Chandigarh to Kasauli Short Trip Plan (2026)

A mere two-hour journey to an exotic hillside, with mesmerizing views, cool weather, and complete solace, is what a long drive to Kasauli guarantees to offer. Kasauli is a small hill town that people from nearby areas go to, for unwinding themselves from city life. A little town that exhibits the mountainous beauty of Himachal with many more interesting things that I will disclose to you in this blog as you read further. You can also drive to this place from Amritsar or cities close to Chandigarh if you do not mind the drive being a bit longer. Drive time from Amritsar to Kasauli would be close to 7 hours, realistically.

Quick Peek to plan your trip to Kasauli via a long drive:

Trip Snapshot	Details
Distance	~60 km
Typical Drive Time	1.5–2 Hours
Ideal Trip Length	1–2 Days
Best Season	Throughout the Year
Road Difficulty	Easy
Family Friendly	Yes
Suitable for EVs	Yes
Best For	Quick Escapes, Couples, Families
Must-See Highlight	Sunset Point & Gilbert Trail
Ideal Departure Time	Early Morning or Late Afternoon

Typical Budget For Two:

Expense	Budget	Comfortable
Fuel	₹500–₹1,000	₹800–₹1,500
Accommodation	₹2,500–₹5,000	₹6,000–₹18,000
Food	₹1,000–₹2,500	₹3,000–₹6,000
Activities	₹200–₹1,000	₹1,000–₹3,000
Total	₹4,200–₹9,500	₹10,800–₹28,500

Feeling motivated? Keep reading to feel excited about your trip to Kasauli.

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Before you read further, know some facts:

Chandigarh to Kasauli distance: ~60 km

Amritsar to Chandigarh time by car: Average time 2 hrs to most of the guest houses, you would not need a restaurant break in this 2-hour journey if you keep yourself fed before leaving. Although, tossing in some snacks in the car wouldn’t harm.

Best time of the day to travel: Morning or Early Evening. Morning so that you avoid traffic, reach in the morning itself and enjoy the rest of the day. Early Evening so that you reach before it gets dark, as the area is hilly with some curves, prone to landslides(true of most mountainous regions) and has quite narrow roads.

Best time of the year to travel: Weather in Kasauli is pleasing cold almost throughout the year, with December and January months being slightly more chilly. All times of the year have their own views, though best is to visit Kasauli from June to August when it receives slightly lesser rains. You can enjoy the snow during winters as the region receives snowfall. 

Accommodations or hotels: Kasauli has beautiful resorts that are self-entertaining in themselves. They organize trekking, indoor games, open-air orchestra, and other shows, offer spa treatment and more and are even kids friendly. Here, I suggest some options to suit every pocket.

Cheaper first

• Check out airbnb.co.in for holiday homes and beautiful villas. You will find some homely beautiful yet cheap places with mind-blowing views.
• Booking.com is another option that lists down holiday homes and guest houses at cheaper rates.

Luxurious next

Though there are no big brands like Taj and Hyatt in the area, some popular hotels and resorts in Kasauli offer an exclusive stay and amenities. Top among them are:

• Winnies Holiday Resort & Spa
• 7 Pines by Leisure Hotels
• The Mud-House Resort
• The LaLiT Chandigarh

Where did I stay?

I stayed in Baikunth Resort, a huge, beautiful, self-sufficient resort on the top of a small hill in Kasauli. It offers magical views and lots of activities within the resort and in its vicinity. Sports like Table-Tennis, Badminton, Chess, Snooker, activities like trekking, Spa, orchestra, conferences, parties, etc. are organized by the resort. A pretty cool bar hut sets your mood.

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Attractions and Activities:

Christ Church

A beautiful hilly pathway leading to a historic Church dating back to the British rule in India takes tourists to a zone of tranquility and calm. This is the oldest known church in Himachal Pradesh. The ancient clock tower, stained glass windows, and beautiful interiors of the church create a moment of awe. Some people also relate it to locations as in a lot of Bollywood movies- an old and pretty church amidst beautiful, green and peaceful surroundings. Peace and spiritualism are the takeaways from the place.

Trivia: There is a parking space close to the church, so you can drive to it directly. Also, the place is wheelchair accessible. You might reach at the right time to hear some of the finest choirs singing.

 

Manki (or Monkey) Point – Sanjeevani Hanuman Temple

Touching the spiritual aspect, you might also want to visit the Hanuman Temple on a small hilltop in Kasauli. Those in love with hiking or a little walk amidst the greenery would enjoy the place. You can drive up to a check post after which it is approximately a 2 km walk until you reach the hilltop where the temple is located. Views are amazing from the top of the hill. The folklore behind the temple is that Lord Hanuman stepped his foot on this hilltop after he found Sanjeevani Booty. 

Trivia: Monkey Alert! You would encounter lots of monkeys at the location, this being The Monkey Point. Do not make a mistake of holding any eatables in your hand unless you want to lose them. Avoid it if you have monkey phobia as there are several other hiking trails too.

 

Sunrise and Sunset Points

In case your hotel does not offer good sunrise or sunset views, these points are the best locations to catch the glimpses. The most serene and picturesque views can be captured at these points. If you have a photographer instinct these are the destinations you do not want to miss. The points are also loved by people who want to keep the camera away and sit down in tranquillity to watch the mesmerizing views.

Tip: Check the time of sunrise and sunset, for the time of the year you visit Kasauli, so that you reach on time. The places are approachable by bike and car.

 

Mall Road for Shopping

People coming from the city areas would not want to miss shopping in Kasauli. Beautiful home decor and woolen products are available at very reasonable prices. Little sock shoes, metallic decor items, and wooden products are readily available in the cute little shops on the Mall Road. You would also find delicious hot momos being served in restaurants at little distances. Hot coffee and other eatables are also enjoyed by tourists while shopping in the area. 

Trivia: Go to the Heritage Market on the Mall Road for all types of shops. A public washroom is available near the shopping area in case the situation arises due to the chills of the mountains.

 

Hiking on the Gilbert Trail

A real connection with nature invigorates when you walk that extra mile in its realm. This is a short trail of about 1.5 km in the middle of serenity. Adventure lovers hit this trail to catch transfixing panoramic views of the verdant hillside surrounded by valleys. Beautiful, colorful and elusive birds are seen flying and hopping over trees for the entire length of the trail. People capture glimpses of birds of varied breeds. The trail is very close to the bus stop, its distance being 2 km from the stop. Snow-covered mountains can be seen around during and close to the winters.

Trivia: Do not forget your camera on this trail as you would spot lots of birds here. You might even land above clouds with magnetizing panoramic views. It is less than 2 km in length and therefore, carrying just a water bottle should suffice.

 

If you stay longer, explore other places in Chandigarh from the list:

Best Places to Visit in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh