Shimla Tours & Holidays

With mountain views, thick forest and charming crafts shops, Shimla is a jewel in northern India's crown.

As the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh, visitors from throughout India and further afield come to this delightful city nestled in the Himalayan foothills to stroll along its scenic streets and take advantage of its cooler climate. The former summer capital of the British Empire, Shimla is still home to a number of relics from this time. Viceregal Lodge was once the summer residence of the British Viceroy, and this Tudor-style mansion can now be visited as part of your Shimla tour. The British influence can also be seen in Christ church, the second-oldest church in northern India, and the Kalka-Shimla Railway, built in 1904 to connect the city to the country's railway network.

The city's pedestrianised centre is home to the Mall, a street lined with handicraft shops and views of the Himalayas from the Ridge, and Lakkar Bazaar, a bustling market offering toys and carefully crafted wooden souvenirs. A little further out, the Tara Devi temple is one of the city's most visited landmarks, while the surrounding valleys, hills and forests provide ample hiking opportunities. To combine your Shimla tour with a visit to renowned sites such as the Taj Mahal and Ranthambore National Park, take a look at our Golden Triangle and Shimla tour.

If you are keen to sample the local delicacies on your Himalayan tour and travels in Shimla, you're in luck - there are plenty of cafes and restaurants lining the city's pedestrianised Mall, as well as a variety of vendors serving up mouth watering street food. Being located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the city's cuisine is characterised by north Indian staples like rice, breads, and lentils.

One local delicacy that you are likely to find throughout the city is sidu. This much-loved bread is made from yeast-kneaded wheat, green peas, paneer and nuts, and is usually eaten with dal, ghee and chutney. Another ubiquitous dish is madra, which is a mild chickpea curry with a yoghurt-based sauce served at almost every restaurant in the state as well as during festivals. Other local specialities include babru, deep-fried dough patties stuffed with dal paste, and thukpa, a noodle soup made with vegetables such as carrot, cabbage, tomato, green beans and onion, which can be with or without meat. One of the region's most popular meat dishes is chha gosht, a flavourful lamb curry with a yoghurt, gram flour and chilli sauce.