Hyderabad to Shimla

Undoubtedly the cheapest option to go from Hyderabad to Shimla is to take a full bus ride although this option can be strenuous for those with motion sickness. The buses are run by HRTC or Himachal Road Transport Corporation. If you are traveling in a large group or want more comfort, there are private Volvo buses.   

Bus Options Available 

Hyderabad – Jaisinghpur And Jangalberi – Shimla ISBT Tutikandi 

The bus runs only once daily from Hyderabad to Jaisinghpur. You can either take the day off for rest or take a taxi from Jaisinghpur to reach Jangalberi, which is around 32 kilometers away and takes nearly an hour to reach. The taxi fare will be around 900-1200 INR. From Jangalberi, take the bus 236 that runs twice daily to Shimla.     

Time Taken: With regular traffic, it will take approximately 35 hours from Hyderabad to Jaisinghpur and 6 hours from Jangalberi to Shimla.
Cost: INR 850-1000 for Hyderabad to Jaisinghpur bus and INR 250 for Jangalberi to Shimla bus.   

New Delhi – Shimla

HRTC operates bus services from Delhi to Shimla. The bus departs at 3:15 AM and reaches at around 1 PM. 

Time Taken: Around 10 hours 
Cost: Around 650 INR   

Chandigarh – Shimla

HRTC buses run between Chandigarh and Shimla and it is more time and cost efficient than that from Delhi. The buses depart at 2:40 PM and reach at around 6 PM. From Chandigarh Airport, you have to walk for approximately 7 minutes to reach Behlana and take CTU bus 17 or 143 to reach Isbt-17, which will take a maximum of 30 minutes. Change the bus to Express or Super Luxury for traveling to Shimla. It is operated by RSRTC and runs twice daily and takes more or less 2 hours.      

Time Taken: Around 3.5 hours 
Cost: Around 200-250 INR

You can either take your own car or hire a private car to reach Shimla via NH 44. The journey takes more or less 27 hours according to the traffic of the route and the number of pit stops you make as it is a prolonged journey. Make sure to carry necessary documents including your license, identification documents like PAN card and spare tires in case your car breaks down in the middle of the road where no mechanic is available. The cost for a private car will be around 17000 INR.      

Route Options    

Route 1: Hyderabad – Shimla Route (Via NH44) 
The longest route of 1900 kilometers approximately takes about 36 hours if you drive continuously and those preferring long drives will love this option as it avoids road closures. From Hyderabad-Ramagundam Road, you will continue along NH 44 and cover 95% of the route passing through Srinagar – Kanyakumari Highway, NH 47 and finally NH 5 to take the Old Bus Stand Road in Shimla. Continue for about 15 minutes to The Mall Road.  

Road Conditions 
The smooth stretch of the road makes this prolonged journey enjoyable while the magnificent view of the Himachal Himalayas is like icing on the cake once you enter Shimla. There are a number of toll centers though and along the route you will get both roadside dhabas and upscale hotels and restaurants.   

Route 2: Chandigarh – Shimla Route (Via NH5)
The road distance between Chandigarh and Shimla is only about 115-116 kilometers and you can either take the faster NH5 route or the SH 16 route that has fewer toll stops. To cover the distance, it will take around four hours depending on the traffic and the journey is comfortable too as the road condition is great. The first 11 kilometers will pass through Chandigarh-Panchkula Road to NH5 in Khark Mangoli and takes half an hour at the most to cover. Now you will have about 100 kilometers of smooth NH5 ahead that meets the Cart Road in Shimla. It will take three hours more or less if you do not stop on the way. 

Route 3: New Delhi – Shimla Route (Via NH44 and NH5)
If you are coming from New Delhi, the NH44 and NH5 route covering 362 kilometers is a more convenient option than passing through NH709. Without any road closure, this route takes 8 hours to cover if you drive consistently. From Raisina Road, you will pass the Press Club of India and then take the Ferozeshah Road to exit onto Sikandra Road that leads towards Indraprashtha Marg. Merge with NH44 and after crossing four toll stoppages, take the Ambala Chandigarh Expressway. Continue for about 33 kilometers to reach Main Chowk and from there you have about 108 kilometers of NH5/NH7 ahead that will take you to Shimla Bypass Bus Stop. 

