PLACES TO VISIT AROUND SHIMLA
Places to visit around Shimla
Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and below are a few tourist attractions that provide a perfect ambience for sightseeing.
1. KUFRI
Located at an elevation of 8607 ft., Kufri boasts amazing views of the snow-capped mountains. Located 20 kms. away from Shimla, Kufri is one of the most sought after holiday destinations amongst tourists and the honeymooners.
Kufri is also an adventure hub that offers training and facilities for various winter sports like ice skating and skiing. Since Kufri experiences heavy snowfall in winters, it ranks top among the places to visit in December.The Himalayan Wildlife Zoo at Kufri houses rare antelopes, felines, and birds, including Himalayan Monal.The Indira Tourist Park is known for its panoramic views and beautiful surroundings. Another main attraction here isthe Chini Bungalow, famous for its outstanding architecture.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 15 kms.
Best Time to Visit: November to March
2. SUMMER HILL
Summer Hill is one of the most beautiful of the seven hills surrounding Shimla situated at the height of above 2100 feet above sea-level. Located on the Shimla-Kalka railway line, Summer Hill isfamous for its picturesque views, serenity, and calm atmosphere. The location is known for its photogenic landscapes, dense forests and a wide variety of flora & fauna.
Mahatma Gandhi used to stay at Manorville Mansion, the Georgian House of Raj Kumari AmritKaur in Summer Hill, whenever he visited Shimla. In winters the place is fully covered with snow, while in summers the weather is very pleasant. Ideal location for trekking, walking and horse riding.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat :15 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
3. CHAIL
Chail is a quiet hill station located 44 kms. away from Shimla. Surrounded with pine and deodar trees. Chail is known for its world’s highest cricket ground located at 8018 ft above sea level and for the famous heritage hotel, Chail Palace.
For trekkers, campers, and hikers, Chail offers thrilling adventures and beautiful scenic views of the lower Himalayas. Some of the places to see here include – Chail Cricket Ground, Chail Sanctuary, Chail Military School, Rashtriya Military School and Shiva temple ‘Stone Kumbd’.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat :41kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
4. MASHOBRA
Tucked away at a height of about 7700 feet, Mashobra is located at a distance of 10.4 kms. from Shimla. It is one of the most beautiful stopovers where one can spend some quiet time, away from the madding crowd. A lush green expanse, Mashobra is surrounded by rhododendron, oak, pine, and Himalayan Deodar forests.
Apart from enjoying the scenic beauty of the place, one can even indulge in various activities like – rafting, paragliding, camping, bird watching, trekking, skiing, and much more. In winters the lush green expanse is covered with a blanket of snow and becomes an excellent base for skiing.Some of the tourist attractions here, include – The Presidential Retreat, and Reserve Forest Sanctuary.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat :10 kms.
Best Time to Visit: April to June
5. NALDEHRA
Naldehra is one of the top tourist destinations located just 22 kmsaway from Shimla, 2004 metre above sea level. Surrounded by Pine forests, Naldehra is a perfect heaven for tourists looking for natural scenic beauty and for those who want to get away from the hectic city life. Naldehra is famous for its greenery and for the most challenging 18-hole Golf Course located at an altitude of 2044 meters above sea level. Visitors can either go for a trek to unwind at the Shaily Peak, do horse riding or enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Distance from Shimla: 22 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat :23 kms.
Best Time to Visit: April to June
6. NARKANDA
Narkanda is a quaint little town in Shimla district situated at an altitude of 2708 meters on the Hindustan Tibet road. Popular for skiing and winter sports in winters, Narkanda is one of India’s oldest ski destinations.The famous Hatu peak is located 8 kms. away from Narkanda. Soaring at a height of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, the HatuPeak is the highest peak in the entire Shimla district. Surrounded by majestic mountains and forests comprising of Deodar, Fir, Spruce, Cedar and Blue Pine, the Hatu peak also has beautiful Apple orchards and is a favourite spot of the trekkers and campers. The Hatu Mata Temple rests atop the hill on Hatu Peak and holds great religious significance to the locals. The temple is dedicated to Mandodari, the wife of King Ravana.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 61 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
7. TATTAPANI
Tattapani is a popular tourist spot located in Karsog, Mandi district at a distance of 60 kms. from Shimla. The place is famous for river rafting in River Sutlej. A number of other sports such as Zorbing, Canoeing and kayaking are also conducted here. The scenic town also offers a number of small trekking routes, such as the ShikariDevi Peak, Dev Bedrog Peak and Shali Peak.The top attraction of Tattapani, however, is the hot sulphur springs of River Sutlej, which are believed to have curative properties for various health ailments like stress, joint pain, fatigue and other skin diseases.
Distance from Shimla: 60 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 44 kms.
