Shimla ⇄ Dharamshala · one-way or return

Shimla to Dharamshala taxi

Dharamshala is about 235 km and seven hours from Shimla, down through Bilaspur and Hamirpur and up into the Kangra valley. One car and one driver the whole way, with Naina Devi or Chintpurni easily added. We are Kangra-based, so it is pre-booked. One all-in fare for the whole run, confirmed on WhatsApp.

Distance: ~235 kmone way by road
Time on the road: ~7 hrsone way
Stops on the way: 6 worth breaking for
Dharamshala sits at: 1,457 m

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Two owner-drivers. Message or call either of us.

Kapil DevOwner & driverWhatsApp 98053 05643
SahilOwner & driverWhatsApp 78075 42573

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From the drivers

To Shimla — Jwalamukhi, Hamirpur and Bilaspur.

How windy: Some hill bends, nothing severe

What Kapil and Sahil say about this road is on the Kangra to Shimla taxi page.

About this run

How we drive it

Shimla and Dharamshala are the two ends of Himachal tourism and there is no quick way between them: seven hours, down out of the Shimla hills through Bilaspur and Hamirpur, then back up into the Kangra valley.

It is a long day, so we start early. Broken into two with a night at Bilaspur or Hamirpur it is much easier, and if you have the time we will suggest that rather than push through.

Naina Devi sits above Bilaspur roughly halfway, and Chintpurni is on the northern half, so a darshan halt fits naturally into the drive if you want one.

One fare for this run, quoted on WhatsApp before you travel. See what's in a Kangra taxi fare.

What's in the fare

One all-in fare: car, driver, fuel, tolls, parking and permits
The same driver door to door, booked without an agent
Clean AC cars on commercial tourist-taxi permits
24×7, including pre-dawn and late-night runs
Fare confirmed on WhatsApp before the trip; cash or UPI

On the Shimla–Dharamshala run we pass

BilaspurOn Govind Sagar, roughly halfway

Naina Devi~25 km above Bilaspur

HamirpurThe district town

Chintpurni DeviOn the northern half

Kangra townBrajeshwari Devi and the fort

McLeodganj~30 min above Dharamshala

Planning more than a transfer? See our Outstation & one-way taxi.

The journey

The drive, leg by leg

About 7 hours

The reverse of the Shimla run, and it picks up three of the six Devi temples on the way if you want them.

Pickup
Shimla
Cart Road or the lift — the car cannot come to the Mall. Early start; this is a seven-hour day.
+1.5 hrs
Down off the ridge
The winding descent toward Bilaspur — the slow part, and it is at the start rather than the end.
+2.5 hrs
Bilaspur and Naina Devi
Along Govind Sagar. The temple is a short climb above the road.
+4 hrs
Hamirpur
West across the low hills; the usual food stop.
+5 hrs
Chintpurni
Another of the six, on the ridge beside the route.
Arrive
Dharamshala
Via Jwala Ji and Kangra town, then up. Kotwali Bazaar or your hotel.
~235 km · ~7 hrs

Once you reach Dharamshala

Half a yatra on a transfer

Naina Devi, Chintpurni and Jwala Ji all sit on this line. Tell us at booking and we build the stops in rather than driving past them.

Start early

The Shimla descent is slow and it is at the beginning. Leaving at nine means arriving after dark.

A two-day version

With the three temples added this is comfortably two days with a night at Hamirpur or Una, rather than one long push.

Want to change something? Ask on WhatsApp and we’ll send a new plan and fare.

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Before you book