Shimla Travel Guide

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Situated at an altitude of 2205 meters, Shimla is home to many renowned schools and educational institutes and is also a popular tourist destination, especially during the summers.

Climate of Shimla

Shimla experiences a subtropical highland climate, making it cold during the summer and moderately warm during the winter.

Best Time to Visit Shimla

The best time to visit Shimla is from September to June

Christ Church Shimla	Gorton Castle Shimla	Hanuman Statue at Jakhoo Temple
Himachal State Museum	Jakhoo Temple	The Ridge Shimla
Viceroy Lodge Shimla	View of Shimla

Tourist Attractions in Shimla

Being a popular tourist destination, there is a lot to be seen and done in Shimla. Here are a few tourist destinations in Shimla:

• Christ Church :  One of the oldest churches in North India, Christ Church was built by the British in 1857 to serve the large Anglican British community in the area. Built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture, Christ Church is one of the long lasting legacies of British rule in India and is one of Shimla's most recognized landmarks.
  
  
• Jakhoo Temple: The Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Located on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km from the Ridge, the Jakhoo Temple offers beautiful views of the Shivalik Mountains and the nearby town of Sanjauli.
  
  
• Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex: One of the most historic places in Shimla, the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex is 122 years old and has been recently been reopened to the public. The theatre is built in a Gothic Victorial style and is an important centre for various cultural and literary events.
  
  
• Himachal State Museum: A colonial building laid out in a spacious lawn, this museum is located on the Mall Road and is home to an excellent collection of coins, photographs and local handicrafts.
  
  
• The Mall: This is the main shopping area in Shimla and has many restaurants, shops, offices and post offices.
  
  
• Summer Hill: Located 5 km from the Ridge is the beautiful little township of Summer Hill. Sitting at an altitude of 5600 feet on the Shimla- Kalkarailway line, this is where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay when he used to visit Shimla. This is also where the Himachal Pradesh University is situated.

How to Reach Shimla

Being a popular tourist destination, Shimla is very well connected to the rest of the country. Here is how you can reach Shimla:

How to Reach Shimla by Rail :  The nearest railway station to Shimla is at Kalka, after which one can take the Kalka- Shimla train, which operates on a narrow gauge and offers breath taking views of the mountains. Here are a few trains to Kalka:

• Dehradun Express: From Chennai
• Jhelum Express: From Pune
• Punjab Mail: From Mumbai
• Himalayan Queen: From Delhi
• Paschim Express: From Mumbai
• U A Toofan Express: Shri Ganganagar

How to Reach Shimla by Road :  The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation offers regular bus services to Shimla from various cities like Delhi, Chandigarh and Kalka.

How to Reach Shimla by Air :  The Shimla airport is 25 km away from the city centre and is served by regular flights from Delhi. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Shimla.

Getting around Shimla :  The best way to get around Shimla would be by buses which ply regularly. Since it is a small town, another good way to explore Shimla would be on foot.

Hotels in Shimla :  Blessed with scenic beauty and a pleasant climate, Shimla is a popular tourist and honeymoon destination. Owing to this fact there are many hotels and resorts in Shimla catering to visitors requirements. Here are a few hotels in Shimla:

Budget Hotels in Shimla

YMCA Behind Ritz Cinema The Ridge Shimla

Hotel Dalziel The Mall Shimla

Mid Range Hotels Shimla

Hotel Deogar Museum Road Shimla

Hotel Le Royale Behind Church Shimla

Top End Hotels in Shimla

Oberoi Cecil Chaura Maidan Shimla

Chapslee Shimla

Shopping in Shimla

Shimla is famous for its handicrafts and other handmade artifacts. The best place to go shopping in Shimla is the Mall Road from where you can many interesting souvenirs and gift items. Another popular buy there are the colouful Himachali caps. When in Shimla don't forget to check out their beautiful shawls which come in intricate designs, threadwork and mirror work. Lower Bazaar, also known as Sabzi Mandi is another popular place to go shopping in Shimla. One can buy carved wooden walking sticks here.

Shimla Cusine

Himachali cuisine is very similar to the rest of Northern India. Staple items in Himachali food are roti, rice, daal and sabzi (curried vegetables). The gravies prepared are thick and aromatic. Though primarily vegetarian, red meat also forms an important part of Himachali food.

Shimla Restaurants

There are many options for good food in Shimla. Most restaurants are located on the Mall Road and are easy to reach. Here are a few popular restaurants in Shimla:

• Cafe Sol :  This place is famous for its Mexican, Italian and Medeterrain food.
  
  
• Indian Coffee House :  This place is almost an institution in itself with uniformed waiters and a blackboard menu. Go here for their excellent dosas and coffee.
  
  
• Baljee's :  This restaurant is famous for its excellent breakfast selection of omelettes and dosas.
  
  
• Ashiana :  This elegant restaurant serves some good Chinese food, sizzlers and Thai food.

Last Updated on: 4^th April 2013



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