Shimla
Overview
Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and was the summer capital of British India. The city is known for its colonial architecture along the Mall Road and the Ridge, the Jakhoo hill temple, and toy-train access on the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla railway. The wider district includes hill stations such as Kufri, Narkanda, Chail and Mashobra.
Reviewed places in Shimla
Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan
Sarahan
A tower temple to the goddess Bhimakali at Sarahan, the former summer capital of the Bushahr state, built in the Kath-kuni style with two leaning towers.
Chadwick Falls
Summer Hill, Shimla
A seasonal waterfall in the forest below Summer Hill, on the western edge of Shimla, fullest during and just after the monsoon.
Christ Church, Shimla
The Ridge, Shimla
The yellow neo-Gothic church on the Ridge, consecrated in 1857 and the second-oldest church in north India, still in regular use.
Hatu Peak
Narkanda
The highest point around Narkanda at about 3,400 m, topped by a small wooden temple to Hatu Mata, with a 360-degree view of the Himalaya on a clear day.
Jakhoo Temple
Shimla
A hilltop Hanuman temple on Shimla's highest point at about 2,455 m, marked by a very tall Hanuman statue visible across the city.
Kali Bari Temple, Shimla
Shimla
A temple to the goddess Kali (as Shyamala) just below the Mall in Shimla, from whose name the town is often said to derive.
Kalka–Shimla Railway
Kalka to Shimla
A narrow-gauge mountain railway from Kalka to Shimla, opened in 1903 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbing about 1,400 m through 100-plus tunnels on a 96 km line.
Kufri
Kufri
A small hill stop about 15 km from Shimla at roughly 2,720 m, known for winter snow, a Himalayan wildlife park and wide ridge views.
Mall Road, Shimla
Shimla
Shimla's main pedestrian street, running below the Ridge, lined with colonial-era buildings, shops and cafes.
Narkanda
Narkanda
A small ridge town about 60 km from Shimla at 2,700 m, known for apple orchards, winter skiing and the short climb to the Hatu Peak temple.
Rashtrapati Niwas (Viceregal Lodge)
Observatory Hill, Shimla
The former residence of the British Viceroy of India on Observatory Hill in Shimla, built in 1888, where the 1945 Simla Conference and 1947 partition talks were held; now a research institute open for guided tours.
Tara Devi Temple
Tara Devi, Shimla
A hilltop temple to the goddess Tara, about 11 km from Shimla, set in deodar forest on a peak with a wide view over the valleys.
The Ridge, Shimla
Shimla
The wide open promenade along the top of Shimla town, running east from Scandal Point past Christ Church, with long views of the ranges on a clear day.
More places worth visiting
- Mall Road
- The Ridge
- Jakhoo Temple
- Kufri
- Chail
- Narkanda
- Mashobra
- Tara Devi Temple
Detailed pages for these are being written and reviewed before they go live.