Places to Visit in Shimla

Shimla is so famous that every Indian knows it as one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. Shimla is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. The British army generals developed Shimla into a beautiful hill station. You can still see Victorian buildings in Shimla. You can do almost every major tourist activity in Shimla like trekking, camping, sightseeing, ice skating, skiing, outdoor sports, etc. Shimla is famous for its nightlife too, and during the day, you can shop for handicrafts and eat mouth-watering food in cafes and restaurants. Shimla is a tourist destination that you can visit throughout the year. You can come here during the summers and also in the winters.

You can visit over 40 different places in Shimla, and more if you book any of the Shimla tour packages. Check out some of our best-selling Himachal Tour Packages which include Shimla. Out of all the places to visit in Shimla, here are some of the top ones.

1. The Ridge

The topmost in the list of famous places to visit in Shimla is the Ridge. It is an open street that offers magnificent scenic views of the snow-capped mountains and alpine valleys. The Ridge is full of cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops, where you can shop and dine. The Ridge is a shopping paradise, an entertainment hub, and a dining destination in Shimla. Famous places in Shimla like Mall Road, Scandal Point, and Lakkar Bazaar are on the Ridge. The Ridge has many British-era buildings also, which are famous for their architecture. The Summer Festival that is held during April-May here brings many festivities to the Ridge.

2. Mall Road

Mall Road is a stretch of road in Shimla which is famous for its shopping and nightlife. You will find branded things to buy here on Mall Road. You can relish tasty and mouth-watering food in cafes, street-side eateries, and restaurants on Mall Road. There are commercial banks, ATM centers, and money-exchange agencies where you can withdraw or deposit cash. Tourist offices on Mall Road will offer guidance in tour services. Mall Road is full of people and tourists at all times of the year, especially during summers and winters.

3. Jakhoo Temple

Jakhoo Temple is one of the most popular tourist places in Shimla. It is a temple of Lord Hanuman, and it is on Jakhoo Hill, which is the highest point in Shimla. The idol of Lord Hanuman is so tall, that it can be seen from anywhere in Shimla. Jakhoo Temple and Jakhoo Hill are just 2 km from the Ridge. Hanuman stopped here when he was going to find the medicine to cure Lakshmana. Jakhoo Temple is therefore built in fond memory of Hanuman. You can visit Jakhoo Temple on foot or ropeway cable car.

4. Green Valley

Green Valley is one of the most famous places to visit in Shimla. The falls on the route from Shimla to Kufri. You can view green mountain ranges and densely forested valleys in Green Valley. Green Valley has featured in so many Bollywood movies due to its picturesque location. You can view a panorama of green mountain ridges that is so captivating that you will not be able to shut your eyes even for a moment. Green Valley is best for photography lovers.

5. Christ Church

Christ Church is one of the top attractions in Shimla. It is a British-era building that is still a famous sightseeing place in Shimla. Christ Church is very old and is the second oldest church in North India. Christ Church has a gothic architecture that will remind you of the churches of Great Britain in the olden days. The stained glass windows, porch, bells, and fresco paintings, make it very eye-catching. Christian followers in Shimla still pray inside the church. This is one of the peaceful places in Shimla that is famous also as a Bollywood shoot location.

6. Kufri

Kufri is one of the hill stations near Shimla that is also included in Shimla sightseeing places. It is visited especially during wintertime when Kufri is covered in snow. Ice skating and skiing are the best activities that you can do in Kufri. Kufri Fun World is an amusement park in Kufri where you can do go-karting, sky swinging, zip-lining, and other adventurous activities. You must also take the mule ride to Mahasu peak when you visit Kufri.

7. Viceregal Lodge

Viceregal Lodge is also known as the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla. This historic building has classic Victorian architecture and is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. During the olden days of British rule, many political meetings were held here. This was also the official residence of the Viceroy of India, Lord Dufferin, from 1884 to 1888. Later it was also called Rashtrapati Niwas. Viceregal Lodge is surrounded by landscaped gardens and lawns. The beautiful eye-catching architecture of this building is a treat to watch.

8. Kalka-Shimla Toy Train

The best way to visit Shimla is to sit on the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train. The toy train starts from Kalka and goes through winding railway tracks up to Shimla. On the way, it passes through dense deodar and pine forests and gives you the best views of the valleys and the Himalayan mountains. At the route, there are as many as 100 railway tunnels and 800 bridges. On this railway route, there are small stations like Taradevi, Summer Hill, Barog, Solan, etc. Kalka-Shimla Toy Train is a heritage site ranked by UNESCO as one of the finest mountain railways in entire India.

9. Himalayan Bird Park

Situated opposite Viceregal Lodge, Himalayan Bird Park is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. You will find exotic Himalayan birds such as the Himalayan Monal, peacocks, pheasants, and peafowls. This aviary has a lush green setting and many trees and plants.

10. Tara Devi Temple

Tara Devi Temple is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. Goddess Tara, who is a goddess in Tibetan Buddhist mythology, is the main deity of this temple. Goddess Tara is also one of the nine sisters of Goddess Durga. The temple is beautiful in architecture and is at least 250 years old.

