India never fails to surprise, does it? Even in her chaos and commotion, she just cannot stop being herself. She has the most amazing, picturesque locales with the mighty Ganges and all the important rivers adorning her as ornaments, the beautiful snow-capped mountains, the desert, everything, is just an array of colors. And Shimla, well it is one of those places where you would want to lose your soul in. Still having the colonial era vibes about it, Shimla is full of natural scenic beauty. The place is itself so wonderful, exuding a medieval charm about it that you just want to go there and drown yourself in the beauty and forget about everything else. While in Shimla, there are a lot of things that you can do and enjoy.
We bring to you some of the very amazing things that you can try out while you are in the beautiful hill station of Shimla. So, 10 things to do in Shimla are:
1- Travelling in Toy Train
This is one of the major things that you simply cannot miss while being in Shimla. There are a limited number of narrow-gauge train tracks in the entire country and it is really a boon to have such a track on the Shimla- Kalka rail track. Unleash the child in you by taking a ride on this toy train, gliding through the lush green hills, allowing you to soak in the beauty of nature. You can even watch the other end of the train as it glides through the curves of the hills. Also on a creepy note, this train also passes through the tunnel number 33, which is one of the haunted places in India! And you should consider yourselves really lucky if it starts to drizzle.
2- River Rafting in Tattapani
Tattapani is the hot water spring located near the Sutlej River. The place is situated at a distance of about 35 km from Theog and about 60 m away from Shimla. One of the most wonderful places in Shimla, Tattapani in local dialect means ‘Hot springs’. The hot springs on the right bank of the Sutlej River are truly one of the wonders of nature and are full of scenic beauty. River rafting, trekking etc. are some of the adventure sports that you can try here. River rafting at Tattapani is perhaps the most exciting and adventurous thing that you will find in Shimla, in addition to trekking.
3- Shopping at Lakkar Bazaar
As soon as the sun sets, the lights go up in this beautiful market of hand crafted wooden items and souvenirs. Lakkar bazaar is one of the few places in the country entirely dedicated to hand crafted wooden items and handmade shawls. There is a long stretch of shops with wooden artifacts on display. This market also has woolen wear at cheap prices apart from the artifacts. One can also get a variety of local handmade shawls and Nehru jackets.
4- Ice Skating
Asia’s largest open air ice skating rink is present in Shimla. Show your special ice skating skills here or learn to do some ice skating. The open air ice rink attracts thousands of tourists each year who look for an amazing ice skating experience. The ice at the rink is formed by a special technique that the British people taught the Garhwali Highlanders. There is a thick forest around the ice rink which keeps it well hidden and the low temperatures during the winter season prevent the ice from getting melted.
5- Seeing the Beautiful Sunrise At Chadwick Falls
Originally known as Chidku Jhaar, meaning falls which can only be reached by a bird flying on the top, the falls have a really good height. Located at a distance of about 7 km from Shimla, the deep gorge has a massive height of about 86 m, with crystal clear waters and greenery all around, Deodar and Pine trees standing tall in all their glory. As the waterfall feeds on rainwater, the monsoons find the place in the best of its magnificence. This is a good place to relax and spend some quality time.
6- Trekking Up to Jakhoo Temple
Another place of natural scenic beauty, this place is also sacred to the Hindus, due to the presence of a massive Hanuman idol in the temple, the largest one in the entire world. Legend has it that when Lord Hanuman was supposed to go to the Himalayas for getting the Sanjeevani herb, to save Lord Laxman, he was said to have stopped at the hills for a short rest, explaining the importance of the place to the Hindus. The place also has lots of monkeys, so one needs to be aware of them.
The place is located on the hills, covered with alpine trees and is a greatly sought after spot for people seeking calm and peace, along with a chance to reconnect with nature. One can usually go till the top of the hill to the temple by trekking along a 2.5 km stretch, making it one of the most enjoyable treks in and around Shimla.
- Also Read: Famous Hindu Temples in Himachal Pradesh
7- Trekking Through the Pine Forest
There are many hikes, short ones, which one has to take to reach some of the best places in Shimla. These treks include finding a way through the pine forests, consisting of the conical shaped coniferous trees and the sun rays which filter through the leaves render the place very romantic and dreamy. These short treks are really a fulfilling experience and help to reconnect with nature.
8- Classical Jeep Safari at Manali Shimla
The jeep safari is not only limited to Shimla but has a lot of stoppages in the local and remote areas of Himachal Pradesh. The journey covers all the important and less explored areas like the jungles of Himachal Pradesh, Spiti Valley, and Kinnaur. On the way, one can see a lot of remote villages, crystal clear streams, sparkling rivers, and snow. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
9- Summer Hills
Located on the outskirts of the main city, the place is ideal for photographers and nature enthusiasts. Situated at a height of about 2000 m, Summer Hills is located near the Shimla – Kalka railway line. The hills are covered with a clump of oak, pine and cedar trees, standing tall in all their glory. The beautiful area is also famous for the Manorville Mansion, a place that used to play host to Mahatma Gandhi during his visits to Shimla. It is also the home to the Himachal Pradesh University. The place has greenery spread all over and the distant Himalayas give it an ethereal feel.
This place is definitely one of those in Shimla with natural scenic beauty. One can reach there by train via the Shimla Kalka Railway, which has Summer Hills as one of its stops. Upon reaching there, one can stay at one of the many guest houses that flock there.
10- Sunset at Shaily Peak
Shaily Peak is located at a distance of about 23 km from Naldehra. The entire trail is covered with thick green forests and rocky boulders. The peak is located at an approximate distance of about 8 km from the base camp and is ideal for trekking. The sunrise and sunset are extremely beautiful to look at from this place.
There are many more interesting things to do while in Shimla if you have got spare time but the above-listed activities are something that you should not miss for the world. The entire area is a picturesque, tranquil and calm which makes one lose all the fears and anxieties of meeting deadlines and about how the world is not a good place, by restoring one’s faith in nature and goodness of the world.