Shimla's main sights fit in two days by cab. One day goes west to the Viceregal Lodge, the State Museum and Sankat Mochan; the other goes east to Kufri, Fagu and Mashobra. A third day goes to Chail. The Ridge and the Mall are closed to cars, so walk them in the evening. The Viceregal Lodge and the museum close on Mondays, and the Kufri nature park on Tuesdays.
Each plan is a real route by cab, timed against opening hours.
Jakhu, Kufri and Fagu
3 places · 43 km by cab
See the plan →Jakhu, the Viceregal Lodge and Sankat Mochan · Kufri, Fagu and Mashobra
9 places · 83 km by cab
See the plan →Jakhu, the Viceregal Lodge and Sankat Mochan · Kufri, Fagu and Mashobra · Chail: the palace and Kali Tibba
12 places · 191 km by cab
See the plan →Call or message a local Shimla operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
We are still listing Shimla operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
With the best time to go and how long to stay.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ridge and Christ Church | The Ridge is open all day; Christ Church about 06:00 to 21:00? | Evening, when the lights come on, or early morning for the clearest view of the hills. | 1 h |
| Mall Road and Scandal Point | Open street; most shops about 10:00 to 21:00? | Evening. | 1 h |
| Lakkar Bazaar | Shops about 10:00 to 20:00? | Late afternoon or evening, after the Ridge. | 45 min |
| Jakhu Temple | About 05:00 to 21:00; one listing says the temple closes 12:00 to 16:00? | Morning, before the midday break. | 1 h |
| Viceregal Lodge | Campus 09:30 to 17:00; building tours 10:30 to 16:30; closed Mondays and national holidays | Late morning, after the first tour starts at about 10:30. | 1 h 15 min |
| Himachal State Museum | 10:00 to 17:00; closed Mondays and gazetted holidays | Any time it is open; it is about 1 km from the Viceregal Lodge. | 1 h |
| Sankat Mochan Temple | Open through the day; no hours published? | Any time; it is on the highway on the way into or out of Shimla. | 40 min |
| Kali Bari Temple | About 06:00 to 19:00 | Late afternoon, before walking on to the Ridge. | 30 min |
| Kufri and Mahasu Peak | Open hillside; pony rides in daylight? | Morning, before the crowds and the afternoon cloud. | 2 h 30 min |
| Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri | 09:30 to 17:30 in winter, 09:00 to 18:30 in summer; closed Tuesdays | Late morning or early afternoon, after Kufri. | 1 h |
The Ridge is the big open square at the top of Shimla, with views across the hills on clear days. Christ Church, the yellow church with the clock tower, stands at one end, and the State Library's Tudor-style building beside it. Most visitors start and end their walks here.
Not in our plans. Add it if you have time.The Mall is Shimla's main walking street, lined with shops, cafes and old buildings such as the Gaiety Theatre and the post office. Scandal Point is the corner where the Mall meets the Ridge, and it is the town's favourite meeting place.
Not in our plans. Add it if you have time.A narrow market street that runs down from the Ridge behind Christ Church. Its name means the wood market, and its shops sell walking sticks, carved wooden toys and small souvenirs, along with woollens and snacks.
Not in our plans. Add it if you have time.A Hanuman temple on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla. A tall orange Hanuman statue stands beside it and can be seen from much of the town. From the top, the view runs over Shimla's rooftops and the hills around.
In the 1-day planA grey stone mansion on Observatory Hill, built in 1888 as the home of the British Viceroy, Lord Dufferin. It now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. A 30 minute guided tour shows the wood-panelled halls, and the lawns look out over the hills.
Day 1 of the 2-day planAn old colonial house with the state's collection of stone sculptures, Pahari miniature paintings, coins and crafts from the hill districts. It is small, so an hour is enough.
Day 1 of the 2-day planA Hanuman temple founded in 1950 on a forested slope beside the Kalka to Shimla highway, near Tara Devi. It also has shrines to Rama, Shiva and Ganesh.
Day 1 of the 2-day planA temple to the goddess Kali on a small hill close to Scandal Point, built by Shimla's Bengali community. It is busy during Navratri and Durga Puja, and quiet the rest of the year.
Day 1 of the 2-day planA small hill town east of Shimla, known for snow in winter and pony rides up to Mahasu Peak through deodar forest. On a clear day the peak looks out to the high snow ranges. Kufri Fun World, a small amusement park, is near the top.
In the 1-day planA forest zoo on the highway just before Kufri, with Himalayan animals and birds in large hillside enclosures. Paths run up and down through the deodar trees.
Day 2 of the 2-day planA quiet village a few kilometres past Kufri at about 2,450 m, on the road to Narkanda. It has wide views over the valleys and is much calmer than Kufri.
In the 1-day planA quiet village in the oak and deodar forests north of Shimla, among apple orchards. People come for a walk in the woods and the views, away from the busy town.
Day 2 of the 2-day planThe summer palace of the Maharaja of Patiala, built in the late 1800s on a hill in the forests at Chail. It is now a government hotel with lawns, old furniture and views over the hills.
Day 3 of the 3-day planSaid to be one of the highest cricket grounds in the world, at about 2,400 m, cut into a hilltop among the deodars. It belongs to the Chail Military School.
Day 3 of the 3-day planA small temple to the goddess Kali on a hilltop south of Chail. From the top, the view runs over the forested hills on every side.
Day 3 of the 3-day planTwo days covers the town and Kufri: one day west to the Viceregal Lodge and Sankat Mochan, one day east to Kufri, Fagu and Mashobra. Add a third day for Chail.
No. Private cars are not allowed on the Ridge or the Mall. The cab drops you on Cart Road, and the Lift or a short walk up takes you to the top.
The Viceregal Lodge and the Himachal State Museum close on Mondays. The Himalayan Nature Park at Kufri closes on Tuesdays. Plan the town day and the Kufri day around them.
Yes. It sits on a hill near Tara Devi station, west of town, close to Sankat Mochan, so it fits on the day you visit Sankat Mochan. It is not in these plans because we could not yet place it on our map.
Yes. Naldehra, with its golf course in the deodars, is north of Mashobra. Going back to Shimla through it adds about 20 km, so the Kufri and Mashobra day comes to about 69 km.
Snow usually falls from about December to February, more often at Kufri and Fagu than in town. Roads past Kufri can close for a while after heavy snow, so check with the driver that morning.
Yes. The town day is about 34 km and the Kufri day about 49 km, both inside a usual 8 hour, 80 km day. The Chail day is about 108 km, so agree the kilometre limit with the operator before you book.