Shimla Hill Station Shimla the capital of the glorious state of Himachal Pradesh is a fabulous hill-station surrounded by dense forests that comprises of oak, deodar, pine and rhododendron forests. Shimla has abundance of natural beauty and the locals are privileged to live in such panoramic locations. This place can enamor anyone with its beauty. Shimla has a lot of variety to offer. Shimla is an ideal place for fishing, golfing, skiing, trekking etc. Adventuring here which definitely make you enthusiastic and spirited. For more energetic entertainment, hit the indoor roller-skating rink in Lakkar Bazaar or go open-air ice-skating above the Rivoli Bus stand. There are always amazing things to be explored in its surrounding countryside. Fagu, Kulfri and Naldhera are some of the well- known places for adventuring and camping too. Long walks in the deep green woods will give you a scintillating feeling. The Shimla Ridge gives you a magnificent view of the sunset which is indescribable. Tour to Shimla will captivate you with its natural charm and enable you to get closer to nature. One of the attractions of this hill-station are its apple trees. The sight of a cluster of apple trees with leave you dumbstruck. Situated at an altitude of 2159 m Shimla is engulfed by snow-covered mountains, green pastures dense forests and wholesome climate. These overall conditions draw tourist to this hill station. The toy train ride from Kalka station to Shimla takes you through a picturesque route, which will keep you spellbound and memories of which you will relish forever. Best Season: Best Season / Best time to visit Shimla Sep - June Shimla is beautiful throughout the year and can be visited in any month, however, September to June will be the best months for travelling to Shimla. Winter (October to February) are ideal for enjoying snowfall, skiing and ice skating. Summer 14 to 28°C, Winter -2 to 10°C Average temperature during winter is 8°C and can dip as low as -2°C. This is a good time for honeymooning. Summer (March to June) are the suitable time to enjoy the scenic beauty. Temperature ranges between 15°C to 30°C and is ideal for indulging in paragliding, trekking, camping and rafting. There will be no snowfall, but snow can be enjoyed on very high altitudes. Monsoon (July to mid September) are not the best time to visit as excessive rain can result in land slides. While summers are good for adventure and sightseeing, winters is perfect for honeymooning and enjoying snow. The natural beauty is at its maximum during monsoons but travel can be made difficult due to unexpected landslides. History & Culture (9) Arki Fort, Arki Built by Rana Prithvi Singh, Arki Fort carries a great history of blood shed and power struggle. Till 1815 this formation was the strong hold of the Gurkhas from where they led their war against the British. Now turned in to a heritage hotel, the then strong hold of the erstwhile Baghai rulers prese... More Arki Palace, Arki A dazzling citadel on the backdrop of a wood side hill, Arki palace is quite famous for its lovely frescos of the Arki Kalam style. This gargantuan structure displays splendid architectural works with intricately designed roofs and motifs depicts various themes of contemporary importance. Though in ... More Diwan-i-Khas, Arki Diwan-i-Khas or the Audience Hall is built by Ram Shara Singh, one of the great patrons of arts among the Arki rulers. This astounding room of art is ornamented with wall friezes, encompassing the Kangra, Arki, Rajasthani, Kullu and European styles of miniature paintings. From Indian mythology to... More Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex is one of the most historic monuments in Shimla. This 122 years old complex has been reopened for public in June 2010. The complex is easily approachable as it occupies strategic location along the Mall Road. Build in the gothic Victorian style, the theater is an imp... More Himachal State Museum Located on the Mall road, the State Museum is a colonial building set in spacious lawns. Having a good collection of coins, photographs, local handicrafts and other items the museum is a humongous building. The doll gallery consists of a collection of Himachali bride and tribal dolls while the colle... More Nalagarh Palace, Solan An imposing structure located atop a hillock, Nalagarh Palace is a popular tourist attraction in Solan. Well manicured gardens, arresting views of the Shivalik ranges and a unique blend of Mughal and Indian style of architecture, makes this palace a must visit. The palace was converted into a heri... More Observatory Hill (Institute of Advanced Studies) Observatory Hill in the west of Shimla, houses as the Indian institute of Advanced Study (offering various courses) and