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Himachal Pradesh

Shimla

Colonial hill capital with Mall Road and a toy train

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Best time to visit Shimla

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May, October and December
  • Shoulder: January to March, June, September and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to August

Planning a specific month? AprilMayOctoberDecember

Shimla season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec often brings snow around Christmas/New Year and huge crowds; Jan-Feb are colder and calmer.

Summer March to May Prime time

Classic plains-heat escape - Apr-May bring 20-25C days and the town at its busiest, priciest.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun holds up reasonably; Jul-Aug bring heavy rain and periodic landslides on the Kalka-Shimla highway.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Clear, cool and comfortable with thinner crowds than summer - arguably the nicest weather window.

What Shimla is actually like

More honeymooners and families on Mall Road than backpackers, but easy to spend time solo.

Things to do in Shimla

The local places worth your time in and around Shimla, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Christ Church

    Church · in town

    Neo-Gothic 1857 church on the Ridge, the postcard of Shimla; stained glass reads best late afternoon, free entry.

  • Jakhoo Temple

    Temple · 2 km out

    Hanuman temple on the top ridge under a 33 m statue; 40 minute climb from the Mall, monkeys take glasses and food.

  • Mall Road

    Market · in town

    The pedestrian spine of Shimla, no cars allowed at all; walk it after 6 pm with everyone else, shops shut by nine.

  • Viceregal Lodge

    Heritage · 3 km out

    1888 Raj summer seat on Observatory Hill where the 1945 Simla Conference met; the inside is a ticketed guided tour only.

  • Gaiety Theatre

    Heritage · in town

    Restored 1887 Victorian theatre on the Mall; cheap tour of the auditorium, often with a rehearsal running.

  • Indian Coffee House

    Food · in town

    Time capsule cafe on the Mall with turbaned waiters; cold coffee and cutlets for small money, queue at lunch.

  • Chadwick Falls

    Waterfall · 7 km out

    86 m fall in deodar forest below Summer Hill; worth the walk only during and just after the monsoon, dry by April.

  • Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri

    Wildlife · 16 km out

    Hillside enclosures of monal, musk deer and leopard at Kufri; walk up from the taxi stand and skip the pony touts.

Getting to Shimla

Fly Jubbarhatti, or Kalka-Shimla toy train / 7h Volvo from Delhi.

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
2200 m
State
Himachal Pradesh
Coordinates
31.1048, 77.1734

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Shimla?

April to May, October and December is peak season in Shimla. January to March, June, September and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to August. Classic plains-heat escape - Apr-May bring 20-25C days and the town at its busiest, priciest.

How many days do you need in Shimla?

2 days is the usual stay. More honeymooners and families on Mall Road than backpackers, but easy to spend time solo.

How do you get to Shimla?

Fly Jubbarhatti, or Kalka-Shimla toy train / 7h Volvo from Delhi. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Shimla expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Shimla?

May: Shimla Summer Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Shimla?

Christ Church, Jakhoo Temple, Mall Road, Viceregal Lodge, Gaiety Theatre and Indian Coffee House, and more. Neo-Gothic 1857 church on the Ridge, the postcard of Shimla; stained glass reads best late afternoon, free entry.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Himachal Pradesh

All 52 destinations in Himachal Pradesh