Things to Do in Shimla

Shimla is a scenic destination that attracts many tourists each year and it offers several recreational and adventurous pursuits. Exploring the colonial architecture of the Shimla State Museum and the Christ Church situated on the Ridge is a much revered activity here.

Many travel groups organise Heritage Walk in Shimla and such trips takes the tourists across many places of interest. Shimla is filled with excellent picnic spots namely Glenn, Summer Hill and Chadwick Falls. Owing to its location i.e. the town is at the foothills of the Himalayas, a trip to Shimla would be incomplete without exploring its plethora of hiking routes.

A ride on the popular Toy train that runs between Shimla to Kalka is also a much popular activity.

Shimla serves as a perfect place to set the adrenaline levels to a risen height. The town boasts of many adventure sports activities that it offers to the visitors. Paragliding, Mountain Biking, Heli-Skiing, Camping, Golfing and Trekking are the most popular adventure activities to do in Shimla.

One can also commit to advanced training in adventure sports at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Shimla. Ice Skating is considered the most favourite sport in the town. There are also water adventure sports in Shimla, like River Rafting.

Trekking is a very exciting adventure sport, where one has to map a journey on foot from one mountain incline to another mountain incline. Every mountain slope in Shimla is distinct from the other, with varying altitude and terrain, where one can find them treading through jungle terrains, undulating slopes and snow cap mountains.

The magnificent hills surrounded by snowy peaks are ideal for trekking in Shimla in India. The Himachal Pradesh Development Corporation (HPTDC) provides guidance, camps, equipment and hospitality services to all trekkers.

Some popular trekking places around Shimla are Chharabra, Naldehra, and Narkanda. One can also venture out for the famous treks of Hattu Peak via Sutlej Valley and trek to Tara Devi temple from Shimla.

Shimla is an all year round travel destination. Here the summer months are pleasant and during the winter months it snows. Activity like camping lets one explore the rustic countryside of Shimla and other adjoining areas of Kufri, Kullu and Manali, Snow Trails Camp is located at an elevation of 2250 m and offer a great camping experience.

Camp little Heart Resort, is a secluded and a hidden Wild side nature camp providing incredible camping experiences. Mashobra Greens is another campsite located amidst an extensive cedar-shaded trail, intersected by rivulets and streams. The greatest months of the year for outdoor camping in Shimla are from April to June and from September to October.

River rafting is an enthralling group activity that makes one glide through river rapids on a raft. Shimla is also famous for its white water rafting that starts from Chabba and ends at Tattapani.

The rafting activity is done on this stretch of 12 km and it takes approximately two hours to battle down challenging the rapids of the Sutlej River. Rafting activity starts at INR 500/8 USD per person.

The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a thriving population of animals like European red deer, ghoral, flying squirrel and the Himalayan black bear and also birds like the Chir pheasant and the Khalij pheasant, russet sparrow, wire-tailed swallow, green-backed and great tit and blue whistling thrush.

Chail is a great place for bird watching and hiking small trails. On the Hatu Peak trek, visitors can spot a number of bird species like Indian blue robin, brownish-flanked bush warbler, Himalayan griffon, large hawk cuckoo, black and yellow grosbeak, spotted nutcracker, greenish and lemon-romped warbler, ultramarine and Asian brown flycatcher, Eurasian blackbird among others.

These places can be visited throughout the year, however, summers are considered as the best time to visit Chail.

A popular activity among most tourists visiting Shimla is shopping. The hill station of Shimla like all major hill stations in India houses a shopping street called The Mall road. In here one will discover a row of shops selling various lifestyle goods. The Mall Road in Shimla attracts a lot of tourists for its old world charm displayed through its colonial buildings adorning French windows, meandering roads, clock tower etc.

The Cottage industries Emporium sell a variety of hand woven carpets, shawls, blankets, handmade paper, exquisitely carved wooden table and Himachal hats which comes in vibrant colours and designs. The Lakkar Bazaar Market is a treasure trove of antiques and wooden works from the Himachali region.

The Shimla ice-skating rink is a famous arena for this unusual sport of Ice Skating in India. Shimla is set against the backdrop of the Himalayas and is one of the most picturesque destinations in India and it houses an Ice Skating Rink with the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world.

Ice-skating begins in early December and carries on till February. If one shares intimate love for snow, clear skies and low temperatures, ice skating here will be a blissful experience. One can attempt a series of uninterrupted sessions at a nominal charge of INR 200/3 USD per person

The Chadwick Falls is located at an altitude of 1586 m above sea level and looks surreal at the backdrop of the brilliant undulating terrain. The best time to visit the Chadwick Falls is after monsoons during the months of July to October, when the water level increases rapidly and due to its height of 86 m, the waterfall reverberates a gushing sound as the water cascades down a deep gorge. This fall can be approached via a short trek through Summer Hill.

One of the best ways to explore the rich heritage of Shimla and its bygone era is to visit its prominent museums. The Himachal State Museum is where you can find various preserved artefacts; displayed among theme will be antique books, coins, paintings, jewelleries and handicraft items.

Shimla Heritage Museum on the other hand is for all the art lovers and history buffs. This museum is about the history and culture of Shimla during the pre-independence period. Lastly, the Army Heritage Museum display knowledge to its visitors about the various regiments of Indian Army.