Overview
Chandigarh to Khajjiar is roughly 340–360 km, usually 7½ to 9 hours by taxi, via either the Una–Kangra–Nurpur hill route or the plains road through Hoshiarpur and Pathankot, then up past Dalhousie to Khajjiar's meadow at about 1,920 m. It's a full day's drive but comfortably done in daylight with an early start. Khajjiar is a wide green clearing in deodar forest with a small lake and the old Khajji Nag temple, and makes a quieter base than Dalhousie. We pick you up anywhere in the Tricity, at Chandigarh airport or the station, and drive straight through, with stops wherever you'd like.
Usual route: Una, Kangra and Nurpur, or Hoshiarpur and Pathankot, then Banikhet and Dalhousie
Included
- Fuel and driver allowance
- Tolls and state entry taxes
- Pickup anywhere in Chandigarh
- Short refreshment stops
Not included
- ×Parking at sightseeing stops
- ×Detours beyond the agreed route (quoted upfront)
- ×Night allowance on trips that need one (quoted upfront)
The climb from Chandigarh to Khajjiar
How high you go, and the stops along the way. Useful if anyone in your group gets motion sick or feels the altitude.
Start
321 m
Chandigarh
Total climb
+1,599 m
over ~348 km
Finish
1,920 m
Khajjiar
- Chandigarh
- Anandpur Sahib or Hoshiarpur
- Kangra or Pathankot
- Nurpur
- Dalhousie
- Khajjiar
Illustrative profile. Start, finish altitudes are approximate; stops are shown in order, not to scale.
Chandigarh to Khajjiar taxi fare and cab rates
Starting prices for a one-way trip (~348 km), per vehicle, with fuel, driver, tolls and HP entry tax included. Your exact price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book; it can vary with dates, vehicle model and extra stops. All Himachal taxi fares
₹8,000
starting · one way
₹10,100
starting · one way
₹11,150
starting · one way
₹18,100
starting · one way
Your quote
Chandigarh → Khajjiar
Sedan · one way · ~348 km
- FuelIncluded
- Driver & driver allowanceIncluded
- Highway tollsIncluded
- Himachal state entry taxIncluded
- Pickup anywhere in ChandigarhIncluded
Total you pay
starting price
₹8,000
Only ever extra: parking at sightseeing stops you choose (paid at cost), and detours you add on the day (quoted before you go).
Driving tips for this route
- 1Leave by 6–7 am to reach Khajjiar by mid-afternoon.
- 2The driver chooses between the Kangra hill route and the Pathankot plains route based on the day's traffic and road work.
- 3Both routes end on the same winding hill road from Banikhet through Dalhousie.
- 4After snow in December–February, the Dalhousie–Khajjiar road may be slow or briefly closed.
- 5Ask us to combine Khajjiar with McLeod Ganj on the way; it adds a night but saves a separate trip.
Worthwhile stops on the way
Chandigarh
Pickup
Anandpur Sahib or Hoshiarpur
Depending on the route: gurudwara town or a plains market town.
Kangra or Pathankot
Lunch stop roughly halfway.
Nurpur
Fort ruins and a temple, on the hill route.
Dalhousie
Tea and a walk on the Mall Road, an hour before Khajjiar.
Khajjiar
Drop at your hotel
What to do at Khajjiar
Khajjiar is a wide meadow at about 1,920 m inside the Kalatop–Khajjiar sanctuary, ringed by deodar forest, with a small lake in the middle and the old wooden Khajji Nag temple at its edge. In 1992 a Swiss envoy called it India's 'mini Switzerland', and the name has stuck. Horse rides, zorbing and short walks run in season; the forest trail from Kalatop is about 11 km. Chamba, with its stone temples and the Chaugan ground, lies further down the same road.
- Walk around the meadow and lake.
- Visit Khajji Nag temple.
- Kalatop forest walk.
- Day trip down to Chamba.
Khajjiar as part of a Dalhousie–Chamba trip
From Chandigarh, Khajjiar fits best into a three- or four-day loop. Day one: drive to Khajjiar or Dalhousie. Day two: Khajjiar meadow, Kalatop sanctuary and, if you're up for a longer day, Chamba's Lakshmi Narayan temples and the Chaugan. Day three: Dalhousie's Mall Road, churches and Panchpula. Then drive back to Chandigarh, or continue east to McLeod Ganj.
With one car for the whole trip, you don't need to arrange local taxis at each stop. The driver stays nearby, and the daily distances are short.
Chandigarh routes to Khajjiar compared
The hill route through Una, Kangra and Nurpur is scenic and passes several temples, but has more bends. The plains route through Hoshiarpur and Pathankot is flatter for longer, then climbs from Pathankot. Distances are similar, and the right choice depends on road works and traffic on the day, so we leave it to the driver unless you have a preference, for example to visit Chintpurni on the way.
Practical tips for the trip
Khajjiar has few ATMs and limited mobile data in places, so carry cash for parking, horse rides and food, and download offline maps before leaving Chandigarh. The meadow gets crowded with day visitors from Dalhousie between late morning and mid-afternoon on weekends and holidays, so if you're staying overnight, plan your walk around the lake for early morning or evening. In winter, temperatures drop well below freezing at night; pack proper warm clothing, not just a light jacket. And if you'd like to see Chamba's temples, plan that for a separate half-day, not the arrival day.
Weather & road conditions
When to go to Khajjiar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Snow likely, roads can close | February: Snow likely, roads can close | March: Best time | April: Best time | May: Best time | June: Best time | July: Monsoon, landslide risk | August: Monsoon, landslide risk | September: Best time | October: Best time | November: Best time | December: Snow likely, roads can close |
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Pickup options
- • Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula addresses
- • Chandigarh airport (IXC)
- • Chandigarh railway station and ISBT Sector 43
Other ways to travel
Buses run from Chandigarh to Dalhousie and Chamba, and trains reach Pathankot. Khajjiar needs a final road transfer from either.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chandigarh to Khajjiar cab cost?+
Starting one-way fares are Sedan ₹8,000, SUV ₹10,100, Toyota Innova Crysta ₹11,150, Tempo Traveller ₹18,100, all-inclusive with fuel, driver, tolls and Himachal entry tax. Your exact taxi price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book.
How far is Khajjiar from Chandigarh?+
Roughly 340–360 km, usually 7½ to 9 hours by taxi (approximate; verification pending).
Can we visit Dalhousie on the way?+
Yes. The road passes through Dalhousie about an hour before Khajjiar.
Which route does the driver take?+
Either via Una and Kangra or via Hoshiarpur and Pathankot, depending on the day's traffic and road work.
Can we go on to McLeod Ganj afterwards?+
Yes, Khajjiar to McLeod Ganj is a half-day drive. Keep the same car for a multi-day trip.
Is Khajjiar open in winter?+
Yes, though snow can briefly close or slow the road after heavy falls.
Which car is best?+
An SUV or Innova Crysta for families and winter; a sedan for couples in summer.
Reviews
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