Best time to visit Bilaspur, Himachal — the lake, the heat and the festivals
When to visit Bilaspur, Himachal: the full lake in October and November, the drowned temples in the dry months, the May–June heat and the Navratri crowds.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
How to reach Bilaspur, Himachal — distances and drive times
How to reach Bilaspur in Himachal by road from Chandigarh, Delhi, Mandi and Shimla, the nearest airport, and the drive on to Naina Devi, all measured.
How these numbers were made
Every distance and time here is measured on OpenStreetMap roads with a car router, from the centre of Bilaspur. They are free-flow times: no traffic, no stops. On the highway out of the plains, add time for trucks, and more on festival days at Naina Devi.
This is Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, the town above Gobind Sagar, not the city of the same name in Chhattisgarh.
From Chandigarh
About 110 km and 114 min. The road climbs out of the plains past Kiratpur Sahib and follows the Manali highway into the hills; Bilaspur is the first big town on it. Buses for Mandi, Kullu and Manali pass through.
From Delhi
About 360 km, with a free-flow time of 245 min. Real days are much longer: traffic out of Delhi and through Punjab usually adds several hours. Most people break the drive in Chandigarh or leave before dawn.
From the hills
From Mandi, about 57 km and 81 min down the same highway. From Shimla, about 92 km and 185 min on smaller roads. From Bhuntar airport near Kullu, about 110 km and 154 min.
Flying in
Bhuntar, near Kullu, is the nearest airport at 110 km and 154 min. Chandigarh is about as far and the road is easier, with many more flights, so it is usually the better choice.
Getting to Naina Devi
Shri Naina Devi Ji is about 48 km and 81 min from Bilaspur, and about 104 km and 107 min straight from Chandigarh. If you are coming up from the plains for the temple, go there first and reach Bilaspur by lunch.
Plans from here
The one-day plan is Naina Devi and the lake; the two-day plan adds Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib. For all five Devi temples of Himachal, see the three-day Shakti Peeth yatra.
Plans that include this
All Bilaspur itineraries →
One day in Bilaspur — Shri Naina Devi Ji and the drowned temples of Gobind Sagar
Day plan · Family · pilgrimage
A one-day Bilaspur plan: darshan at Shri Naina Devi Ji in the morning, then the new town's temple and the drowned temples of old Bilaspur in Gobind Sagar.
Best Jan–Apr · Oct–Dec
See the plan →
Two days from Bilaspur — Gobind Sagar, Naina Devi, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib
1 night · 2 days · Family · pilgrimage
Two days from Bilaspur: the town and the drowned temples of Gobind Sagar, then Shri Naina Devi Ji, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib on the way to Chandigarh.
Best Jan–Apr · Oct–Dec
See the plan →Himachal's five Shakti Peeths in three days — Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Kangra and Chamunda
2 nights · 3 days · Family · pilgrimage · starts in Bilaspur
All five Shakti Peeths of Himachal in three days from Chandigarh: Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Vajreshwari at Kangra and Chamunda, with drive times.
Best Jan–Apr · Sep–Dec
See the plan →Places around Bilaspur
The Bilaspur guide →More stories to read
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Things to do in Bilaspur, Himachal — Naina Devi, the drowned town and the lake
Things to do in Bilaspur, Himachal: Naina Devi, the drowned temples of the old town, water sports on the lake, Vyas Gufa, Kandrour bridge and Anandpur Sahib.
Things to do in Chail — 5 stops, and which need a car
Five things to do in Chail: the Patiala summer palace, the cricket ground at 2,444 m, the sanctuary forest, Kali Tibba and Sadhupul, with measured drive times.
How to reach Dehradun — by road, rail and air, with measured distances
How to reach Dehradun from Delhi, Chandigarh, Haridwar and Rishikesh by road, with measured times, the railway station, Jolly Grant airport and the ISBT.
Manali in the monsoon — what July and August are really like, and who they suit
Manali in July and August: 201.5 mm and 217 mm of rain, slides that close the high roads, cloud on the meadows — and a green, empty, cheap valley.
Lakes of Himachal — 12, from the ones you drive to the ones you walk to
Twelve lakes of Himachal by how you reach them: Khajjiar, Rewalsar and Renuka by road, Prashar near it, Serolsar and Bhrigu on foot, Chandratal high up.
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
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Questions people ask
How far is Bilaspur from Chandigarh?
About 110 km by road, roughly 114 min by car on our measured routing. Bilaspur is the first big town in Himachal on the Chandigarh–Manali highway, so buses for Mandi, Kullu and Manali pass through it, and many travellers stop here on the way up into the hills.
What is the nearest airport to Bilaspur, Himachal?
Bhuntar airport near Kullu, about 110 km and 154 min by road. Chandigarh is about the same distance, 110 km and 114 min, on an easier road, and has far more flights, so most visitors fly to Chandigarh and drive up from there.
How far is Bilaspur from Delhi?
About 360 km by road. Free-flow routing gives about 245 min, but traffic out of Delhi and through Punjab usually adds several hours, so plan on most of a day. Many people break the drive in Chandigarh, or leave Delhi before dawn and stop at Naina Devi on the way up.