Weekend getaway from Chandigarh · #2 of 10
Shimla
The former summer capital of British India: the Ridge, Mall Road, Jakhoo temple and Tudor-era buildings at 2,200 m. Reachable by road or the UNESCO Kalka-Shimla toy train. Expect weekend crowds in peak season.
Two days in the old summer capital of British India: the Ridge and Mall on day one with the Jakhoo hilltop, then the Viceregal Lodge, State Museum and an optional Kufri run on day two. Drive up in 3.5 hours, or make the UNESCO toy train from Kalka part of the trip itself.
Getting there
About 113 km; add 30-45 min on weekend mornings for hill traffic.
The UNESCO World Heritage toy train takes about 5 h through 102 tunnels and 900-plus bridges; book seats well ahead.
Day 1 - Saturday
The Ridge, the Mall and Jakhoo- 17:00 AMDrive
Drive to Shimla
Climb NH5 through Parwanoo, Solan and Kandaghat into the deodar belt. Park at a sanctioned lot below the Mall; the core is pedestrian-only.
Tip · Use the Lift near the Mall to skip the steep walk up from Cart Road.
- 211:00 AMSight
The Ridge and Christ Church
Shimla's great open promenade along the ridgeline, anchored by the neo-Gothic Christ Church (foundation 1844), the Town Hall and library. The whole town orbits this space.
📍 The Ridge, Shimla
Tip · Come back after dark when the church is lit and the crowds thin.
- 312:30 PMFood
Lunch on Mall Road
Pick from Mall Road's old cafes and restaurants: Himachali thalis, momos, or coffee-house classics that have fed generations of Shimla walkers.
📍 Mall Road, Shimla
- 42:00 PMSight
Gaiety Theatre and Mall heritage walk
The restored 1887 Gaiety Theatre headlines a Mall Road lined with Tudorbethan facades, Gorton Castle and colonial-era shopfronts. Walk it end to end.
📍 Gaiety Theatre, Shimla
- 53:00 PMActivity
Lower Bazaar lanes
Drop one level below the Mall into the Lower Bazaar's packed lanes: wool shawls, wooden crafts, jewellery and the everyday Shimla the postcards skip.
📍 Lower Bazaar, Shimla
Tip · Haggle gently; woodwork and shawls are the honest buys here.
- 64:30 PMActivity
Jakhoo Temple
Hike or take the ropeway up Jakhoo Hill (2,454 m), Shimla's highest point, to the Hanuman temple and its towering 33 m statue, visible from most of town.
📍 Jakhu Temple, Shimla
Tip · The resident monkeys snatch specs and phones; keep both zipped away.
- 77:00 PMActivity
Evening on the Ridge
Join the whole town's evening stroll; in deep winter South Asia's largest natural ice-skating rink operates below the Mall, and late December brings the winter carnival.
📍 The Ridge, Shimla
- 89:00 PMStay
Overnight near the Mall
Sleep close to the Mall so day two starts on foot. Shimla's range runs from heritage grande dames like the Oberoi Cecil to simple guesthouses off the Ridge.
📍 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Tip · Heated rooms matter from November to February; confirm before booking.
Day 2 - Sunday
Viceregal Shimla and an optional Kufri run- 98:00 AMFood
Breakfast above the Mall
Paranthas, honey-toast and coffee at an old Mall Road institution before the day's walking.
📍 Mall Road, Shimla
- 109:30 AMSight
Viceregal Lodge (IIAS)
The 1888 Scottish-baronial Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill, where the 1945 Simla Conference met, now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Guided tours cover the state rooms and lawns.
📍 Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
Tip · Tours run on fixed slots; buy tickets at the gate early.
- 1111:30 AMSight
Himachal State Museum
A compact 1974 museum of Pahari miniature paintings, regional textiles, jewellery and temple sculpture, a short walk from Scandal Point.
📍 Himachal State Museum, Shimla
Tip · Closed Mondays; check timings on public holidays.
- 121:00 PMFood
Lunch in town
A last Shimla lunch: try a Himachali dham-style thali or the town's beloved chana-bhatura joints near the Mall.
📍 Mall Road, Shimla
- 132:30 PMActivity
Optional Kufri excursion
If time allows, drive 16 km up to Kufri for hill-pony rides, yak photo-ops and Himalayan viewpoints; in January-February it is Shimla's snow-play spot.
📍 Kufri, Himachal Pradesh
Tip · Skip on summer weekends if the approach jam looks long; it is a crowd magnet.
- 145:00 PMDrive
Drive back to Chandigarh
Head down NH5 with a chai halt at Solan or Dharampur. Expect 3.5 to 4 hours to the tricity.
Tip · Fuel up before leaving Shimla; hill pumps queue on Sunday evenings.
Where to eat
The festive plate of the hills: madra, sepu vadi, rajma and sweet rice, served at select Shimla restaurants.
Old-school espresso-and-toast institutions that have anchored Shimla evenings for decades.
Shimla street staples, best grabbed hot between Ridge walks.
When to go
Snowfall usually lands January to early February; carry chains or take the train if snow is forecast.
Peak season and peak crowds; book rooms and train seats weeks ahead.
Lush but landslide-prone; NH5 sees occasional blockages after heavy rain.
Good to know
- The core town is pedestrian-only and steep; pack light and wear walking shoes.
- Book Kalka-Shimla toy train seats well in advance, especially the morning Shivalik Deluxe.
- Monkeys around Jakhoo are professional thieves; carry nothing loose.
