Shimla Tourist Places
Shimla Tourist Places | Best Places To Visit In Shimla
Shimla (also called Simla) is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, a northern state in India. Enclosed by lovely mountains, this Hill station is situated at a height of 2020 meters. Shimla is and has been a highly admired Hill station among the Indians. Honeymoons also reckon that Shimla is a great destination for themselves for the last few decades.
It used to be the summer capital of British in late 1894. Shimla is still as beautiful as it was at that time, the calm is still preserved with its beautiful mall road, colonial buildings, and irresistible churches.
As Shimla is amidst mountains the temperature remains lower than usual. Indeed, the weather in Shimla is really pleasing and appealing. In winter the temperature shows a major drop with snowfalls from mid-December to February. One can also opt for Skiing in Shimla which seems to be the amplest thing to do in the snow-covered Shimla.
The Shimla of 1945 and The Shimla Agreement of 1972 were held in Shimla. Indian of Advanced Studies, formerly Houses of Viceroy of Indian Lord Dufferin, was the center of these meetings and is now a major tourist attraction in Shimla.
Best Places to visit in Shimla
Although there are lots of places in Shimla that are fascinating but here we are placing the places that are jewels of Shimla. So next time when you visit Shimla you must not forget to visit these places.
1. The Ridge
The Ridge is located at the heart of Shimla. A wide-open street lies by the side of Famous Mall Road connecting Scandal Point on the western end and Lakkar Baazar on the eastern end (we’ll talk about them later in this article). A perfect spot for photography lovers. The Ridge is well known for shopping, besides shopping, it has cafes, bars and lots of different things but shopping is considered the most prominent thing to do in this place.
The Iconic Statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Y.S Parmar( the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh) can be seen at this place. This Place is Vehicle free which means that you will merely see people at this place without any vehicle hassles which makes this place even more enjoyable.
2. Kufri
Kufri lies in the Shimla District and is located at a much Higher altitude than that of Shimla i.e. 2720 meters and it is the highest point in the encircling region. The distance of Kufri from the state capital Shimla is 20 km. Owing to the high altitude this region is covered with snow throughout the whole winter. The stunning view of Kufri is really worth all the effort you put into the journey. It is highly crowded as it is a key tourist attraction and everyone who visits Shimla also takes a glance at Kufri too.
The Breathtaking views and stunning beauty occupies a special place in the heart of the visitors. Some points of attraction in Kufri are the Kufri zoo which will help you in spending some suitable time with your children and the Himalayan Nature Park which has a rich variety of wildlife.
3. Chail
Chail is a peaceful hill station situated at a distance of 44 km from Shimla. It was formed by the Maharaja of Patiala, this perplexing region is at an altitude of 2400 meters. The well-known Chail Palace is admired for its architecture, now it is transformed into a heritage hotel.
Chail is famous for the world’s highest Cricket and Polo grounds which were built back in 1893 as Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was fond of cricket. One can enjoy the camping on the Sandhupul riverside ( as Chail is situated at the banks of Sandhupul). Places to visit in Chail are Chail Sanctuary, Chail military school, Chail Gurudwara, and Kali ka Tibba ( a famous Kali Devi Temple at the top of the hill).
4. Jakhoo Temple
Situated at the Jakhoo Hill, the highest point in Shimla this temple is dedicated to the eternal god – Hanuman. This Temple is one of the most admired tourist attractions in Shimla. The Statue of Lord Hanuman is the Highest in the world and is visible from most parts of Shimla. At the back of Jakhoo Temple, you can enjoy a great view of the Shivalik range.
This Temple is set amidst lovely Deodar trees where a massive population of monkeys can be seen, the presence of monkeys is obvious as the temple is dedicated to their Idol. The distance of Jakhoo Temple is roughly 2 km from the heart of Shimla i.e. The Ridge which means it’ll take you approximately 20 minutes to reach there by foot. Talking about the Statue, the height of this enormous statue is 108 ft, while the height of Brazil’s well-known “Christ the Redeemer” statue is just 98 ft. It is believed that when Lord Hanuman was going in search of Sanjeevani Booti he stopped here for a while to take some rest.
