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Shimla

4.2 / 5 382 votes

Himachal Pradesh | India

State rank: 5 out of 35 Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh

₹ 6,500 onwards (View Packages)

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Weather:

Ideal duration: 2-4 days

Best time: Oct-Jun (Read More)

Nearest Airport: Chandigarh (Check Flights)

Upcoming: Skiing In Kufri, Winter Sports Festival (Read More)

"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 and colonial architecture, Shimla is popular among honeymooners and families alike.

Situated at the height of 2200 m, Shimla is one of the most eminent tourist destinations in the country. Set amidst beautiful hills and mystical woods, Shimla is one of most aesthetically planned cities in India. The 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.

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Places to Visit In Shimla

Ridge

Kufri

Mall Road

Toy Train to Kalka

Jakhoo Temple

Chail

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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

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The Religious Trail at Shimla

As it comes out, Shimla is the spot for all religious seekers; thanks to an array of temples and holy 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 travellers. 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 three 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 areas. 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 Viceroy of India, during the British rule; the last person to live here being the Mountbattens and houses 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.

Restaurants and Local Food in Shimla

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.

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Itinerary

Day 1- Reach Shimla by noon and unwind a little in the hotel room. Head out to 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.

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Shimla Reviews

1 month ago by Manya Kapoor

I visited Shimla in the month of June, which is the time when Shimla is bustling with tourists. I chose this season to escape the scorching heat and found out that it indeed was an ideal option for a weekend getaway. The weather was pleasant and perfect for outdoor activities like trekking, camping, rafting and even paragliding. I had a great time walking through the famous Mall Road and indulging myself in delicious and pocket friendly roadside snacks. The local handicrafts shops are a must visit for all those who wish to take a memory of the place back home. A small piece of advise to all those visiting Shimla is to carry comfortable walking shoes and light winter clothing for the night time!

3 months ago by Kirti Dass

My school excursion included a trip to Camp Peach Valley, Shimla. It is, by far, my best travel experience. I took part in many fun-filled activities such as trekking, rope walking, camping and sightseeing. We also had bonfires on two consecutive nights which were truly amazing. The weather is perfect for a summer holiday. Also, we were to do rappelling which somehow got cancelled. I think this is the best place to vacation with your friends.

3 months ago by Aishwarya Arora

Being one of the most popular hill stations of northern India, Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh is famous for its pleasant and cool weather, beautiful hills and just an overall amazing tourist spot. Our evening walks, even with huffing and puffing uphill, was definitely worth it! Shimla has many tourist spots like the Ridge, the toy train, the Jakhu temple, etc. but since me and my friends were interested in lazing around and have a chill getaway trip, we just trotted along the long winding Mall road and shopped for some bits and pieces. It was the perfect spot for us since me and my friends stuffed our faces with Maggie and tea along with other delicious street foods available along the way. The hot food food with the cold and cozy weather, great friends and amazing views is what made Shimla one of the greatest and chill trips ever!

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Holidify's Opinion

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.

Hotels in Shimla

Top Hotels in Shimla

Mahaveer BnB, Shimla

INR 2,360 /night onwards
Wildflower Hall Shimla

INR 16,500 /night onwards
The Oberoi Cecil

INR 7,000 /night onwards

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Shimla Map

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How to Reach Shimla

The nearest broad gauge railway station from Shimla is in Kalka which is 89 km away. One can either take a taxi, local bus or the toy train to Shimla. Shimla is easily accessible via road too and C... (Read More)

From Chandigarh

114 km

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From Delhi

344 km

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From Amritsar

335 km

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From Manali

247 km

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