Shimla Tourism

There is nothing as beautiful as Shimla! From the lovers of nature to those, who are travelling across continents in search of a picture perfect photograph, Shimla needs to be the ultimate destination. What makes Shimla a complete tourist’s haven are its rich and diverse topographical landscapes. The moment you enter the town, you could feel the buzz of freshness, finery and fashion ringing in the air. As straight as it may sound, start your day from the mall road. Although the mall road was built under the British Empire, yet, surprisingly, it stands strong even today. The variety and magnificence of clothes and accessories spread along the road give people a hundred reasons to loosen up their bags and shop till they drop. In case shopping doesn’t excite you but rather makes you dull, you should try visiting the Shimla ridge. Located right at the centre of the city, the ridge holds the town’s entire cultural activities in one place. Moreover, you can even buy souvenirs from the Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhoo hil, located near the Shimla ridge, for yourself and your loved ones. If you want to see more of nature and would love to capitalise on this opportunity by spending a couple of hours of solace within woods, Glenn is the place for you. During the British raj, the officers used to go into the woods to while their hours away, playing sports. Thankfully, the Britishers have gone, leaving behind a beautiful forest, covered in Deodar trees. Positioned at about 1283 meters above the sea level, the summer hill holds the ground for the famous Himachal Pradesh University. It is said that Mahatama Gandhi, father of the nation, often used to come to the hills to spend his summers.

Places to Visit in Shimla

The Mall

All visitors to Shimla inevitably walk down the Mall, the main promenade that runs along the top of the ridge-a busy shopping area with old colonial buildings

Jakhoo Temple

Shimla's highest point, is rewarding for there are superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple

Chadwick Falls

Chadwick Fall is the 67 m waterfall in Shimla, cascading into a deep gorge. The Falls are best seen after the monsoon. the distance is 6 kms from the city

Viceregal Lodge

Housed in the Gothic splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, India's premier academy for higher research.

Sanjauli

A serene location with delightful walks, Sanjauli is ideal for a tranquil weekend. There r fine vistas and the lights of Shimla can be seen twinkling at night

Himachal State Museum

in a colonial building set in spacious lawns, is the museum. It has collections of Pahariminiatures, stone sculpture, local handicrafts, textiles and embroidery.

Near by Places

Mashobra

Known for its apple orchards and thick woods of oak and pine. Mashobra is a sylvan retreat with pretty walks and pIcnic spots. A little track leads down to Sipur a grassy glade with a stream wandering through it.

Kufri

Kufri is a summer and winter resort with its glorious views of forested slopes and tall ranges iced in a covering of perpetual snow. A fine ski resort, Kufri has a winter season that extends from January to March.

Fagu

Just 6 km from Kufri, Fagu is a vantage point with panoramic views of the ranges and valleys. Picturesquely located amid forests and orchards, Fagu has a rest house and tourist bungalow overlooking the Giri Valley.

Naldehra

The scenic, nine hole golf course with its springly turf and crown of deodar was laid out at the instance of the Viceroy, Lord Curzon. So enamoured was he by the beauty of the spot, that he named his youngest daughter Alexandra Naldera

Tattapani

Tattapani is just 28 km from Naldehra, along a road winding through the scenic country side. The hot sulphur springs here, are hoted for their invigorating and curative powers

Narkanda

A hill road with superb views links Narkanda with Shimla Narkanda, located amidst fragrant pine forests is a ski resort in winter. It has a choice of slopes ranging from a beginners run and a slalom slope, to sharper descents for the experienced skier

Things to do

Ice Skating

The rink here is one of the oldest in Asia and the only open air-rink in India. Operational only from December to February, it attracts thousands of people every year from rookies to pros who come there to show off their skating skills.

Trekking

Referred to as the trekker's paradise, Shimla has one of the most exciting trekking trails. Jalori Pass, Shimla-Chail and Shimla-Junga are some of the few. The only thing to be kept in mind is to avoid trekking in monsoons because of road blocks and landslides.

River Rafting

It is one of the reasons which makes Shimla a tourist spot. Tattapani, a scenic spot along Satluj is known for thrilling sessions of rafting in the rapids.

Culture

Located on the lofty ranges of the Himalayas, Shimla is a place that has been untouched by commercialization and globalization. It is very different from rest of the Indian states and has retained its old world charm. The culture of Shimla is such that it portrays a sound balance between traditional values and modern thoughts. The cultural heritage of Simla is very traditional and rural. Read on further about the culture of Shimla.

The people in Shimla depend on agriculture as a source of their livelihood. Cattle rearing is yet another way of earning a decent livelihood. The people in Shimla live in small huts with slated roofs. Every unit of village has its own shops and other facilities and necessities. There are regular fairs and festivals in these villages. You will find more information about the culture, music, dance, people and religion of Shimla in our related sections.

Best Time to Visit

Shimla is the most famous hill station in north India. Temperature and scenic beauty of Shimla makes it a year round destination for tourists from India as well as from abroad.

Best time to visit Shimla is the winter season. The awesome experience of the snowfall in Shimla in the months of December, January and February when the temperature drops down to zero and below allures many to come here every year. While Shimla is great tourist hub in summers too during the months of April, May and June when tourists from plains run towards hill stations.

Snow Experience in Shimla : The ambience of Shimla becomes totally romantic at the time of Christmas and New Year. Young couples come here for honeymoon, Christmas celebrations and New Year Celebrations. They cherish those beautiful moments in each others arms with snow capped mountains in background.

Shimla, the winter destination of India, gets snow anytime after third week of December. Tourists from Delhi and nearby areas rush towards Shimla to experience the sheer snow in the lap of Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. Shimla and its nearby hamlets Kufri and Chail also get flooded by tourists during the snow season at the time of Christmas and New Year.

The scenario at Shimla, Chail and Kufri during snow season consists of snow capped mountains and resorts, and people having fun in skiing and throwing snow balls at one another. Kufri slopes become a full fledge skiing destination for all. Children become busy in making snow-man and parents take a good advantage of that.

How to Reach Shimla ?

By Air - Jubbarhatti is the airport in Shimla to which regular domestic flights are available from major cities of India.

By Rail - Kalka, 96 Km away, is the nearest railway station connecting Shimla to various neighboring states. Then train to Shimla from Kalka could be taken to reach in as less as 6 hours time.

By Road - Chandigarh and New Delhi are connected by National highways that lure the road hitters more than anything for starters of this tremendous journey to Shimla.