Overview
Delhi to Kullu is roughly 490–510 km by road, usually 11 to 13 hours by taxi up the NH44 to Kiratpur and then along the Kiratpur–Manali highway through Bilaspur, Mandi and the Aut tunnel into the Kullu valley. Kullu sits about 40 km short of Manali, at roughly 1,280 m on the Beas, and people choose it for good reasons: the Dussehra festival every October, river rafting, quieter riverside stays, and easy access to the Parvati valley, Jibhi and Tirthan from Bhuntar and Aut. It's a long day, so most travellers leave Delhi before dawn. We pick you up anywhere in Delhi NCR and drop you at your Kullu hotel, or in Bhuntar if that suits your plans better.
Usual route: NH44 to Ambala and Kiratpur, then the Kiratpur–Manali highway via Bilaspur, Mandi and the Aut tunnel
Included
- Fuel and driver allowance
- Tolls and state entry taxes
- Pickup anywhere in Delhi
- 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 Delhi to Kullu
How high you go, and the stops along the way. Useful if anyone in your group gets motion sick or feels the altitude.
Start
216 m
Delhi
Total climb
+1,063 m
over ~500 km
Finish
1,279 m
Kullu
- Delhi
- Murthal
- Kiratpur Sahib
- Bilaspur
- Mandi
- Aut
- Kullu
Illustrative profile. Start, finish altitudes are approximate; stops are shown in order, not to scale.
Delhi to Kullu taxi fare and cab rates
Starting prices for a one-way trip (~500 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
₹11,500
starting · one way
₹14,500
starting · one way
₹16,000
starting · one way
₹26,000
starting · one way
Your quote
Delhi → Kullu
Sedan · one way · ~500 km
- FuelIncluded
- Driver & driver allowanceIncluded
- Highway tollsIncluded
- Himachal state entry taxIncluded
- Pickup anywhere in DelhiIncluded
Total you pay
starting price
₹11,500
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 Delhi by 4–5 am to reach Kullu by early evening; the hill section after Kiratpur is slower than the plains.
- 2The four-lane Kiratpur–Nerchowk stretch and the tunnels have shortened the drive, but the Mandi–Kullu gorge still has slow single-lane sections.
- 3During Dussehra week the last few kilometres into Kullu can take an hour; we plan for it.
- 4In the monsoon (July–August), slides between Mandi and Aut can close the road for hours; keep your plans flexible.
- 5Heading to Kasol or Jibhi instead? The turns are at Bhuntar and Aut, both before Kullu; book that route directly.
Worthwhile stops on the way
Delhi
Pickup
Murthal
Breakfast dhabas about an hour out of Delhi.
Kiratpur Sahib
Where the hill highway starts; gurudwara and food.
Bilaspur
Views over the Govind Sagar reservoir.
Mandi
Old temple town on the Beas, roughly two-thirds of the way.
Aut
Just after the long tunnel; the turn-off for Jibhi and Tirthan.
Kullu
Drop at your hotel
Why stay in Kullu rather than Manali
Manali is busier, higher and closer to the snow. Kullu is lower, warmer and quieter, with riverside hotels along the Beas, and it puts you within easy reach of more of the valley. From Kullu, Manali is about an hour and a half up the road, Kasol and Manikaran about an hour and a half via Bhuntar, and Jibhi about two hours via Aut.
If you're coming for Kullu Dussehra, staying in or near Kullu is essential: the processions of local deities at the Dhalpur ground run over several days in October, and the town fills up quickly.
- Kullu to Manali: about 40 km.
- Kullu to Kasol: via Bhuntar, about 40–45 km.
- Kullu to Jibhi: via Aut, about 60 km.
Kullu Dussehra and peak weekends
During Dussehra, the roads into Kullu are crowded and some streets near Dhalpur close to traffic. We plan a drop point that's close to your hotel and avoids the procession routes. On long weekends in summer, traffic on the Mandi–Kullu stretch also slows, especially in the afternoon. An early start from Delhi is the best way to avoid both.
Flying instead of driving
Kullu–Manali airport at Bhuntar is about 10 km south of Kullu town, with limited flights that are often affected by weather, especially in winter. Some travellers fly one way and drive the other: fly to Bhuntar for a quick arrival, then drive back to Delhi with stops at Mandi and Bilaspur. We can pick you up at Bhuntar airport too.
Getting to Kullu for the Dussehra festival
Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami and runs for about a week, with the procession of Raghunath ji and deities from villages across the valley gathering at the Dhalpur ground. Hotels in Kullu fill well in advance, so book early and share your hotel with us so the driver can plan a drop away from the closed streets. On the main procession days, aim to arrive in Kullu by mid-afternoon, before the evening crowds build.
Weather & road conditions
When to go to Kullu
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Fine, check weather | February: Fine, check weather | 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: Fine, check weather |
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Pickup options
- • Delhi NCR addresses (Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad)
- • Delhi airport (all terminals)
- • New Delhi, Old Delhi and Nizamuddin stations
Other ways to travel
Overnight Volvo buses from Delhi stop at Kullu on the way to Manali. There's no railway in the Kullu valley; the nearest broad-gauge stations are Kiratpur Sahib and Chandigarh. Bhuntar airport has limited flights.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Delhi to Kullu cab cost?+
Starting one-way fares are Sedan ₹11,500, SUV ₹14,500, Toyota Innova Crysta ₹16,000, Tempo Traveller ₹26,000, 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 Kullu from Delhi?+
Roughly 490–510 km by road, usually 11 to 13 hours by taxi (approximate; verification pending).
Is Kullu on the way to Manali?+
Yes. Kullu is about 40 km before Manali on the same highway.
Can we stop in Mandi on the way?+
Yes. Mandi's old temples are a good lunch stop, about two-thirds of the way.
Is the road open during the monsoon?+
Usually, but slides between Mandi and Kullu can close it for hours. Keep a buffer day before flights.
Can you drop us in Bhuntar or Kasol instead?+
Yes. Bhuntar is before Kullu, and the Kasol road turns off there.
Which car is best?+
An SUV or Innova Crysta for families on the long hill drive; a sedan for two or three with light luggage.
Reviews
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