There's no railway station or airport in Dalhousie itself, so getting there means picking one of a few road routes — usually starting from Delhi, Chandigarh, or Pathankot.
From Pathankot
Pathankot has the nearest railway station to Dalhousie, and the drive from there is roughly 80 km, taking about 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. For visitors arriving by train from elsewhere in India, Pathankot is usually the easiest connection point — taxis and buses both run the route regularly.
From Chandigarh
Around 320 km, typically a 7 to 8 hour drive. Chandigarh also has the nearest major airport with frequent flight connections, making this a common route for visitors flying in rather than taking the train. Some travellers split the journey with an overnight stop partway.
From Delhi
The longest of the three common routes, at roughly 550–570 km and 12 or more hours by road. Most visitors coming from Delhi either take an overnight bus, fly into Chandigarh or Gaggal (Kangra) and continue by road from there, or take a train to Pathankot and finish the journey by taxi.
Gaggal Airport (Kangra)
The nearest airport with regular flights is Gaggal, near Kangra — about 130–140 km from Dalhousie, roughly 4 to 5 hours by road. It's a reasonable alternative to Chandigarh depending on flight availability and where you're travelling from.
A general rule of thumb
If you're coming by train, Pathankot is almost always the better connection than a longer rail journey elsewhere. If you're flying, compare Chandigarh and Gaggal on both flight options and the onward road time — the shorter flight route isn't always the shorter total journey.