PLACES TO VISIT AROUND SHIMLA
Popular Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions in Shimla
Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and below are a few tourist attractions that provide a perfect ambience for sightseeing.
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 is the Chini Bungalow, famous for its outstanding architecture.
Distance from Shimla: 20 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 15 kms.
Best time to Visit: November to March
Short Description: Located 20 kms. away from Shimla, Kufri winter sports like ice skating and skiing.
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 is famous 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 Amrit Kaur 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 Shimla: 5 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 4.4 kms.
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year
Short Description
Located on the Shimla-Kalka railway line, Summer Hill is famous for its picturesque views, serenity, and calm atmosphere
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 Shimla: 45.4 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 41 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
Short Description
Located 44 kms. away from Shimla, Chail is known for its world’s highest cricket ground and beautiful scenic views of the lower Himalayas.
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 such as – 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 – Craignano, The Presidential Retreat, and Reserve Forest Sanctuary.
Distance from Shimla: 10.4 km
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 10 kms.
Best Time to Visit: April to June
Short Description
Located at a distance of 10.4 kms. from Shimla, Mashobra is famous for its scenic beauty and serenity.
NALDEHRA
Naldehra is one of the top tourist destinations located just 22 kms away 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
Short Description
Located just 22 kms away from Shimla, Naldehra is famous for its most challenging 18-hole Golf Course and trekking trails.
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 Hatu Peak 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 Shimla: 65 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 61 kms.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
Short Description
Situated at an altitude of 2708 meters on the Hindustan Tibet road Narkanda is one of India’s oldest ski destinations.
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 Shikari Devi 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
Short Description
Located at a distance of 60 kms. away from Shimla, Tattapani is famous for river rafting in River Sutlej and for hot sulphur springs which are believed to have curative properties for various health ailments.
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 Shimla: 72 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 94 kms.
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year
Short Description
Located on the way from Chandigarh to Shimla, Kasauli is a hilly cantonment town possessing an old-world charm.
BAROG
Barog is an ideal tourist destination located just 60 kms. away from 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 Shimla: 53.4 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 52 kms.
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year
Short Description
Located just 60 kms. away from Chandigarh on the Kalka-Shimla highway, Barog is famous for its longest tunnel and lush surroundings.
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 Devta Temple, 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 Shimla: 18 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 18 kms.
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year
Short Description
Located at a distance of 18 kms. from Shimla, Fagu is known for swaying green fields, apple orchards and snow covered Himalayas at its backdrop.
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 Shimla: 8 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 15 kms.
Best Time to Visit : Summers
Short Description
Green Valley is one of the most beautiful spots near Shimla where people come for photography and to enjoy the picturesque views.
TARA DEVI TEMPLE
Perched atop the Tarav Parvat, the Tara Devi Temple is located 12 kms. away from Shimla and is dedicated to Goddess Tara, a goddess of the Tibetan Buddhists and one of Goddess Durga’s nine sisters. While the temple exudes a serene vibe, what draws tourists to this destination is its fine Pahari-style architecture. Inside the temple, the doors and the wooden structure have been designed with the miniatures of Goddesses and there has been extensive use of gold and silver.
The temple was constructed around 250 years ago and housed a wooden idol of Goddess Tara Devi in its complex, brought from West Bengal.The temple was later shifted to its present location and houses an idol that has been made by using a rare combination of eight elements. Tara Devi boasts amazing views of the beautiful valleys and of Shimla.
Distance from Shimla: 12 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 8.8 kms.
Timings: 7:00 am to 6:30 pm; every day
Short Description
Tara Devi Temple is located 12 kms. away from Shimla and is dedicated to Goddess Tara.
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: 7 kms.
Distance from Hotel Royale Retreat : 6.5 kms.
Timings: 6:30 am to 8:00 pm in summers and from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm in winters.
Short Description
The Sankat Mochan temple is located 7 kms. away from Shimla and is dedicated to Lord Hanuman.