The Himachal Road Transport Corporation, commonly known as HRTC, started during independence and was jointly formed by the state of Punjab and the Railway Department of India. It was known as Mandi-Kullu Road Transport Corporation. It operated in both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Later, in 1974, the Himachal Government Transport was merged with Mandi-Kullu Road Transport Corporation and was named Himachal Road Transport Corporation or HRTC. HRTC is headquartered in Shimla. HRTC booking can be easily made on the redBus website or app.
HRTC has made connectivity via roads a dream for the cities in north India. Better roads were built for the smooth running of buses and cars. At present, the HRTC buses operate on almost 2,850 routes. If you want to travel to cities these buses serve, you can book an HRTC online using the redBus app. HRTC booking can be made online and offline, but HRTC online booking saves a lot of time.
Amenities on HRTC buses
HRTC buses are well-equipped with all kinds of amenities. The convenience of first aid kits, etc, can be availed by all passengers irrespective of the class of bus they are travelling with. Some services are optional and can be chosen by the passenger while booking the Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus. Also, the fare would increase depending on the facilities you want to have while travelling. Different amenities provided in an HRTC bus are:
- Water-Bottles
- Pillows
- First Aid Kits
- Snacks
- Air-Conditioners
- Televisions
- Charging points
- Hand rest
If you opt for HRTC online booking, you can look at all the amenities a bus would provide and then book tickets accordingly. HRTC's booking service is quite transparent. You can decide on what you want and then book tickets. HRTC bus tickets can also be booked 60 days before the journey day.
Popular Travel Routes Covered by HRTC
HRTC owns a giant fleet of buses. It has about 3,100 buses as part of its fleet. Also, these buses are usually packed as they operate on busy routes. HRTC also plans to extend the number of routes within the state in a phased manner. Therefore, you are advised to make the HRTC booking well in advance. With HRTC online booking, you can view HRTC bus timing and schedules of different buses and then make a choice. Listed below are some of the most popular routes covered by HRTC buses.
- Delhi to Una
- Delhi to Shimla
- Delhi to McLodeganj
- Delhi to Dalhousie
- Delhi to Manali
- Delhi to Kullu
- Shimla to Chandigarh
- Delhi to Bilaspur
- Delhi to Mandi
- Shimla to Ambala
- Delhi to Sundernagar
- Delhi to Dehra
- Mandi to Delhi
Over 3,000 routes are covered by HRTC buses. You can pick the route and book an HRTC online on the redBus app. HRTC bus tickets can be quickly booked in advance by using the redBus website or app.
Types of HRTC Buses
Owing to its vast fleet, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation has different types of buses as a part of its fleet. You can make an HRTC booking after weighing in all of your options. These buses serve a wide range of audiences. Therefore, these buses need to be affordable. Extra features can be availed, and a bus with better amenities can be booked depending on your budget. The different kinds of buses operated by HRTC are:
- Volvo Buses
- Deluxe Buses
- Himsuta AC Volvo/Scania 2+2
- Semi-Deluxe Buses
- Ordinary Buses
- A/C Sleeper Buses
- Seater Buses
- Non-AC Sleeper buses
- Electric buses
You can visit the redBus app and select from these buses based on your preferences.
Popular Cities Covered by HRTC Buses
HRTC buses cover almost all routes in Northern India. Additionally, Himachal Pradesh has a lot of hill stations and is a very cool place. As a result, the audience never changes throughout the year and only becomes slightly more prominent around the holidays. Popular cities that HRTC covers include:
- Kullu
- Manali
- Kangra
- Dharamshala
- Chamba
- Delhi
- Shimla
- Chandigarh
- Mandi
- Bilaspur
- Ambala
If you plan to travel to any of the cities in Himachal Pradesh, you can book the HRTC bus ticket online via redBus without standing in long queues. You can also view the HRTC bus timings Via routes and day and night buses based on your preference.
Special Tour Packages of HRTC
HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) doesn't organize any special tour packages; instead, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) coordinates these packages. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) is a state government body responsible for promoting tourism in Himachal Pradesh, India. Established to develop and advance tourism in the state, HPTDC has significantly contributed to making Himachal Pradesh a prominent tourist destination.