Firstly proceed to Lower Bazaar area, with its crowded lanes lined with shops selling everything from wooden items, winter clothes to mobile phones and vegetables, this buzzing marketplace, is the main shopping destination for the visitors, locals and villagers. The street food culture here is a mix of traditional delicacies and popular fast food influences.
Start the journey from Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market). You will find The crowded narrow lanes lined with shops selling fragrant fruits and fresh vegetables.
Arrive at 117 years old sweet shop which is still one of the most sought after sweet shops in Shimla. Find some time to speak to the owner (if available)to pick up some historical anecdotes and try few sweetmeats. After the sweet stuff continue to savour some lip smacking pickles and preserves from another legendary place known for its traditionally prepared pickles and sweet preserves.
From there walk towards the most popular ice cream joint in the town. This place’s chocobars and mango duds were the best chilled treats that most of the children of Shimla has grown up eating.
Continue walk towards Lakkar Bazaar, to visit one of the most iconic eateries in Shimla, whose Puri Chana is hugely popular with visitors and locals alike.
After this treat walk towards a Coffee House whose old world charm takes you back in time and gives you a taste of a bygone era. Coffee here is amazing but it is the ambience that made it super special.
Keep walking on mall road to try an amazing hot Gulab Jamun from the iconic snack shop. continue to taste unique Parati Kulcha. This spicy and savoury dish is a must try delicacy in Shimla. End this experience with a cup of tea along with some of their very famous tea time snacks.
Duration: 04 / 05 hours
Total Duration: 06 hours | Walking Duration: 02 – 03 hours | Level – Easy to Moderate
Packed with history and architecture and enlivened by delightful anecdotes and shopping, this walk is designed to provide you with a distilled experience of Shimla. A drop by vehicle from The Hotel leaves one on the top of Mount Jakhoo, the hill that towers over Shimla at 2455 Mts. A temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman crowns the forested hill. After spending some curious moments with the monkeys that crowd the temple, a sharp descent brings one on the famous Mall, a walking promenade that offers some exquisite samples of colonial architecture as well as a plethora of shopping options.
Walk down the western end of the Mall to the Choura maidan through some historic buildings of the Raj Era, such as the neo-tudor building of The State Bank of India and the unusual cast iron and steel structure that once held the offices of the Railway Board and Department of Commerce. Adjoining it lies the Gorton Castle, in neo-gothic splendor, the one-time Secretariat of the Government of India. The walk continues to the State Museum perched on Inverarm hill, a display of Himachal’s heritage, culture and history.
After a tour of the artifacts on display, continue towards former Viceregal Lodge atop Shimla’s Observatory Hill. Even today, colonial grandeur and nostalgia for a long-gone way of life can be experienced here in a single morning. Built on the ripples of Shimla’s western arm, this was the official residence of the British Viceroy of India. After a tour of the imposing interiors and the expansive lawns of the Lodge, the walk ends and you will be picked up and dropped back to hotel.
This jaw dropping Kalka Shimla Rail Car journey is an amazing experience to travel to the mountains as the experience is just outstanding.
This Rail Car was specially introduced for the Viceroy of India in 1928 and now it is available for you as your private vehicle on the railway track.
This is a single coach with ten seats only with a driver and becomes your private car on the rails. This four and a half Km journey fills you with a thrilling experience as you travel through the villages, forests, tunnels, bridges and tiny railway stations.
Duration: 04 / 05 hours
Your visit to Shimla is not complete without visiting a Heritage Home, because when you think of Shimla you think of the British and their Heritage Homes. They built these houses and resided in them for most of their life or some were here even after the Indian freedom. And then they sold these Heritage Homes to the rich Indian families who are still using them, either as their summer houses or their permanent homes.
Let us take you to a Heritage Home in Shimla from the Raj and take you back to the bygone era. Thick woods surround this House, and it offers excellent sunset. This Heritage Home still holds the old ambiance with its English Garden around and antique furniture inside. The high doors, grand windows, high ceilings, and thick walls play a vital role in making this house a colonial house.
They serve you drinks with Bar-be-Que while you sit around the bonfire wrapped in your shawl or thick coat. The chef serves hot snacks from the tandoor. This brings a dreamlike experience to your life.
