Shimla Tour

In case of unforeseen events or government restrictions, the tour may be cancelled and in such cases, you can reschedule your dates. However, no refund will be provided in any condition.

• 30 days or more: 90% of the total package cost is refundable
• 21-30 days: 75% of the total package cost is refundable
• 11-20 days: 50% of the total package cost is refundable
• Less than 10 days: No refund
• The booking amount (30% of the package amount) is non-refundable. However, you can adjust this amount with any other tour, trek or activity offered by Uncia post-booking date.

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and also the largest city of this state. Tourists visit the city to experience the heavenly ambience this city has to offer. You also get to see the temples and churches styled from as old as the Victorian era. This hill station is popularly known for the scenic beauty and the lovely snow-covered Himalayan Mountains it has to offer. Also one of the many reasons why it can be the perfect getaway for the weekend or a mini-vacation you’ve always wanted to take.

How to reach Shimla?

Well, there are many ways you can reach this delightful location. Some of your travel alternatives are:

By Air: You can fly into Chandigarh and hire a cab from there which takes about 3 to 4 hours (117.1 KM) to reach Shimla, whereas it would take you 7 to 8 hours (360 KM) if you were to take a cab from Delhi airport.

By Bus: Most of the cities in the north are connected to Shimla by bus routes. You have options to choose from the Himachal Road Transport Corporation as well as many private buses that ply from different cities for Shimla. To catch a glimpse of the early morning mist that covers the whole city it’s best if you take one of those overnight AC luxury buses from Delhi.

By Cab: Take a road trip to Shimla from Delhi and you can reach the city in about 6 to 7 hours if you do not get stuck in traffic. And you can enjoy the scenic beauty all the way.

By Train: You can take a train ride from Delhi or Chandigarh to the Kalka station which is the nearest station to Shimla. Then continue your journey from Kalka to Shimla on a bus which should take you about 2 to 3 hours. However, the faster route is by road.

Places to visit in Shimla

Viceregal Lodge and Botanical Gardens: This beautiful building was the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin and was made in the year 1888. It is now known as the “Rashtrapati Niwas”. The architecture is marvellously exhibiting the grey limestone period of the English Renaissance as the gardens and the lawns cover the grounds. You get the advantage of an extremely mesmerizing view from this location.

The Ridge: The Ridge is a huge open space near Mall road which offers you a magnificent view of the mountain ranges that contribute to the majority of the scenic beauty. You also get to see the cultural activities here and get to see the Ridge from the Scandal Point which is the famous snow ridge photograph you get to see in the newspapers and travel magazines after the first snow of the year.

Mall road: This locale is the shopping hub of Shimla and also has a variety of food to offer you, foodies, in case you get hungry shopping for all the souvenirs you want to take back home for your family and friends. You can find many shops and cafes here along with the Himachal emporium that provides several locally designed products.

Jakhoo Hill: Jakhoo hill is the highest peak of Shimla. The Jakhoo Temple is devoted to Lord Hanuman and like humans, you can also find many monkeys at the top there. The speciality of this place is the peace that you experience while being away from the commotion of the town. Do be careful around the monkeys, they are widely famous for their notorious behaviour like taking away your sweets or just hoping onto your back to pluck out your personal belongings. You can reach the Temple by foot, horse, taxi or the ropeway.

Kufri: This extremely popular town is not far away from Shimla. The valleys here have the most scenic views, during the summer the grass is beautifully green and in the winters the days are shorter and the mist is captivating as it engulfs the whole area. It also happens to be a popular holiday destination as the Himalayan ranges enclose creating a dense forest and diverse wildlife that simply intensify the beauty of this romantic vacation spot. You get to enjoy adventure sports hereby trekking or skiing in the grand mountains.

Chadwick falls: To complete the entire Shimla experience, you have to visit Chadwick Falls. This is the perfect place to hike a trail and unwind later on with your friends or family. The Chadwick Falls offers you the peace of mind you came here looking for, along with a beautiful view of the dense and lush green forests. Here it’s just you and the relaxing sound of the gushing waterfall.

Indian Institute of Advanced Study: Also known as the Rashtrapati Niwas. Which was initially used as a summer getaway for the president of India but in due course of time was overlooked and was later turned into an institute for advanced learning. The institute is styled in an Indo-Gothic design by Scottish architects and also was the first building in Shimla to have access to electricity generated by steam engines.

Activities to do in Shimla

Ice Skating: The best place to enjoy the true ice-skating experience in Shimla is to visit the open-air rink which is one of the oldest rinks in the country. It is the finest experience you need to have with your friends or family by spending quality time and simply enjoying the cold crisp air around you.

Ropeway: One of the most popular ropeways in Shimla is the Jakhoo Ropeway. Enjoy the ropeway while looking at the hills and the city from a high point. And forge those everlasting memories you will cherish forever.

Skiing: The advantage of skiing in Shimla is that there are many mountain peaks for this adventure. Some of these hills are yet to be explored entirely by the people, which adds to the element of mystery to the whole skiing experience. 

Mashorba is the most jam-packed hill for skiing since it is 10 kilometres away from the city of Shimla. You can enjoy your skiing experience and indulge in other winter sport adventures here.

Kufri is also quite the popular location for skiing, being 14 kilometres away from the city. This town is not usually crowded but once it starts to snow, people from all around the country come down to ski their hearts out on these snow-clad mountains.

