Shimla is a quaint little hill station nestled in Himachal Pradesh and is located at a comfortable driving distance from Delhi and other cities in Punjab. It is without a doubt one of the most popular hill stations in the country, and there many places to see in Shimla and many activities done in and around this quaint little town.
If you are traveling by train, you must take the Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla, it’s a fun and exhilarating ride. Make sure you eat delicious baked goodies from the famous bakeries on Mall Road and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast at the Indian Coffee House.
Places to see in Shimla include Ridge, Mall Road, Kufri, Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla, Jakhoo Temple, Theog, Scandal Point, Institute of Advanced Studies, Mashobra, Chail, Christ Church, Tattapani, Lakkar Bazaar, Himalayan Bird Park and Naldhera. The best time to visit in from April to September, although it’s a year-round destination.
Shimla is located 358Km from the Delhi Airport; the drive takes around 9 hours. If you want to avoid such a long drive, then you can take a train to Kalka. From there you can take the toy train, one of the top things to do in Shimla.
Mall Road
Mall roads are synonymous with most Hill Station in North India. No matter where you go, you will always find one, and you will most likely spend all your spare time, walking, checking out the cute little stores, and of course, stuffing yourselves with delicious food. Shimla’s Mall Road is no exception to this rule. The mall road in Shimla is very famous for selling woolen clothing, beautiful local handicrafts, and many other local delights at reasonable prices.
- How Much Time to Spend: A day
- Operating hours: Shops close around 9 pm.
- Trip Advisor Rating: 5-Star Rating
Christ Church
Christ Church, Shimla needs no introduction. The church is the second oldest church in all of North India and hands down the most famous and popular tourist attraction in Shimla. It’s easy to locate as its big yellow building is located at the beginning of the infamous Mall Road.
If you are looking for a few moments of total calm and peace, then visit the church. The church interiors are quite humble, but the church walls hold within them many tales of the forgotten time. You can sit on the benches and spend some time communing with God, meditating, or simply spending some quiet time with yourself and your thoughts.
- How Much Time to spend: 1 hour
- Operating hours: 8 am to 6 pm
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4-Star Rating
Kufri
Commonly referred to as the winter sports capital of India and located 17 km from Shimla. Some of you may not know, but Kufri wasn’t always a part of India and was formerly a part of the Kingdom of Nepal.
During summers you can plan a day trip from Shimla to Kufri and enjoy some uninterrupted Panoramic views that do justice to the surreal beauty of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Make sure you carry your DSLR, to capture the beautiful 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
During Winter, you can maybe spend a night or two here and enjoy skiing and ice skating. If you are lucky, you may also get to see some snowfall while you are there.
- How Much Time to Spent: 1 Day
- Operating hours: 24*7
- Approximate Cost for Two: Depends on the activities you do.
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4-Star Rating
The Scandal Point, Ridge
Although it’s called the scandal point, there is nothing scandalous about this large platform located in the centre of the town. The town, mall road, shops, restaurants etc. are located around here. There are many viewing platforms here, and from there you can enjoy and capture breathtaking views of the Shimla valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. If you visit Shimla during winters, you may view beautiful snow-capped mountain ranges from the viewing platforms. The place is particularly crowded during evenings as people flock here to view the stunning Himalayan Sunset. The famous Tudor Library is located here; you can drop in for a quick visit. If you are already excited to pack your bags and go, do check out the Shimla Tour Packages for the best travel deals.
- How Much Time to spend: 2-3 Hours
- Operating hours: 24*7
- Approximate Cost for Two: Free
- Trip Advisor Rating: 4/5
