Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India and that's why we also receive lot of queries through form on our blog. Most of the folks commonly ask - Shimla Weather, Shimla Hotels, How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh, main places to visit in Shimla, Shimla mall road etc. In past, we have shared some of these details on our blog, but here is an attempt to write a comprehensive post which helps you with details like - ways to reach Shimla by bus, car, train or by air, main places to see, how to find hotel/resort which fits your budget, how to plan your time well in the town or around etc.
How to reach Shimla -
First thing first - there are different ways to reach Shimla. Primarily I share options to reach places from Delhi. If you are looking for options from other cities, please drop a comment and we assure to respond back within a day.
If you don't mind traveling in buses, there are plenty of options. HRTC offers different bus services between Shimla and Delhi/Chandiagrh. Most comfortable Volvo buses are available for overnight journey. They start late in night and reach Shimla early in the morning. Apart from that, you have options of TATA-AC, Deluxe, Semi-Deluxe and ordinary buses. Apart from that lot of private operators run luxury buses to & from Shimla. Himachal Pradesh Tourism buses are also available from different cities in North India. Online bookings are possible through HRTC as well as Himachal Tourism website.
If you like train journey, then ensure that you are aware of train options near Shimla. One can take train till Kalka/Chandigarh and then either take slow speed toy train till Shimla. Or take taxi/bus from Kalka to Shimla. Before making a decision, ensure that you are aware of fact that toy train takes almost whole day to reach Shimla.
If you plan to self-drive, please ensure that you have arranged parking in the Shimla town. Many of the hotels don't have appropriate parking, so ensure that you book with hotel which provides convenient parking.
Right Time to visit Shimla -
Very obvious time to visit Shimla is summers, but one needs to ensure that your visit is not overlapping with holidays in Punjab and Delhi. Because there are few slots in summers when Shimla is overcrowded. This is also a personal preference if you like lot of people around you or not. Winters is also a good time, when you can enjoy snowfall and related activities. My recommendation is always to visit such tourist places in off season to explore them in best way at much lower cost. E.g. - Room worth 5000 in season can be booked at 2000/2500 in off-season.
Weather in Shimla -
Summers are most popular amongst Tourists and travellers to visit Shimla and many other tourist places in Himachal Pradesh. If we talk about summers, weather is pleasant overall. Usually days are little hot because these hills get direct sunlight. When in Shimla, it's recommended to carry a light jacket because weather may change anytime :). If there are rains in summers, it can get cold. During winters, it's chilling so be ready with multiple layers of warm cloths. Rainy season should be avoided to visit Shimla, although Shimla is little safer in rains as compared to other hill stations. Road condition is mostly in control.
Here is the list of main places to visit in Shimla and click on the names of places to know more.
Shimla is one of the very few destinations which offer diverse experience. Shimla was summer capital for Britishers in past and hence the town still has impressions of british era. There are various heritage buildings in the town and one of the most important one is Viceregal Lodge which is also known as Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. If you walk from Viceregal Lodge to Mall Road through beautiful terrains surrounded by high deodars
Mall Road - Mall road a special place to hang around, enjoy good food, shopping and lot more. I don't think mall road needs any sort of introduction. Mall road is one of the most popular places and something which can't be ignored by you. All young souls like walking around Mall road and shopping freaks don't want to miss the place. There are some brilliant shops on Mall Road to by warm cloths.
Gaiety Theatre - While you are on mall road, don't miss to see the famous Gaiety Theatre. Theatre is now renovated and some interesting plays and exhibitions keep happening. So go & checkout. It's on mall road and generally a good place to explore. Do mind your time to visit the place. Daytime is best to be there.
A huge ground on top of one of the biggest water tanks in Shimla, which is close to Mall Road in capital city of Himachal Pradesh. Above photograph shows Ridge ground and church on other end. Kids can enjoy horse riding on Ridge ground.
