Top tourist places in Shimla are The Ridge, Kufri, Annadale, Toy Train, The Mall Road, Christ Church, Jakhu Hill, Jakhu Temple, Kali Bari Temple, Wav Museum, and Lakkar Bazar. The best time to visit Shimla is from March to June and November to January. The nearest and most convenient airports to Shimla are Delhi and Chandigarh.
Top Tourist Attractions In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
1. The Ridge
The Ridge is a large open space in the center of Shimla. It is a famous attraction. it is a popular spot for open photography. All the events, cultural activities, and celebrations were held at the Ridge. The most famous government summer festival is held at the Ridge. It runs east to the west alongside the popular Mall Road in Shimla and meets Scandal Point on the west. It is 3 km from the Shimla railway station. The time of the Ridge is from 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM.
2. Kufri
Kufri is a small hill station near Shimla. It is located at an elevation of 2720 meters from sea level. Kufri is famous for trekking, hiking, picnic spot, and beautiful nature. The snowfall time in Kufri is between December to February. The snow-covered slopes of Kufri are the best place for ski lovers in the winter season. The distance between Kufri and Shimla is 27 km. It is a beautiful place to visit.
3. Annadale
Annadale is an army heritage museum in Shimla. It is a beautiful place in Shimla situated between lush green mountains and deodar trees. It is one of the most visited places by the locals but is always missed by the tourist. It is located at a 2 km distance from Shimla railway station. The time of the Annadale is from 10 AM to 2 PM and 3 PM to 5 PM every day except on Monday. Annadale ground is also used for a helipad. All the VVIPs visiting Shimla are using this helipad as the airport is too long from the city. It is located at an elevation of 1864 meters from sea level.
4. Toy Train
The toy train runs between Kalka and Shimla. It is a narrow-gauge train 2 feet 6 inches. It passes through nearly 100 tunnels and 800 bridges. It covers a distance of 96 km from Kalka to Shimla. The toy train passes through the beautiful hilly region of north India. The toy train is declared a world heritage property by UNESCO. The advance booking of toy trains is a must. Before traveling by the toy train check the timing and availability of seats.
5. The Mall Road
The Mall Road is a famous shopping center in Shimla. It is the main attraction for tourists. The Mall Road was constructed during British Colonial rule. It is located in the heart of the city below the Ridge. It is the best place for leisurely walking as vehicles are not allowed on the mall road. The hotels, restaurants, café, spas, bars, shops, and salons are on Mall Road. The beautiful buildings of the Municipal corporation, Fire service, and police headquarter are located on Mall Road. The places to visit in Shimla like Scandal Point, Kali Bari temple, and Gaiety are also on Mall Road.
6. Christ Church
Christ Church is a popular tourist attraction in Shimla. It is a place of worship. It was constructed in 1857 for the Anglican British Community. The Christ Church is the second oldest church in north India, after St. John’s Church in Meerut. The architecture of the church is Neo-Gothic type. The yellow-colored building on The Mall Road is visible from far off. The Christ Church is located at The Ridge, The Mall, Shimla. The time of the church is from 8 AM to 6 PM.
7. Jakhu Temple
Jakhu temple is also known as Hanuman Temple. It is an ancient type of temple dedicated to the Hindu Deity Lord Hanuman. The height of the statue of Lord Hanuman is 108 feet. The architecture of the temple is Kath Kuni type. It is located at the highest point of Shimla, Jakhu Hill. The temple is accessible from Mall road or the Ridge. The distance between the Jakhu temple from the Mall is 1.5 km. It will require 15 to 20 min to reach the temple from Mall road. The time of the temple is from 7 AM to 8 PM.
8. Jakhu Hill
Jakhu Hill is the top tourist attraction in Shimla. It is the highest point in Shimla. The height of Jakhu Hill is 8054 feet from sea level. It has beautiful surroundings, a temple, and a statue of Lord Hanuman. Jakhu Hill is covered by the Alpine tree. Jakhu Hill is accessible from Mall road in Shimla. You can reach Jakhu Hill by Cable Car also. The Jakhu ropeway is a popular experience in Shimla as it provides a breathtaking view of the Himalayan Mountains.
9. Kali Bari Temple
Kali Bari Temple in Shimla is a popular tourist destination. The Kali Bari temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali Bari also known as Shyamla. It was constructed in 1845. It is located on Bontony Hill. From the top of the hill, you can see a panoramic view of mountains and green forests. The timing of the temple is from 6 AM to 7 PM on all days.
10. Vax Museum
The Johnnies wax Museum is the first wax museum in Himachal Pradesh. To get entry into the wax museum entry fee of Rupees 250/- is required however children below 5 years of age are exempted from the entry fee. The time of museum is from 10 AM to 10 PM. It is a great place to visit the museum. The museum is located on Mall road in Shimla. The statue of Messi, Herry Potter, The Rock, and Mahatma Gandhi are some of the exhibits inside the museum.
11. Lakkar Bazar
Lakkar Bazar is an attraction for tourists visiting Shimla. Lakkar is a Hindi word derived from Lakari means wood. This marketplace offers wooden articles, especially wooden toys. There are small to large size wooden toys. The Lakkar Bazar is located near the Ridge.
Best Time To Visit Shimla
The best time to visit Shimla is between March to June and between November to January. The temperature from March to June ranges between 15 to 30oC. This temperature is pleasant and best for outdoor activities. The minimum and maximum temperatures from November to January ranges between 4 to 25oC. This is the winter season and snowfall time in Shimla. The winter season is the best time for snow lovers. The hottest month in Shimla is June. The coldest month in Shimla is January.
How To Reach Shimla – The Chandigarh Airport and Delhi Airport are the closest airports to Shimla. These two airports are connected to other airports in India like Nagpur airport, Mumbai airport, and Amritsar airport. The distance between Chandigarh to Shimla by road is 113 km and requires approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach. The distance between Delhi to Shimla by road is 398 km. Amritsar to Shimla distance by road is 301 km. To reach Shimla by train get down at Ambala railway station. Then take a bus or taxi to Kalka. The distance between Kalka and Ambala is 60 km. Shimla is connected to Kalka by a toy train. Ambala is connected to a major railway station in India.
Weather In Shimla
The monsoon is the off-season in Shimla. The rainfall is between mid-July to September. During the rainfall, Shimla has humidity and cooler temperature. The winter season starts in October and ends in February. The temperature in Shimla decreases to – 2oC in the winter season. It is snowfall time. The summer season in Shimla is from March to June. The temperature during the summer season ranges between 15 to 30oC.
Location
Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is the largest city in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. It is a district place. It is located at an elevation of 7100 feet above sea level. It was built on the top of seven hills.
I hope this article will be useful to you for planning a trip to Shimla.
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