Shimla
State rank: 10 out of 35 Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh
Weather:
Ideal duration: 2-4 days
Best time: Oct-Jun (Read More)
Nearest Airport: Chandigarh (Check Flights)
Upcoming: Skiing In Kufri, Winter Sports Festival
"The Hill-Station with Rich Colonial History"
Shimla Tourism
Probably the most popular hill station in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, toy train etc. among honeymooners and families alike.
Situated at a height of 2200 m, Shimla is one of the most eminent tourist destination in the country. Set amidst beautiful hills and mystical woods, Shimla is one of most aesthetically planned cities in India. An erstwhile summer capital of British India, this town's captivating natural beauty, and the atmosphere are bound to leave any tourist overwhelmed. The well-knit roads, impeccable cleanliness, and an efficient administration make for a perfect combination for any tourist destination in the world. This town has colonial-style buildings alongside the historic temples and the amalgamation of the worlds leaves everyone visiting this region spellbound. Within this city, one must visit the Mall Road, The Ridge, Institute of Advanced Studies and Jakhu Temple. Shimla is also used as a base to cover other nearby places like Chail, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra, Tattapani and Narkanda. The toy train to Shimla from Kalka passes through beautiful hills and valleys and is one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.
Top Things To Do In Shimla
Shimla Packages
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Glories of Shimla & Mashobra | 4 Days 3 Nights
₹ 7,500 onwards
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Majestic Shimla, Manali & 2 places | 7 Days 6 Nights
₹ 34,500 onwards
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Magic of Shimla, Manali & 3 places | 8 Days 7 Nights
₹ 18,720 onwards
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Shimla Reviews
This place is wonderful but yes if you have some more time then please visit bearby places too. They also provide you with immense natural beauty and also a wonderful experience. Overall nice place to spend your vacation!
Shimla is a thickly forested, beautiful hill station. The 12 km long Ridge is one of the main attractions, with small eatery shops and exquisite gardens perched on the sides. The cool weather with the occasional rain gave the much-needed break from the hot and humid summers. Traffic is banned from the central part of town, so it is a pleasant, romantic walk. Shimla has plenty of places to visit like The Mall, the Christ Church, a peaceful escape from the pandemonium in the city, Viceregal lodge, Scandal Point and the Lakkar Bazaar offering handicrafts, wooden artefacts, shawls, carpets, leather work, and jewellery. I also visited the Kali Bari temple and the Jhaku temple which is located on Jhaku peak, the highest point in Shimla. Cafe Sol, Scosaa, Indian Coffee House, Honey Hut, Prem Chaat Shop, Paranthas at Vijay Sweet Shop and 'Kukrej' (a local delicacy) at popular local stalls were eating joints I liked there.
Shimla is called the Queen of Hills and I couldn’t agree more with this title. 2 years ago, I went there on my school trip and it still seems like yesterday only. The best part was the Mall Road. The aura and the vibes that the place has left me awestruck. I experienced inner peace and witnessed beauty in its purest form. The best time to visit is evening since one gets to see the sunset which looks beautiful from up there. If you’re planning to visit Shimla, then do visit it once and do not forget to carry water bottles with you.
Review for Mall Road, Shimla
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What's Great?
The weather. It snows in winters and the landscape becomes all beautiful. One of the few hill stations to have an airport. One of the most developed hill stations.
What's not so Great?
The climate has started to become warmer with extreme colonization. The greenery has started to go away a little bit. One of the most congested hill stations.
For Whom
Perfect for people who want to have a short holiday and enjoy the weather as the winters approach. Extremely popular among students, couples, and adrenaline junkies. A stopping point to nearby hill stations.
Top Hotels in Shimla
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The Oberoi Cecil
Staring from INR 8,500
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Wildflower Hall Shimla
Staring from INR 17,000
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Clarkes Hotel
Staring from INR 6,000
History of Shimla
Back in the 18th century, Shimla was mostly all forest and trees. The only inhabitation was a temple and a few scattered huts. The establishment was called ‘Shimla’, after a Hindu goddess, Shyamala Devi. The British took over the territory as per the Sugauli Treaty after Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal who ruled then. In 1863, John Lawrence, the Viceroy of India, shifted the summer capital of British Raj to Shimla as a means to cope up with the Indian tropical heat. Later, Shimla became the capital of undivided Punjab in 1871. After the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1971, Shimla became a part and was announced as the state capital.
