Getting Around Pathankot
Pathankot is a compact city in the northern-most part of Punjab, close to the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and it is often called the Gateway to Himachal. It sits at the entry point of both Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, which makes it a natural stopover for travellers heading onward to the hills or to Jammu. Practically speaking, the city is easy to navigate: it is served by rail and road, and for short hops within town the cheapest and most common options are auto rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws.
Auto Rickshaws and Bicycle Rickshaws
For getting around inside Pathankot itself, auto rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws are the standard choice. They are also described as quite the safest modes of transport in the city. In practice, this means you can flag one down for a short trip without much planning, and you should agree on the fare before you set off.
Rail Network
Pathankot is a major railroad junction, and the railway is the backbone of longer journeys in and out of the city. Lines from Amritsar and Delhi merge here, and all services to Jammu pass through. There are two stations to be aware of:
- Pathankot Junction Railway Station — the main station, under the A-category, and the one closest to the city centre and the main bus terminal.
- Pathankot Cantonment (Cantt) Railway Station, also known as Chakki Bank — a second station a short distance from the main one. It serves some express trains that do not stop at Pathankot Junction, and nowadays the majority of Jammu-bound trains stop only here rather than at the main station. It is smaller, with limited facilities.
Pathankot has direct train links with Delhi, Jammu and other Indian cities, and services include Rajdhani, Swaraj Express, Pooja Express and Shri Shakti Express. Super fast trains do not serve Pathankot Junction itself, so if you are booked on one of those, check whether your train stops at the Cantonment station instead. Because the two stations are separate, confirm which one your train uses before arranging your onward transfer.
The Kangra Valley Railway
Pathankot is the lower terminus of the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway, also known as the Kangra Toy Train. Built by the British, it runs through mountainous scenery to Joginder Nagar via Palampur and Kangra, connecting the western Himachal Pradesh hills to the Indian Railways network. A few practical points for visitors:
- Services are slow, often crowded second-class trains, and the full trip takes several hours.
- Some trains run only as far as Baijnath Paprola, while a few continue to Joginder Nagar. All of them serve the main towns of interest along the way, including Kangra and Palampur.
- Tickets cannot be booked in advance — they must be bought in person at Pathankot station on the day of travel.
- The luxury Kangra Queen service no longer runs.
- If you are heading to Dalhousie, the train is not worth bothering with, since the relevant station is not far out of Pathankot. However, the mountain views and isolated route make the line a pleasant, if slow, way to reach Dharamsala. From Kangra Mandir station, direct buses and rickshaws run onward to Dharamsala.
Buses and the Main Bus Terminal
Pathankot is connected by a network of private and public-sector bus services to other cities in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. The main hub is the Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminal, which sits close to Pathankot railway station and has been renovated. Previously there were two bus stands — a small one next to the train station for Himachal buses, and the main stand a few kilometres away — so if you are relying on older directions, head for the single main terminal instead.
Services are operated by Himachal Roadways, Punjab Roadways, Haryana Roadways, J&K Transport, and private AC Volvo buses. Useful routes for visitors include:
- Dharamsala — a long, twisting journey of several hours.
- Amritsar — roughly a three-hour trip.
- Dalhousie — a popular hill destination within easy reach of Pathankot.
- Chandigarh — several hours away by road.
Pathankot is also used as a gateway for Chamba and the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, and for destinations in Jammu and Kashmir such as Jammu, Mansar Lake, Surinsar Lake, Udhampur, the holy cave at Amarnath, and Mata Vaishno Devi at Katra. The city sits at the junction of several national highways, so buses fan out in all directions from here.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
What it does make clear is that the practical local options are auto rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws, which are cheap and widely available. For longer transfers — for example between the main railway station and the Cantonment station, or from the bus terminal to your hotel — an auto rickshaw is the straightforward choice. Note also that traffic management in the city is poor and there are no traffic lights, so allow extra time for any road journey and take care when crossing.
Walkability
Pathankot is a green town surrounded by the Ravi and Chakki rivers, with the Shiwalik foothills to the south and east and the snow-capped Himalayas in the background to the north. The main railway station and the Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminal are close to each other, which makes that immediate area convenient on foot for arrivals and departures. Beyond that, the lack of traffic lights and the poor traffic management mean walking is best kept to short, local trips, with rickshaws filling in for anything longer. Public toilets are available at various places in the city for a small charge.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Pathankot Airport is a domestic airport serving the city, with scheduled flight operations to and from New Delhi. The nearest international airport is in Amritsar. If you are arriving by air, the airport is your entry point into a city where the local transport options are auto rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws, so plan on taking one of those for the final leg into town.
Practical Tips
- Check whether your train stops at Pathankot Junction or at Pathankot Cantonment (Chakki Bank) — most Jammu-bound trains now use the Cantonment station, and the two are separate.
- Buy Kangra Valley Railway tickets in person at Pathankot station on the day you travel; advance booking is not possible.
- Use the Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminal for onward buses to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and other parts of Punjab.
- For short trips around town, take an auto rickshaw or bicycle rickshaw and agree the fare beforehand.
- Allow extra time on the roads: there are no traffic lights in the city and traffic management is poor.