Shimla Travel Guide
Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.
Travel Information
The nearest broad gauge railway station from Shimla is in
Kalka which is 89 km away. One can either take a taxi, local bus or the toy
train to Shimla. Shimla is easily accessible via road too and Chandigarh-Shimla
highway is in good condition and it only takes around 3 and a half hours to
reach here from Chandigarh. Chandigarh is the nearest major airport from Shimla
and is around 113 km away. The nearest airport is Jubbarhatti Airport which is
25 km away from the heart of Shimla, however, this airport occasionally
functions with limited flights from Delhi.
March to June is the best time to visit Shimla when the
weather during daytime is pleasant. The weather during winters (November to
February) is suitable for experiencing the snowfall, snow-activities and exploring
the snow-covered surroundings. Tourism thrives in Shimla in all the seasons
other than the monsoons which begin in July and last till September.
An Insight into Shimla tourism
Shimla is the capital Himachal Pradesh in India and a popular hill-station among honeymooners. Situated at the height of 2200m, Shimla was the summer capital of British India. Shimla still retains its old-world charm with beautiful colonial architecture, pedestrian-friendly Mall Road and the ridge lined up with multiple shops, cafes and restaurants.
The weather is pleasant for most of the
months with tourists flocking especially during the summer months. The winters
are cold with some days of snow from mid-December till February end. Shimla is
well connected with many cities and is just 4 hours from the nearby city of
Chandigarh. The city has an airport as well; however, there aren't many daily
flights from here. The railway station connects Shimla with the plans and is
famous for the Kalka-Shimla train route; a UNESCO listed World Heritage site.
Shimla is often covered with nearby towns of Kufri, a hill-station almost
always covered by snow and Chail, famous for a huge palace and the highest
cricket ground in the world. Tourists also visit the famous Jakhu Temple and
engage in sightseeing at various viewpoints during their trip to Shimla.