11. Kali Bari Temple

One of the most famous and ancient temples in Shimla is Kali Bari Temple. Goddess Shyamala is the main deity of Kali Bari Temple, and she is one of the divine incarnations of Goddess Kali. The name Shimla is derived from Goddess Shyamala. Kali Bari Temple was built in the year 1845. During Navratri, the temple is decorated and a huge number of devotees and tourists visit the temple.

12. Chadwick Waterfall

Chadwick Waterfall is one of the best tourist sightseeing places in Shimla. The waterfall is 100 ft high and is a very scenic one also. Although it is difficult to reach the top of the waterfall, nevertheless, it is the most beautiful waterfall in Shimla. Locals call it Chidku Jhaar, and they believe that the top of the waterfall is so difficult to reach that only sparrows could reach it. The waterfall is located in dense pine forests and the monsoon is the best time to visit the waterfall.

13. Chail

Chail is also one of the scenic hill stations near Shimla. In Shimla sightseeing packages, you can normally visit Shimla, Chail, and Kufri in one trip. Chail is famous for the world’s highest cricket ground and for Chail Palace, which is a heritage building. You can come to Chail for trekking, camping, and spotting birds in Chail Wildlife Sanctuary.

14. Johnnie’s Wax Museum

There are so many tourist places to visit in Shimla and John Johnnie’s Wax Museum is one of the best. There are wax idols of celebrities and personalities. These wax statues are incredibly life-like and real in looks and features. You will find statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Harry Potter, James Bond, and Steve Jobs among many others. You can even have a wax replica of your hand.

15. Himachal State Museum

Himachal State Museum is a colonial building that has a museum inside. There is a rich collection of coins, paintings, armors, stone sculptures, jewelry, handicrafts, weapons, dolls, and other artifacts. It also has a huge collection of over 10,000 books, journals, and magazines. Himachal State Museum is one of the popular Shimla sightseeing places.

16. Mashobra

Mashobra is very close to Shimla and is full of greenery. The pine and deodar forests, green grasslands, serene valleys, and river streams make Mashobra one of the most beautiful scenic places to visit in Shimla. Mashobra is bliss for adventure lovers as they can do many exciting activities like rappelling, skiing, quad biking, trekking, etc.

17. Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex

Shimla is full of historical places and Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex is one of them. This building is built during the British era and has beautiful Victorian architecture. The building was used for cultural events and artistic performances. In its time, Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex used to be a center attraction in Shimla, and famous personalities like Rudyard Kipling, Prithviraj Kapoor, and K.L. Sehgal gave memorable performances. Today you can visit the exhibition hall, art gallery, and theatre.

18. Annandale

Annandale is one of the best sightseeing places in Shimla. It is like a picnic ground where you play golf, polo, cricket, and other outdoor sports. Deodar trees surround Annandale from all sides, making it very scenic and beautiful. There is Annandale Army Heritage Museum and Cactus Museum which you must check out when visiting Annandale.

19. Scandal Point

Scandal Point is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. You can watch scenic mountain ranges from Scandal Point and have a horse ride. The history behind the place called Scandal Point is very interesting. Maharaja of Patiala eloped with the daughter of the British Viceroy, Lord Kitchener. They often met at this place and also eloped together from the place which is now called Scandal Point.

20. Summer Hill

Summer Hill is one of the famous tourist places in Shimla. It offers magnificent views of the green valleys and mountain ridges. Summer Hill is perfect for evening walks and trekking in the forests. Being a popular sightseeing place in Shimla, there are many eateries, hotels, and guest houses here. You can reach Summer Hill from the Ridge and it will take just 20 minutes by car.

21. Solan

Solan is near Shimla and this is an off-beat hill station that offers relaxation from the more famous Shimla. It is famous for its mushroom and tomato farming. You can explore the temples and monasteries in Solan. There is an old ruined fort which is 300 years old and lies on top of a hill that offers magnificent views. Other famous attractions include Shoolini Mata Temple and Jatoli Mahadev Temple.

22. Narkanda

Narkanda is one of the most beautiful places that you must visit in Shimla. It is famous for its apple orchards. There is a lake called Tannu Jabar Lake and a temple nearby which are famous sightseeing points in Narkanda. During winters you can do skiing on the slopes. Hatu Nag is a hill where you can go trekking and hiking.

23. Naldehra

Naldehra is just 22 km from Shimla and this hill station is famous for its golf course. It is a small hill station that is full of green valleys and panoramic mountain scenery. Sutlej river flows through Naldehra making it very scenic and beautiful. There are thick pine and deodar forests here which add to the natural beauty of Naldehra.

24. Shaily Peak

Shaily Peak is among the most popular trekking places in Shimla. Its offers scenic landscape views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. You can come here on a pony ride or a motorbike. You will have to pass through the hill of Naldehra to arrive here at the peak. The trek is very scenic and you will have to pass through dense forests.

25. Lakkar Bazaar

Lakkar Bazaar is near the Ridge in Shimla. It is an age-old market for all types of wooden items and handicrafts. You can shop for wooden toys, sculptures, walking sticks, Pashmina shawls, woolen sweaters, and other wooden handicrafts. Lakkar Bazaar was established by Sikh people who settled here and made wonderful wooden items.