How far is it, really? Himachal distances and drive times in one place
Hill roads are slow, so kilometres alone mislead. Here are the usual road distances and realistic driving times to Himachal’s main places from the five cities most trips start in — with the passes that close in winter.
- ~345 km Delhi → Shimla
- ~540 km Delhi → Manali
- ~250 km Shimla → Manali
- 25–35 km/h average on hill roads
Photo: Jagseer S Sidhu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates · हिंदी में पढ़ें: दिल्ली से मनाली, शिमला कितने किलोमीटर
Delhi to Shimla is about 345 km (7–8 hours), Delhi to Manali about 540 km (11–13 hours), Delhi to Dharamshala about 475 km (9–10 hours) and Shimla to Manali about 250 km (7–8 hours). From Chandigarh, Shimla is about 115 km (3–3.5 hours) and Manali about 290 km (7–8 hours). On Himachal’s hill roads, plan on an average of 25–35 km an hour once you leave the plains, and add time for snow, landslides and weekend traffic. In winter, Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass and Jalori Pass close, so Kaza and Spiti are reached only via Shimla and Kinnaur, while the Atal Tunnel keeps Lahaul (Sissu, Keylong) open on most days.
- Delhi →Chandigarh ~250 km · Shimla ~345 km · Dharamshala ~475 km · Manali ~540 km.
- Chandigarh →Shimla ~115 km · Dharamshala ~240 km · Manali ~290 km.
- Shimla →Kufri ~16 km · Narkanda ~60 km · Sarahan ~175 km · Manali ~250 km.
- Manali →Solang ~14 km · Sissu ~40 km · Kasol ~75 km · Kaza ~200 km (summer only).
- Rule of thumb25–35 km/h on hill roads; never plan more than 8–9 hours’ driving a day.
Delhi to Himachal: distance and driving time
Most trips start in Delhi. These are the usual road distances by the main route; times are for a private car with a stop for meals, and can stretch by 1–3 hours in snow, rain or holiday traffic. The new Kiratpur–Mandi four-lane with its tunnels has cut a couple of hours off the drive to Mandi, Kullu and Manali.
| Delhi to | Distance | Drive time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh | ~250 km | 4–5 h | NH44 via Karnal, Ambala |
| Kasauli | ~290 km | 6 h | Via Chandigarh, Dharampur |
| Shimla | ~345 km | 7–8 h | Via Chandigarh, Solan |
| Bilaspur (HP) | ~330 km | 6–7 h | Via Kiratpur Sahib |
| Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj | ~475 / 485 km | 9–10 h | Via Una, Kangra |
| Jibhi / Tirthan | ~490 km | 10–11 h | Via Mandi, Aut, Banjar |
| Kasol | ~520 km | 11–12 h | Via Mandi, Bhuntar |
| Manali | ~540 km | 11–13 h | Via Kiratpur–Mandi four-lane, Kullu |
| Dalhousie | ~560 km | 10–11 h | Via Pathankot |
| Kalpa (Kinnaur) | ~580 km | 2 days | Via Shimla, Narkanda, Rampur |
| Kaza (Spiti) | ~750 km | 2–3 days | Via Manali in summer; via Shimla–Kinnaur in winter |
Private car for these routes: Delhi–Shimla · Delhi–Manali · Delhi–Dharamshala · Delhi–Kasol. Route detail: Delhi to Manali route · Delhi to Spiti road trip.
Chandigarh to Himachal: distance and driving time
Chandigarh is the gateway for most Himachal road trips — the airport and railway station are 1–2 hours from the hills.
| Chandigarh to | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Kasauli | ~60 km | 1.5–2 h |
| Shimla | ~115 km | 3–3.5 h |
| Bilaspur (HP) | ~110 km | 2.5–3 h |
| Dharamshala | ~240 km | 5–6 h |
| Kasol | ~265 km | 6–7 h |
| Manali | ~290 km | 7–8 h |
| Dalhousie | ~300 km | 7 h |
Cabs: Chandigarh–Shimla · Chandigarh–Manali · Chandigarh–Dharamshala. Planning a loop? See our Himachal road trip from Chandigarh.
Shimla to nearby places: distance and driving time
Shimla is the base for Kufri, Chail and Narkanda, and the start of the road up the Sutlej into Kinnaur and Spiti.
| Shimla to | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Kufri | ~16 km | 40 min |
| Mashobra / Naldehra | ~12 / 22 km | 30 min / 1 h |
| Chail | ~45 km | 1.5–2 h |
| Narkanda | ~60 km | 2 h |
| Sarahan | ~175 km | 5.5–6 h |
| Sangla | ~225 km | 7–8 h |
| Kalpa | ~240 km | 8–9 h |
| Dharamshala | ~235 km | 6–7 h |
| Manali | ~250 km | 7–8 h |
| Kaza (via Kinnaur) | ~420 km | 2 days (via Nako) |
Guides: Naldehra & Mashobra · Chail · Sarahan · Shimla to Kalpa · Shimla to Manali · Shimla–Manali taxi.