Lakkar Bazar - Lakkar Bazar is just next to Ridge ground and has huge variety of wooden articles. Different kinds of wood is used to create some wonderful art pieces for home decor and daily utility. Stuff from Lakkar Bazar can be good souvenir for your friends and family back home.
Toy train experience of Shimla-Kalka train is incomparable. At the same time, I don't recommend to travel in toy train from Kalka to Shimla, because it takes lot of time. If you have enough time in hands, you can plan this. Otherwise plan to have a ride from Shimla railway station to Tara Devi Railway Station. This is most beautiful ride. There are two reasons that I recommend this ride - one is to save time and other is about the beautiful trek to Tara Devi temple from railway station. This trek exposes you to amazing panoramic views of Shimla town and surrounding areas. This trek is through dense forests. One can come back to town from Tara Devi temple by taking local bus.
![This PHOTO JOURNEY is about one of the wonderful walks around capital city of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Since Shimla is blessed with wonderful weather throughout the year, people love to walk from one place to other and now many tourists love to explore these walks and few of them avoid due to age issues. Above photograph shows Sanjauli from the road which connects Sanjauli Market with Mall Road through IGMC and Lakkar Mazar...The first thing which comes on the way to Mall Road from Sanjauli Market. Sanjauli College 'Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya, Sanjauli' ... It's one of the popular educational institution in Shimla !!!This is new building on Government College Sanjauli... Somehow all the buildings in Shimla are beautiful and each one sets new standards in terms of architecture ...This is huge complex of biggest Medical College of Himachal Pradesh. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.Main building on Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla !!! This whole campus has one hospital and a Medical college. This is one of the most advanced hospital in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Place is also known as snowdown.This is one of the popular walks around Mall Road. Few years back, cycles were also available on rent for this route form Sanjauli to Mall Road !!! This is approximately 3 kilometers walk through some of the beautiful spots on the way...It's impossible to reach Mall Road, without meeting monkeys on the way and we were lucky to have a silent meeting :) ... This family was happily sitting on roof-top !!!It was evening time and after crossing IGMC, we got to see the hues of sunset in Shimla. Have you see clear sun like this? It's easy to find full moon like this but brightness around the sun always hide the actual shape.After few miles of walk on relatively calm roads, we hit Lakkar Bazar. Lakkar Bazar is one of the main markets in Shimla and popular among tourists. There are lot of shops offering wooden materials for home and offices.Since none of us was interested in shopping, we moved towards Ridge with wonderful lighting around Christ Church... Sky was clear on that day and it was blue hour...After having some tea and snacks, we moved towards Mall Road. The building in above photograph is Gaiety Theatre building on Mall Road. This building is renovated last year only.For a change we also visited Lower Bazar, which is relatively cheap and a decent place to buy woolens. This market has various sections - cloth market, spice market, meat market etc...This walk ended in Lower Bazar of Shimla, but most of the folks from Sanjauli love to take this walk for mall road. The other way to reach Mall road is via bus, which is longer route of 8 kilometers. After that one needs ot climb up till Mall Road or take Lift.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ied_6OSu33YZunsGNGrTAgs0gzLPj5_cia30uWRtmr4m-0KCGCynwvTC_RuBIr3uE7xHuHaFGeQuDYb7VVqWWlFMY4pWwUiOd4yvuq11aKjHA_Ti_eoMgj8JDDdHE_qP3lK8VQrK0Bzf/s320/Wonderful+walk+from+Sanjauli+Bazar+to+Shimla+Mall+Road+through+IGMC%252C+Lakkar+Bazar%252C+Ridge%252C+Christ+Chursh+and+Gaiety+Theatre+%25287+of+12%2529.jpg)
Jakhu Temple - (Personally I don't recommend a visit to Jakhu Temple which is always under attach of terror by monkeys) Not sure if you would want to visit this temple. More than a trek or a religious place, it's an adventurous place where you need to be aware all the time and overall environment can be threatening for you. Monkeys around the temple are really mischievous.
