How Can I Reach Dharamshala

With tourists visiting from every corner of the world, Dharamshala has been a personal favourite of thousands of backpackers. Dharamshala is also known to be the second winter capital of India. If you are planning a trip to Dharamshala, you would surely want to know how to reach Dharamshala. Reaching Dharamshala is not a hassle as this serene hill city enjoys excellent connectivity with neighbouring states through various means of transport.

By Air
The nearest domestic airport to Dharamshala is the Gaggal Airport also known as the Kangra Airport, which is located at a distance of 15 km from Dharamshala. Daily flights connect the airport to a number of cities in India including the capital. You can book a cab or a taxi to go to Dharamshala from the Gaggal airport which is a mere half an hour journey to reach Dharamshala.For tourists coming from other countries, you can take a flight to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. From there, you can either opt for a bus, cab (490 km with a 10-11 hours journey) or take another flight from IGI Airport to Gaggal Airport and reach Dharamshala similarly as above.

By Train :-
Dharamshala does not have a railway station of its own. To reach Dharamshala by railways you have to get down at the nearest railway station to Dharamshala which is Pathankot railway station in Punjab, about 86 km from the city of Dharamshala. You can take a cab from the station to reach Dharamshala or a bus from the Pathankot Bus Stand towards McLeodganj which should take about 3 to 4 hours to reach the city Dharamshala.Chandigarh Railway station is also very common among tourists coming via train. You can take a train to Chandigarh at a distance of 253 km from Dharamshala, which connects major Indian metro cities. You have to take a bus towards Dharamshala or hire a cab to reach the city which should take about 5 to 6 hours.

By Road :-
Being one of the most visited places in India by foreign tourists, this city is accessible via excellent road facility. NH 154 and NH 503 lead to this beautiful city of Dharamshala. A road journey should simply just be as enjoyable and pleasant as Dharamshala itself. You can opt to self drive or hire a cab. Delhi sets the base for people coming from long distances. There are many agencies that provide vehicle on rent and cab services to Dharamshala you can get in Delhi. Also, buses ply daily to Dharamshala from Kashmiri Gate ISBT in Delhi mostly being semi-sleeper Volvos for about 1000 to 1500 INR per seat. This journey takes about 10 to 11 hours. The buses usually run overnight.