India Shimla Tours

Shimla spreads across a forested ridge in the lower Himalayas and served as the summer capital of British India from 1864 until 1939, when the colonial government relocated its entire administration here each year to escape the heat of the plains. That history left behind a hill station built around a pedestrian promenade, timber-framed cottages and a skyline of church spires and colonial facades, all set against pine-covered slopes.

Tours here typically combine a walk along the Mall with the town's landmark buildings and a ride on the region's narrow-gauge railway, and Shimla also works as a base for exploring the wider India Himalayan circuit further into Himachal Pradesh.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway

Completed in 1903, the Kalka-Shimla line climbs roughly 96 kilometers on a two-foot gauge track, passing through more than 100 tunnels and crossing over 800 bridges and viaducts on its way up to the town. UNESCO added the railway to its World Heritage list in 2008 as part of the Mountain Railways of India, alongside the Darjeeling and Nilgiri lines. The slow climb through pine forest and terraced hillsides remains one of the more distinctive ways to arrive in Shimla, and a short round trip on the toy train is a common addition to longer tours.

Christ Church and the Ridge

The Ridge, an open square at the center of town, links the Mall to Christ Church, a neo-Gothic building consecrated in 1857 that ranks among the oldest churches in North India. Its yellow facade and stained-glass windows, some depicting Faith, Hope, Charity and Fortitude, remain a fixture of Shimla's skyline, and the surrounding square is where much of the town's daily life plays out, from evening strolls to seasonal gatherings.

Jakhu Temple

Perched on Shimla's highest point at roughly 2,455 meters, Jakhu Temple is dedicated to Hanuman and reached either by a steep uphill walk from the Ridge or by a shorter cable car ride. A large statue of Hanuman marks the site, visible from much of the town below, and the temple grounds double as a viewpoint over the surrounding ridgelines on clear days, weather permitting given how quickly cloud cover can move in at this altitude.

The Mall and Scandal Point

Closed to private vehicles, the Mall runs along the ridge as Shimla's main promenade, lined with colonial-era buildings that now hold shops, cafes and the town hall. Scandal Point, a junction partway along its length, takes its name from a colonial-era rumor involving a British officer and a maharaja's daughter and remains the town's usual meeting spot, with the Himalayan foothills visible beyond the rooftops on clear afternoons. Shimla also serves as a jumping-off point for shorter trips to Kufri, a small hill about 16 kilometers away known for winter tobogganing and pony rides.

Tour Packages

Shimla is often paired with other Himachal hill stations rather than visited in isolation, and multi-day itineraries such as the 7 Days Himachal Tour combine it with destinations like Manali or Kullu for a broader look at the state's mountain scenery.