Narkanda is located at a further distance from the city which is at 60 kilometres. The advantage of going to this hill is that the crowds prefer going to the locations nearer to them which in turn leaves these hills unexposed to the crowd. And that leaves one of the oldest ski resorts to have some slopes undiscovered and appealing, to the more experienced crowd who are up for some adventure.

Horse riding: Among the many activities to do in Shimla, horse riding is one of the most popular activities. Apart from being a leisure activity, there are quite a few places where only horses can reach, so it becomes necessary for you to take a ride to the desired location.

Which food items to try in Shimla

While you travel around the city making new and thrilling memories to look back at, here are some amazing local delicacies you should try on your visit there.

Thukpa: This is a traditional Tibetan noodle soup that is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian variations. The typical seasoning has a bunch of vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, spring onions along with noodles. You can add on your choice of meat if you want to and also add sauces to enhance the taste.

Babru: This is a Himachali twist to the traditional Kachoris you get in North India. What twists this is the black gram paste which is added while making the dough. It is best served with tamarind chutney which adds a sweet and sour flavour to your taste buds.

Dhaam: Dhaam is a complete thali that usually has dal, rice, rajma, boor ki kadi, plain or spiced curd and jaggery to eat along with it.

Chha Gosht: The speciality of this dish is the marinated lamb made in the well-seasoned curry of curd, gram flour, cardamom, coriander powder, red chilli powder and much more to add to the flavour of the meat.

Anardana Murg: This tangy chicken is served with dried pomegranate seeds which add to the red gravy and makes it pinkish. It is a smoky flavoured dish that can be equally enjoyed with rice and naan. 

• Where is Shimla?

Shimla is located on the south-western ranges of the Himalayas, which is situated northeast of Chandigarh on a ridge of the Himalayan foothills. The altitude is at an average of 2,206 meters which is around 7,238ft.

• Which is the best month to visit Shimla?

The best month to visit is between November and January which is the winter season in India and the weather of Shimla is quite mesmerising during this time. 

• Which is the best season to visit Shimla?
  Shimla offers you a spring season which is summery and warm from January till the end of June. This is the time when you can truly enjoy the clear blue skies as well as the snow-peaked mountains. 

• Which is the best time to visit Shimla?

The best time to visit is during May to June when you get to experience the gentle warmth of the hill station and December to January when you get to see the snowfall in Shimla. 

• How to reach Shimla?

You can reach Shimla by air and road. The Chandigarh airport is about 3 to 4 hours away from Shimla. If you want to opt for road transportations you can either take a bus to the city, drive up to Shimla in your car or take a train to Kalka and then continue to Shimla in a cab or bus.

• How far is Shimla from Chandigarh?

Shimla is about 114 kilometres away which will take you about 3 hours to reach if you take a cab from Chandigarh to Shimla.

• How far is Shimla from Delhi?

Shimla is 344 kilometres away from Delhi which would take you 7 to 8 hours to drive from Delhi to Shimla by car.

• What is famous in Shimla?

Along with the Victorian-style architecture of the city, you can enjoy the hillside views of the pine forests, find some tranquillity and composure at the temples and walk around the ridge of Shimla which is quite the famous spot. It is also quite a popular destination among newlyweds who are looking for a serene and romantic honeymoon spot.

• How many days are sufficient to visit Shimla? 

Technically, one day is enough to visit the places in Shimla but it would be beneficial to go for 2 days just in case there are things on your to-do list you could not tick off on the first day.  

• Which is better, Shimla or Manali?

Shimla is attractive to the crowd who like the ancient architecture and history of a place where Manali is an adventure sports hub. While they cater to a different audience both of these places have their unique appeal. 

• What is the weather in Shimla?

Currently, Shimla is in the middle of its winter season which is the best time to visit Shimla for snowfall.

• Is Shimla worth visiting?

Shimla is worth visiting along with the very obvious reasons being the hills, the adventure sports and the memories you make which you will cherish down the lane for sure.  

• Is there snowfall in Shimla? 

You can expect snowfall in Shimla during the winter season. To enjoy the snow make sure to visit anytime from late December to February.

• What can I buy in Shimla?

You can always shop from the Himachal emporium which has a lot of local handicrafts and handmade items for you to choose from. You can also look for some traditional jewellery which has a very antique look. 

• How many days are enough to visit Shimla?

You can cover all the main attractions of the city in a day but it is always best to plan for two days so that you avoid cramping your day and can take in the essence of Shimla. 

• Is there snowfall in Shimla now?

Yes, Shimla is covered in snow this time of the year since it is in the middle of the winter season. 

• How much does a trip to Shimla cost?

A trip to Shimla will depend on many variables including the number of people you plan on going to and how you would like to travel to Shimla but it would at least cost you 6000 rupees. 

• Which are the best treks near Shimla?

If you want to have the complete adventure experience here are the best trekking spots near Shimla for you:

Churdhar Trek: This trek takes you to the highest peak of the outer Himalayas known as the Shivalik ranges. They are also called the Bangles of snow ridges, which takes you two days to complete the trek.

Karol Tibba Trek: This is the perfect all-day trek you can take near Shimla. It makes the perfect adventure with green forests and spellbound views from the tallest peak of the Solan district.

Shali Tibba Trek: This one-day hike offers you views of the mountain peaks covered in snow, Sutlej valley and it is the perfect spot for all the shutterbugs to shoot their hearts out.

Hatu Peak Trek: The fir, maple and cedar trees are the reason why the magnificent forests here are so lusciously green. It takes you two days to complete this trek but it’s all worth it once you see the Kinner Kailash range from the peak of the Hatu.