Palampur sits about 1,220 metres up the Kangra valley, roughly 35 kilometres south-east of Dharamshala and 250 kilometres north of Chandigarh. Getting there is straightforward. Getting there pleasantly takes a little thought.

By air — Kangra (Gaggal), about 40 km

Kangra Airport at Gaggal is the nearest, roughly forty kilometres and a little over an hour by road. It takes daily flights from Delhi on small aircraft.

The honest caveat: it is a short runway in a mountain valley, and flights are cancelled for weather more often than at any airport you are used to. In the monsoon, and on winter mornings with low cloud, a cancellation is a real possibility rather than a remote one. Do not book a same-day onward connection out of Delhi.

By rail — the Kangra Valley Railway

This is the one worth planning around. The Kangra Valley Railway is a two-foot narrow-gauge line opened in 1929, running 164 kilometres from Pathankot to Baijnath Paprola, with a stop at Palampur on the way. It crosses close to a thousand bridges and takes most of a day.

It is slow — that is the point. The line runs along the valley floor with the Dhauladhar to the north for most of its length, and it costs almost nothing. If you have the day to give it, arrive this way and take the bus back.

The narrow gauge takes most of a day to cover 164 km. That is the reason to take it, not the reason to avoid it.

By road — NH-154 and the Chandigarh route

Palampur sits on NH-154. From Delhi it is a long day: ten to twelve hours if the roads are kind, which through the plains in summer they often are not. Most people break it at Chandigarh, about 250 kilometres short, which turns a punishing drive into two civilised ones.

From Pathankot it is about four hours. From Dharamshala, an hour. From Manali, seven to eight over the Bhubu Jot or round via Mandi — check the pass is open before you commit to the short version.

By bus

  • HRTC ordinary and semi-deluxe buses run to Palampur from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate, Chandigarh, Pathankot and Shimla.
  • Volvo overnight services from Delhi are the usual choice: leave in the evening, arrive early morning. Book ahead in season.
  • From within the valley, local buses run constantly between Palampur, Baijnath, Bir and Dharamshala and cost very little.
  • The Palampur bus stand is in the town centre, which is convenient and also why the town centre is loud from about seven in the morning.

Getting around once you are here

The valley is spread out and public transport, while cheap and frequent on the main roads, thins quickly once you leave them. Andretta, the tea ridges above town and the road up to Billing are all much easier with your own vehicle.

Taxis are readily available and fares are negotiable. Agree the price before the journey begins, ideally on WhatsApp so it is in writing. Self-drive hire is available in Dharamshala; scooters in Bir.

The short version

  • Short on time — fly to Gaggal, and keep a spare day for weather.
  • Want the journey to be part of it — the narrow gauge from Pathankot.
  • Travelling with family and luggage — drive, breaking at Chandigarh.
  • On a budget — the overnight Volvo from Delhi.

Written by the Palampur Properties team in the Kangra valley. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us — we would rather fix it than defend it.