There are several ways to reach this temple. You can walk to this temple, hire a cab, take a pony and also choose Ropeway as a mode of transport which takes you from The Ridge to Jakhoo Tempe in a matter of minutes.
5. Christ Church
The second oldest Church in North India, Christ Church brings us the memory of old times. The beautiful design and sleek architecture of this Church attract every Visitor towards it and make this church one of the prime attractions for the tourists. At night, the lighting of this church makes its beauty more mesmerizing.
It is made on the basis of the neo-gothic style of architecture. The Stained glass windows of this church represent different moralities of Christianity such as humanity, hope, etc.
This Church has appeared in the famous Bollywood movie 3 Idiots, this is also a factor that contributes to the popularity of this church. This Church was built back in 1857 by Britishers to serve the local British community of that region.
7. Mall Road
Another crowd-pleaser place in Shimla is Mall road. The main street in the capital city is Shimla. With the Hotels, Bars, and Restaurants the Mall road is located below the ridge. Tourists enjoy wandering in this place at night as the glamour of this street becomes more irresistible at that time.
Moreover, this place is a heaven for shopping lovers, they can indeed enjoy the shopping charm of this street.
Mall Road is free from Traffic which means that you can easily spend time with your friends and family without any vehicle issues. Many official centers like Post offices, Tourist offices, and Banks are located on this street.
8. Chadwick Waterfall
The Chadwick waterfall is among the best waterfalls in Shimla Region. It is located at a height of 1586 meters above sea level and waterfalls down from an altitude of about 100 meters. There are many different stories about this waterfall some says that Chadwick who was a scientist by profession had committed suicide here, that’s why the name of this waterfall is called so while the opinion of other peoples is in contrast. No matter what the real story is, that doesn’t affect its beauty.
The Chadwick waterfall is a very freshening and beautiful waterfall for tourism attractions. The best time to visit the Chadwick waterfall is July to October because the water level is high in this season it looks like water is dropping from heaven. The waterfall is adjoined by a thick forest and a walk through this forest is really magical.
9. Lakkar Baazar
The Lakkar Baazar is Famous for Wooden handicrafts and street shopping. The bazaar is located on a narrow road meeting the Ridge. Lakkar Bazar is also famous for dry fruits and Kullu shawls. It is a well-known Shopping center in Shimla and tourist loves to buy an item from here. For those who are artifact lovers this place is best for them to buy hand-made wooden artifacts for their collections and Home Decorations.
The timings of Lakkar Baazar are from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening. One’s Shimla Journey seems to be incomplete if one has not done any shopping in the Lakkar Baazar.
10. Kalibari Temple
This Famous Temple in Shimla is dedicated to the goddess Kali. This temple was built back in 1845, this temple holds great religious importance for the devotees. Devotees visit Kalibari Temple in large numbers to seek power from the goddess kali to fight all the evil things in their life.
Goddess Kali is also known as Shyamala, upon which Shimla is named. Aarti is done in the evening time and devotees witness this aarti as it is worth attending. A large number of tourists visit here on the days of Navratri.
11. Jakhu hill
Jakhu hill is the highest peak of Shimla and is one of the best tourist destinations in Shimla. It is possible to see the whole town from this hill & if you want to cover the whole Shimla with your camera to have optimism, you should visit this spot. On the top of this flat hill, there is a colorful temple and a statue of hanuman also attracts the tourists. Here you can enjoy worth calm and peace but you must be born from illicit-minded monkeys who are there to rob foodstuffs.
12. Shimla ridge
The Shimla ridge offers amazing views of mountain peaks and is located in the center of the town. The ridge is an open and airy space that runs from east to west along with the mall. If you love mountains then it will definitely be your dream destination.
