Three days lets you see Shimla and the hills around it. Day one is Jakhu, the Viceregal Lodge, the museum, Sankat Mochan and Kali Bari. Day two is Kufri, Fagu, the nature park and Mashobra. Day three goes south to Chail for the cricket ground, the old palace and Kali Tibba, a long day of about 108 km, back by about 15:30.
Jakhu Temple in the morning, then west to the Viceregal Lodge for a guided tour and the Himachal State Museum next door, lunch, Sankat Mochan on the highway, and Kali Bari close to Scandal Point. About 34 km by cab, back by about 15:35. Not on a Monday, when the lodge and the museum close.
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.
Tip: The monkeys here grab glasses, phones and food, so put them away before you get out. A ropeway also runs up from near the Ridge, if you would rather not drive.
A 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.
Tip: Building tours cost Rs 200 for Indian visitors and Rs 60 for the gardens only (2026 prices). Photos are not allowed inside. Tours pause for lunch for half an hour, at 13:00 or 13:30.
An 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.
Tip: Pair it with the Viceregal Lodge: both are on the same road west of town, and both close on Mondays.
A 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.
Tip: It is right on the highway, so it fits on the drive into Shimla from Kalka or Chandigarh too. Take off your shoes at the entrance.
A 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.
Tip: From here the Ridge is about 10 minutes on foot. Entry is free; keep food out of sight of the monkeys.
East to Kufri for the pony ride to Mahasu Peak, then Fagu, lunch, the Himalayan Nature Park and a walk in the forests at Mashobra. About 49 km by cab, back by about 15:45. Not on a Tuesday, when the nature park closes.
A 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.
Tip: Cars stop in Kufri and the last part is by pony or on foot, on a muddy track. Agree the pony price and the stops before you set off; a round trip is about Rs 500 a person. Snow usually falls from about December to February.
A 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.
Tip: Clouds roll in fast in the afternoon, so go when the sky is clear. It can be cold even in summer, so carry a jacket.
A 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.
Tip: Entry is a few tens of rupees, with a small extra fee for a camera. The paths are steep, so wear good shoes.
A 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.
Tip: The roads here are narrow and winding. There is little to buy, so carry water and snacks.
South to Chail through the forests: the hilltop cricket ground, the Maharaja of Patiala's summer palace with lunch there, and the Kali Tibba temple. A long day of about 108 km on winding roads, back by about 15:30.
Said 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.
Tip: It is school property, so you usually look from the edge; going in needs permission. Ask at the gate.
The 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.
Tip: Day visitors pay a fee at the gate (about Rs 100 in one listing). Lunch at the palace restaurant is an easy way to see the inside.
A 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.
Tip: The last stretch of road is narrow and steep. It is a place of worship, so dress modestly.
Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Shimla's roads are narrow and winding, many run one way, and Cart Road and the Kufri highway are slow at weekends and in the snow season, so allow extra time on every drive. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
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.
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Fagu | Open village and viewpoints, in daylight? | Late morning, on a clear day. | 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 |
| Mashobra | Open village, in daylight? | Afternoon, on the way back to Shimla. | 45 min |
| Chail cricket ground | Seen from outside; inside the Chail Military School grounds? | Any time in daylight, after the palace. | 30 min |
| Chail Palace | Now a hotel; day visitors pay an entry fee at the gate? | Late morning, after the drive. | 1 h |
| Kali Tibba | Hilltop temple, open in daylight; no hours published? | Early afternoon, for the view before the cloud. | 45 min |
Jakhu, Kufri and Fagu
See the 1-day plan →Jakhu, the Viceregal Lodge and Sankat Mochan · Kufri, Fagu and Mashobra
See the 2-day plan →Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.
See all places →Yes, if you like quiet forests and old buildings. It is much calmer than Kufri. The roads are narrow and winding, so it is a long day of about 108 km.
Keep the town day off a Monday, when the Viceregal Lodge and the museum close, and the Kufri day off a Tuesday, when the nature park closes. The Chail day works on any day.
Instead of Chail, add Naldehra to the Mashobra day and keep a slow day for the Mall, Lakkar Bazaar and the Ridge on foot.