Chandigarh to Shimla Road Distance: 115 km · 3-4 hours · Cab from ₹3,300
Chandigarh → Pinjore → Kalka → Solan → Shimla
Hairpins, tea stops and a driver who has done this climb a hundred times.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
115km
Drive time
3hrs
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Driving Chandigarh to Shimla: what this corridor is like
Hill-trained drivers
Every driver on this corridor has logged the climb in all four seasons and carries chains from December to February.
Start before sunrise
Leaving by 5 AM clears the plains before traffic and puts you on the ghat section in daylight, which is the whole point of a road trip here.
Permits and stops handled
Rohtang, Atal Tunnel timings, Kufri parking, Kempty falls — the driver knows which need a permit and which are worth the detour.
What the Chandigarh to Shimla road is actually like
The Chandigarh to Shimla road is flat and fast only as far as Pinjore; after Kalka it stops being a highway and becomes a hill road for the remaining eighty kilometres. The climb proper begins just past the Parwanoo toll, where Himachal starts, and the section up through Dharampur to Solan is where the hairpins come one after another, with the toy train line ducking in and out of its tunnels on the slope beside you. Our drivers take chai at Barog, a little short of Solan and roughly the halfway point. From Solan the road runs through pine forest by Kandaghat and Shoghi, and the last few kilometres into Shimla are a one-way system that must be followed as signed. In July and August the hillside near Solan slips and the road can shut; from December to February there is snow on the upper reaches and black ice in the shaded bends below Shimla, so we allow an extra hour. On May and June weekends leave Chandigarh by six to miss the queue at the town entry.
How far is Shimla from Chandigarh?
The distance from Chandigarh to Shimla is 115 km by road via NH-5 via Kalka, and the drive takes about 3-4 hours. A one-way AC cab starts from ₹3,300 (sedan), with SUV and Tempo Traveller options also available. Toll and state tax are charged extra at actual.
By Road
115 km
Drive Time
3-4 hours
Cab From
₹3,300
Fuel (self-drive)
₹821
Chandigarh to Shimla distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 115 km (71 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 3-4 hours
- Best route / highway
- NH-5 via Kalka
- AC Sedan cab fare Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 seater
- ₹3,300 (₹11/km)
- Ertiga SUV cab fare Maruti Ertiga · 6 seater
- ₹4,500 (₹15/km)
- Innova Crysta cab fare Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 seater
- ₹5,400 (₹18/km)
- Tempo Traveller cab fare 12-seater AC
- ₹6,900 (₹23/km)
- Approx. fuel cost (self-drive)
- ₹821 one-way
* Cab fares are one-way and include fuel & driver. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
Chandigarh to Shimla: cab vs train vs bus vs flight
A quick comparison of travel time, cost and comfort for the 115 km journey to help you choose the right mode.
Cab / TaxiRecommended
- Travel Time
- 3-4 hours
- Cost
- From ₹3,300
- Comfort
- Door-to-door, private, flexible stops
- Best For
- Families, groups, comfort
Train
- Travel Time
- Nearest railhead + timetable
- Cost
- Budget (subject to availability)
- Comfort
- Fixed timing, station-to-station
- Best For
- Solo budget travellers
Bus
- Travel Time
- 4-5 hrs
- Cost
- Most economical
- Comfort
- Shared, fixed stops
- Best For
- Backpackers, low budget
Flight
- Travel Time
- Nearest airport + transfers
- Cost
- Highest
- Comfort
- Fastest leg, transfers both ends
- Best For
- Long distances, time-critical
For Chandigarh to Shimla, a private cab offers door-to-door pickup, no fixed timetable and the freedom to stop anywhere en route.
Toll plazas on this route
Total toll
₹75
01Parwanoo Toll Plaza
- At km
- 35 km
- Toll (car)
- ₹75
Total one-way toll
₹75
* FASTag accepted at all plazas. Rates approximate, may vary. Tolls are billed at actual on your trip.
Chandigarh to Shimla cab fare
Fuel and driver included · Tolls and taxes extra
Sedan
Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 Seater
Ertiga SUV
Maruti Ertiga · 6 Seater
Innova Crysta
Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 Seater
Tempo Traveller
12-Seater AC · 12 Seater
* Toll & state tax extra at actual. Fares based on 115 km one-way.
Tips from drivers who run this route every week
Best time to travel
March to June for pleasant weather. December-February for snowfall.
Local insider tip
Alternative: Take toy train from Kalka to Shimla for a scenic UNESCO heritage experience.
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Chandigarh to Shimla FAQs
What is the distance from Chandigarh to Shimla by road?
The road distance from Chandigarh to Shimla is 115 km via NH-5 via Kalka, running through Pinjore, Kalka, Solan. That is the driving distance a car actually covers, not the straight-line distance.
How long does it take to drive from Chandigarh to Shimla?
About 3-4 hours via NH-5 via Kalka in normal traffic. Starting at 5-6 AM clears the city before it fills and usually saves most of an hour against a 9 AM departure.
How much does a cab from Chandigarh to Shimla cost?
A cab from Chandigarh to Shimla starts at ₹3,300 for an AC sedan, ₹4,500 for an Ertiga, ₹5,400 for an Innova Crysta and ₹6,900 for a 12-seater Tempo Traveller. Outstation trips are billed on a 300 km per day minimum. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
How is the Chandigarh to Shimla drive broken up?
The route passes Pinjore then Kalka then Solan. On a 3-4 hours journey that is a natural set of stages: take the first break around Pinjore before the traffic thins, and plan the longer halt near Kalka.
Which vehicle is best for the Chandigarh to Shimla road?
This route includes hill sections, so the vehicle matters more than on a plains run. An Ertiga or Innova Crysta from ₹4,500 handles gradients and hairpins with a full load better than a sedan, and a Tempo Traveller from ₹6,900 is the usual choice for a group. The road-condition notes on this page describe the stretch in detail.
When should you avoid travelling from Chandigarh to Shimla?
March to June for pleasant weather. December-February for snowfall. Those windows are about the road rather than the forecast - a closed or damaged stretch changes the journey time, not just the comfort. Confirm conditions before booking in the months named above.
Is a one-way or round-trip cab better from Chandigarh to Shimla?
A one-way cab is cheaper when you only need the drop - you do not pay for the empty return. Choose a round trip when you want the same car and driver waiting, which is normally better value for a same-day return on a 3-4 hours route.
What is the approximate fuel cost from Chandigarh to Shimla?
Self-driving Chandigarh to Shimla costs roughly ₹821 in fuel one way at about 14 km/l. A Triveni cab includes fuel in the fare, so toll and state tax are the only extras.
Book Chandigarh to Shimla or explore the cities
Other ways to travel Chandigarh → Shimla
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