Another lush green region around Shimla in Anadale ground, which is maintained by Indian Army. A good place to plan some walks in the morning or evening. This is comparatively calm place and nothing much to do, but a good experience if you have time available with you. Army Museum is sort of unique. Most of the folks who love exploring museums have loved it and many of them are super impressed.
Chadwick Falls - It's a little place located at a peaceful region of Shimla. I visited Chadwick falls 10 years back and after that I heard mixed feedbacks about the place. But I enjoyed the place during my college days in Shimla. So please do check latest reviews about the place at http://www.tripadvisor.in/.
Himachal State Museum - If you are accompnying or have interest in knowing about Himalayan state of India, Himachal State Museum is best way to know about the state, it's culture, history, trends, politics and lot more. It's located near Viceregal lodge, so it's easily approachable and hence can be planned without much pain.
Kufri - Kufri is one of the most popular tourist places for many years now. There was time, when tourists used to visit Kufri and skip Shimla. Many folks do it till date during winters. Kufri is the place which retains snow for maximum time. Dense forest of deodars makes it a special place around Shimla. There are few interesting activities to do here, especially for kids - horse riding, photo-shooting activities, snow games etc.
Chail - Chail is a serene place around Shimla and greener than other places around. Chail has a nice temple and highest cricket ground in the world.
Chadwick Falls - It's a little place located at a peaceful region of Shimla. I visited Chadwick falls 10 years back and after that I heard mixed feedbacks about the place. But I enjoyed the place during my college days in Shimla. So please do check latest reviews about the place at http://www.tripadvisor.in/.
Himachal State Museum - If you are accompnying or have interest in knowing about Himalayan state of India, Himachal State Museum is best way to know about the state, it's culture, history, trends, politics and lot more. It's located near Viceregal lodge, so it's easily approachable and hence can be planned without much pain.
Kufri - Kufri is one of the most popular tourist places for many years now. There was time, when tourists used to visit Kufri and skip Shimla. Many folks do it till date during winters. Kufri is the place which retains snow for maximum time. Dense forest of deodars makes it a special place around Shimla. There are few interesting activities to do here, especially for kids - horse riding, photo-shooting activities, snow games etc.
Chail - Chail is a serene place around Shimla and greener than other places around. Chail has a nice temple and highest cricket ground in the world.
If you have interest in Temples, there is another beautiful temple near Tara Devi Temple - Sankat Mochan Temple. This is highly recommended for folks having interest in religious places and even otherwise this temple is nice place to hang around. If you are there on Sundays, don't miss the food served in bhandara, which is very unique. Place is clean and hygienic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMEVh7KhDE9xQ6fAGAgDB2xegTREsiU07BqAogfHWU9akEM02ih9LLSWDAbMvUlJ3mip9PCv6D0zOCUd2_7YEwrnxaM6f8vJAMbPBaSPXwHHoEfuR2sI41CFVdlZR9zsMLqm1PTh5gKkv/s1600/Aerial+Views+of+Sanjauli+%2526+other+places+around+bypass+from+Jakhu+Tibba+in+Shimla%252C+Himachal+Pradesh%252C+INDIA+%25283+of+5%2529.jpg)
Shimla town has some of the most beautiful walks in hills surrounded by dense forests full of high deodar trees. One needs to be aware of such walks and make best of these while there in Shimla. One of my favorite walks is Mall Road to University through Legislative Assembly of the state & Viceregal Lodge. This is a beautiful road, which crosses through some of the amazing buildings of town. Clean, well maintained, almost no traffic and surrounded by beautiful trees & green landscapes.
If I start thinking about other approachable destinations around Shimla, following names come to my mind - Mashobara, Naldehra, Narkanda, Hatu Peak, Tanijubber Lake etc. One of the recommended one is Chail. And in fact, it's recommended to stay around Chail area, which is naturally more beautiful and peaceful. There are quite a good options to stay around Chail.
Please drop a comment with your feedback and inputs around this topic.
Please drop a comment with your feedback and inputs around this topic.