Shimla – The Queen of Hills was declared as the summer capital of British India. It is one of the popular tourist places in India due to its foothills in the Himalayas, rich heritage culture, natural beauty and the glimpse of colonial architecture.
It is a perfect destination for hill retreats and weekend getaways making one ease from the hustle and bustle of the city life.
With Delhi pollution rising day by day, Shimla is the best place to visit and get rejuvenated.
Recently we visited Shimla (Dec 2018) for the first time and got fascinated by its hilly areas and amidst lush green scenery. Secondly, it is a quite reasonable holiday destination from Delhi.
Here is My SHIMLA Travel Diaries from Delhi – Itinerary, and Budget.
Day 1 – Train Journey
Reaching Shimla is quite simple from Delhi. We took the Shatabdi Express from the New Delhi Railway Station in the morning and got down to Kalka station within four hours.
From there, runs Kalka-Shimla toy train, a historic UNESCO World Heritage site. The experience is amazing and all should travel once to enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery with around 864 bridges and 102 tunnels on the way. It feels as if we are traveling back in the old era. It takes 5 hours to reach Shimla.
Around 6 pm we reached our hotel, got relaxed for a while and then went out to feel the breeze of this hilly place.
Day 2 – Shimla City
Blue sky, hilly homes, and the fresh air make mood instantly pleasant. We walked down to explore all the places nearby.
- The Ridge – We first reached The Ridge which is a wide-open street located in the heart of the Shimla. From here, all other places are connected. The vicinity looks great and with our National Flag flying high makes the ridge look glorious.
- Mall Road – It is famous for shopping, eateries and social hangouts.
- Lakkar Bazaar – Famous for artifacts and wooden souvenirs.
- Scandal Point – As told by the local people, The Maharaja of Patiala had eloped with the daughter of the British Viceroy at this point. They were banned to enter Shimla due to this big scandal during the British era way back in 1892 and so the name is Scandal Point.
- Christ Church – It is the second oldest church in North India, situated on the Ridge. A marvelous work of neo-Gothic architecture, this church is a center of attraction for the tourists. The illuminating lights at night give a grandeur view of the church.
After walking and sightseeing for a while, we were searching for good cab drivers/travel agents with whom we can visit the nearby tourist places.
A friend of mine had recommended visiting HP tourism office situated on the Ridge to inquire about the tour.
So we went to the office and got a fine deal of Tour 1 package that includes- Fago, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra.
Also Read: A Trip to Goa for 4days- Itinerary
Day 3 – Fago, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra
The HP tourism bus of 15 seats starts the journey at around 11:30 am. We were accompanied by the tour guide who keep entertaining and informing us about the places.
1) Fago- It is a small village situated 22km away from Shimla which offers beautiful views and is 8000 feet above.
2) Kufri – The lush surrounding oak and pine trees make Kufri a beautiful place to visit. We halted here for lunch in Chini Bungalow, which is now turned to HP Tourism restaurant- Café Lalit- reasonable and tasty food.
3) Naldehra – It is famous for a nine-hole par 66 golf course which is one of the oldest golf courses in India. As told by our tour guide, it was designed by Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India. It has a thick cedar forest and needs to reach the top of the hills to see the spectacular view. Horse ride is available at Rs 500. We preferred walking but if you are not confident and already exhausted, kindly opt for horse riding.
4) Mashobra- As told by our tour guide, this is the place where the English varieties of apple were first grown in the 19th century.
After covering all the four places, we came back to Shimla around 6 pm. The tour experience was pleasant as we enjoyed the places along with the companionship of fellow tourists.
Day 4 – Back To Delhi
After two days of getting rejuvenated and refreshed in Shimla, it was difficult to say goodbye to this idyllic place. So we went for the last time to see the never-ending zeal of the Ridge and spent some time.
Later, we hired a cab to reach Kalka station and from then, Shatabdi Express to reach Delhi.
Foods:
Shimla offers reasonable food outlets and serves delicious foods.
1) Sita Ram & Son- They serve chole bhature. It is a bit different from Delhi style. Located in Lakkar Bazar
2) Zayaka – Located in Lakkar Bazar, serves irresistible non-veg food items. Do try out the kebabs.
3) Indian Coffee House – Situated in Mall road is famous for coffee.
4) Army canteen – Located in Army base, was near our hotel. It is quite reasonable and serves all food items.
Also Read: Staycation at Club Mahindra Jim Corbett
Shopping:
- The Mall road
- Lakkar Bazaar
Travel Budget from Delhi – Shimla
Expenses *Approx Cost Per Person
1)Hotel 4300 for 3 Nights(Double Room)
2)Transport
Delhi to Kalka by Shatabdi Train 680
Kalka to Shimla 260
Return Trip from Kalka to Delhi Shatabdi 815
Cab ride from Shimla to Kalka 750
3)Sight Seeing-HP tourism 300
4)Foods and Drinks 2000
Total 9105
Things to Remember
- According to your season visit, carry your clothing essentials.
- Wear comfortable footwear as a need to walk a lot. I preferred shoes throughout.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses to protect from sunrays at high altitude.
- If you suffer from motion sickness, then do carry medications as it is hilly area and has meandering roads.
- Take care of your belongings as monkeys roam freely
Check out the below video of our Shimla trip.