is a famous attraction in Shimla. Observatory hill is a high peak in Shimla, offering splendid views of the surroundings. Much of the institute is closed for public view. The obs... More Palace Hotel, Chail The majestic Chail Palace built by the Maharaja of Patiala was once the lodging place of British and now converted as a luxurious hotel in the midst of pine and deodar forests. This majestic palace, constructed in 1891, is placed in approximately 75 acres of land and has actually a royal background ... More Viceregal Lodge Located on the Observatory Hill at the western end of the Shimla ridge (4 km), the Viceregal Lodge is a humongous structure ringed by tall pines. It was built in 1888 as the residence of Viceroy Lord Dufferin. It can be reached by taxi or bus within 5 mins. Located 2 km further west of the Himach... More Nature (3) Shaily Peak, Naldehra A natural peak with greenery everywhere, Shaily peak has panoramic views of Naldehra. The road to Shaily peak is memorable, the scenery around Khatnol leaves the traveler in awe.An early morning trek is ideal and one can also take a pony ride to reach up to the peak. This is a nice peak for adventu... More The Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri The Himalayan National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh. Boasting of 180 species of birds and rare mammals, the national park is a great bio-diversity and eco tourism hub. Tourists can look forward to see musk deer and the elusive snow leopards, besides rare an... More The Ridge Located in the heart of Shimla, The Ridge road is a large open space which runs east to west alongside the Mall Road, and joins it at the Scandal point on the west side. On the east side, the Ridge road leads to Lakkar Bazaar, a wooden crafts market. The large water reservoir present at the Ridge ac... More Wildlife (2) Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, Chail A former hunting reserve of the Royals of Patiala Kingdom, Chail Sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1976. This sanctuary perched at the top of the mountains, at varying altitudes from 701 meter to 2180 meter above sea level provides for great views. The area has a dense forest cover with... More Manjathal Santuary, Solan Majathal Sanctuary is a wildlife hub located around Solan. Spreading on an area of 55,670 sq km, the sanctuary is a forested area as declared by the Himachal government and has a wide species of flora and fauna. Popular sightings in the sanctuary include diversity of gorals, goats and many variet... More Religious (9) Christ Church Known to be the second oldest church in northern India, the Christ Church is the most fascinating building on Mall road. The clock on the church tower was donated in 1860 and the porch added in 1873. Visible from miles away, the design of this place is marvelous. In Shimla's 75 years of reigning a... More Gurudwara Sahib, Chail The faith is Chail is amply seen in some of the religious destinations and frequently visited by the tourists in Shimla and other beautiful attractions nearby Chail. One such important place is Gurudwara Sahib, constructed in 1907 on Pandhawa hillocks. This is a very small construction with beau... More Hanuman Temple, Shoghi Shoghi houses numerous temples in its villages. One of such temple in Shoghi is the Hanuman temple, with Main deity as the Anjaneya, the Lord Hanuman. This is an ancient temple which was in ruins and recently renovated. Local devotees believe that praying and presenting offers to this temple will as... More Jakhu Temple Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Jakhu temple is a century old spiritual edifice. Situated at the highest peak of Jakhu hill at an altitude of 2.5 km, the temple attracts devotees and adventure freaks who venture into trekking as well as mountaineering activities organized by the Himachal Pradesh governme... More Kali Temple, Shoghi Jakhoo (Jaghu) hills is a hillock of morethan 8500 ft nearby Shoghi and this beautiful hillock breasts one of the most important and old, nearly 150 year old, Kali-Bari temple. The main deities in the temple are Kali, Shyamala and Chandi, three different forms of Shakti Devi, an incarnation of Godd... More Luturu Mahadev Temple, Arki An amazing peace of architecture, which is constructed high up in the lofty peaks, Luturu Mahadev Temple is a standing testimony to the never ending might of the rajputs. Surrounded by the unreceptive crags and the inhospitable terrain forces oneself to think about the strain that might have taken... More Mahakali Temple, Naldehra On the banks of the calm and beautiful Mahakali Lake, the Mahakali temple stands with all its piety and mighty. The temple is dedicated to Maha Kali alias Goddess Kali Devi.