How To Reach
Air
The Jubbarhatti Airport, Shimla, is situated 23 Km from city centre and
is connected by regular flights to Delhi, Chandigarh, Kangra and Kullu.
From Delhi, the journey takes around 1 hour and from Kullu, it takes 30
minutes by means of air. The airport has capacity of one small (17-19
passengers) aircraft, and offers basic facilities only. From the
airport, one can take taxi to reach Shimla, which takes about 1 hour.
Rail
Shimla does not have access to railway through standard gauge railway
line. One has to visit Kalka, from where narrow gauge trains to Shimla
can be boarded upon. The train takes around 6 hours to reach Shimla from
Kalka. The distance between Kalka and Shimla is 96 kms. There is also a
deluxe train from Kalka. One can also travel through rail-car (one of
its kind, running on this route in India). The Kalka Shimla railway is
ane major attraction of the region, which is declared as a World
Heritage Site.
Road
The roadways network of Himachal Pradesh and nearby state makes Shimla
well connected to other cities. One can get taxis, buses and luxury
coaches for Shimla from the major cities of Himachal Pradesh and nearby
states. Some major distances from Shimla are: Chandigarh- 117 kms,
Kullu- 220 kms, Manali- 260 kms, Delhi- 343 kms, Mandi- 150 kms,
Pathankot- 380 kms, Chail- 43 kms, Dehradun- 240 kms, Agra- 568 kms,
Lucknow- 867 kms, and Jaipur- 630 kms. The Kalka Shimla road is also an
option, provided the precautions must be taken. The road has good
surface, but has many curves.
Internal Transport
Tourists can get Taxis to roam in and around Shimla. Arranged tour for
local sight seeing can be made by the agents and hotel staff. Buses and
taxis, to move to other cities are also easily available in Shimla.
Accommodations
Shimla, being one of the most visited cities of India, have the best of
stay options also. There are hotels in almost every corner of the town.
One can find numerous star rated, economy, budget, and luxury hotels in
Shimla. There are all types of cuisine served in the restaurants of the
town.
Places of Interest
The Mall
The Mall is the main road in Shimla. The road was set up by the
Britishers, and is the main market and attraction of Shimla. Most of the
colonial structures stand on this road. For the visitors, a walk down
The Mall is a must do activity. At the top end of the Mall is Scandal
Point, a large open square with a view of the town. Overlooking the
point is the elegant Christ Church with its fine stained glass windows.
The labyrinth of Shimla's bazaars spill over the edge of the Mall.
Chadwick Falls
The Chadwick Falls are 7 kms from Shimla, and are as high as 1586 mts.
The falls look amazing after the monsoon and are among the top list of
the visitors to Shimla. The Chadwick falls represent the true natural
beauty of Himachal Pradesh.
State Museum
The State Museum in Shimla is situated 2.5 Km from Scandal point. The
museum is known for its library, which houses many historical books and
manuscripts. The museum has a vast collection of ancient historical
sculptures, paintings, coins, photos and other items from all over the
state.
Jakhu Temple
The Jakhu Temple in Jakhu Hills, is dedicated to lord Hanuman. Jakhu
Hill is the highest peak in vicinity, touching 8000 ft. The temple is
situated at the top of the hill. The temple is full of playful monkeys,
which wait for pilgrims to feed them.
Christ Church
Christ Church is the second oldest church in North India. Christ Church
is a huge building, which looks magnificent from outside as well as
inside. The church has stained window glasses, and represents the
original style of European church building techniques.
Excursions from Shimla
Kufri
Kufri is located 16 kms from Shimla and forms a perfect excursion from
Shimla. The small town of Kufri is more famous for its winter sports
activities, like Skiing and Trekking. A winter festival is organised
every year during the month of February. Kufri is known for its winter
sports, and forms the best Skiing resort in India.
Chail
Chail, at 43 kms from Shimla is a small beautiful town. Chail used to
be the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala. The small town has
some temples, an old palace and buildings. Chail is also known for the
highest cricket pitch and a Polo ground. Chail is also a famous camping
site.
Kasauli
Kasauli is a quaint little town, 77 kms from Shimla. Kasauli is well
known for its colonial ambience. It is surrounded by mixed forests of
pine, oak and chestnuts. An old fort at Sabathu is another attraction in
Kasauli, apart from the colonial structures.
Barog
Situated at a height of 1560m above sea-level, Barog is a famous
excursion site that lies on the Kalka - Shimla highway. The famous
Choordhar peak in Barog attracts large number of tourists for its
magnificent view on the full moon day.
Adventure Activities
Golf
Naldehra, at 23 kms from Shimla, has a nine hole golf course. The golf
course is set amidst Deodar forests and is an absolute delight to the
eyes of visitor. This is a 68 par, nine hole course which is regarded as
one of the most challenging in the country. The Golf links are
maintained by Himachal Tourism board.
Trekking
Trekking is an old favorite of the adventure lovers. Shimla offers
numerous trekking options to the adventure lovers. Shimla is surrounded
by thick covers of forests, hills, rivers, lakes, green meadows and snow
covered mountain tops. Some of the most famous trek routes are Shimla to
Sangla, Shimla to Hatu peak, Shimla to the Shali peak, Shimla to
Churdhar, Shimla to Chail, Shimla to Junga and Shimla to Tattapani.
Skiing
Skiing has recently gained immense popularity amongst the adventure
freaks in India. Narkanda, at 64 kms and Kufri, at 16 kms, provide with
the best of skiing facilities in India. The Kufri skiing resort conduct
skiing courses for the amateurs as well as for professionals. The
equipments, lodging and guidance is provided at these resorts by
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). Camping is
another way of exploring natural beauty of Shimla and its surrounding
places. One can also enjoy ice-skating during winter season.
Other Charms of The City
Kalka Shimla Train
The Kalka Shimla Train, more than 100 years old, still runs between
Kalka and Shimla, connecting Shimla to Kalka. The train has been
declared as a World Heritage Site, by UNESCO. A journey on the train
seems like a fairytale coming out of the story books. The train chugs
through Himalayas, passing slowly through 103 tunnels, 20 railway
stations and more than 900 curves.
Shopping in Shimla
One can go for shopping in Shimla. The town is known for carpets, rugs,
shawls, leather artifacts and silver jewellary. The traditional crafts
of Himachal Pradesh is the silver jewellary, which is widely available
in Shimla. The main shopping area is the Mall and adjoining areas.
