OneofthemostpopularroutesinnorthernIndia,andforgoodreason, this about-
120km drive is one that will keep you well fed. As organised as the union territory
of Chandigarh is, the traffic on the roads leading out can be a bit unruly, especially
given the high number of buses ferrying visitors up to Himachal Pradesh. It’s a short
drive, so we’d suggest leaving early in the morning and taking plenty of breaks.
Breakfast can be had at one of the big dhabas by the side of the road, with enormous,
butter-soaked parathas, chole-bhaturas and some creamy lassi on the menu. There’s
no such thing as eating in moderation here, so, to fight off the inevitable drowsiness
that follows, we’d suggest taking a detour to Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the
outskirts of Chandigarh. The drive to the Kansal gate, one of the two entrances into
the park, paints a pretty rural picture. However, if you’re keen to do some animal
spotting within the sanctuary, you’d need to get permissions beforehand (www.
chandigarh.gov.in/green_suk_wild.html). Only 200 people are allowed in on any day,CHANDIGARH
TO SHIMLA113
km
Take things slow and focus on the food here.
You won’t forget these treats anytime soon
so we’d suggest some planning, if this is a must
on your itinerary. Once the butter has been
processed and you’re feeling sprightly, get back
onto National Highway 5 and follow it all the way
to Kalka. There’s one attraction here that would
warrant leaving the car behind and using public
transportation instead. There’s a narrow-gauge
railway line leading all the way to Shimla from
Kalka, and the train ride is one you’ll remember
(distance: 96km, fastest train: Himalyan Queen
[52456]). While the road to Shimla is picturesque
in its own right, if you really want to get a feel
of Himachal, we’d recommend taking the train.