Shimla in Himachal

Shimla Travel guide

Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903.Pine forests and apple orchards, crisp, clean air and breathtaking views. Sprawled over 12 kms on a crescent shaped ridge lies Shimla,the largest hill station and erstwhile summer capital of the British in India. Descending in layers from the top of the ridge, at 2,213 metres, Shimla straddles several hills, including the Jakhoo, Prospect Hill, Observatory Hill, Elysium Hill, and Summer Hill. 

Though Shimla, which is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, has come a long way from the days of the Raj, the old British buildings, quaint cottages and churches still remind visitors of an era long gone by. Here, in the heyday of the Empire, officers and their wives strolled down the Mall, exchanging pleasantries with fellow officers. 

Many a grass widow spent time wandering through the beautiful walks through pine forests, while dashing Indian princes left many an English lady heartbroken. From the days of the British, when it was the popular retreat of the sahibs, Shimla has now become the hub of major activities in Himachal Pradesh. Being the seat of government and a major tourist attraction in north India, the town has grown to bursting point. In peak tourist season, traffic jams, and crippling water shortage are common. 

How to Reach Shimla

How to Reach Shimla by Air

The Jubbarhatti airport, 22 km from Shimla has regular flights from Delhi. But due to rough weather conditions during winter, flights may be irregular, especially from December till February. Alternatively, Chandigarh Airport at a distance of 120 kms, can be used for air connections and then up to Shimla by road.

How to Reach Shimla by Rail

The broad-gauge line terminates at Kalka, about 100 kms down in the plains. The Kalka station is connected to most major cities in India, including Delhi and Calcutta. From Kalka, the narrow-gauge line connects to Shimla. The toy train that runs from Kalka and back takes about five-and-a-half hours to reach. The luxury first class compartments have glass sides to give a superb view of the ride through tunnels, over bridges and up steep slopes. Though the train journey is romantic, it is much slower than travelling by bus.

How to Reach Shimla by Bus

Shimla is connected by road to Chandigarh, Delhi, Dehradun, Kalka, and other major north-Indian towns. There are regular bus services to Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Delhi, Mandi Pathankot, and Ambala. Most travelers prefer to drive up to Shimla in private or hired vehicles.

Things to do in Shimla

Take a long walk on the vibrant Mall Road or stroll through the pine and oak trees, this enchanting hill station offers a fairly long list of things to do. The popular places amongst travellers are focused on Shimla’s colonial past that includes Town Hall, timber lined General Post Office and the old Gaiety Theatre. Shimla has many old temples, churches and museums to visit. You can plan picnics and trails in the woods. 

Want to experience a spectacular sunrise? Trek up to the top of the Jakhoo Hill that houses Hanuman Temple and an old Christ Church, and absorb in the magical yellow-orange view of the valley below. Visit Shimla during winters and enjoy skiing or skating on ice. Shopaholics can buy Himachal handicrafts, embroidery, bright and beautiful Kullu shawls, Tibetan jewellery etc at a bargain price. Visit Lakkar Bazaar for wood crafts. 

Feast on delicious Chinese and Indian cuisine at various restaurants on Mall road or just enjoy aromatic hot cup of coffee at one of the coffee shops. 

You can visit various places near Shimla if you want to be away from the crowd. Visit Kufri that is renowned for its ski slopes and hiking or Naldehra that has a nine-hole golf course.