5 Reasons to Visit Shimla in Summers

Kalka-Shimla Toy Train

The beautiful capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is among the most sought after hill towns in India. The top 5 Reasons to Visit Shimla in Summers include amazingly soothing climate, sightseeing, shopping options, great accommodation choices and bundled tour packages. The British rulers preferred the city a lot for its nice climate and they called it the "Queen of Hills". Tourists enjoy exploring the Pine and Deodar forests, deep valleys, rivers and natural springs in the region. Honeymooning couples often prefer it.

Ways to Reach Shimla

Thankfully, Shimla has excellent connectivity with most parts of India owing to its location. The Jubbarhatti Airport is located from 2 kms from the town and it is connected with many airports of India. It has daily flights to Capital city Delhi. The nearby rail station is Kalka which is about 96 km away. The journey from Kalka to the capital of Himachal Pradesh is through toy trains which take about 6 hours. Road connectivity from Shimla to major Northern cities is good. Buses from Agra, Delhi and Amritsar ply to Shimla regularly.

Nuances of Shimla You Should Know

Wide View from The Ridge in Shimla

There are some specific charms of Shimla as a tourist place that tourists absolutely relish once they arrive here. The city is placed atop a mountain ridge and a flight of worn out wooden stairs lead you to the town centre. Walking around the city is hassle free and honking of vehicles and pollution will not bother you. You will find plenty of monkeys in the city and occasionally a few domesticated yaks are also found. The architecture in Shimla is a mix of colonial fashion with modern civilization. There are oodles of ramshackle wooden structures made in the British era and you will also see grand colonial buildings with Victorian architecture.

Top Places to Visit Near Shimla

When exploring the picturesque capital city of Himachal Pradesh, you get plenty of things to see. The Tara Devi Temple is what religious visitors head to. It is placed atop a hill, which is almost 11 km from the Shimla bus stand. In the city, you will come across a few nice museums too. You can check out the State Museum as well as the Photo Art Gallery.

A lot of tourists prefer taking a leisurely stroll at the famous Mall of Shimla. The thoroughfare spread over 7 km has exquisite Victorian Architecture. Those with love for wildlife can visit the Kufri zoo. It is located about 13 km from the capital city. You may see the majestic Himalayan Snow Leopard and some breeds of the Musk Deer. Adventure lovers can opt for trekking in adjacent mountains. If you are in the mood for picnic, opt for The Glen.

Eating and Shopping in Shimla

Lakkar Bazar in Shimla

In Shimla, you can shop a lot and take home enticing souvenir for close ones. Down the Mall road, you will find the Lakkar Bazaar where you can buy a variety of winter garments. The Tibetan carpets and wooden toys are also sold like hot cakes. Food products made by Himachal food-processing industry like fruit juice and jams can also be purchased.

Food loving tourists cannot complete their exploration of Himachal Pradesh as a tourist destination without tasting foods in Shimla. Most eateries in the city are easy on the wallet. There are some top class restaurants like The Devicos and Oberoi Cecil Restaurant. You may try out locally brewed alcohol. The accommodation options in Shimla are aplenty. You get dormitories as well as luxury resorts. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is the best source for booking and getting information on hotels.