IN · Himachal Pradesh · 31.10°N 77.17°E

shimla

Ridge-top walks, old hill-station buildings and a narrow-gauge railway through pine forests.

Best time
March–May is mild and busy with Indian holidaymakers, and October–November is cooler and clearer. July–August rain brings landslides on the roads and the railway, and December–February is cold, with occasional snow.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Delhi (about 5.5 hours). From there, the Shatabdi train reaches Kalka in about 4 hours and the toy train climbs to Shimla in 5–6 more; by road from Delhi it's about 7–8 hours. India is 2.5 hours behind KL.
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IN · Himachal Pradeshshimla31.10°N 77.17°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Ridge-top walks, old hill-station buildings and a narrow-gauge railway through pine forests.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingShimlaIN, Himachal Pradesh
KLshimla
≈ 4,034 km from KL, as the crow flies
The image contains A view of Shimla City as well as the empty natural scenery(hills) adjoining it on a cloudy day.

Photo: Navneet Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Shimla, the old British summer capital, strings along a ridge with pine and deodar forest falling away on both sides. The pleasure is in walking: along the car-free Mall, past Tudor-style buildings, with tea stops and views across the hills.

Makan

  1. SidduA steamed wheat bun stuffed with a nutty poppy-seed or walnut filling, eaten with ghee.Map ↗
  2. Himachali thaliRice, dal, rajmah and madra, a chickpea and yoghurt curry, at a few local restaurants.Map ↗
  3. Chana bhaturaSpicy chickpeas with huge puffed fried bread, a hearty breakfast.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The Ridge and the MallThe town's car-free spine, with Christ Church, old civic buildings and views across the hills.Map ↗
  2. Viceregal LodgeThe grand stone residence of the British viceroys, now a research institute, with guided tours of the main rooms.Map ↗
  3. Kalka–Shimla RailwayA UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line through more than 100 tunnels and over tall arched bridges.Map ↗
  4. Jakhu TempleA steep walk through the woods to a Hanuman temple and a huge Hanuman statue. The monkeys grab glasses and bags.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The toy train takes most of a day, so it's best as the way up rather than a side trip.
  • Many hotels along the Mall can't be reached by car; a public lift links the lower Cart Road to the Mall.
  • Halal is hard to find in Shimla, but North Indian vegetarian food is everywhere.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.