Amritsar-Dharmasala-Shimla
 

Has anyone did this trip with public transport

I did this a while ago, mostly by train (as I like train travel!) Basically, Amritsar to Pathankot, then an onwards connection by toy train to Dharamsala (the station is some way from the town and McLeod Ganj, so you'll need a bus or taxi). Then, after a few days, onwards on the toy train to Joginder Nagar, where I stayed in a retiring room at the station (and seemed to arrive in the middle of some kind of fair, sweets everywhere!) I broke that journey somewhere random - I forget the name, but it was a friendly little place, where I mostly drank tea.

From Joginder Nagar, it's was a 4-hour bus ride. Not too bad.

There's probably an easier way to do it, but I'm just a sucker for Indian trains :)

my friends just did this route earlier this month via train....they said it was very comfortable....

I've done the Amritsar-Dharamsala leg before via public transportation. It's not bad but if you are taking a local bus to Dharamsala make sure to pack dramamine or a sea band if you have any type of motion sickness. I have never witnessed so many people throwing up on a bus as I did on the ascent to D'sala.