Pinjore travel guide

Mughal terraced gardens, an ancient temple site and the start of the road to Shimla

📍 Haryana 6 places to visit Updated 1 Nov 2026

Pinjore is a small town in Panchkula district at the foot of the Shivaliks, best known for the 17th-century Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens. With the Bhima Devi temple ruins, the mango festival and Kalka’s toy-train station next door, it is a calm base between Chandigarh and the hills.

History of Pinjore

Pinjore is an old settlement – local tradition links it to the Pandavas, and the Bhima Devi temple site here has carved stone remains from roughly the 9th–11th centuries.

In the 17th century, during Aurangzeb’s reign, the Mughal noble Fidai Khan laid out terraced gardens with fountains and pavilions. The gardens later came under the rulers of Patiala, and Maharaja Yadavindra Singh restored them – hence the name Yadavindra Gardens.

Next door, Kalka became the start of the Kalka–Shimla railway in 1903, today part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India.

Best time to visit Pinjore

October–March is pleasant. The Mango Festival is usually held in June–July. April–June is hot.

Oct–Mar

Autumn & winter · Pleasant to cool

Best for the gardens.

Best

Apr–Jun

Summer · Hot

Evenings in the gardens; Mango Festival.

Good

Jul–Sep

Monsoon · Rain

Green; check hill roads.

Good

How to reach Pinjore

✈️

Nearest airport

Chandigarh International Airport (IXC)

About 30–35 km (45–60 minutes).

🚆

Nearest railway station

Kalka (KLK) – start of the toy train to Shimla

About 6–8 km.

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Bus stand

Buses on the Chandigarh–Shimla highway stop at Pinjore; Kalka bus stand is close by.

From	Distance by road	Travel time
Chandigarh	About 22 km	40 minutes
Panchkula	About 15 km	30 minutes
Kalka	About 7 km	15 minutes
Kasauli	About 35 km	1–1.5 hours
Shimla	About 95 km	3 hours
Delhi	About 260 km	5 hours

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

Famous places to visit in Pinjore

1Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens

Heritage 📍 In town 🕘 Day and evening · ticket

Seven terraces of Mughal gardens with fountains, pavilions and evening lights.

2Bhima Devi Temple site

Heritage 📍 Near the gardens 🕘 Day time

An open-air site of carved stone sculptures from an early medieval temple.

3Kalka toy train

Heritage 📍 About 7 km 🕘 Book ahead

Start of the UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line to Shimla through 100+ tunnels.

4Mata Mansa Devi

Temple 📍 About 15 km 🕘 Early morning to night

The big Shakti temple at Panchkula.

5Morni Hills

Nature 📍 About 35–40 km 🕘 Day trip

Haryana’s only hill station with the Tikkar Tal lakes.

6Kasauli

Viewpoint 📍 About 35 km 🕘 Day trip

A quiet colonial hill town with views and cafés.

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

🥭 Pinjore Mango Festival

When: Usually June–July
Where: Pinjore Gardens
What: Hundreds of mango varieties, competitions and food stalls

Dates are set by Haryana Tourism each year – check before you plan.

Pinjore itinerary

1 day in Pinjore

Day 1

Bhima Devi temple site in the morning.
Lunch, then Pinjore Gardens until the lights come on.

2 days – Pinjore & the toy train

Day 1

Pinjore Gardens and Bhima Devi.

Day 2

Early toy train from Kalka towards Shimla, or a drive to Kasauli.

Trip budget for Pinjore

Item	Cost	Note
Stay (homestay / hotel)	About ₹1,500–4,500 / night
Food	About ₹400–900 per person / day
Garden ticket	Small fee
Night for 2 (approx.)	₹3,000–6,500	Stay + food

Costs are rough estimates for Nov 2026.

Pinjore vs Kasauli and Panchkula

A first stop on the way to Shimla?

Place	From Chandigarh	Vibe	Best for
Pinjore	About 22 km, 40 min	Gardens, small town	A calm night, toy train
Kasauli	About 65 km, 2 h	Colonial hill town	Weekend
Panchkula	About 10 km	Planned city	Temples, food

Where to stay in Pinjore

Stay near the gardens for evening walks, or towards Kalka for an early toy train. Farm stays in the foothills give quieter nights.

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