill road that winds steadily through the last stretch.
Getting around Shimla
The Ridge and town centre are walkable, but a car and driver or app cab is the practical choice for temples, forests and surrounding villages; the toy train is worth riding as an experience in itself.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Shimla
- Opt for vehicle access to Jakhoo Temple and Tara Devi if climbing stairs is a concern. The views from the car are nearly as rewarding as those from the summit.
- The toy train journey is scenic but slow—roughly 5 hours for the full Kalka–Shimla route. Book a comfortable coach and break the journey at a halt if needed. Check the status of any track maintenance before booking.
- Hire a car and driver for two or three days rather than relying on taxis and auto-rickshaws. It gives you a shaded retreat between sights and eliminates the stress of navigation.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.