Kasauli travel guide

A small colonial cantonment in pine woods – two hours from Chandigarh, with sunset views over the plains

📍 Himachal Pradesh 7 places to visit 🏨 1 stay to book Updated 31 Oct 2026

Kasauli is a quiet cantonment town at about 1,800 m in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. Old churches, the Mall, pine-forest walks like the Gilbert Trail and sunset views towards Chandigarh make it the easiest colonial hill escape from the Tricity.

History of Kasauli

Kasauli was set up by the British as a cantonment in 1842, on a ridge above the plains between Kalka and Shimla. Christ Church, with its stained-glass windows, was built in the 1840s and the Kasauli Club followed in 1880.

The town became known for science: the Pasteur Institute opened here in 1900 to treat rabies, and the Central Research Institute – which still makes vaccines – was founded in 1905. Nearby, the Lawrence School, Sanawar dates from 1847 and is one of the oldest boarding schools in India.

Much of Kasauli is still army land, which has kept it small, green and calm. Writers have loved it too – Khushwant Singh spent many summers here, and the Khushwant Singh Literature Festival is held in Kasauli.

Best time to visit Kasauli

March–June and September–November are best. Winters are cold with occasional snow; July–August is rainy.

Mar–Jun

Spring & summer · Pleasant, about 12–28°C

Busy weekends from the Tricity.

Best

Jul–Aug

Monsoon · Rain and mist

Green and atmospheric; drive carefully.

Good

Sep–Nov

Autumn · Clear, about 8–22°C

Best views and sunsets.

Best

Dec–Feb

Winter · Cold, about 0–12°C

Light snow some years.

Good

How to reach Kasauli

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Nearest airport

Chandigarh International Airport (IXC)

About 65–70 km (about 2 hours by taxi).

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Nearest railway station

Kalka (main line, start of the toy train); Dharampur on the Kalka–Shimla toy train

Kalka about 37 km (1.5 hours); Dharampur about 12 km (30–40 minutes).

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Bus stand

Kasauli bus stand (below the Mall) – buses to Chandigarh, Kalka, Solan and Shimla. Most highway buses stop at Dharampur or Garkhal; take a taxi up.

From	Distance by road	Travel time
Chandigarh	About 65 km	2 hours
Panchkula	About 55 km	1.5–2 hours
Delhi	About 300 km	6.5–7 hours
Kalka	About 37 km	1.5 hours
Solan	35–40	1.5 hours
Shimla	About 75 km	2.5–3 hours

Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic and weather.

Famous places to visit in Kasauli

1Christ Church

Church 📍 Mall Road 🕘 Day time

A neo-Gothic church from the 1840s with old stained-glass windows, set among pines at the end of the Mall.

2Mall Road

Market 📍 Town centre 🕘 Day and evening

A short, quiet Mall with old shops, bakeries and cafés – much calmer than Shimla’s.

3Monkey Point (Hanuman temple)

Temple 📍 About 4 km, Air Force area 🕘 Day time · ID needed, no phones/cameras inside

The highest point of Kasauli with a Hanuman temple and views over the plains. It is inside an Air Force station, so carry ID and expect rules on phones.

4Gilbert Trail

Trek 📍 Near the Mall 🕘 Day time

An easy forest path along the ridge through pine and oak, with views and birdlife – Kasauli’s favourite walk.

5Sunset Point

Viewpoint 📍 Upper Mall 🕘 Evening

A ridge viewpoint where you can watch the sun set over the plains and, after dark, the lights of Chandigarh.

6Timber Trail cable car, Parwanoo

Sports & adventure 📍 About 25 km 🕘 Day time · ticket

A cable car ride across the valley at Parwanoo, popular on the way up from Chandigarh.

7Sanawar & Kasauli Brewery area

Heritage 📍 About 6–8 km 🕘 View from outside

The old Lawrence School campus at Sanawar and the historic brewery area near Kasauli – both private, but part of the town’s colonial story.

Timings and entry fees change – please check locally before you go.

🚂 Toy train to Kasauli

Line: Kalka–Shimla railway, a UNESCO World Heritage line
Station: Dharampur, about 12 km below Kasauli
From Kalka: About 1.5–2 hours to Dharampur
Then: Taxi up to Kasauli (30–40 minutes)

Book toy-train seats early for weekends and holidays.

Kasauli itinerary

Weekend in Kasauli

Day 1

Drive up via Parwanoo (Timber Trail if you like).
Mall Road, Christ Church and Sunset Point.

Day 2

Early walk on the Gilbert Trail.
Monkey Point (carry ID), lunch and head back.

3 days – Kasauli & Chail

Day 1

Kasauli town and sunset.

Day 2

Gilbert Trail and Monkey Point.

Day 3

Drive to Chail via Solan and Kandaghat.

Trip budget for Kasauli

Item	Cost	Note
Stay (homestay / hotel)	About ₹1,500–5,000 / night	Weekends cost more
Food	About ₹400–900 per person / day	Cafés and dhabas
Taxi Chandigarh → Kasauli	About ₹2,000–3,000 one way	About 2 hours
Weekend for 2 (approx.)	₹7,000–14,000	2 nights’ stay + food + taxi

Costs are rough estimates for Oct 2026.

Kasauli vs Chail, Shimla and Nahan

Short on time? Here’s how Kasauli compares with other hill trips from Chandigarh.

Place	From Chandigarh	Vibe	Best for
Kasauli	About 65 km, 2 h	Colonial, pine woods, calm	A quick weekend
Chail	About 105 km, 3 h	Palace, forest, very quiet	Nature, a slow stay
Shimla	About 115 km, 3.5–4 h	Busy capital, Ridge	Sightseeing
Nahan	About 85–90 km, 2.5 h	Heritage town, lakes	Renuka Ji

Where to stay in Kasauli

Stay in Kasauli town to walk to the Mall, Christ Church and the trails. Homestays at Dharampur, Garkhal and on the Old Kasauli road are easier to reach by car and often better value, with valley views.