The Religious Trail at Shimla
As it comes out, Shimla is the IT spot for all religious seekers; thanks to a number of temples and religious shrines here. The most famous of these happen to be the Jaakh temple, located on a hill dedicated to it, called the Jaakhu Hill. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is characterized by a strong presence of monkeys in the vicinity of the temple. A little farther from the city of Shimla, right on the outskirts is the Tara Devi temple. Legend has it, that Goddess Tara Devi watches over the whole town and has a protective gaze, with the statement location of the temple on top of a hill. The location also gives out a feeling of serenity and peace. Shimla also happens to have its own Kali Bari! With the Kali Bari being older than 150 years, this abode of Goddess Kali is a popular tourist attraction and a spiritual hub both for locals and travelers. Talking about Goddess Kali, there is another temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali in Shimla, called the Shoolini Temple, that is dedicated to Maa Shoolini, who is considered an incarnation of Goddess Kali. The last week of June of every year witnesses the Shoolini Utsav that lasts for a good 3 days and is the highlight of people's visit during this time of the year. However, the oldest temple in the city remains the Laxminarayan Temple. As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to Maa Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and is flocked by lakhs of people every year.
Heritage Walk in Shimla
Shimla is a vintage city and had been the British's favourite destination to spend the summer, all thanks to the chilled weather of this place back then, that attracted the British from the hot and humid places. And so, you can find a lot of British touch to everything here; from the buildings, to the overall construction of the city, to even the food. There is an old world charm attached to this place. The most popular heritage building here being the Viceregal Lodge, also known as the Rashtrapati Niwas was the residence of the Viceory of India, during the British rule; the last person to live here being the Mountbattens and huses the infamous Partition Table. The Shimla Heritage Museum is also an attraction for tourists looking for all historical insight into the city and the state of Himachal in general. The Heritage Walk will make you see the British architecture that had a strong Scottish influence, definitely visible at the Church on the Mall Road. Also, a walk through the ridge will make you see the beauty of the hills!
History of Shimla
Back in the 18th century, Shimla was mostly all forest and trees. The only inhabitation was a temple and a few scattered huts. The establishment was called ‘Shimla’, after a Hindu goddess, Shyamala Devi. The British took over the territory as per the Sugauli Treaty after Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal who ruled then. In 1863, the Viceroy of India, John Lawrence, shifted the summer capital of British Raj to Shimla as a means to cope up with the Indian tropical heat. Later, Shimla became the capital of undivided Punjab in 1871. After the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1971, Shimla became a part and was announced as the state capital.
Itinerary
Day 1- Reach Shimla by noon and unwind a little in the hotel room. Head out to the Mall Road by walking to enjoy the crisp air in the evening. Soak in the aura of the place and dine at local restaurants on the Mall Road. Day 2- You should consider visiting the Jaakhu temple, without which your trip to Shimla is not justified. If it's the winters, you could take a cab for half an hour to Kufri and enjoy the snow there with your loved ones. A perfect activity for the whole day. Or you could visit the Viceregal Lodge and lose yourself in the way the British indulged. Call it a day at the Church on the Ridge. Day 3- Wake up early, take a hike to the nearest hilltop and watch the sunrise. Walk into any bakery at the Mall Road for a continental breakfast; the British way. Head on for some local shopping at the Mall Road and the Lakkar Bazaar (also visit the Chota Bazaar for cheap overcoats, jackets, and blazers), to get little trinkets and curios. Head to the hotel by evening and call it a day, early.
With tourism at the heart of this hill-station, Shimla is no less than brimming with option for food. There are a number of eateries here from Dhabas, Bakeries, Local eating joints, Restaurants as well as fine dining restaurants. Shimla has a range of restaurants which serve different cuisines like North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Continental etc. Surprisingly one may not find a lot of places in Shimla which serve the local Pahari food, since the cuisine has somewhat shifted to meet he needs of the town's countless visitors.
Latest questions by travellers on Shimla
It mainly snows in Shimla from December to January with average temperature around 8 degrees, dropping as low as -2.