Best Time to Visit: October to June
8. KASAULI
Located on the way from Chandigarh to Shimla, the fairy-tale town of Kasauli is a hilly cantonment town possessing an old-world charm of the times when it was established as an Army cantonment in 1842. Surrounded by the snow-capped Shivalik Hills, Kasauli is lined with a number of sprawling colonial bungalows, quaint cottages tucked amidst oak and pine trees, cobbled pathways, serene churches and small souvenir shops. Some of the main tourists attractions here are – the Monkey Point, Baba Balak Nath Temple, Subathu, Christ Church
, Renukaji, Kasauli Distillery and Dagshai.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 94 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
9. BAROG
Barog is an ideal tourist destination located just 60 kms. awayfrom Chandigarh on the Kalka-Shimla highway in Solan district.This tiny hill town has been blessed with lush and beautiful surroundings. An ideal destination for those in search of serenity and silence. Barog is famous for its tunnel, the longest of the 103 operational tunnels on the route of the UNESCO heritage Kalka-Shimla railway, which is 1143.61m long. Earlier, the place used to be an important stop when the Kalka – Shimla toy train halted here for an hour.Some of the other attractions here are –the Dolanji Bon Monastery, Choor Chandni Peak, Barog Camping Grounds, Suketi Fossil Park, Dharampur, Jatoli Temple and Pine Hill Eco Camp.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 52 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
10. FAGU
Situated at an elevation of 2500 meters, Fagu is a serene snow clad hamlet located on the Hindustan-Tibet Road. Known for swaying green fields, apple orchards and snow covered Himalayas at its backdrop, Fagu serves as a base camp for trekkers, nature lovers and botanists who wish to explore Shimla’s gorgeous countryside. The place is always enveloped in snow and fog, which makes it look magical. One of the major tourist spots in Fagu is the Banthia DevtaTemple, which offers a glimpse of the town’s rich art and culture. The temple draws visitors with its beautiful wooden carvings and scenic beauty.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 18kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
11. GREEN VALLEY
On the way from Shimla to Kufri, you’d come across splendid greenery of mountain ranges on all sides. Set against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and lush green forests of pine and deodar, this idyllic spot is known as Green Valley, where you can witness nature in its full grandeur. Green Valley is one of the most beautiful spots near Shimla where people come for photography and to enjoy the picturesque lush green environs. The place has also been featured in numerous Bollywood films over the years.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 15 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Summers
12 .SANKAT MOCHAN TEMPLE
The Sankat Mochan temple is located at an altitude of 1,975 m above sea level on Kalka-Shimla highway. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the temple offers majestic views of valleys and of the Shimla city. The temple also houses a huge hall where langar is held every Sunday. In addition, people can also organize marriage ceremonies and perform other sacred rituals in the building. There is also a small park for children and an Ayurvedic clinic to treat various ailments. At present, the building features the idols of Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama and Lord Shiva in separate complexes. There is also a temple for Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj and a temple of Lord Ganesha in south Indian architectural style.
Distance from Shimla: 7kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 6.5kms.
Timings: 6.30 A.M to 8 P.M. Summer
Timings: 7 A.M. to 6.30 P.M Winter
13. MOHAN SHAKTI NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK
The Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park sits elegantly beside the banks of the river Ashwani and is roughly 12 km away from the town of Solan. The 40-acre landscape inculcates a rich Vedic culture and is known for its findings on ancient Indian Culture and the Vedas. The tourists can witness around 108 statues of gods that are 4 to 6 feet. The crowd can also catch sight of Swastikas (A holy symbol of luck) spread across the majority of the areas in and around the temple. The temple inside the park consists of various idols and sculptures that symbolize several legends of the Vedic era. Daily rituals and prayers are carried out in the Vedic style, which is a sight to behold.
Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park is the first ancient heritage park in North India and the largest in Himachal Pradesh.
The heritage park is easily accessible from Shimla or Solan and roughly takes an hour to reach the heart of the town.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 40.1kms.
14. TANI JUBBAR LAKE
The place is an ideal picnic spot for families and friends. The thick forests of Cedar trees around the spot add to its ambience. The snow-covered peaks are visible from this spot on a clear sunny day.
The open spaces near the Tani Jubbar Lake make it convenient for adventure lovers and campers to pitch their tents and enjoy a night under the sparkling stars.
The lake is also famous for the ‘Nag Devta’ temple situated there, where locals offer prayers to the serpent god, who is considered to be very powerful and sacred.
The annual colorful fair of Tani Jubbar is also held around the lake, which lasts for 2-3 days. Locals come in colourful clothes to see the fair. The deity too is decorated and dressed up colourfully.
One can also take a dip in the lake and enjoy a barbeque feast around it. It is a perfect spot for camping and for experiencing a peaceful vacation. Make sure to pack all necessary equipment and clothing before visiting this place.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 71 kms. (2 hours 12 mins.)
15. CRAIGNANO
The area sits at an altitude of 7,700 ft above sea level and houses the beautiful Italian-styled villa constructed by Chevalier Federico Peliti. The Italian photographer named this villa in memory of his hometown ‘Craignano’. The wooden architecture of the villa makes it a memorable sight to behold.The villa is situated amidst small streams and a forest of oak & pine trees. The architectural delight includes items from the colonial era like sprawling lawn, night lamps, and stone benches. Craignano is also well-known for housing the world’s highest water lift that stands tall at an altitude of 7657 ft above sea level. The water lift was constructed by the British to supply water in and around Shimla.
The Craignano Nature Park is spread across 9.6 hectares and is filled with exotic flowers and trees making it an enviable sight during spring. The park sits on top of the Mashobra Hill and has become an entertainment hub for families and tourists during the day and for animals & birds during the night.The place also houses adventure activities like fishing, rappelling, rock climbing, and many more.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 14.7 kms. (39 mins)