General InformationThe former summer capital of the British in India, and the present capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties which one can think of. It has got a scenic location, it is surrounded by green hills with snow capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era creates an aura which is very different from other hill. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks. Shimla is ideally located, and though there is an air service to the town, it is best reached by road that takes in the charms of the HIMALAYAN countryside at its best. There is a sense of nostalgia about SHIMLA, with its old bungalows and their gabled roofs and beautiful gardens. Also Known As: The Summer Refuge Altitude: 2202.00 Meters Population: Approx.1.25 million Main Languages: Himachali (Pahari), Hindi and English STD Code: 0177 Climate in Shimla Weather During the Year :Winter are cold and chilly winds from the upper Himalayas makes the place really cold. Around Christmas or last week of December Shimla gets snowfall. Temperature varies from 15 ~27o C in Summers and in winters its in the range 0~17 o C. Best Season :. Shimla can be visited throughout the year, as each season has its charm. The snowfall during the winters attract many tourists and accommodation can prove to be difficult. In the summers one can escape from the scorching heats of the plains and can enjoy the cool breeze at Shimla and in its vicinity. In summer, Shimla has the attraction of excellent walks and treks against the backdrop of the scenic beauty of wooded ravines, flowers and pines. Mall of caps. Shimla is a stark example of the diversity that India offers to tourists. which includes One Five star hotel (Cecil Hotel) and many three star hotels. jams and squashes. Tibetan carpets and pickles. The day today items can be purchased from the shops in the lower bazaar. it is home to winter-sports and an ice-skating carnival. One has to take good care of shoes as most of the places are visited on foot. local tweeds. especially during the peak seasons of summer and Christmas. Where to Purchase : The best shopping area in Shimla are The Mall. Lower Bazaar . wood. The Tibetan Market is famous for imported goods mainly electronics goods and fancy items. This includes handicrafts. In the Winters Pullovers along with Warm Jacket is necessity. . The summers are marked by rainfalls. Today. In the winters and mainly during snowfall shoes of firm grip are required . In winters. pullovers. There are many Govt.Shimla becomes alive once again with tourists strolling and shops tastefully decorated and various exhibitions. What to Wear : Being Hill station the weather is almost cool at Shimla. so that walking on snow becomes easy. and metalwork. There are many Emporium's and Showrooms on the Mall from where one can buy Himachali Shawls. So accommodation is no problem in Shimla but to be on safer side one should book accommodation in advance for stay in Shimla. Tibetan Bazaar and Lakkar Bazaar. Best Time To Visit: April To August & December To January Shopping and Stay at Shimla Where to Stay : Shimla is full of Hotels and Restaurants and there are around 500 hotels in and around Shimla. craft fair etc. There is an enormous range of goods that Shimla has to offer. To see complete Hotel Directory of Himachal Pradesh along with tariff (Click here). and slopes of Shimla are very steep. Online Hotel Reservation in HPTDC Hotels (Click Here). Pullovers handicrafts and toys etc. The nights of summers are cool and light warm clothes are required during this time. Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a favorite for filmmakers who wish to incorporate its scenic romanticism in their movies. The Lakkar Bazaar is famous for its Wooden Crafts and Articles can be purchased from this area. Wooden articles and Toys. Pahari Cap. Warm clothes are required throughout the year. organised at locations on the mall. Guest Houses and private Guest Houses. shawls. Apples & Wooden Craft . The Church overlooks the ridge and is one of the landmarks of Shimla. Among special dishes Sidku or Sidu is very famous in upper Shimla hills.Chinese and Continental Foods. Patandey are made of very thin paste of wheat flour and are eaten with dal and ghee or kheer.What to Eat : Mall has many good restaurants serving Punjabi. Christ Church is the second oldest church of Northern India. Important Religious Places Christ Church & St. There are many Fast Food Centers on the Mall. You can discreetly have a look inside the church. and over the town itself. Pizzas. or attend English-language services every Sunday during the tourist season . Sankat Mochan : On Shimla-Kalka road at a distance of around 5 KMs is the famous "Lord Hanuman" temple. Michael's Cathedral : Built in 1846-1857. The clocks on Christ Church were added later but none of them are functional now. It is a thick fermented Roti of wheat flour with paste of opium seeds ( afimdana) mixed with either gur or salt added to it which makes it very delicious. It is always taken with home made pure ghee. . where Burgers. Situated at an altitude of 1. One can find good Punjabi Dhabas and Vaishnav Dhabas near the mall and lower bazaar having reasonable rates.