Soothe Your Senses in Shimla - Queen of the Hills. Don't Miss These Top-10 Places to Visit While in Shimla and Bring Back Memories for a Lifetime (2020)

Shimla is rightly called the “Queen of the Hills” due to its magnificent natural beauty spread everywhere across the town and its surrounding areas. Encircled by lush green mountains, snow-laden peaks and enchanting scenic views mesmerizing everyone, words are simply not enough to describe this place. There is so much to explore and the serenity to experience in Shimla, that it’s almost impossible to describe the unparalleled beauty in a small article. Nevertheless, the capital of colonial India and the current capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has its own history, culture and traditions.

Shimla is surrounded by seven famous hills, which are - Prospect Hill, Observatory Hill, Inveram Hill, Elysium Hill, Jakhoo Hill, Summer Hill and Bantony Hill and this city are named in honour of the Hindu Goddess “Shymala Devi”, who is considered the reincarnation of Goddess “Kali”. Shimla is also a dream destination for adventure junkies - the biggest mountain biking race in South East Asia, “The MTB Himalaya Mountain Biking Race” is organized here in which participants cover around 500 km in eight days. Also, Shimla features the only natural ice skating ring in South East Asia which was founded in 1920. Very few people are aware of Shimla’s very own President House where the President of India spends a few days in a year and also has the prestigious “The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies” housed in the building.

Shimla falls in seismic zone IV, which means it’s an earthquake-prone area and studies suggest that not even 2% of the buildings in Shimla are ready to survive a high magnitude earthquake. An interesting and haunting story is also quite popular about the Kalka-Shimla Railway which is about an engineer named Colonel Barog, who was given the responsibility to construct this tunnel in 1898. Unfortunately, he could not complete the project in the stipulated time and hence was penalized for a rupee. Due to this penalty, the engineer felt humiliated and committed suicide; his body was buried near the incomplete tunnel and as per the locals, his ghost still wanders inside the tunnel.

Shimla also boasts of the oldest post office in northern India, which was earlier known as Conny Cottage and this General Post Office in Shimla was constructed in 1882. The famous “Shimla Mirch” (Capsicum) in India has derived its name from Shimla as the plantation of capsicum was first introduced here by the Britishers.

But it’s not all rosy and shiny about Shimla, as unplanned urbanization, an excessive inflow of tourists along with global warming and people throwing waste anywhere and everywhere is causing damage to the fragile ecological system of this beautiful town and in recent times, Shimla has become one of the most polluted hill stations. It is our cumulative responsibility to keep such beautiful places clean and take care to conserve its natural beauty and environment so that future generations too can enjoy this beautiful destination.

Though Shimla is a very beautiful hill station and is home to more than 2 lakh people, yet like any other place, it has its own culture and a set of do’s and don’ts. Since Shimla is one of the most polluted hill stations, so make sure that you do not litter around. If required, keep a trash bag in your car for those empty chips packets and the plastic bottles. You wouldn’t like to holiday at a place which has trash scattered everywhere and definitely would not want to aggravate the problem. If you are going for your honeymoon then do enjoy your moments of solitude together and the long walks in the mountains, but try not to etch your name on the trees as that looks cheap and gives a very bad impression to the other tourists who visit later on. Also, avoid overt ‘displays of affection’ in public places as people from all age groups are enjoying the natural beauty on the busy roads, gardens and at other popular spots. Shimla is a small town which is normally overcrowded with tourists and its narrow two-way roads have limited capacity for vehicular movement, so learn to give way to traffic if you already don’t. Further, traffic in hill stations moves at a slow pace; so have patience and drive in your lane only.

Moving to the must-do activities in Shimla, its customary to try a softy while you are in Shimla. Go horse-riding and try your skating skills at the ice rink near Lakkar Bazaar Bus Stand. Also, trying the rope-way at Jakhoo is one of the must-do activities in Shimla, where you will be astonished adoring the beauty of the majestic 108 feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman. Embrace the beauty of the beautiful Christ Church while you are in Shimla and buy wooden souvenirs from Lakkar Bazaar for your loved ones. You can also try trekking at popular places like Tara Devi Temple, Chadwick Falls, Kamna Devi Temple, Dhanu Devta Temple and Jakhoo Temple to explore the natural beauty spread across Shimla. If you are an adventure enthusiast, then try your hands on paragliding or go camping and river rafting with your pals.

Shimla is buzzing with tourists all year round and every season has its own charm and beauty. For example, if you want to enjoy outdoor activities then the months from March to June are perfect, as the weather is pleasant and the temperature is moderate and hovers between 15 – 30°C. This is the best time to try adventure sports like paragliding, trekking, camping and rafting, etc. But do remember to take light winter clothes as evenings are cold even during the summer months. The months of July to September are the off-season months due to heavy rainfall and intermittent landslides. During these months hotels slash their prices and hence it is a good time to grab some great deals.

