Shimla Kullu Manali Tour From Kolkata 2025

We two couples visited Shimla Manali for our honeymoon. It’s the most beautiful and best tourist destination in India. So, a holiday in Shimla is our first choice. We took the Netaji Express (Kalka mail) from Howrah in April. If you want to save money, there is no need to book any tour package; follow my guide.

It’s an 11-day Shimla Kullu Manali tour plan from Kolkata, with a two-day, two-night journey by train. When we reach Kalka, it’s 4 a.m., and the Shivalik Express toy train awaits us.

Trip Itinerary for Shimla Kullu Manali

• Day 1 and Day 2: Train journey Howrah–9 no platform at 7:40 pm, and the train journey continued on the 2nd day.
• Day 3: Arrive at Kalka at 4:30 a.m. and take the toy train to Simla at 5:00 a.m. Arrive at Simla at 10:00 a.m., check into the hotel, and rest. Enjoy the mall, Kali Mandir, and State Museum, and buy cookies and drinks at 3:30 p.m. Book a small car for the next day’s local sightseeing and book a hotel in Manali.
• Day 4: Local sightseeing at Simla- Chadwick Falls, Jakhoo Temple, Sankat Mochan, Tara Devi, Fagu, Kufri, and Zoo.
• Day 5: Check out of Simla at 6 a.m. and go to Manali, 260 km away. Check in Manali at night, including Manikaran (it’s on the way) and Sundar Nagar Lake. Our hotel is near the clubhouse and opposite the Beas River. Note: The best Bengali food is available at the Gumpha Hotel.
• Day 6: The local side is seen at 7 a.m.: Hidimba Devi temple, Jagatsukh, Kothi, Manu temple, Mountaineering Institute, Nehru Kund, Basistha Muni Ashram, Rahala waterfalls, Naggar fort, Kulu temple, village side temple, and Beas river on foot.
• Day 7: Morning at 5 am, Rohtang pass, adventure game at Solang valley, and return to Manali market.
• Day 8: The next day, we eat a lot of local food, hire a small car for Kulu, and book a Volvo bus for Chandigarh at night.
• Day 9: Visit Chandigarh from Manali. One night travel.
• Day 10: We spent the entire day in Chandigarh on a Chandigarh tourism government bus. We visited the rose garden, the rock garden, Sukna Lake, the museum, etc. Therefore, we took the train from Chandigarh.
• Days 11 and 12: Full-day train and return at Howrah at 11:30 am -29 April.

Shimla Kullu Manali tour plan from Kolkata

The distance from Kolkata to Simla is 1834 km by train, and Simla to Manali is 248 km by car. The average temperature in April is 12 degrees. Since we are not back in Kalka via Simla (in the same way), we have added Chandigarh to our plan.

18 April–KALKA MAIL–time–7:40 pm–a departure from Howrah. On 20th April, the Shivalik Express train (5:00 am) departs from Kalka station (toy trains start earlier; please check in IRCTC). Toy train tickets can also be bought earlier from the Indian Railways.

The last day we spent in Chandigarh. Because returning via Simla and Kalka is just a time-killing matter for me, I choose to move to a new destination instead of returning to Simla and Kalka. We stay in Simla for two days, Manali for four days, and Chandigarh for two days.

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Kolkata to Shimla Travel – Our Holiday Story

If you think about travelling to India, spending holidays in Shimla comes to mind first. It was a dream destination and an incredible two-day, two-night journey. We visited in April, but you can visit anytime throughout the year.

We reached Kalka at 4 a.m. and wanted to take the Sibalik express toy train to Simla. As we entered the Kalka station, we saw many people boarding the same toy train as a local train.

Also, we don’t have a reserved ticket for the same because IRCTC has not confirmed that.

At that time, the TTE r gave us an idea; we bought a general ticket for 20 rupees and converted it into a reserved ticket, which was charged around 350 rupees.

Shivalik Express is an excellent toy train, and I have to say the journey was speechless. At the station “Barog,” breakfast is included with the ticket. It’s one of the best luxury tours by train.

It took 4 hours to travel from Kalka to Simla. After reaching Simla, we took a cab (100 rupees and a 5-minute journey) to the lift station, and from there, we went up to Shimla Mall Road by lift. It takes less time to reach Mall Road and is cost-effective.

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Reached Shimla from Kalka

We reached our hotel, rested, and had lunch there. In the evening, we went to the mall in Shimla and bought some socks, a shawl, etc.

We also booked a car for the next day’s local sightseeing and bought food for dinner. The Gupta Hotel is cheap and good in the Shima restaurant but serves only vegetarian food.

The next day, we went to Green Valley, Jahku temple, Fagu, Kufri, the Zoo, Chinese park, and ‘Sankat Mochan‘ temple and returned to the hotel. Kufri was very bright, and the sky was deep blue. 110 ft Hanuman Ji is a unique attraction in the Jakhu temple, viewable anywhere in Simla.

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Simla to Manali

After a good sleep, we woke up and started our tour of Manali. Shimla to Kullu-Manali is one of India’s most famous road trip routes. We finished our breakfast at a Dhaba and started our journey.

