Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills.
Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-
Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a
pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and
crafts.
What is famous for?
The town is famous for pleasant walking experiences on hillsides surrounded by pine
and oak forests. This capital city of Himachal Pradesh is famous for The Mall, ridge, and
toy train. With colonial style buildings, the town has relics of ancient past that lend it a
distinct look.
. Which month is best for Shimla?
The best time to visit Shimla is during May to June and December to
January when romance and beauty are baked into every inch of the soil here. Clear
blue skies in summer, sprinkles of powdery snow in the winter, the spicy and earthy
scent carried by pines, firs, cedars and oak trees.
Flaunting a pleasant weather throughout the year, a 2-nights-3-days trip is sufficient to
explore this beautiful hill station, on the foothills of the Himalayas. You can always tick off
the tourist hotspots in Shimla on a bike or car, however, the best way to soak in the magic of
Shimla is to explore it on foot!
Here is the list Top 9 Places to Visit in Shimla 2023
1 Mall Road
Mall Road is the major hangout point and shopping centre in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal
Pradesh, India. Constructed during British colonial rule, the Mall road is located a level below The
Ridge. The offices of municipal corporation, fire service and police headquarters are located here.
Automobiles, except emergency vehicles are not allowed on this road. Mall Road has a number of
showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes. A Himachal emporium that offers
handicraft products of Himachal Pradesh like locally designed woolen clothes, branded clothes,
pottery items, wooden products, and jewellery is also located here.
2 The Ridge
The Ridge road is a large open space, located in the center of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal
Pradesh, India. The Ridge is the hub of all cultural activities of Shimla. It is situated along the Mall
Road, which is the famous shopping center of Shimla. Most major places of Shimla like Sanjauli
Snowdown, Mall Road, Jakhu Temple, Oakover, Kali Bari, Annadale, etc. are connected through
the Ridge. It runs east to west alongside the Mall Road, and joins it at the Scandal Point on the
west side. On the east side, The Ridge road leads to Lakkar Bazaar, a wooden crafts market. It’s
the major landmark and the most easily recognized face of the hill station. When winter sets in and
when the country had its first major snowfall of the year, most newspapers printed photos of the
ridge submerged in clumps of fresh snow. Prominent landmarks on the Ridge area is Christ
Church, a neo-Gothic structure built in 1844 and a Tudorbethan styled library building built in
- There are four statues on the ridge; that of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Dr. Y.S. Parmar
the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and the recently established statue of Atal Bihari
Vajpayee.
3. Christ Church, Shimla
Christ Church, Shimla, is the second oldest church in North India, after St John’s Church in
Meerut. Worship is conducted in Hindi and English. Presently, Rev. Sohan lal is the Presbyter-In-
Charge Priest/ father of Christ Church, The Ridge Shimla.
4. Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo
Jakhu Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman. It is
situated on Jakhu Hill, Shimla’s highest peak, 2.5 km east of the Ridge at a height of 2,455 m
above sea level. Each year, a festival is held on Dussehra, before 1972 the festival used to be
held at Annadale. Shri Hanuman Jakhu is a statue situated in the temple premises which is one of
the tallest in the world. According to the Ramayana, Hanuman stopped at the location to rest while
searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshmana. A giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman was
unveiled at Jakhu Hanuman temple on 4 November 2010. At 108 feet, it surpasses the statue of
Christ the Redeemer, which measures at 98 feet, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cost of
construction was Rs 1.5 crores. The public unveiling was officiated by Abhishek Bachchan. The
temple is accessible by foot, horse, taxi or ropeway. The Jakhu Ropeway is an aerial lift that links
a point near the centre of Shimla to the temple. It was developed by Jagson International Limited
and opened in 2017
5. Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens
The Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly known as Viceregal Lodge, is located on the Observatory Hills of
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India. It
houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs going back to the times of the British
rule in India. The Viceregal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the
Jacobethan style during Lord Dufferin’s tenure as Viceroy. Its construction started in 1880 and was
completed in 1888. Lord Dufferin occupied the lodge on 23 July 1888. The final cost of project was
around 38 lakh rupees with the annual upkeep cost being around 1.5 lakh rupees in the 1880s. At
that time the estate stood on an area of 331 acres, but today is reduced to 110 acres. The
structure draws inspiration from the architectural style of the English Renaissance, and also
reflects elements of the castles of the Scottish Highlands. The building is of light blue-grey stone
masonry with tiled pitch roofing. The interior of the main building is noted for elaborate woodwork
which has stood the test of time. Teak was brought from Burma, and was supplemented by local
cedar wood and walnut.
6.Kali Bari Temple, Shimla
Kali Bari Mandir is a Hindu temple situated on Bantony Hill, Shimla. The temple is dedicated to
fearsome reincarnation of Goddess Kali, known as Shyamala, after which the Shimla city is
named. The goddess is believed to have existed near Jakhoo.
7.Jakhu Hill
Mountain with a temple & Hindu statue. The highest peak in Shimla, features an ancient temple, trees & a huge statue of the Hindu god Hanuman.
8. Scandal Point
Scandal point is where Mall road joins Ridge road on the west side. The name arose from the commotion caused by the supposed elopement of a British lady with an Indian Maharaja. The story goes that the Maharaja of Patiala had eloped with the daughter of the British Viceroy.
9.Himachal State Museum
Anthropological exhibits in old mansion. Art & artifacts such as ancient tools, dolls, coins & traditional garments in a Victorian mansion