How to reach Chitkul

From the airport

The nearest airport is Shimla's small Jubbarhatti airport (SLV), about 260 km by road from Chitkul. Alliance Air restarted its Delhi flight in May 2026 after a break of several months; it runs six days a week (not Tuesdays), and there is also a Shimla–Dharamshala service. Seats are few and schedules change, so check before you book. HRTC's Aero Connect tempo traveller links the airport with Shimla's Old Bus Stand, about an hour away. Even with a morning landing, Chitkul is too far for the same day.

Chandigarh (IXC) is the dependable choice, with flights from Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and many other cities. It is about 115 to 120 km (3 to 4 hours) to Shimla and about 355 km to Chitkul. Bhuntar (KUU), near Kullu, is about 265 km away, but that road crosses the Jalori Pass, closed by snow for about four months each winter.

From the railway station

The practical railhead is Kalka (KLK) in Haryana, at the foot of the hills. The Kalka Shatabdi reaches it from New Delhi in about 4 hours, stopping at Chandigarh (CDG), which has many more trains. From Kalka, Shimla is about 85 to 95 km by taxi (2 to 3 hours), or 96 km on the narrow-gauge Kalka–Shimla railway, a UNESCO World Heritage line whose trains take about 5 hours.

Shimla station (SML) is the nearest to Chitkul, about 240 km away, but only the toy train reaches it. From Kalka or Chandigarh, Chitkul is about 325 to 350 km by road, so spend a night in Shimla and drive into Kinnaur the next morning. Taxis can be booked from Kalka or Chandigarh station, and on the way back a cab from Sangla can take you straight to Kalka station.

By road

Chitkul (3,450 m), the last village in the Baspa valley, has one road in. From Shimla you follow National Highway 5, the old Hindustan–Tibet Road, up the Sutlej to Karcham, then turn up the Baspa valley through Sangla. It is about 240 to 250 km, a full day of 8 to 11 hours depending on stops and road works.

• Shimla to Narkanda, via Kufri and Theog: about 60 km, 2 to 2.5 hours, climbing to Narkanda at 2,708 m.
• Narkanda to Rampur Bushahr: about 60 km, around 2 hours, a long descent to the Sutlej at roughly 1,000 m.
• Rampur to Karcham, via Jhakri, Jeori and Wangtu: about 80 km, 2.5 to 3 hours up the narrow Sutlej gorge.
• Karcham to Sangla: about 17 km, 45 minutes to an hour. The road leaves the highway, crosses the river and climbs a narrow shelf cut into the cliffs above the Baspa.
• Sangla to Chitkul, via Rakchham: about 24 km, roughly an hour. The road ends at the village.

In 2024 the Karcham–Chitkul road was handed to the Border Roads Organisation for widening and resurfacing, so expect works and waits on this stretch. From November to March, snow and ice around Narkanda can slow the start, and from about mid-December to March snow often blocks the road beyond Sangla.

By bus

HRTC buses for Kinnaur leave Shimla's ISBT at Tutikandi early in the morning. At least four a day run between Shimla and Reckong Peo along NH-5, and others go through to Sangla; there are also through buses to Sangla from Delhi and Chandigarh. On a Reckong Peo bus you can change at Karcham, where the Sangla road leaves the highway, but a direct Sangla bus saves the wait. For the return, an evening bus leaves Sangla for Shimla and Chandigarh at about 5 pm. Buses are slower than a taxi and winter snow can interrupt services, so confirm times at the bus stand a day ahead.

Local transfers

Sangla is the hub for the last 24 km. HRTC buses from Reckong Peo run through Karcham, Sangla and Rakchham to Chitkul in the morning, and buses leave Chitkul early in the morning and in the afternoon; check times the day before. Taxis can be hired in Sangla or Reckong Peo. Sangla has an ATM and shops for basics; Chitkul has no ATM, and there is no fuel after Karcham. On the Borasu Pass trek, Chitkul is the finish, reached on foot from Rani Kanda; you can sleep in a hotel in the village and leave for Shimla the next morning. No permit is needed for Chitkul itself; Inner Line permits apply beyond it towards the border and are checked.

Safety

Chitkul is at 3,450 m, about 800 m above Sangla. Driving up from Shimla in one day is hard on the body; a night at Sarahan or Sangla on the way in is easier, and rest on arrival. The drive out fills a whole day, so do not plan an onward train, bus or flight the same evening, and keep a spare day. In the monsoon, July to September, rockfall and landslides can hold up traffic for hours in the Sutlej gorge and on the Sangla road. Ask about the road in Sangla or Reckong Peo before setting out.

Travel tips

• Plan buffer time for road delays, especially in monsoon and winter.
• Start early for long drives to avoid night stretches on mountain roads.
• Keep offline maps and cash as backup in low-network zones.
• If you are continuing to high altitude areas, acclimatize and hydrate well.