Transport in Shimla

Abundant transport facilities connecting Shimla to other neighboring areas like Chail, Kurfi, Manali etc within Himachal Pradesh as well as to other states and cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Amritsar, makes Shimla one of the most visited tourist spots. Shimla city has very good standard of local transportation management to move around within the city. Though buses are the most common way to move around within Shimla but taxis are available in ample numbers within the city. Shimla being a hill station there are narrow roadways and steep slopes, restrictions are there regarding parking vehicles. Certain places in Shimla City do not allow vehicles so people have to reach these places walking.

Bus Services in Shimla are quite frequent and excellent way to travel within the city as well as in the surrounding places. Buses are there traveling to other states as well. Private buses as well as government bus services are there in Shimla. Types of buses are many. They are ordinary buses, deluxe buses, luxury buses, semi-luxury buses, and special tourist coaches with air-conditioners. Bus services in Shimla starts at 7 AM.

Services are frequent and buses ply timely. The bus services are available till 9 PM. The bus routes are well distributed so that it covers all those areas of the town very well where vehicles are permissible. The main focus of the bus services is on the Ring Road and its surrounding areas. This service caters to all the interesting tourist places like Lakkar Bazar, the Ridge, The Mall and the Kali Bari. There is a ladies special bus service that started in Shimla in 2009 to provide women of Shimla with better safety and security.

HPRTC (Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation) offers benefits to their customers. The benefits are:

When the group booking is done for 10 passengers or more, customers get 10% discount on the bus fare. Passengers buying two-way bus tickets are also given 10% discount on bus fare.

Padma Shree and Gallantry award winners, freedom fighters, differently-able people, and MPs are offered free bus services.

The average fare for local sightseeing in and around Shimla is from Rs. 250-280.
To book HPTRDC buses or to get more information, tourists can get in touch at:

Phone No.: 0177 280 0073 / 0177 265 2561
Email Id: shimla@hptdc.in / tpthptdc@hptdc.in

Shimla boasts a well developed airport located at Jubbarhatti, the IATA code SLV. The distance of the airport from Shimla town is about 22 km. Due to tough terrains and hilly slopes; time taken to travel from the airport to Shimla Town is more than 2-3 hours. There is a single runway in this airport. Another limitation of this airport is its height above the sea level which is about 1546 m. The nearest airport to Shimla is Chandigarh airport, located about 120 km from Shimla.

Shimla airport has regular flights of major airlines running to cities like Kullu, Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu and others. Pre-paid taxi services are there from Shimla Airport to take passengers to the town and other surrounding areas of Shimla. Tuesday and Thursdays, Jagson Airlines has up and down flights from Delhi to Gaggal touching Shimla and Kullu. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Delhi-Shimla flights are run by Archana and KCV Airlines. Fligths from Delhi to Chandigarh can be taken and then from Chandigarh, Shimla can be reached by road through private or public buses or by hiring taxis or car rentals.

Taxis as well as private cabs can be hired to roam around various places within the city. Riding taxis and cabs is much more comfortable and to some extent economic too. Throughout the day, taxis and cabs are found and they can be hired from anywhere in Shimla. Taxis and cabs can be hired to go outside Shimla too. Taxi drivers are quite knowledgeable and at times they act as tourist guides for the visitors.

HPTDC also has taxi services for within the city for local tours, for surrounding areas of Shimla and also interstate services. Air-conditioned and non-AC cars are available.
To book taxi/cars of HPTDC, tourists should contact:

HPTDC Transport Division
Phone No.: 0177 283 0712
Hotel Holiday Home
Phone No.: 0177 281 2890

Taxi services for local sightseeing can be booked from the local stands, car/taxi rental offices and also through online sites. Local tours for half or full day are available as per the requirement of the tourists at these private taxi/car rental services.

Gurunanak Holiday Travels
Address:
Near Shimla GPO
Phone- 0177 263 3093

Shimal Taxi Cab Service
Address:
Near Shimla GPO
Phone No.: 9736 777 181

The fleet of car/taxi has varieties of vehicles and each one of them is sturdy and meant for the rough terrains of Shimla. They are Indigo, Scorpio, Alto, Swift, Innova, Xylo, Travera, Tata Qualis, Tempo Travelers and others.

• Bus Stand Malgodam
• Lift
• Near Hotel Cecil on Cart Road
• Revoli Bus Stand near Lakkar Bazaar
• Opposite of the Durga Gas Company Godwon, Sanjauli
• New Shimla
• Engine Ghar, Sanjauli
• Tourist Information Center near Railway Station
• Kasumpati
• Polic Gumati tutu Chowk
• Opposite of Taj Palace Hotel
  
  

Shimla is a hilly place and steep slopes and narrow roads are common that is why auto-rickshaws do not run in Shimla like it does in many other towns and cities on India.

• High Court Parking Terrace Floor
• Lift Parking Bakery Side
• Jodha Niwas-1st floor
• Jodha Niwas-Ground Floor
• Metropol Parking( 4th , 5th and Terrace Floor)
• Engine Ghar at Sanjauli
• Marina Hotel-KNH Hospital
• Road Side Parking ranging from Mall Raod-U.S Club
• Rehan Basera (4th Floor & Ground Floor)
• Scooter Parking Place near Rivoli

The numbers of vehicles parked in these places vary from 10 vehicles to about 80 vehicles at a time.