Shimla
7,238 ft · built across seven pine-and-deodar hills · the former summer capital of British India, and the town our office has called home since 2000.
A hill station built to be walked.
Shimla was the summer capital of British India before Independence, and it still carries that layout — a compact 25 sq. km spread across seven hills, with the highest point, Jakhu Hill, reaching 2,454 metres. Pine, deodar, and oak forest wrap the whole town, and the centre — The Mall and The Ridge — is pedestrian, so most of Shimla is genuinely walkable.
It's also where The Himalayan Ramble has operated from since day one, which means it's usually the first and last stop on a Himachal itinerary we build, not just a place we send people to.
Colonial architecture, older temples.
- 01Jakhoo TempleA 108-foot Hanuman statue at roughly 8,500 ft — the highest point most visitors reach in town, with views across the whole valley.
- 02The Ridge & Christ ChurchShimla's open-air living room — cultural events, winter carnival, and the town's best-known church backdrop.
- 03Gaiety TheatreA Victorian-era theatre still hosting performances, right on The Mall.
- 04Viceregal LodgeBuilt 1884–88 as the Viceroy's summer residence, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
- 05Kali Bari, Sankat Mochan & Tara Devi TemplesA trio of hillside temples that see as many locals as visitors.
- 06HP State Museum & AnnadaleMuseum since 1974, and a former racecourse now home to an Army Heritage Museum.
Waterfalls, forest, and the nearest skiing.
- 01KufriSkiing and a winter sports festival every February, plus the Himalayan Nature Park.
- 02Chadwick Falls & Summer HillA short walk from the centre into quiet pine forest.
- 03Tattapani51 km out — river rafting and trout fishing on the Sutlej.
- 04NaldehraA 9-hole golf course laid out by Lord Curzon, still one of the prettiest in India.
- 05Chharabra & MashobraQuieter forest towns just outside Shimla, popular for a slower day trip.
Best time & getting here.
Best Time to Visit
March–June for pleasant walking weather; December–February if you want snow and skiing at Kufri or Narkanda.
Getting Here
Nearest airport Shimla (Jubbarhatti), ~23 km. The Kalka–Shimla toy train (UNESCO World Heritage) is the scenic route in. By road, ~350 km / 7–8 hrs from Delhi.
Activities
Trekking, skiing (Jan–mid March), golf at Naldehra, river rafting & trout fishing at Tattapani, shopping and cultural performances on The Ridge.
Good To Know
The Mall and The Ridge are vehicle-free — plan for walking, and pack layers even in summer once the sun drops.