Shimla
Discover Shimla
Shimla (Hindi: शिमला), previously spelt Simla, is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a very popular holiday retreat during the summer months and is well known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and the Ridge. It is also a famous holiday spot for honeymoon. Shimla has a population of around 172,000 (which may increase by another 100,000 with the seasonal influx of voyagers). Most residents are from the Pahadi community (the natives of Himachal Pradesh), but there is also a sizable minority from Punjab and Sindh, who moved to Shimla during the partition. As a result, the languages spoken in Shimla include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English which serves as a lingua franca.
What to Experience in Shimla
Taste of Shimla...
Most of the restaurants in Shimla are cheap, comfortable, atmospheric and offer good multi-cuisine food. However, if you are looking for local cuisine, the options are surprisingly limited. Along the highway there are more than thirty restaurants, dhabas and fast food places. Himachal is known as the fruit bowl of India. It has a thriving food processing industry that churns out fruit-based drinks, squashes and concentrates. The most famous flavors are plum, litchi, strawberry, mango and guava. For alcoholic drinks, try the locally brewed wines such as apricot, plum and apple & ginger cider. In predominantly Tibetan areas, a rice wine known as Chang is popular. There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. Online booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over a reserve a room in person. Rooms in Shimla range US$5–600. Other cheaper areas of the city are through Victory tunnel and on Circular Rd and Kaithu to Kali Bari Rd. In high season, rooms can be ₹1,000–1,500 a night. For travellers requiring luxury accommodation during their stay in Shimla, the advantages offered by The Oberoi Cecil, a luxury hotel of the Oberoi chain, as regards both the location and the in-house amenities, are unbeatable by any establishment in town.
Climate
Shimla's cool climate is the precise reason why it is such a popular summer retreat. At an altitude of approximately 2,200 m above sea level, the region has a hilly terrain and is covered by dense evergreen forests. A few visitors choose to visit Shimla during spring or autumn, when the place is less crowded and the views are too spectacular for words. Government and private buses are available from Chandigarh to Shimla within a gap of half an hour. Deluxe and semi-deluxe buses are also frequently available from different places. The bus from Mandi leaves around 9AM, for about ₹300 (as of Aug 2023). Buses, for example to Manali and Dharamsala, can be booked in advance or on the day of travel up to a few hours before departure from the government office next to the official tourist information centre at Scandal Point. The nearest broad gauge station is at Kalka, a four-to-seven hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsGovernment and private buses are available from Chandigarh to Shimla within a gap of half an hour. Deluxe and semi-deluxe buses are also frequently available from different places. The bus from Mandi leaves around 9AM, for about ₹300 (as of Aug 2023). Buses, for example to Manali and Dharamsala, can be booked in advance or on the day of travel up to a few hours before departure from the government office next to the official tourist information centre at Scandal Point. The nearest broad gauge station is at Kalka, a four-to-seven hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla. This railway track was granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The view is stunning, with the line passing through an amazing 102 tunnels. The fastest way to get to Kalka is to catch the Shatabdi Express, which departs early morning from the New Delhi Railway Station, arriving at Kalka four hours later....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Getting around in Shimla is easy as compared to other cities in Himachal Pradesh. Most, especially downtown with the ridge, can be walked but due to the hills Shimla is on, it can sometimes be exhausting. You can get a local bus from 7AM to 9PM for ₹10, and that too for any destination in the city. In case you choose to travel by taxi, it is affordable and convenient for sightseeing. Apart from this, there are some tourist buses run by HPTDC every day for getting around in Shimla, e.g. from the Rivoli Bus Stop. As Shimla is known for its picturesque location and serene environment, you can also consider traveling some distance on foot. Inquire with HPTDC. Jakhoo Hill is Shimla's highest point and the site of Jakhu Temple. The summit offers spectacular views of the town and its surroundings; on a clear day it is possible to see the snow-capped Western Himalaya about 75 km to the north. However, trees and vegetation somewhat obscure the views, preventing them from being truly panoramic.
Where to Stay
There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. Online booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over a reserve a room in person. Rooms in Shimla range US$5–600. Other cheaper areas of the city are through Victory tunnel and on Circular Rd and Kaithu to Kali Bari Rd. In high season, rooms can be ₹1,000–1,500 a night. For travellers requiring luxury accommodation during their stay in Shimla, the advantages offered by The Oberoi Cecil, a luxury hotel of the Oberoi chain, as regards both the location and the in-house amenities, are unbeatable by any establishment in town. Their lesser-grade affiliate, The Oberoi Clarke's, another hotel of the Oberoi chain with a great ambiance and rich history, has the advantage of a more central location on The Mall, but its facilities in general and its cuisine in particular are not a match for The Cecil.
Money & Budget
Further down the Mall Road is the Lakkar Bazaar, which has quite a few shops selling wooden handicrafts. The Mall is full of shops selling woolens (most of which find their way to Shimla from Ludhiana, Punjab) and Kullu shawls. Other favorites have included wooden toys, walking sticks and Tibetan carpets made in nearby Kinnaur. As the centre of the food-processing industry in Himachal, jams and squashes made from local produce are indeed worth purchasing. The stretch between Combermere Bridge and the Telegraph Office is full of small stores which stock handcrafted Chinese shoes. The more well-known ones include Hopsons, Tatung and Hugh & Co. Most of the restaurants in Shimla are cheap, comfortable, atmospheric and offer good multi-cuisine food.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Beware of greedy monkeys which may attack anytime to grab food from your hands. Don’t make any eye contact with them. Try to ignore them while passing by. Any abrupt move from your side may pass the wrong message on these creatures. Sometimes, temperature goes below freezing level, especially during winter season. So travelers are advised to carry appropriate clothing. Do not exchange the currency/money in black market. Ask for receipt when exchanging money at any authorized establishment. Avoid touts at all cost, whether locals or outsiders (many are in fact Kashmiri chisellers disguised as locals, and calling themselves euphemistically "guides", who have been working the Shimla beat for years and decades); they scour the railway and bus stations for incautious or vulnerable looking victims among the new arrivals, and foreigners carrying luggage are their prime targets in the streets as well.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Shimla
Shimla
a crowd of people walking around a church
a view of a town in the middle of a mountain range
green trees on hill during daytime
aerial view of city during daytime
green pine trees on mountain under blue sky during daytime
Viceregal Lodge. Victorian style architecture. The 1945 round table conference was held here.
Sanjauli, Himachal Pradesh, India
people walking on street during daytime
a crowd of people standing around a carnival at night
Shimla
a crowd of people walking around a church
a view of a town in the middle of a mountain range