CityDekho
Himachal Hill Stations: Shimla, Kullu & Manali

Himachal Hill Stations: Shimla, Kullu & Manali

Himachal Pradesh

A classic six-day loop through Himachal's three most-loved hill towns — colonial Shimla, the green Kullu valley and adventure-ready Manali.

6 days 15 stopsby CityDekho Editorial

Himachal Pradesh's "big three" hill stations string together into one of India's most rewarding mountain circuits. This six-day guide starts in Shimla — the old summer capital of British India, still lined with colonial architecture along its car-free Ridge — then drops into the apple-growing Kullu valley before finishing in Manali, the launch pad for the high Himalaya.

You'll ride a UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge train, walk to a 16th-century cedar-wood temple, try paragliding at Solang and wind down in the riverside cafés of Old Manali and Kasol. Every stop below is a real place on CityDekho — open any of them for photos and directions, then save the guide or make it your own.

Duration

6 days / 5 nights

Best time

March–June & September–November

Distance

~250 km, Shimla to Manali

Difficulty

Easy

Bases

Shimla · Kullu · Manali

Trip highlights

  • Evening walks on Shimla's colonial Ridge & Mall
  • The UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla toy train
  • The 1553 Hidimba Devi cedar-wood temple
  • Paragliding at Solang and the Atal Tunnel
  • Café afternoons in Old Manali and Kasol

Know before you go

Getting there
Nearest airports are Shimla (Jubbarhatti) and Kullu–Manali (Bhuntar). Many travellers drive up from Chandigarh — about 4 hours to Shimla.
Altitude
Shimla sits around 2,200 m and Manali around 2,050 m — comfortable for most people; Solang and Rohtang climb higher.
When to avoid
Skip peak monsoon (July–August) for landslide risk, and carry warm layers year-round — mountain evenings are cold.
Rohtang & Atal Tunnel
The 9.02 km Atal Tunnel stays open most of the year; Rohtang Pass itself needs a permit and closes under winter snow.

The day-by-day plan

1

Day 1

Arrive in Shimla — the Queen of Hills

Settle into Shimla and take it slow. The old town is best explored on foot along the ridgeline, ending with a sunset walk on the Mall.

  1. The Mall & The Ridge
    Evening

    The Mall & The Ridge

    Shimla's colonial promenade runs along the ridgeline at about 2,200 m, past Christ Church and the Gaiety Theatre — best enjoyed on an evening stroll.

  2. Mall Road
    Evening

    Mall Road

    The car-free shopping street just below the Ridge, lined with old bakeries, cafés and Himachali handicraft shops.

2

Day 2

Shimla heritage & the toy train

Give the morning to the famous mountain railway, then keep the afternoon gentle around the Ridge.

  1. Kalka–Shimla Toy Train
    Morning

    Kalka–Shimla Toy Train

    Ride the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge railway (inscribed in 2008 as part of the Mountain Railways of India). The roughly 96 km line climbs through more than 100 tunnels and hundreds of bridges.

  2. The Ridge
    Afternoon

    The Ridge

    The open ridgeline square is Shimla's social heart, with wide Himalayan views on a clear day.

3

Day 3

Down into the Kullu valley

Drive down to the Beas-river valley of Kullu, the cultural home of the famous Dussehra festival.

  1. Kullu
    Anytime

    Kullu

    The apple-orchard valley on the Beas river and the cultural home of the internationally known Kullu Dussehra.

  2. Raghunath Temple
    Afternoon

    Raghunath Temple

    The 17th-century temple of Raghunath, the presiding deity carried through Kullu's week-long Dussehra procession.

  3. Bhuttico Handloom Center
    Afternoon

    Bhuttico Handloom Center

    Bhuttico, a Kullu weavers' cooperative founded in 1944, is a dependable place to see and buy genuine Kullu shawls and caps.

4

Day 4

Old Manali & Hidimba's cedar temple

Continue to Manali. Morning at the historic Hidimba temple, then an easy evening in Old Manali.

  1. Manali
    Anytime

    Manali

    The Beas-valley resort town at about 2,050 m and the base for trips into the higher Himalaya.

  2. Hidimba Devi Temple
    Morning

    Hidimba Devi Temple

    A wooden pagoda temple built in 1553 in the Dhungri cedar forest, dedicated to Hidimba Devi of the Mahabharata.

  3. Old Manali Cafe Strip
    Evening

    Old Manali Cafe Strip

    Old Manali's lane of riverside cafés and guesthouses above the main town — relaxed and walkable.

5

Day 5

Adventure day — Solang & the Atal Tunnel

If the road is open, continue through the 9.02 km Atal Tunnel (opened 2020) toward Lahaul for a taste of the trans-Himalaya; Rohtang Pass itself needs a separate permit.

  1. Solang Valley
    Morning

    Solang Valley

    Manali's adventure meadow about 14 km up-valley — paragliding, zorbing and a ropeway in summer, and a ski slope in winter.

  2. Jogini Falls Trail
    Afternoon

    Jogini Falls Trail

    A short forest trail from Vashisht leads to the multi-tier Jogini Falls, a locally revered waterfall.

6

Day 6

Optional: Parvati Valley & Kasol

With an extra day, detour into the Parvati valley — Kasol is an easy, mellow finale before heading home.

  1. Kasol
    Anytime

    Kasol

    A riverside village on the Parvati, gateway to the Kheerganga and Malana treks and known for its café culture.

  2. Chalal Village Trail
    Morning

    Chalal Village Trail

    An easy 30-minute walk along the Parvati river from Kasol to the hamlet of Chalal.

  3. Kasol Market Cafes
    Afternoon

    Kasol Market Cafes

    Kasol's compact market is full of cafés serving Israeli and Himachali food — a mellow end to the trip.

Make this trip yours

Copy this guide into your own planner and adjust the days, stops and pace — or browse more real itineraries.

More guides