[nitinralli]

Guys, Anyone done this route recently? Could you please advice the state of roads and accordingly best route to take from delhi?

[abhjain]

I also plan to do this route soon. Pointers on preferred route and condition would be helpful.

[superbhikari]

Please update about the road condition and preferred route to travel from Ambala to Dharamshala via Palampur.

[outdoorlover]

Hi, I am planning on driving in our Honda City from Delhi to Dharamshala in end Dec and coming back on 3-Jan. Wanted to inquire on :

A) the best route and condition of it?
B) is the road condition ok to drive in a Honda City?
C) do I need to face snowfall while in there? If yes, any precautions/ recommendations for driving

[ssambyal1980]

Originally Posted by outdoorlover

Hi, I am planning on driving in our Honda City from Delhi to Dharamshala in end Dec and coming back on 3-Jan. Wanted to inquire on :

A) the best route and condition of it?
B) is the road condition ok to drive in a Honda City?
C) do I need to face snowfall while in there? If yes, any precautions/ recommendations for driving

Hi Outdoorlover,
Good to know about your planned forthcoming trip. The following are replies to your queries:

1. Regarding the best route, I would suggest you to take the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal-Ambala-Chandigarh-Mohali-Ropar-Una-Mubarakpur-Kangra-Dharamsala route as this is most frequented as well the most important one.

2. The road condition is pretty good. From Delhi the journey till Dharamsala would take around 11 hrs (depending on traffic conditions). Delhi to Chandigarh would take 4 hrs and from Chandigarh to Dharamsala it is around 7 hrs drive.

3. Only the upper Dharamsala area i.e Mcleodganj receives snowfall around last week of December or during the first week of January and that too if the weather packs up heavily. To be on the safer side you can stay in lower Dharamsala which doesn't receive snowfall and can plan a drive to Mcleodganj which is only 10kms away, as per the weather conditions.

[outdoorlover]

Originally Posted by ssambyal1980

Hi Outdoorlover,
Good to know about your planned forthcoming trip. The following are replies to your queries:

1. Regarding the best route, I would suggest you to take the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal-Ambala-Chandigarh-Mohali-Ropar-Una-Mubarakpur-Kangra-Dharamsala route as this is most frequented as well the most important one.

2. The road condition is pretty good. From Delhi the journey till Dharamsala would take around 11 hrs (depending on traffic conditions). Delhi to Chandigarh would take 4 hrs and from Chandigarh to Dharamsala it is around 7 hrs drive.

3. Only the upper Dharamsala area i.e Mcleodganj receives snowfall around last week of December or during the first week of January and that too if the weather packs up heavily. To be on the safer side you can stay in lower Dharamsala which doesn't receive snowfall and can plan a drive to Mcleodganj which is only 10kms away, as per the weather conditions.

Many thanks for your valuable inputs, Ssambyal!

[ptaneja]

Guys, bumping this thread !

I'll be going from Delhi to Dalhousie in coming week. Route is pretty straightforward via Pathankot.

Any idea on route condition from Dalhousie to Dharamshala ?
And then from Dharamshala to Palampur ?
Finally, from Dharamshala to Shimla ?

Lots of questions - hope to find some answers before the trip !!

[Biraj]

Originally Posted by ptaneja

Guys, bumping this thread !

I'll be going from Delhi to Dalhousie in coming week. Route is pretty straightforward via Pathankot.

Any idea on route condition from Dalhousie to Dharamshala ?
And then from Dharamshala to Palampur ?
Finally, from Dharamshala to Shimla ?

Lots of questions - hope to find some answers before the trip !!

Dalhousie to Dharmashala - roads are decent but narrow in stretches. You will have to trace the route back towards Pathankot and then take left towards Nurpur (don't remember the correct spelling). Be careful if it rains as there are stretches that are notorious for land slides. Manageable but with caution.

Dharmashala to Shimla - you will have to take the road towards Mandi and then proceed towards Shimla. Dharmashala to Mandi is quite good but the road to Shimla from there is narrow and steep in parts (better to be covered during daylight).

Hope this travelogue helps you. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124360

[ptaneja]

Originally Posted by Biraj

Dalhousie to Dharmashala - roads are decent but narrow in stretches. You will have to trace the route back towards Pathankot and then take left towards Nurpur (don't remember the correct spelling).

Why would I need to go all the way back to Pathankot !?
As per maps, I can see couple of options - both 117kms.

Dalhousie > Nurpur > Dramman > Dharamshala
OR
Dalhousie > Patka > Sinhuta > Dharamshala

I am searching for a response on road condition on either of two ?!

[Anubhav89]

Bumping this thread for my planned trip in July.

My fiance and I are going to do:
19th evening: Delhi-Chandigarh (overnight stay)
20th: Leave for Dharamshala next morning. Spend the second half sightseeing.
21st: Spend the day in Dharmashala
22nd: Cycle to McLeodganj and spend the day there. We are taking our off-road cycles along
23rd: <Spare day> would love recommendations for places nearby that can be driven/ridden to.
24th: Leave back for Delhi in the morning

Recommendations are invited for itenary on the 23rd July.

Also, how bad is the monsoon during that time in these areas? Tips for what to pack/ routes to take or avoid are welcome.

Thank You!

[ptaneja]

Originally Posted by Anubhav89

23rd: <Spare day> would love recommendations for places nearby that can be driven/ridden to.

How about a trip to Palampur from there ?

I'll be leaving tomorrow morning for Dalhousie > Dharamshala > Mc:Leod Ganj > Palampur trip. Would share the road condition and weather on my return.

[deepcdc]

Amazing to see this thread updated.

Thanks a lot everybody !

I am planning to go there towards the end of July'16. Read the thread and got a fair idea about the route to take. I'm thinking about the weather, I'm hoping for it not to rain hard.

[ptaneja]

Originally Posted by deepcdc

Amazing to see this thread updated.

Thanks a lot everybody !

I am planning to go there towards the end of July'16. Read the thread and got a fair idea about the route to take. I'm thinking about the weather, I'm hoping for it not to rain hard.

July end would be full on monsoon !!
But IMO, Rainy season is the best weather to visit the hills - everywhere it would be green, lush green meadows and so on.

Check out my ownership thread, last page for exact route I took >

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...-months-7.html

[ank.nsit]

I am planning a delhi to palampur road trip next weekend. And the predictions are of good rains. I would like to know the route I should take in such weather. Also, if I need to be wary of certain streches which are prone to landslide.

Thanks in advance.

[troublemaker]

We are doing Ahmedabad-Dharamshala-Dalhousie-Amritsar-Ahmedabad around last week of December. We are taking the XUV FWD. Please suggest on
1. Which routes are preferred?
2. Will there be snow during this period and if yes, XUV FWD would be okay?