Manali to nearby places: distance and driving time
From Manali the roads fan out to Solang and the Atal Tunnel, down the Kullu valley to Kasol and Jibhi, and — in summer only — over Kunzum to Spiti and over Baralacha to Ladakh.
| Manali to | Distance | Drive time | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solang valley | ~14 km | 30–45 min | All year (snow permitting) |
| Atal Tunnel (south portal) | ~25 km | 45 min–1 h | Most days of the year |
| Sissu | ~40 km | 1.5 h | Most days, via the Atal Tunnel |
| Rohtang Pass | ~51 km | 2–2.5 h | About May/June – October/November, with a permit |
| Kullu | ~40 km | 1.5 h | All year |
| Kasol | ~75 km | 2.5–3 h | All year |
| Jibhi | ~100 km | 3–3.5 h | All year |
| Kaza (via Kunzum) | ~200 km | 7–9 h | About late May/June – October only |
| Leh | ~430 km | 2 days | About June – October only |
More: Atal Tunnel guide (Hindi) · Manali–Leh taxi · Jibhi · Shoja.
Pathankot to Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Chamba
Pathankot is the nearest broad-gauge railhead for the Kangra and Chamba valleys, and it also has an airport.
| Pathankot to | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Dalhousie | ~80 km | 2.5–3 h |
| Dharamshala | ~90 km | 2.5–3 h |
| McLeod Ganj | ~100 km | 3 h |
| Khajjiar | ~95 km | 3 h |
| Chamba | ~120 km | 4 h |
Cabs: Pathankot–Dharamshala · Pathankot–Dalhousie. Nearby: Kangra Fort · Masroor temple · Bhagsu & Dharamkot.
On the road in Himachal
Tunnels, passes, snow towns and temples along the main routes — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Passes and roads that close in winter
Opening and closing dates change every year with the snow; check before you travel.
Rohtang Pass
Usually closed from about November to May/June; Solang and the Atal Tunnel stay open on most days.
Kunzum Pass
Usually closed from about November to late May or June; in winter reach Kaza via Shimla and Kinnaur.
Jalori Pass
Often closed after snowfall from about late December to March. Jalori Pass →
Atal Tunnel
Open most days of the year; closed for a few hours or days after heavy snow.
Narkanda / Kufri
Can close for a day or two after heavy snowfall; usually cleared quickly.
Sach Pass
Open only from about June to October.
How many days do you need?
Do not try to see Shimla and Manali in a weekend from Delhi — the driving alone is about 20 hours. As a guide: Shimla–Kufri 3–4 days, Manali–Solang 4–5 days, Shimla–Manali 6–7 days, Dharamshala–Dalhousie 5–6 days, and Spiti 8–10 days by the Kinnaur route. Night travel on hill roads is best avoided.
Not sure how to split the days? Send us your dates and starting city and we will suggest a route that keeps each day’s drive under 8 hours.
Let us plan the route
Hotels, meals and a private car with a hill driver — one written quote.
Want a route that fits your days?
Tell us where you start, how many days you have and what you want to see. We plan a route with sensible driving days, check the passes for your dates and send one written quote with hotels, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal distances: frequently asked questions
What is the distance from Delhi to Manali by road?
About 540 km, 11–13 hours by car via Chandigarh, the Kiratpur–Mandi four-lane and Kullu.
What is the distance from Shimla to Manali?
About 250 km, 7–8 hours by road via Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu.
How far is Shimla from Delhi?
About 345 km, 7–8 hours by car via Chandigarh and Solan.
How far is Dharamshala from Delhi?
About 475 km, 9–10 hours via Una and Kangra.
Can I reach Spiti in winter?
Yes, only via Shimla and Kinnaur (about 420 km from Shimla to Kaza, two days); the Manali–Kunzum road is closed in winter.
Is Rohtang Pass open in winter?
No. Rohtang is usually closed from about November to May/June; the Atal Tunnel and Solang usually stay open.
Sources
Photo credits
The Atal Tunnel's north portal — Photo: Jagseer S Sidhu, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shimla's Ridge after snowfall — Photo: ShashankSharma2511, CC BY 3.0 · Deep snow at Narkanda — Photo: Aggkanika, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sissu lake — Photo: UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Dhauladhar above Dharamshala — Photo: UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bhimakali temple, Sarahan — Photo: Sanyam Bahga from Roorkee, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 · The Spiti valley — Photo: Mike Shaw, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Snow on the Kufri hills — Photo: Jeyasree S.B, CC BY-SA 4.0 · McLeod Ganj in snow — Photo: Derek Blackadder, CC BY-SA 2.0