Anyone can feel the ups and downs of the hill area. We finished lunch at a roadside hotel and bought juice from the government juice centre. It’s a 250-km journey by car.

In the same way, we went to Manikaran (the hot bath is available here ). We reached Manali at 10 p.m. and checked into our hotel beside the Beas River. From our window, we had an excellent view of the flooding water.

You can visit Simla Manali throughout the year, but the best time is June (warm weather) to February (snowfall).

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Manali visiting places

The next day, we first visited Hirimba Mata temple, Basista Muni ashram (where a hot bath is available), Nehru Kund, and Manu temple and then returned to Manali Mall Road; Gumpha monastery was there.

We found the Gumpha Bengali Hotel, where most of the staff are Bengali. We finished our dinner with Bengali food and returned to our hotel. The next day, we went for what we had been waiting for: Rohtang Pass and Sangla Valley. For tourist information, visit here.

Rohtang Pass trip

We did an all-day activity on the ice here and spent the whole morning there. Many adventure rides are exciting, like paragliding in Rohtang Pass and skiing in Solang Valley. Anyone can come directly from Shimla to Rohtang Pass, which is 300 km.

We got up early and went to the Rohtang Pass. As it’s a single and narrow road, you should hurry to the car park. Also, there are lots of locals ready to rent on the spot.

We again went to the mall to buy saffron Kaju from a reputed shop and finished dinner at the Ghumpha Hotel in the evening.

On our last day in Manali, we visited Nagar fort, a Tibetan monastery, a Buddhist monastery, Gayatri Mandir, a swale factory, Mata Vaishno Devi temple at Kullu, and other places, and we bought some good-quality woollen garments from Kullu.

On this day, we completed all the Simla and Manali tours. Therefore, that night, we took a Volvo bus to Chandigarh.

Chandigarh tour and sightseeing

In the early morning, we reach Chandigarh and book a hotel there. We move around the city all day and buy T-shirts at Sector 22. I found good-quality, everyday-use garment products here.

The temperature is very different from Manali; it’s almost 35 degrees in Chandigarh. We drink lots of juice and shakes there.

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Chandigarh tour by bus

The next day, we visited the Chandigarh Tourism Development Corporation office and booked our last tour with the Chandigarh tour bus, which costs 55 rupees per head. 

We saw the museum, Rose Garden, Santi Kung, Rock Garden, and Sukna Lake, among other things. The main attractions in Chandigarh are the rock garden and Sukna Lake (boating is available). At night, we took the train from Chandigarh and returned to Howrah.

Pinjore Garden in Chandigarh

You can visit Pinjore Garden or Yadavindra Garden while coming from Simla and reaching Chandigarh. After many years, the Mughal king of Patiala, Maharaj Amar Singh, reopened the garden. Mughal architecture is fantastic.

It’s under Panchkula Zilla in Haryana State, and this Mughal garden is approximately 22 km away from Chandigarh. There is a small zoo, a park, and a playground for kids. Add this place to your Shimla, Kullu, Manali tour plan.

How to go to Simla, Kullu, Manali from Kolkata by train

Please note that no direct train is available for Simla, Kullu, and Manali. Kalka mail from Howrah reach Kalka. Afterwards, take the toy train or ride a car/ bus to Simla.

Shimla Kullu Manali tour plan tips

• We booked a car for the entire tour from Simla, which costs 11000 for three days. We bear the cost of the driver’s one-night stay, which is included in the car package. But in Manali, there are lots of cars available.
• When we came from Simla to Manali, we went to Manikaran on the same journey; we reached the hotel late, around 11 p.m.
• Buy saffron only from reputable shops. Try to find this shop in the mall market.
• In Rohtang Pass, many locals are ready to rent the dress on the spot.
• Simla Zoo is a time-consuming place; avoid it.
• From Kalka to Simla, we convert local tickets to reserved tickets with help from the ticket checker. That will allow us to take the Shivalik Express toy train.
• We added an extra trip to Chandigarh from Manali.

Shima Kulu Manali Shopping Guide

In Simla, we bought a few good shawls, blankets, etc. There is a market around the mall. On the journey from Simla to Manali, we bought a few fruit juices from the Himachal Government juice centre. In Kullu, we bought sweaters and shawls from the shawl factory.

In Manali, we bought some saffron, dry apricots, and apple pickles from a reputed shop in the Manali mall market, and in Chandigarh, Sector 22, we bought a T-shirt (big size and good quality).

Food

In all locations, “Paratha” is common. Various types of “Parathas” are available. In Chandigarh, juice/shake lassies with a big-sized glass/mug are available on every corner.

At the top of the Rohtang pass, we eat hot Maggi. This kind of food is available all over Simla and Manali.

Packing list

Excluding all the dresses, we carry gloves, socks, caps, a knife, a small rope, moisturiser cream, a multipurpose plug, a small torch, etc.

Note

In addition, please contact the hotel two days before the journey date, and always carry an identity card.

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