Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. So, back in the day, it used to be the summer capital of the British Raj and therefore, the architecture of the place has a distinct colonial air about it. Today, Shimla is but a popular tourist destination. Always hailed as the “Queen of Hills,” Shimla rises to an altitude of 2,205 meters and is draped with alpine woods, rhododendron, and oak trees. Shimla experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. Here are the top favorite tourist places you can visit in Shimla:
Visit The Himachal State Museum And Library
The Shimla State Museum was opened with the mission of preserving the state’s cultural and historical wealth for future generations. Here you can see traditional Himachali artifacts such as miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, traditional costumes, books, and jewelry can be found here.
Walk Around Mall Road
Shimla’s Mall Road is where people hang out, shop for souvenirs and watch movies. The Mall has a number of good restaurants, cafes, and bars. Traditional handicrafts, shawls and tweeds, fruit juices and jams, honey, woolens, silver jewelry, miniature Pahari paintings, rugs and carpets, handmade footwear and wooden items like walking sticks can be found in the shopping area here. Gaiety Theatre is mainly in this area and people arrive in droves to watch movies there.
Monkey-Watch Outside Jakhoo Temple
Located on Jakhoo Hill, two kilometers away from Shimla is the hill station’s most popular temple, which offers some of the most breath-taking views of the hill-town, and of the majestic, frosty Himalayan Mountains. At the temple, you will come across a bunch of mischievous monkeys who are likely to brazenly snatch your belongings and foodstuff from your hands! They’re rather fun to watch though.
Hike to the hot springs at Tattapani
Tattapani lies on the banks of the Sutlej River. The hot sulfur springs at Tattapani are always real crowd pullers for their curative and invigorating properties. It is said that a number of ailments can be cured by taking a dip in these waters. Tatta-Pani literally means “hot water”.
Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is mainly one of the most sought after things to do in Shimla as it has the only natural ice skating rink in all of India. The season for this winter sport basically begins in December and goes on till the end of February. The rink provides membership on a short and long term basis. Basic equipment is available at the rink, for a fee.
Always take a walk through a pine forest at Naldehra
Naldehra is about 23 km out of Shimla. It is home to a nine-hole golf course – the oldest in India. Naldehra is said to have derived its name from the Nag temple located there. The area has always good wooded walks with fragrant pine trees and is a favorite for people wanting to take leisurely walks and breathe in some clean, cool air.
Take in the Colonial Architecture all around Shimla
During the days of the Raj, the Viceroy and the other administrative members used to spend their summers in Shimla, along with their families. This is mainly the reason why Shimla has buildings, homes, churches, and lodges that are typically British in architecture.
These are some of the most famous places in Shimla that must be visited during the Shimla trip for experiencing some of the best experiences. Without a doubt, there are many places to visit in Shimla and these are some of them, so make sure that you have plenty of time when visiting these places.