Route 4: Kalka – Shimla Route (Via NH5) 
The best and shortest road journey covering approximately 15 kilometers from Kalka Shimla Railway to The Mall in Shimla takes more or less 30 minutes and most people travelling on train prefer this route. You have to take the NH5 towards Old Bus Stand Road or Cart Road in Shimla after passing Shimla Bypass Bus Stop that leads to NH205. Take the Mall Road to reach your destination. 

Route 5: Dehradun – Shimla Route (Via NH7 And SH 2)
Covering over 230 kilometers, this route is preferred by those taking a flight to Dehradun from Hyderabad. The Dehradun – Rishikesh National Highway will lead you to NH 7 covering 21 kilometers and from there you will take about 1.5 hours to cover over 70 kilometers between NH 7 and SH 2 in Nahan. Reach Kumarhatti by taking NH5 from SH 2, covering around 80 kilometers in 2.5 hours maximum and follow the NH5 for nearly two hours more to reach Cart Road in Shimla. You will take around 6.5 hours to cover the entire journey.

Both Indian Railways and Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) operate train services between Hyderabad and Shimla. There is no direct train to Shimla and hence, you can either change trains from Secunderabad or from Chandigarh. If you are opting for a full train journey from Malakpet, you need to change trains three times and the journey being quite long, you might have to stay overnight at Secunderabad, Ambala or Kalka. On reaching Kalka, you will get a private taxi or bus to reach Shimla or take a train.     

Train Options Available 

Malakpet - Secunderabad – Ambala Cantonment Junction – Kalka –Shimla (1930 kilometers approximately in total)
Trains:
1. From Malakpet To Secunderabad: 47149, 47150, 47151, 47152, 47153, 47154, 47155, 47165, 47156, 47157, 47198, 47214, 47211FM LPI (Falaknuma Lingampalli) Local –Runs daily in hourly or half-hourly basis.  

2. From Secunderabad To Ambala Cantonment Junction: 22705 Jammu-Tawi Humsafar Superfast Express (Wednesday)

3. From Ambala Jn To Kalka: Daily running trains include 12311 Howrah Delhi Kalka Mail, 13008 U A Toofan Express, 14888 Barmer Kalka Express, 14095 Himalayan Queen, 12011 and 12005 Kalka Shatabdi, 12925 Pashchim Express, 22925 Ambala Kalka Link Express, 54531 Ambala Kalka Passenger and 54303 Delhi Kalka Passenger. 22455 SNSI/Sainagar Shirdi – Kalka Superfast Express runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

4. From Kalka To Shimla: Daily running trains include 52457 and 52441 Kalka Shimla Passenger, 52453 Kalka Shimla Express, 52455 Himalayan Queen, 52459 Himalaya Darshan Express and the 52451 Shivalik Deluxe Express.  

Cost: Around 2500-3000 INR for A/C in each train. INR 75 for train from Malakpet to Secunderabad, INR 800 for train from Secunderabad to Ambala and INR 95 for train to Ambala to Kalka for Second seating. INR 250 for general seating in trains from Kalka to Shimla.  

Duration: 40 hours 30 minutes more or less. Malakpet to Secunderabad trains take around 20-30 minutes while train from Secunderabad Junction to Ambala takes around 31 hours and train from Ambala to Kalka takes around two hours. From Kalka to Shimla, trains take 5-5.5 hours to reach.    

Secunderabad – New Delhi – Kalka (1830 kilometers approximately)

Trains:
1. Secunderabad To New Delhi: 12723 Telangana Express (daily), 22691 Rajdhani Express (daily) and 12721 Nizamuddin Express up to Hazrat Nizamuddin, 12649 Sampark Kranti (Daily except Wednesday and Friday) up to Hazrat Nizamuddin, 22705 Jammu-Tawi Humsafar Superfast Express (Wednesday) up to Delhi Safdarjung, 12437 Rajdhani Express (Wednesday) up to Hazrat Nizamuddin, 12285 Nizamuddin Duronto Express (Thursday) up to Hazrat Nizamuddin and 12213 Duronto Express (Sunday) up to Delhi S Rohilla. 

