Shimla spreads along a curving ridge at around 2,200 m, its Tudor-style buildings, church spires and bazaars stacked on steep hillsides among deodar and oak. From 1864 the British made it the summer capital of India, and for part of every year the government of a subcontinent ran from here. Today it is Himachal Pradesh’s capital and the most visited hill station in the state.
The heart of Shimla is car-free: the Mall Road and the open square of the Ridge, with Christ Church and the old Town Hall. Below them, the Lakkar and Lower Bazaars tumble down in stairways. Beyond the centre are forest walks, the grand Viceregal Lodge, Jakhu temple and day trips to Kufri, Mashobra, Naldehra and Chail.
Top things to do in Shimla
The Ridge, Mall Road and Christ Church
Stroll the pedestrian Mall and the Ridge in the evening like everyone else, visit Christ Church (consecrated 1857, the second-oldest church in north India) and take the lift down to the Cart Road when your legs give up.
Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas)
Completed in 1888 on Observatory Hill, the lodge hosted the 1945 Simla Conference and discussions that preceded partition. Now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, it offers guided tours of its wood-panelled halls and gardens; there is an entry fee and it is usually closed on Mondays.
Jakhu Temple
The highest point in Shimla (about 2,455 m) is crowned by a Hanuman temple and a giant Hanuman statue visible across town. It is a steep 30–45-minute walk from the Ridge, or take the ropeway or a taxi. Hold on to glasses and snacks — the monkeys are bold.
Museums and heritage
The Himachal State Museum has Pahari miniature paintings and temple sculpture; the Gaiety Theatre (1887) still stages performances; and the Bantony Castle and old Town Hall have been restored.
Day trips
Kufri (about 16 km) has snow in winter and yak rides; Mashobra and Naldehra have forest and a golf course; Chail has a palace and one of the world’s highest cricket grounds. The toy train is a day out in itself.
How to get to Shimla
- By toy train: the Kalka–Shimla Railway takes around 5–6 hours from Kalka, which has connections from Delhi (the Shatabdi and Himalayan Queen).
- By road: Shimla is about 115 km (3–4 hours) from Chandigarh and around 340–360 km (7–9 hours) from Delhi; HRTC and private Volvo buses run overnight and by day.
- By air: Shimla airport at Jubbarhatti, about 22 km from town, has limited, weather-dependent flights; Chandigarh airport is the reliable alternative.
Insider tips
- Vehicles are banned from the Mall and Ridge; use the public lifts, walk, or take a taxi to the nearest point.
- Stay near the Mall or in Chotta Shimla to walk everywhere; resorts in Mashobra and Chharabra are quieter but need a car.
- Shimla gets crowded on summer weekends and at Christmas; weekdays are calmer.
- Carry a warm layer even in June — evenings on the Ridge can be cool.
Tours that include Shimla
These guided trips cover Shimla or combine easily with a visit:
Guided city tour Shimla: Toy Train Ride and City Tour with Guide
Shimla’s colonial summer-capital story and its famous little railway in one guided day. Ride a stretch of the Kalka–Shimla line, then tour the Viceregal Lodge (now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study), climb to the Hanuman temple on Jakhu hill and finish on the Ridge and Mall Road.
- Ride the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge railway
- Viceregal Lodge, Christ Church and the Ridge
- Jakhu Temple and a stroll along Mall Road
Guided hike Shimla: Hiking Tour to Jakhu Hill with Local Guide
A short, steep hike from the Ridge through deodar forest to the summit of Jakhu hill, home to a Hanuman temple and one of the tallest Hanuman statues in the world. Your guide shares the legends — and keeps the famously bold monkeys in check.
- Walk up Shimla’s highest point (about 2,450 m)
- Jakhu Temple and the giant Hanuman statue
- Views over the town and the snow ranges
Food & culture Shimla: Himachali Traditional Home Food Experience
Himachali food is hard to find in tourist restaurants. This home visit fixes that: sit down with a local family for dishes such as siddu (stuffed steamed bread), madra (chickpeas in yoghurt) and seasonal greens, and hear how food fits into mountain life.
- Home-cooked Himachali dishes with a local family
- Try siddu, madra, chha gosht or seasonal specials
- Stories about hill life, festivals and the dham feast
Food walk Shimla Street Food Crawl (2-Hour Guided Food Tasting Tour)
A tasting walk through the bazaars that tumble down below Shimla’s Mall Road, stopping at long-established stalls and sweet shops for the snacks locals actually queue for.
- Lower Bazaar and Mall Road snack stops
- Local favourites from chana-bhatura to sweets
- A guide who knows the hygienic, long-running stalls
