Getting there and away for Dharamsala

By plane

Newly upgraded kangra Airport in Kangra, 10 km away, has flights from Delhi on Air Deccan,MDLR and Jagson Airlines. Flights are prone to cancellation due to bad weather or because enough passengers didn't show up, so leave some leeway for onward connections on the way out.

By bus

Most people come to Dharamsala by bus. It has good connections with other parts of North India, although the journeys are often slow due to the narrow winding roads in the hills.

The main bus terminal is in Lower Dharamsala, but some public HRTC buses to Delhi and Pathankot go all the way to the main square of McLeod Ganj, where you can also book advance tickets for the return trip. Unreserved HRTC buses from Pathankot and take 3/4 hours to Dharamsala/McLeod Ganj. Many private bus companies are available for travel from Manali, Dehradun and Delhi. Overnight buses from Delhi, many private ones leaving from the Tibetan colony of Majnu ka Tilla, take upwards of 13 hours.

By train

The nearest broad gauge railhead is at Pathankot and the neighboring station of Chakki Bank, a comfortable overnight journey from Delhi. Train buffs can continue on the very slow and rickety but pretty Kangra Valley Railway to Kangra, a journey that easily takes up to 6 hours and still leaves you 18 km from McLeod Ganj, but most travellers choose to continue by bus or taxi instead. If you do choose to go to Kangra then from the train station you need to walk and autorickshaw to the bus stop where buses are available to take you to Dharamsala