However, if you want to enjoy the snowfall and embrace the view of snow-clad mountains, then December to February is the right time when the average temperature is between 8°C to -2°C. Be well prepared for the cold and carry proper clothes and shoes if you plan to visit during this time, else you will be stuck inside your hotel room.

Of the numerous places which are worth exploring, we have researched and picked the ten best places for you to visit in Shimla. Considering that Shimla is a hill station famous for its enchanting views and natural serenity, we have essentially considered places which are bestowed by nature’s beauty and should definitely be experienced during your visit.

The Kalka-Shimla toy train runs on a narrow-gauge track and is famous for its amazing and magnificent natural views of the hills and valleys. The historic train is among one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and you can experience the serene views of the cedar and pine forests while travelling on this train. Built during the British regime, this 96 km long route will surely take you to a different era altogether and this is a must-do activity while you are visiting Shimla.

Shaily Peak in Naldehra near Shimla is just 22 km from Shimla and is about 2,004 m above sea level. It leaves the visitors awestruck with its lush green beauty mixed with serenity and clean air. Thousands of pine trees are greeted by clouds every now and then creating a perfect scenery and a pure delight for the eyes and soul. Tourists can enjoy horse rides along the golf course or simply roam around in the valley and soothe their senses with the enchanting landscape. The entire place can be explored in 1-2 hours and the best time to visit would be during sunrise or sunset.

Located in the Glen Forests of the beautiful city of Shimla, is the Chadwick Falls which is famous for its 100 meters high stream of water amidst the dark and dense forest and provides an enthralling feel to the visitors. The name Chadwick is taken from ‘Chidku Jhar’, where Chidku means a sparrow and Jhar means waterfall in the local lingo; the locals believed that only the sparrows could reach the top of the waterfall. The Britishers were unable to pronounce the name ‘Chidku Jhar’ and they started calling it Chadwick and hence this altered version of the original name. This beautiful place is close to Shimla and is a must-visit place for nature lovers.

Shimla’s very own Madame Tussauds, the Johnnie’s Wax Museum has life-sized wax statues of Indian and international well-known personalities and stars. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and you can get yourself clicked with Harry Potter, Daniel Craig (James Bond), Iron Man, The Rock, Salman Khan and more than 20 such personalities. The entry fee is Rs. 250 per person and you can easily explore the place in less than an hour.

One of the ideal sightseeing places in Shimla is the Himalayan Bird Park. It is a heaven for bird watchers and environment lovers. This park opens only during summers and is an ideal place to bird-watch a large variety of exotic and local birds like pheasants, peacocks, peafowl, etc. and also to embrace the clean and fresh air. This place is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except for Monday and is perfect for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Located at a distance of just 10 km from Shimla is Kufri, which is also known as the ‘winter sports capital’ and is located about 2622 m above sea level. At the foothills of the Himalayas, this place was once a part of Nepal. If you love snow, then Kufri is ‘the’ place for you where you can enjoy various winter sports like skiing and ice skating. Kufri is snow-laden throughout the winters and the panoramic views and the picturesque locations make it a place worth visiting.

Located in the Kotkhai region of Shimla is the lush green and densely forested Kiala Forest, where you can spend a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city and soak in some much-required serenity and freshness. This place provides a wonderful view of the city from the top and you can also keep your luggage safely in the lockers available here and explore the lush green forest on foot. A few resorts are also present here if you are planning for a longer stay in and around this place.

The 8 km long distance between the ridge and Jakhu Temple is connected by this rope-way and it will take you to the temple on top of the mountain in just five minutes while you are mesmerized by the breathtaking views of the mountains, the city and the valleys below. This is an adventurous and wonderful experience and the cable car ride is operational from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Located about 60 km from Shimla, Tattapani is a quaint village located on the banks of the river Sutlej and has many natural marvels. The hot sulphur spring situated here is believed to have medicinal properties for the treatment of many ailments like joint pain, skin diseases, fatigue and stress, etc. Also, Shiva’s Cave is one of the well-known and most visited places in this village. The locals narrate many interesting stories about the miracles and the fulfilment of wishes, associated with this devotional place. Also, do try your hands-on adventure sports like river rafting, zorbing, skiing, trekking, paragliding and camping in this spectacular place.

Famous for its flora and fauna, the Shimla Reserve Forest Sanctuary is full of nature’s blessings and is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. You can easily witness different species of monkeys, deers, barking deer, jackals, bears and leopards, etc. in this forest. You can also witness the Pir Panjal mountain ranges of Jammu and Kashmir from this forest sanctuary. The sanctuary is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is a nice place for trekking, photography and a full day adventure trip.