Himachal Pradesh · India
Where to stay in Shimla
Shimla is a city in Himachal Pradesh, India, home to about 207,000 people.
- Best months
- March to May and October
- Nearest airport
- IXC60 km · Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport
- Currency
- INRIndian rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Language
- English, Hindi
About
About Shimla
Shimla, also known as Simla (the official name until 1972), is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India.
Shimla has a population of around 172,000 (which may increase by another 100,000 with the seasonal influx of voyagers). Most residents are from the Pahadi community (the natives of Himachal Pradesh), but there is also a sizable minority from Punjab and Sindh, who moved to Shimla during the partition. As a result, the languages spoken in Shimla include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English which serves as a lingua franca. There are quite a few theories regarding the origin of the word Shimla. Locals insist that the name originates from Shyamali Devi, a reincarnation of the fearsome Goddess Kali.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Shimla
See
- Chadwick Falls
- Christ Church
- Hip Hip Hurray Amusement Park
- Lower Bazaar
- The Mall
- The Ridge
- Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary
- Viceregal Lodge
- Statue of Lala Lajpat Rai
- Jakhoo Temple
- Jakhu Ropeway
- Tara Devi Temple
Do
- Paragliding
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Shimla to stay in
There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. Online booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over a reserve a room in person. Rooms in Shimla range US$5–600.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Shimla
129 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Arki Fort | 1695 | 20.3 km |
| Chail Palace | 1892 | 14.6 km |
| Chapslee Estate | 0.9 km | |
| Apple Green Homestay | 12.1 km | |
| Banjara Mountain Retreat Chail Hills | 11.9 km | |
| Capital O 84320 Heaven's Mahasu Villa OYO Rooms | 4.6 km | |
| Chails Hamlet | 13.9 km | |
| Club Mahindra Pristine Peaks, Naldehra | 8.4 km | |
| Collection O 45133 Chotta Shimla OYO Rooms | 1.9 km | |
| Collection O 48870 Hotel Kalra Regancy OYO Rooms | 2.1 km | |
| Collection O 81604 The Ridge View OYO Rooms | 0.4 km | |
| Collection O 83091 Hotel Rock Sea Shimla Near The Lift On Mall Road OYO Rooms | 0.5 km | |
| Collection O 83430 Hotel Sanjauli Inn OYO Rooms | 2.3 km | |
| de Exotica Crest | 19.5 km | |
| Hill View Cottage | 3.8 km | |
| Hotel Cardinal Royale Retreat Shimla | 0.7 km | |
| Hotel de Park | 1.2 km | |
| Hotel Hot Spring | 17.8 km | |
| Hotel Willow Banks | 0.5 km | |
| Larisa Resort Shimla | 3.5 km | |
| Marigold Sarovar Portico Shimla | 7.0 km | |
| Mashobra Greens | 6.1 km | |
| Mountain View Resort | 15.2 km | |
| One Earth Aachman Nature Valley Resort | 6.0 km | |
| OYO 10432 Hotel Swaran Palace OYO Rooms | 15.8 km | |
| OYO 10692 Hotel Shubham OYO Rooms | 0.7 km | |
| OYO 10942 Home INN OYO Rooms | 3.0 km | |
| OYO 11095 Hotel Sai Stay Inn OYO Rooms | 2.4 km | |
| OYO 12444 Sunshine Resort OYO Rooms | 11.9 km | |
| OYO 14170 Kufri Star Inn OYO Rooms | 8.5 km | |
| OYO 14177 Hotel HHH OYO Rooms | 15.1 km | |
| OYO 14202 Rajinder Regency OYO Rooms | 4.5 km | |
| OYO 14212 Tanwar Regency OYO Rooms | 1.2 km | |
| OYO 14460 Green Park Homestay OYO Rooms | 3.4 km | |
| OYO 15765 Hotel Eve OYO Rooms | 0.6 km | |
| OYO 1706 Hotel The Alpine Heritage Residency OYO Rooms | 1.1 km | |
| OYO 18421 Uphill Courtyard OYO Rooms | 3.9 km | |
| OYO 19402 Broadway Grand OYO Rooms | 2.5 km | |
| OYO 22330 Apple Avenue Camps OYO Rooms | 7.6 km | |
| OYO 22748 Barowalia Resorts OYO Rooms | 0.7 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Shimla
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Shimla are March to May and October. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; July is the wettest, with about 361 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Shimla: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (IXC), about 60 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kullu Manali Airport (KUU, 86 km) and Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport (DED, 140 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Getting around in Shimla is easy as compared to other cities in Himachal Pradesh. Most, especially downtown with the ridge, can be walked but due to the hills Shimla is on, it can sometimes be exhausting. You can get a local bus from 7AM to 9PM for ₹10, and that too for any destination in the city. In case you choose to travel by taxi, it is affordable and convenient for sightseeing. Apart from this, there are some tourist buses run by HPTDC every day for getting around in Shimla, e.g. from the Rivoli Bus Stop.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
IXC · Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport
KUU · Kullu Manali Airport
DED · Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Shimla
Eat
Most of the restaurants in Shimla are cheap, comfortable, atmospheric and offer good multi-cuisine food. However, if you are looking for local cuisine, the options are surprisingly limited. Along the highway there are more than thirty restaurants, dhabas and fast food places.
Drink
Himachal is known as the fruit bowl of India. It has a thriving food processing industry that churns out fruit-based drinks, squashes and concentrates. The most famous flavors are plum, litchi, strawberry, mango and guava. For alcoholic drinks, try the locally brewed wines such as apricot, plum and apple & ginger cider. In predominantly Tibetan areas, a rice wine known as Chang is popular.
Stay safe
Beware of greedy monkeys which may attack anytime to grab food from your hands. Don’t make any eye contact with them. Try to ignore them while passing by. Any abrupt move from your side may pass the wrong message on these creatures. Sometimes, temperature goes below freezing level, especially during winter season. So travelers are advised to carry appropriate clothing. Do not exchange the currency/money in black market. Ask for receipt when exchanging money at any authorized establishment.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Shimla: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Shimla?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Shimla are March to May and October. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; July is the wettest, with about 361 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Shimla?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (IXC), about 60 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kullu Manali Airport (KUU, 86 km) and Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport (DED, 140 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Shimla?
Indian rupee (INR).
Nearby
Destinations near Shimla
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.