Shimla: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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From 1864 the whole government of British India moved up to Shimla every summer to escape the heat of the plains. Offices, a theatre, churches and a viceroy's palace were built on a narrow ridge, and the decisions made here shaped the subcontinent until independence. This walk follows the Mall west from the town square to the palace, about 4 km mostly level. Half a day; the Lodge has fixed tour times, so check them first.

A short history of Shimla

At the beginning of the 19th century this was a small village on a forested ridge, until the British discovered its cool air. In 1864 Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India, and every summer the entire government moved up here from Calcutta and later from Delhi. In 1903 the narrow, winding Kalka–Shimla Railway opened; it was declared a World Heritage Site in 2008. In 1945 the Simla Conference on the future of India was held here, and in 1972 the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan was signed in the city. Today Shimla is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The ten best sights in Shimla

1
Christ Church
The yellow church on the Ridge; look at the stained glass inside
2
Viceregal Lodge
Guided tours of the Raj's summer seat, now an institute; closed some days
3
Gaiety Theatre
A Victorian theatre on the Mall; ask for a look inside
4
Gorton Castle
Stone Gothic offices on the way to the Lodge; see it from outside
5
Himachal State Museum
Pahari miniature paintings and hill crafts, in a quiet garden
6
Jakhoo Temple
Steep 30-minute climb or a ropeway; hide glasses and food from the monkeys
7
Kali Bari Temple
Bengali-style temple of Kali with views over the valley
8
The Ridge
The open square at the top of town: the evening stroll, and in winter the snow
9
Scandal Point
Where the Mall meets the Ridge; the meeting point of town
10
Mall Road
Car-free promenade of shops and cafés along the ridge

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Tours in Shimla →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Shimla:

Free walking tours in Shimla

Summer capital of the Raj

Scandal Point · Local legend says the place got its name when the Maharaja of Patiala eloped from here with a British lady of the viceroy's circle — and was then banned from Shimla.
Gaiety Theatre · The theatre opened in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and amateur companies of British officers and their wives performed here every season.
Gorton Castle · The building was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, who mixed Gothic with Rajasthani details, and was finished in 1904 for the colonial civil service.
Shimla Railway Station · The narrow-gauge line from Kalka ends here after 96 km and more than a hundred tunnels; before it opened in 1903, people came up by tonga and on foot.
Viceregal Lodge · Built for Lord Dufferin and finished in 1888, it hosted the Simla Conference of 1945; since 1965 it has housed the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
Summer Hill · On his visits to Shimla, Mahatma Gandhi stayed at Manorville, the Summer Hill house of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.

Above and below the Mall

Shimla is built in layers down a steep hillside: the Ridge and the Mall on top, the bazaars tumbling below, and temples on the peaks around. In British times the layers also divided people, and the town still feels like two worlds a staircase apart. This walk starts on the Ridge, climbs to the highest temple and comes down through the bazaars. About three hours with steep steps; the climb to Jakhoo is hard work at this altitude.

The Ridge · Under the open square lie large water tanks built in British times, which still supply part of the town.
Christ Church · Completed in 1857, it is one of the oldest churches in northern India, and its windows show Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Patience and Humility.
Lakkar Bazaar · Lakkar means wood, and the bazaar has sold carved wooden goods made from the hill forests since British times.
Jakhoo Temple · The orange Hanuman statue above the temple is 108 feet, about 33 metres, tall and was unveiled in November 2010 on Shimla's highest hill, about 2,455 metres up.
Kali Bari Temple · The town's name is usually traced to Shyamala, a form of the goddess Kali worshipped at this temple.
Lower Bazaar · In the days of the Raj, most Indians were kept off the Mall above, so everyday life and trade crowded into these lower lanes.

Ridges around Shimla

Shimla is a city on a ridge, but the real Himalayan country starts a few kilometres out of town, among deodar cedars, apple orchards and old summer palaces. On clear days in winter you can see the snow peaks of the main range to the north. This route goes east along the old road to Tibet, north to a golf course in the forest, and south to a maharaja's palace. A full day by car on winding roads; start early to beat the traffic jams out of town.

Kufri · Kufri lies on the old Hindustan–Tibet Road, begun in the 1850s under Lord Dalhousie to reach the Tibetan border.
Himalayan Nature Park · The park keeps the Himalayan monal, the shimmering pheasant that is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.
Mashobra · The Retreat at Mashobra is one of the official retreats of the President of India, used each summer.
Naldehra · Lord Curzon loved the place so much that he gave his daughter Alexandra the middle name Naldera.
Chadwick Falls · The falls are fed by the monsoon and run strongly only from about July to September; in the dry months little water flows.
Chail Palace · Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala built his summer capital here after he was barred from Shimla, and Chail's cricket ground, at about 2,444 metres, is called the highest in the world.

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Getting to Shimla and getting around

Shimla Railway Station · End of the toy train from Kalka; a steep walk or the lift up to the Mall
ISBT Shimla · New bus stand on the edge of town, for Chandigarh, Delhi and Manali
Shimla Airport · A small hilltop airport 20 km out with few flights; the train or road is usually easier

Cheap eats in Shimla

Shimla's quick food is a mix of the plains and the hills: chole bhature and samosas from Punjab, momos and thukpa brought by Tibetans, and Himachali dishes like siddu. Along the Mall, tea and snacks come with a view down the valley. Prices are low by Western standards, but a meal on the Mall costs more than one down in the bazaar.

Himachali Rasoi · Siddu, madra and Himachali thali, about ₹150-350
HPMC stall · Apple juice and cider on the Ridge, about ₹30-100
Indian Coffee House · Dosas and coffee on the Mall, about ₹60-200
Wake & Bake Café · Breakfasts, crêpes and coffee on the Mall, about ₹200-500
Amar Bhojnalaya · Simple vegetarian thalis, about ₹100-200
Book Cafe · Tea and snacks on the Ridge with a view, about ₹100-300

Museums in Shimla

Viceregal Lodge · Guided tours of the rooms and the gardens
Christ Church · Stained glass and the old church clock
Himachal State Museum · Pahari miniatures and temple art
Gaiety Theatre · Victorian theatre still in use
Gorton Castle · Colonial Gothic, seen from the road

Nature and day trips near Shimla

Jakhoo Hill · Forest walk to the town's highest point
Himalayan Nature Park · Monal pheasants, bears and deer in the forest
Chadwick Falls · Waterfall in the forest, best in the rains
Naldehra · Deodar forest and meadows
Mashobra · Orchards and pine woods

Things to do in Shimla with kids

Shimla Railway Station · Ride the toy train a few stations and back
The Ridge · Open square for running, balloons and snow in winter
Kufri · Pony and yak rides, snow in winter
Himalayan Nature Park · Animals of the mountains up close
Jakhoo Temple · The giant Hanuman and the ropeway ride

Where to eat in Shimla

Sher-e-Punjab · Hearty Punjabi curries and tandoori breads
Himchi Bar and Kitchen · Himachali dishes for dinner near Lakkar Bazaar
Cafe Sol · Relaxed dinner and drinks on the Mall
Devicos Restaurant & Bar · Restaurant and bar off the Mall, near the Coffee House
Cafe 1873 · Dinner with a view over the Ridge

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Frequently asked questions about Shimla

What is there to see in Shimla?

The top sights in Shimla are Christ Church, Viceregal Lodge and Gaiety Theatre. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Shimla?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Shimla without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Shimla?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Shimla, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Summer capital of the Raj.

How do you get to Shimla and get around?

The main ways are Shimla Railway Station, ISBT Shimla and Shimla Airport. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Shimla, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Shimla that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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