Shimla Water catchment area is approximately 08 Km from city centre. It has been conserved for more than 136 years. In the British times in India around 25 water tanks were made in the reservoir, and water supplies were started in 1878 to Shimla town through gravity system. With the passage of time some of the natural resources have become seasonal and 14 sources are perennial. This was from here that the water supplies for the vice regal lodge were made through a direct pipe line into the lodge.
It is a serene and relaxed level walk offering an experience of nature and wildlife on grand scale. The landscape beckons the nature lovers to get a lifetime experience in pristine and silent forests with cedar, Fir, spruce and oaks interwinning with each other. The area have more than 300 species of plants and more than 8 species of mammals including Goral barking deers, Languors, Porcupine and Yellow throated marten. Over 100 species of birds are reported from the sanctuary. The walk through the sanctuary is very pleasant to enjoy the forest trail with animals and birds sighting.
Timing: 10 AM to 04 PM
Permit required
Located about half an hour away from Mashobra, this thinly populated village was founded by Raja Chand and is known for its splendid views, ruins and greenery, it is perched on a hill at a height of 1,620 metres.
What to expect
- Explore the ruins from the times of British Raj.
- Do check out the remains of Viceroy’s Bungalow.
- Don’t forget to witness the commune hall called “Devrah”.
- Pray at Kalyanu Deo Temple, Jagdamba Mata Temple and a small Vishnu Temple called as Thakurdwara.
- Check out frescos of the local Shiva Temple.
- Meet the villagers and learn about the daily routines.
- Visit village kitchen gardens and local fields.
- Learn more about their occupations and agricultural techniques and living.
- Cooking demonstration of by the village ladies.
- End your day with a delicious home-cooked meal inspired by our locally grown produce.
Shali Tibba is the highest peak in the vicinity of Shimla. A magnificent isolated pinnacle with a Kali temple on the top, the ascent up is an ancient trail through dense pine forests and rolling alpine pastures. The peak commands a majestic view of endless snow covered ranges along with the Sutlej valley and the densely forested hills of Shimla, Fagu and Narkanda.
Walking duration: 05 – 06 hours (uphill & downhill mix)
Level: Moderate to Difficult
Depart Shimla early morning by car. Breakfast (packed) at Mashobra which is noted for its apple Orchards and thick woods of oak and pine. Proceed via Baldhea along a fascinating dirt track till Khatnol; an isolated village perched amidst rolling fields. Here we park the car to start the ascent on foot. The landscape changes dramatically as we follow the ancient trail towards the peak.
The trail is well defined going via U bends most of the way rather than straight uphill which makes walking a bit easy. The final climb is little tough but is amply rewarded by the breathtaking view from the top.
After a visit to the historic temple and a session of photography, enjoy a sumptuous packed lunch. We start the quick descent down to Khatnol. One is back in the car by sunset to start the drive back to Shimla. Reach Shimla by late evening and drop at hotel.
If you are short on time and want to have the taste and feel of Himalayan forests in a quick way, this is the trail for you. Short with slight descent this walk with Cedar, pine and Oak trees provides you some majestic views of surrounding hills and Shimla water catchment area which is one of the best preserved forests of North India.
Total duration: 03 hours
Walking duration: 35 – 40 mins
Level: Easy
If you are short on time and want to have the taste and feel of Himalayan forests in a quick way, this is the trail for you. Short with slight descent this walk with Cedar, pine and Oak trees provides you some majestic views of surrounding hills and Shimla water catchment area which is one of the best preserved forests of North India.
Pickup from hotel and drop at helipad. Trek starts from Kalyani helipad (2700 m) which provides with some excellent views in 360 degrees. Start walking down from the helipad and proceed on a beaten trail which descents very gradually. The train hugs the hillside on one side and you get majestic views of Shimla water catchment area on another side which in itself is a lovely forest.
After approx 30 minutes, the trail joins a dirt road and you can see Apple orchards and some traditional houses on your right which gives and glimpse of the local life of the area. After another 10 minutes walk on the dirt road you will reach at the end of the trail at Dhalli from where you will be picked up and drop back to your hotel.