(made of rice and milk). Michael's Cathedral and Roman Catholic Cathedral. Temple has beautiful campus and Langar is held every Sunday. Jakhu is a vantage point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets. From the station / road . one can also hire pony or taxi to visit temple..975m. Temple is accessible through motorable road also and its around 20 KMs journey from the town. It offers a panoramic view over the surrounding valleys . Situated on top of a hill that faces Shimla. bus and car (11-km). it commands an excellent view of Shimla town. The Church's exquisite beauty comes with the stained glasses that are fitted on its windows . It is famous picnic spot. which is just off the Mall Jakhu Temple : Dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The town's other important churches are St. Patties etc are available. the temple offers panoramic views of Shimla town and surrounding hills. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Ridge. this temple is at an altitude of 8048 feet above sea level near the highest point of Shimla ridge. out to the snowcapped peaks.one can visit the temple on foot around 5 km walk among dense forests. Tara Devi : On Shimla-Kalka road this holy place is accessible by rail. A thick forest of oak and rhododendron surrounds it. Specialty of the District : Shimla is famous for its Scenic Beauty .South Indian. coins. This magnificent building was the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. paintings. Visiting hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM and it is closed on Monday and gazetted holidays. Temple faces heavy rush during Diwali and Durga Puja as many Bengalis visit this temple. This lodge was completed in 1888 and it is said that every brick for the building was carried by mules. Indian Institute Of Advanced Studies : Housed in the former Viceregal Lodge. The entry in the institute is by ticket and only on Sundays the grounds are open for the public.The temple is dedicated to Shyamala Devi (Shimla is named after this goddess). Prime Attractions Himachal State Museum & Library : The museum is located 2. The style of architecture is English Renaissance.the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ Church and the new . Shimla's landmarks . A passenger lift of HPTDC .This is the main shopping centre of Shimla with restaurants. The Gaiety Theatre. which is also known as "Rashtrapati Niwas". The Mall : Most of Shimla's landmarks are located here. The lodge has now been converted into Institute of Advanced Study and is further 2-km from State Museum. an incarnation of Goddess Kali. the masonry of the walling is light blue limestone and the wrought stonework is done in sandstone in a beautiful light gray tint. It has also got a library. The Mall further joins the Ridge at the µScandal Point' of Kipling's Shimla. which is a reproduction of an old British theatre is a center of cultural activities. photos and other items from all over the state as well as outside it. Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens : On the Observatory Hills is located Viceregal Lodge.5-km west of the scandal point and opens daily except on Mondays and public holidays. which houses many historical books and manuscripts. where a statue of the nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai has been erected. This is a six-story building and is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and lawns. The Ridge : The large open space in the heart of town presents excellent view of the mountain ranges. It has got a good collection of ancient historical sculptures.Kali Bari : The temple is situated near to The Mall and its 5 minutes walk from The Mall. it was built in 1888. This is especially pleasant in the evenings when the views and lights are wonderful.Tudor Library building is worth seeing. It has magnificent lawns. Recreation : Shimla has three cinema halls. Elysium Hill : On the road leading through Lakkar Bazaar.Summer Hill is a picturesque spot on Shimla-Kalka Railway line offering shady walks in quiet surroundings. Nearby is the Stirling Castle.Surrounded by deodar trees. Prospect Hill : Crowned by a temple dedicated to Kamna Devi 15-minutes walk from Boileauganj on Shimla-Bilaspur road. polo and cricket entertained the Britishers. where racing.283m. HP University is also situated over here. Ice skating in Dec-Jan and Winter Carnival. Mall has few Billiard Rooms. . Lakkar Bazaar adjacent to the Ridge is popular for its wood-crafts and souvenirs. In the Tourist Season various entertainment programs are organised such as Summer Festival in June. Potter Hill : Situated at a distance of 1 Km from Summer Hill is very beautiful Picnic spot with all the natural beauty. Most of the time one or the other exhibition or craft fare is held around mall area.155m offers a spectacular view of the area. Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Shimla lived in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here. Annandale : Beyond the Glen is Annandale. the former residence of Viceroy Lord Auckland.It is a secluded picnic spot. near to Mall and Hindi movies are played mostly. another picnic spot. The Father of Nation. Ecological Park is situated here. 1 KM from boilaeuganj. now an orphanage for the Tibetan children and a center for the Tibetan exiles who have settled locally. There are shops offering variety of Video Games. this glade has an ancient temple on the edge. Glenn : Its about 4 km walk from the Ridge through dense Forests. Summer Hill : At an altitude of 1. The hill at an altitude of 2. a sprightly stream flows through the Glen forests at an altitude of 1830 meters. One can visit the Roller Skating hall on the left side of the Lakkar Bazaar (open for all) and can do roller skating on melodious music. It is a well-known girls¶ school now.can be taken from the Cart Road and the Mall. houses the famous Auckland House. It is covered with deodar forests and was once the playgrounds of Shimla. Nestling among picturesque sylvan surroundings. the Wild Flower Hall commands a breathtaking view of the snows. . Kufri (16KM) : Kufri. the Lavi Fair is organized here. Wild Flower Hall (13KM) : On the Mahasu range.498 m. it is a popular weekend resort. a track leads down to Sipur. Fagu (22KM) : Fagu Situated on Hindustan-Tibet Road (22-km). Narkanda (64KM) : Narkanda. Ayodhya temple and Narsingh Temple. HPTDC runs Hotel Hatu and in winters short skiing courses are organised. Raghunath Temple. It is also a hiker¶s paradise and there is a wildlife sanctuary at a distance of 3 km from here. it attracts many tourists who wish to revisit the grandeur of a bygone era. Featuring beautiful gardens spattered with the daffodils. Serving as a hotel today. Once the capital of the Princely State of Bushahr. A major fire damaged it in 1993. A place of unique beauty. 13 km from Shimla. which is an exquisite glade shaded by ancient deodar trees. Himachal Tourism runs a tourist Complex and air conditioned Cafe. Hatu peak. shops and temples. Dumgir Buddhist Temple. Himachal Tourism runs the Palace Hotel (Earlier the Palace of Maharaja Of Patiala) . The whole area is a maze of lanes. The Himalayan Nature Park here has a good collection of animals and birds found in the region. Mashobra (10KM) : Situated on Shimla-Naldehra road at a height of 2149 mt. Padam Palace. 8 km from Narkanda. are worth visiting. In the month of November. is the Wild Flower Hall situated at an altitude of 2. Mashobra is an ideal interlude beneath the oaks and the pines. Himachal Tourism runs the Hotel peach Blossom. hyacinths. Satluj. dotted with delightful villas and innumerable picnic spots. It has the world¶s highest cricket ground at a height of 2250 m. Goddess Durga temple is worth seeing From here. At an elevation of 2708 m. is a site offering some famous hikes and wonderful snow for skiing in winters. at a height of 2. built in 1893. provides a striking panorama of the plains below. An enjoyable walk leads up to the Mahasu Peak. Ancient temple of Hatu Mata is alive with skiers. About 3 km from Mashobra is the lovely resort of Craignano. A fair is held here every April/May. offers wonderful slopes for skiing. asphodels and celandines. Narkanda offers spectacular views of snow ranges. Chail (43KM) : Chail is a lush green setting and was the former capital of the Patiala State. the town is situated on the banks of Satluj river. at distance of 16 km from Shimla and at an altitude of 2510 m above sea level. at Charabra. it has dense pine forests.450m Fagu is gifted with some enchanting views.Sites Nearby Rampur (80KM) : On the Hindustan Tibet Road. The River View Cottage offers twin bedded luxury accommodation in the lap of solitude. The area is a rich bowl of quality apples and other varieties of delicious fruits. It was a favorite pastime spot of Lord Curzon. is the finest example of Indo-Tibetan architecture. As per legend. it being closely associated with the history of Himachal itself. One can enjoy fishing. . Bhasmasur. If the explorer's instinct overtakes you. It is a highly revered place of pilgrimage. Kotgarh : Kotgarh It lies 82 kms from Shimla and is the apple heartland of Himachal. Singha's expertise. an American missionary. Saharan is the gateway to Kinnaur. Naldehra : Naldehra. is a spot well known for hot sulfurous springs. In the middle of the course is a temple. houses the oldest and the highest golf course in India. Shiv Goofa at Saraur (4 Km) is also worth visiting. BHEEMAKALI TEMPLE SARAHAN Tattapani : 51 km from Shimla. there are various options of fascinating one-day excursions and soft-treks around Kotgarh. The view of the Sutlej River during the day and the enchanting lights of this beautiful valley at night are a photographer's delight. first sowed the apple seed brought from back home and pioneered the apple cultivation revolution in Himachal. dedicated to Goddess Durga. at an altitude of 2050 m and 23 km from Shimla on Shimla. A Pheasant Breading Centre and stadium are worth visiting.The beautiful house with all modern amenities that one can think of takes one by surprise.Sarahan : On Hindustan Tibet Road beyond Rampur is a small village worth visiting. Situated in the midst of countless acres of rolling orchards.The house also has a library to offer where one can read the Stokes family history. . Today Kotgarh continues to be one of the most intensive apple growing areas in the country with acres of orchards lining the slopes of this untouched dreamland. Mahunag Mandir. It was here that Satyanand Stokes. this is where goddess Shakti destroyed the mythical demon king. Singha's impressive wine collection and savour some interesting apple wines too ! The meals offered also include tasting some unique Pahari cuisine specially prepared under Mrs. It provides a spectacular view of Shrikhand Mahadev (5227 m) and hiking opportunities to the nearby villages such as Ranwin and Bashal Peak.Tattapani road. In the evening one can explore Mr. The Bhimakali temple. training and instructors are available. These vary from gentle walks over easy terrain. Famous for