Shimla Travel Guide

SHIMLA—An Ecological Pristine Masterpiece with Colonial Touch

About Shimla Travel Guide

This Shimla travel guide will discuss Shimla tourist places with each and every point of attraction in detail. Shimla, a heritage hill station, is also the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is a famous hill station for adventure and relaxation. Located at an elevation of 2200m, Shimla became the summer capital of British India. Shimla still carries the colonial charm with splendid architecture, pedestrian-friendly Mall Road, and the ridge comprising multiple shops, cafes as well as restaurants.

 Read More Himachal Location:- 

• Spiti Valley Travel Guide
• Dalhousie Travel Guide
• Kasauli Travel Guide
• Mcleodganj Travel Guide
• Bir Billing Travel Guide
• Manali Travel Guide 

Shimla has a link with various cities and is just 4 hour's drive from Chandigarh. The city comprises an airport as well.  The railway station joins Shimla with the plains. You have the well-known Kalka-Shimla train track; a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site. The weather is cool for most of the months with tourists flocking primarily in the summer months. Shimla experiences snowfall from mid-December to February end. Shimla has adjoining hill stations like Kufri, a place always covered by snow, and Chail, known for a big palace and the cricket ground at a high elevation. Tourists also see the Jakhu Temple and go sightseeing at multiple viewpoints during their trip to Shimla. Shimla is a much-preferred place for Himachal Pradesh tourism lovers. 

How to reach Shimla?

By road: You can reach Shimla by road via Kalka. The distance is 87 km. You can also reach this amazing hill station via Chandigarh by car or bike or a tourist bus. The distance is around 113 km. 

By Train:-From Chandigarh, you can board a train to Kalka. The distance is 25 km. From Kalka, you can board a narrow-gauge train to Shimla. The distance is 96km. 

By Air:-You can board a flight at Delhi airport and reach Shimla within an hour. 

Things to do in Shimla

Shimla is an excellent and extraordinary spot for winter and summer trips alike. This is a splendid hill station and proves to be an environmental and heritage photographer's delight. If you are a nature lover, you will have an unforgettable experience of the hillsides of this region with exemplary views of pine and oak woods. The colonial heritage structures of Shimla are a must-watch. You can also have snow adventures during the cold season.

Best time to visit Shimla

You can visit Shimla from March to Sept to experience a pleasant climate. If you want to experience chilly cold weather and snow, you can visit in Dec, Jan, and Feb. 

Best breathtaking places to visit in Shimla 

The Ridge

Situated at the center of the 'British Summer Capital', The Ridge is the much-photographed open wide street on the side of Shimla Mall Road. The Ridge comprises shops that sell distinct artifacts and also offers a distinct glimpse of snow-capped mountain ranges. 

It is also the social hub.  Gothic buildings stand in majesty in this part of the town. The Ridge comprises cafes, bars, boutiques, shops, and restaurants that attract a large crowd from Mall Road. It operates from east to west direction  Mall Roadside and joins Scandal Point on the west end. On the east side, it joins Lakkar Bazar which is the well-known wooden crafts market in Shimla. 

Get More Himachal Tour:- Himachal Family Tour, Himachal Honeymoon Tour Packages, Manali  Tour Packages, Shimla Tour Packages, 

Mall Road

Mall Road in Shimla falls in the center of the town and is the prime street having restaurants, clubs, banks, shops, post office as well as tourist offices. Simultaneously the place offers other splendid attractions like the Scandal Point as well as Kali Bari Temple.

One of the most delicate commercial areas of Shimla to this date, this belt is a small world in itself. The Mall Road is a single stretch, truly celebrating the spirit of the hilltown, its tourist rush as well as valleys apart from hills covered with houses and hotels. The glamor of the Mall Road is everlasting and experienced and experienced by one and all. Mall Road of Shimla is an exemplary spot in Himachal Pradesh tourism.

Jakhu Temple

Set amidst the background of the Shivalik ranges on Jakhoo Hill, the highest elevated point in Shimla, the Jakhu Temple is an ancient site dedicated to the Hindu god - Hanuman. Jakhu Temple has a very big Hanuman statue, which can be seen from various areas of Shimla. It overlooks the town of Sanjauli. You can see the monkey population in the Jakhoo Hill area.

It is located around 2 kilometers from the Ridge. Hanuman Statue is a fascinating piece of engineering located at an elevation of more than 8000 feet, and it surpasses Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro.  As per the legend related to Jakhu Temple, Lord took a rest here before moving further for his quest for the Sanjeevani Booti for the revival of Lord Lakshman. It is a well-known spot mentioned in the HP tour guide.

Green Valley

The Green Valley is a mesmerizing as well as splendid mountain range falling on the path to Kufri towards Shimla. The Green Valley is engulfed by exotic hills from all sides consisting of dense pine and deodar forests. You can see Yaks strolling and grazing in the valley.

The place is underdeveloped from the point of view of HP tourism, but it is a crowd attractor and snatches the focus of tourists because of its thick deodar and pine trees in the awesome hills. You can see distinct animals here. The Green Valley, because of its splendid beauty and grace, is a preferable place for movie shoots. It is among the must-see places of Himachal Pradesh tourism. 

Viceregal Lodge

Viceregal Lodge also called The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies situated on the Observatory Hill of Shimla is a fascinating structure designed with Victorian-style architecture. As of now, it has been transformed into an educational institution providing post-doctoral courses.

This building was earlier made used by the British Government for political meetings. It is among the must-see heritage sites of Himachal Pradesh.

Get More Himachal Tour:- Himachal Family Tour, Himachal Honeymoon Tour Packages, Manali  Tour Packages, Shimla Tour Packages, 

Christ Church

Christ Church is the second oldest church in north India. It is known for its outstanding architectural beauty. The church took 11 long years to complete and reminds me of the British colonization of India. There is something distinct about the Shimla Christ Church making it the sought-after destination for tourists. At night, the church literally illuminates, and in winters, it looks like a magnificent castle.

It is visible from various corners of Shimla and is full of architecture lovers, as well as devotees. The Shimla Christ Church has a neo-gothic style of architecture. It has a front porch, church bells as well as five stained glass windows representing multiple virtues of Christianity. It is among the heritage monuments of Himachal Pradesh.

Kali Bari Temple

Kali Bari Temple of Shimla is an old place of worship of Goddess Kali. It was constructed in 1845 and is of immense importance for the devotees. The shrine has an idol of Goddess Kali adorned with jewels and flowers. Located in Shimla, nearby Shimla City Mall, it is visited by the faithful in big numbers.

Devotees seek power from Goddess Kali here.. Also known as goddess Shyamala, the temple attracts huge crowds during Navratri. Shimla was named after the goddess Shyamala Devi. It is among the most visited religious spots in Himachal Pradesh.

Get More Himachal Tour:- Himachal Family Tour, Himachal Honeymoon Tour Packages, Manali  Tour Packages, Shimla Tour Packages, 

Narkanda

Engulfed by forests as well as woodlands, Narkanda is a quiet little town in the Shimla district famous for skiing in winters. Located at an elevation of 9000 feet, this town mesmerizes tourists because of its natural beauty and apple orchards. Encircled by tropical forests as well as majestic hills, this is a place that tourists should not miss. Tannu Jabar Lake is among the important tourist attractions here. 

Writer:- David Bamzai (HV Team)