Temperatures in the hills of Himachal Pradesh rose but more rain and snow is in store during the next two days, a weather official said here on 14th of March (yesterday). “There are chances of heavy rainfall and thundershowers accompanied with hailstorm at some places in the mid hills on 15th of March,” reported an official at the meteorological office.

There is also possibility of light to moderate snowfall in the high hills, he said. The western disturbances storm systems originating from Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region would remain active in the region till 16th of March.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius. Shimla is recorded a minimum temperature of 7.8 degrees, while it was minus 4 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district, 2.6 degrees in Manali, 6.4 degrees in Dalhousie and 10.2 degrees in Dharamsala.

Important distances between Shimla / Kullu Manali are:

Delhi to Shimla 370 km (9 hours by road)

Delhi to Manali 570 km (14 hours by road)

Chandigarh to Shimla 120 km ‘(4 hours by road)

Chandigarh to Manali 320 km (9 hours by road)

Kalka to Shimla 96 km (3 1/2 hours by road)

Shimla to Manali 270 km (8-9 hours by road)

Shimla to Kullu 230 km (7-8 hours by road)

Kullu to Manali 40 km (1 hour by road)

Traveling time remains a big factor and entire day has to be kept for traveling from one destination to the other.

Since Shimla happens to be the nearest destination from Delhi and Chandigarh, traveling to Shimla first is advisable.