ancient temple of Mata Hateswari in the midst of paddy fields on the right bank of the Pabber river. heliskiing and iceskating. Trekking Routes : Shimla to Kullu over the Jalori Pass (3300 m) Shimla to Kullu via Bashleo Pass (3250 m) Shimla. No special training is required for most things. Shimla district is full of thickly populated pine trees and small rivulets. all form a part of this immense spectrum. mountain sides draped in snow. rivers in deep gorges and placid mountains lakes. Shimla to Churdhar Shimla to Chail. And then. There are day-hikes by the thousand. Shimla to Hatupeak Shimla to the Shalipeak. age is no consideration and all you need is reasonable level of fitness. and green alpine meadows. jeep or on motorcycle. All you have to do is make up your mind and select your own activity. You can go camping and fishing and play golf or take a safari by car.Sangla Sarahan to Sangla. And the possibilities for a wide range of adventure activities is enormous. There is skiing. all this comes at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere in the world. HPTDC runs Hotel Pabber here.Hatkoti : KOTI (104 Km) 1400 m: Motorable on Shimla-Rohru highway. there is the thrill of paragliding and the test of stamina with mountain-cycling. and trek routes follow trails that last couple of days or can even extend over few weeks. to grueling expeditions. Equipment.Rohroo. Shimla is situated in the Shivalik range of Himalayas with combination of low lying hills to gigantic mountains. Shimla to Junga Shimla to Tattapani . Adventure & Trekking There are very few places in the world as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh with its geographical diversity. In the repeat nine. whose topography is absolutely natural. 110Kms from Shimla..Search more trek routes of Himachal Pradesh (Click Here) Fishing : Acclaimed as the best sport fish in the world.Seema. Mahseer Fishing is available at Tattapani 46 km from Shimla.what increases. The course. There are other hotels in the private sector near Naldera. the yardage some . 23 km. Lord Curzon. Chirgaon has a trout hatchery and other sites are . both Brown and Rainbow Trout are found in the Upstreams of Pabbar river in Rohru. lodging and boarding are provided. nine hole course which is regarded as one of the most challenging in the country. HPTDC organises ski courses of 7 days and 15 days duration at Narkanda. This is a par 68. at the turn of the centuary. Tikri and Dhamvari all are within 5 to 25 km of Rohru . The licenses for fishing at Pabbar can be had from the Officer of Fisheries stationed at Chirgaon. from beyond Shimla is one of the oldest golf courses in India. Sandsu. Ice Skating : . He was so enchanted by the spot that he named one of his daughters 'Naldera' after the spot. Golf : At Naldera. The links are maintained by Himachal Tourism and accommodation is available at Hotel Golf Glade. was originally placed by the British Viceroy of India. No fishing is allowed during the following seasons: Mahseer : 1st June to 31st July (General water) Trout water :1st November to 31 January. There are several spots ideal for fishing. One can get himself registered with the HPTDC for the course and all the facilities of equipment. Mandil. Skiing : Skiing is possible at Narkanda and Kufri (January±mid-March). Shimla at Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla. Fancy dress carnivals. 'gymkhanas' ice-hockey and dances enliven every season. The Mall. Membership is available for the season as well as for shorter terms and even for single sessions. There are two sessions every day.Most of these camps offer best quality services.171001 Phone :0177-2652561. Himachal Tourism has camps in Distt. in the morning and in the evening depending upon the frozen ice on the ground . Ice-skating normally begins in early December and carries on to February. The hanging balloon on the Municipal Building adjacent to scandal point works as signal . you can put up your own tent or take shelter under the roof offered by any of several camps that are situated in various parts of Himachal Pradesh. Clear skies and low temperatures provide series of uninterrupted sessions.2658302 Fax :.The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world.0177-2652557 . The Ice Skating Club has already celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. Skates are available at the rink. This centre will provide proper guidance to the tourists visiting Shimla. The other Tourist Information Centre is located adjacent to the Scandal Point on the mall. These camps offer accommodation. catering and lot of other activities. More on Adventure Tourism at HP tourism site (Click Here) Tourist Information Centre On just entering Shimla one will find the Tourist Information Centre recently built in Himachali Architecture Style. wheather the skating is going to held on that day or not. Camping : The best way of enjoying a tour to Himachal Pradesh is setting up a camp to explore the vast beauty of nature. The Addresses of Tourist Information Centre are : Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Marketing Office. Shimla . P Tourism Development Corporation (marketing Office). Fax :. Government of Himachal Pradesh.2652206 .(0177)-2658880. Shimla-171001.(0177)-2625864 / 2625924 / 2625926.Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. H. SDA Complex. Ritz Annexe. Kasumpti. Block 28.171009. Tel :. Shimla . Tel :. Managing Director.