2. New Delhi To Kalka: Daily trains include 14095 Himalayan Queen from Delhi S Rohilla, 12011 Kalka Shatabdi, 12925 Paschim Express, 54303 Delhi Kalka Passenger from Delhi, 12005 Kalka Shatabdi and 12311 Howrah Delhi Kalka Mail from Delhi. 

Cost: Approximately INR 4500 (First Class), INR 2700 (Second Class), INR 1900 (Three Tier) and INR 700 (Sleeper) for trains between Secunderabad and New Delhi and approximately INR 1400 (First Class), INR 800 (Second Class), INR 600 (Three Tier) and INR 200 (Sleeper) for trains running between New Delhi and Kalka. 

Duration: From Secunderabad to New Delhi, it takes between 23-30 hours and from New Delhi to Kalka, it takes between 5-8 hours depending on the train and running status. 

Secunderabad – Ambala – Kalka  

Trains: 22705 Jammu-Tawi Humsafar Superfast Express (Wednesday) runs up to Ambala Cantonment Junction. Ambala to Kalka trains are mentioned above.  

Cost: Approximately 2300 INR for Three Tier on Jammu Tawi Humsafar and INR 95 for train to Kalka

Duration: Nearly 30 hours from Secunderabad to Ambala and two hours from there to Kalka

The approximate aerial distance between Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and Shimla Airport is 1525 kilometers and there is no direct flight. You can either reach via Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi or via Chandigarh International Airport.

Then according to your budget, get another flight to Shimla or book a bus or car to Shimla. Vistara (Only between Hyderabad and Chandigarh), Air India, Spicejet, AirAsia India, IndiGo Airlines and GoAir are the domestic airlines that operate flights between these cities. In either case of traveling via New Delhi or Chandigarh Airport, you have to stay at a nearby hotel after reaching because the bus to Shimla takes off not before 22 hours approximately. If you are planning to take a bus to Shimla instead of flight, to avoid exertion, take a day off for rest.     

Starting Price: INR 2500

Flight Options Available 

Hyderabad To New Delhi (HYD to DEL)

Flights departure timings: 5:45 AM, 10:50 PM, 8:30 PM, 8:45 AM, 7:30 PM, 11:05 PM, 9:40 PM, 6:55 AM, 5:25 AM, 4:35 AM, 7:440 AM, 6:15 PM, 11 PM, 5:35 AM, 11:45 PM, 10:25 AM, 10:10 AM, 5:05 PM, 2:45 PM, 7:05 PM etc.   

Duration: Around 2 hours 15 minutes 

New Delhi To Shimla (DEL to SLV)

There is only one flight operated by Air India from New Delhi to Shimla Airport. It departs at 6:15 AM and arrives at 7:25 AM.  

Duration: Around 1 hour 15 minutes

Hyderabad To Chandigarh (HYD to IXC) 

The only direct flights depart at 9:05 AM (GoAir), 11:50 AM (IndiGo) and 2:15 PM (IndiGo). On reaching Chandigarh, there are bus services to Shimla.   

Duration: Around 2 hours 30 minutes  

Hyderabad To Dehradun (HYD to DED)

The only direct flight departs for Jolly Grant Airport at 7 AM and reaches at 9:30 AM. IndiGo operates the flight.    

Duration: Around 2 hours 30 minutes

There are also flights from Hyderabad to Kullu (HYD to KUU) that depart for Kullu Manali Airport via New Delhi. It is quite a costly alternative and you have to stay overnight or for a few hours in Delhi as the flights to Kullu are at great intervals. The cost will be nearly 10000 to 12000 INR and the flight duration will be around 2.15 hours.