13. Shimla State Museum
The Shimla State Museum is located at the top of Mount and is famous by the name of Himachal State Museum and Library. It will give you a view of part of the city. It has a wide collection relating to art, paintings, handicrafts, and coins are some of the classic collections.
14. Green Valley
Green Valley is truthfully the most famous tourist attraction point and photography in Shimla. In fact, It is today one of the most photographed sights of Shimla. The valley presents endless beauty. It is located near the Kufri at Shimla and is surrounded by verdant hills. At green valley, you can see some rare animals like yaks that are grazing and wandering there. The tourists who visit there esteemed the thriving green environments that are outstandingly picturesque.
Activities to do in Shimla
1. ICE SKATING
One of the most famous sports in Shimla is Ice Skating. The ice Skating rink in Shimla is very popular and is the largest and most naturally formed ice ring in southern Asia. Not only residents of Shimla but also tourists from all over the world spend a valuable time Ice Skating.
It is opened in the month of December-February as it is the time when Shimla is covered with snow. The fees of Ice Skating is 100-200 per person depending on various factors such as time etc. Shimla Ice Skating Rink becomes a home to carnivals in winters which seems very attractive to tourists.
2. SKIING
Skiing takes place in Kufri, the winter sports capital of Shimla. Skiing in the snow-covered mountains of Kufri is a dream for most people. For Skiing, the months of December to February is best, as the density of ice is more and tourists enjoy it much more.
When someone visits Shimla Skiing should definitely be part of a priority list. Other places for skiing in Shimla are Mashobra and Narkanda, the latter is also known for producing delightful apples and cherries.
3. KALKA-SHIMLA TOY TRAIN
This Toy Train is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1903, and from then this Toy Train had served many peoples. With 102 Tunnels and 864 Bridges, this Toy Train has its own magical experience. Covering around 96 km in this Kalka-Shimla Toy Train will make you feel at the top of the world.
The Route covered by this toy train is completely filled with Dense Forests and Dreamy tunnels. It is one of the most beautiful train routes. Settling for a while in the coach of this train will give you a great memory to be cherished later.
Best Time to visit Shimla
Depending on your interest, the best time to visit Shimla is from March to June. At this time, you can experience Beautiful Hills Charming with Sunshine. The weather of Shimla is pleasant at this time of year and you can enjoy doing various activities which are popular in summer. Owing to its position, Shimla is also a superior place for Trekking Lovers in summer.
For those who are snow admirers, the months of November to February are best. The temperature of Shimla Drops up to Negatives. The weather of Shimla in the winters makes this place heaven indeed. As described above, one can enjoy Skiing, Ice Skating at the Year-end. A lot of people choose to visit Shimla in the winter because with the snow the beauty of Shimla multiplies.
How to Reach Shimla?
Most people are not familiar with the ways to visit Shimla. You can Directly go by the mode of your personal Vehicle. Another way to reach Shimla is by Train, you can opt for the Train from New Delhi to Kalka(the Distance of Shimla from Delhi is around 345 km). The average time of the train journey will be around 3 hours. From Kalka, you can take the toy train to Shimla which will cover around 96 km of route. In the company of splendid views, you can reach Shimla in Toy Train within a Matter of hours.
Buses to Shimla Departs from New Delhi and the time taken for the bus to reach Shimla from New Delhi is around 10 hours. Moreover, Flights from New Delhi to Chandigarh are another option. It’ll take you around 1 hour to reach Chandigarh and after that, you can take a Bus onwards to Shimla from there.
Hotels and Accommodation
Hotels are available in Shimla at very affordable prices. Mall Road is the best place to find a hotel. Also, you can take aid from the sites given below:
This is all for this post. Hope it will help in planning your next trip to Shimla. If you have any queries, you can tell us in the comment box below. We will get in touch with you.
