Route library · Outstation · High passes
Delhi to Chanshal Pass
The Chanshal Pass, at roughly 4,520 m, is the highest motorable point in Shimla district and one of the least-travelled high passes within a two-day ride of Delhi. It links the apple country around Rohru with the cut-off villages of Dodra Kwar on the far side, and until recently was barely known outside Himachal. There are no permits, but also almost no services once you leave Rohru.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 1,250–1,350 km
- Riding days
- 3–4. Two days to Rohru/Larot, the pass and back on day three, a buffer day for weather
- Nights
- Nights on the road: 3–4
- Start point
- Delhi (via Shimla, Theog and Rohru)
- Highest point
- About 4,520 m at the Chanshal top
- Difficulty
- Expedition. High altitude, a long broken climb, no fuel or help for a wide stretch, and a weather-dependent pass.
- Surface
- Tar to Rohru and Chirgaon; beyond that the climb to the pass is gravel, dirt and loose rock, often with snow patches into early summer
- Best season
- The pass is usually open mid-June to October, sometimes later. Snow closes it through winter and spring. Monsoon (Jul–Aug) brings slides on the Rohru road and mud on the climb — late June and September–October are the sweet spots.
The ride
Delhi → Chandigarh → Shimla, then east through Theog, Kotkhai and the apple belt to Rohru on the Pabbar river. From Rohru the road runs up through Chirgaon and Larot — the last real village on this side — before the surface breaks down for the climb to the Chanshal top.
Over the pass the road drops steeply into Dodra and Kwar, twin villages that were road-connected only in the last decade or two and still feel like the end of the map. Strong riders can base at Larot and walk to the Chandranahan lake, the source of the Pabbar, below the pass.
Day by day
Delhi to Shimla (or Narkanda)
Delhi → Chandigarh → Shimla (8–9 hours with the Shimla crawl). Push to Narkanda or Kotkhai if you have light, to shorten day two.
Shimla to Rohru / Larot
Theog → Kotkhai → Rohru → Chirgaon → Larot (5–6 hours). Fuel at Rohru. Stay at Larot or Chirgaon, close to the climb.
The pass, and back
An early start for the rough climb to Chanshal at ~4,520 m. Cross to Dodra Kwar if the day and the road allow, then return to Larot or Rohru. A buffer day here covers weather.
Rohru to Shimla / Narkanda
Retrace down the apple valley. Overnight near Shimla.
Back to Delhi
The last highway leg. Leave early to beat the Shimla and Solan traffic.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy to Shimla and along the apple belt to Rohru.
- Rohru has the last dependable pump. Chirgaon sometimes has fuel but do not rely on it. From Rohru over the pass to Dodra Kwar and back is well over 150 km with nothing — carry a 5–10 litre spare and fill everything at Rohru.
- Larot and Chirgaon have basic homestays and a guesthouse or two; Dodra Kwar has very limited, simple rooms. Nothing is fancy, signal is weak to absent, and there are no ATMs past Rohru — carry cash for the whole trip.
Road & conditions
To Rohru the road is ordinary Himachal apple-country tar — winding, busy with pickups in harvest season, some rough patches. Past Chirgaon it deteriorates: the climb to Chanshal is gravel and dirt with loose rock, water crossings, and snow patches that linger into July. The Dodra Kwar side is steeper and rougher still. This is a route for riders comfortable on bad surfaces at altitude, ideally in a group with recovery gear.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Needs a dirt-capable bike (an ADV or a light dual-sport) and off-road experience. Not a commuter route.
- Fuel gap
- One long stretch without a pump — fill up before it and top off where you can.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 5 litres of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- Hospitals at Rohru and Rampur; nothing on the pass; the Chanshal road holds snow into early summer; no signal over the top — treat it as remote.
Permits & local rules
No permit is required — Chanshal is not a restricted area. Carry photo ID and vehicle papers for routine checks around Rohru, and tell someone your plan before you leave Larot, because there is no phone signal on the pass.
Best time to ride
Late June, once the snow clears, and September to mid-October, after the monsoon, are the best windows — firm surface, open pass, clear air. July and August bring landslides on the Rohru road and deep mud on the climb. The pass is shut by snow from about November to May.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a 5–10 litre fuel spare, a full tool and puncture kit, a tow strap, warm and windproof layers, gloves that handle near-freezing air, something for altitude, several days of cash, and a power bank. A basic first-aid kit and a plan for who to call — there is no help on the pass.
Ride this with a group
We run Chanshal as a small, experienced expedition group over four days — fuel and spares planned from Rohru, the rough climb ridden in the morning with recovery gear, a weather buffer day, and a leave-no-trace pass-top clean-up.