Shimla travel guide

2 to 3 daysHow long to stay

Budget to luxuryRough cost

Couples, FamiliesWho it suits

Himachal Pradeshthe Himalaya

Is this for you?

Shimla is the easy, comfortable hill stop, and the best fit for families, couples and older people. Come for colonial buildings, strolling and cool air. Expect steep streets, some crowds and few late nights. Skip it if you want adventure. And don't plan around the Kalka to Shimla toy train, because the line is damaged.

When to go

Go in the coloured months. The black ones are best avoided.

What to do

The Ridge and Christ Church

The Ridge is the open, car-free terrace at the heart of town, with colonial Christ Church on it. It's the easiest place to feel Shimla's British past.

The Mall and Lakkar Bazaar

The Mall is the main walking street, all shops and cafes. Lakkar Bazaar, a wood-and-craft market, climbs the slope above it.

Jakhu Temple

You climb to this hilltop temple to the monkey god Hanuman. The monkeys around it are known to be aggressive, so keep food and loose items out of sight.

Viceregal Lodge

The former summer home of the British viceroy, India's top colonial ruler, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Give it a morning.

State Museum

Himachal art and history in one museum. Check opening hours locally.

Mashobra and Kufri

Quieter pine and orchard country, a short drive out. Give it a half day when the crowds get to you.

What to eat

Shimla's best meal is dham, a Himachali feast from weddings and festivals that you can now eat at a table in town. Otherwise this is a place for coffee and a snack on The Mall.

Chhole lucchi

Chickpea curry with thin fried bread. In Shimla this is a daytime snack from Lakkar Bazaar, the old market above The Mall.

Vegetarian

Dham

A Himachali feast of rice, lentils and yogurt curries, once cooked only for celebrations. Styles rotate by day at Himachali Rasoi, so check what's on.

Vegetarian

Siddu

A steamed wheat bun stuffed with a spiced filling and eaten with ghee, clarified butter. It's made to order, so give it a few minutes.

Vegetarian

Where to go

Himachali RasoiMiddle Bazaar

Dham, the Himachali feast, and siddu made to order. Reviews on service are mixed.

Cheap eats

Indian Coffee HouseThe Mall

Filter coffee and South Indian snacks in a no-frills room that's been here since the 1950s.

Cheap eats, vegetarian

Sita Ram & SonsLakkar Bazaar

Chhole with lucchi, a thin fried bread. It's basic, and one reviewer complained about hygiene.

Cheap eats, vegetarian

Christ Church in Simla at night, with the Shri Hanuman statue at Jakhu Temple in the background — Dgp4004, CC0

Shimla was built on top of seven hills. The highest point in Shimla is 2450+ metres. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. — Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

View of Longwood neighbourhood of Shimla after two nights of snowfall, as seen from the Ridge — UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0

The image contains A view of Shimla City as well as the empty natural scenery(hills) adjoining it on a cloudy day. — Navneet Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex in Shimla, on The Ridge. This photograph has been uploaded during the 'Wiki Loves Monuments 2014' from — Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0

An elevated view. — ShashankSharma2511, CC BY 3.0

The Ridge Shimla — Virusism, CC BY-SA 4.0

Shimla’s famed mall road, with Jakhu hill and Hanuman statue visible in the background in January after a fresh snowfall. — UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Rashtrapati Niwas in Shimla, India, was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India. Built in the 19th century, the structure — Philip Nalangan, CC BY 4.0

this is a HIMACHALI DISH..looks like momos but quite different from it...tastes best with "ghee" — Nilesh agnihotri, CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting there

Take the Shatabdi 12011 from New Delhi to Kalka (07:40 to 11:40), then a road transfer. The Kalka to Shimla toy train isn't running end to end, so see the notice. Chandigarh is about 120 km and 4 hours by road. Manali is about 247 km, so plan a full day.

Where to stay

Lakkar Bazaar and Circular Road Go here for the cheapest stays. The lanes are central, but steep.

The Mall and Chaura Maidan The easy pick if you want to walk everywhere, with the most hotels and cafes close by.

Worth knowing

Opening

Go from Kalka or Chandigarh by road. Rain on 29 to 31 August 2026 damaged the toy train's track, reports differ on a Dharampur to Shimla service, and a restart around January is unconfirmed.

Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.

Safety

At Jakhu Temple, keep food, bags and phones out of sight, leave sunglasses at the hotel, and don't feed the monkeys or show them your teeth. They're aggressive.

Plan a trip around this