Places to see in Shimla

There are many beautiful places to see in Shimla. Shimla is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh along with Manali and Dalhousie. Shimla is also referred as summer capital of India because of great weather in summer and many beautiful places to see. 

Places to see in Shimla

The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping centre of Shimla and is one of the most crowded places to see in Shimla. This shopping centre has a good number of banks, restaurants, post offices, clubs, bars and tourists offices. There is a famous theatre of Shimla called Gaiety Theatre. The Mall is also the main meeting place for the people of Shimla.

Jakhu Temple, Jakhu temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is located on Jakhu Hill. It is open every day.  Jakhu temple is not only popular for religious beliefs but is also one of the most beautiful places to see in Shimla. Jakhu temple offers spectacular views of the mountains from its location above the town. According to the epic Ramayana, the monkey god Hanuman rested here during his journey to the Himalayan mountains. The climb up is a physically demanding one-hour walk. However, you can drive up the hill – a 4WD is recommended. The temple and hill side is populated with very aggressive and cunning monkeys. Be extremely careful with your camera, glasses, bags and (especially) food. Entry to Jakhu temple is free, Sticks are available for warding off the monkeys can be rented at the entrance to the temple for Rs 5.

Jakhu Hill, Located at an altitude of 2,445m, Jakhu Hill, Shimla’s highest point, is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Shimla. From the peak of the hill, one can have a panoramic view of the Shimla town and its surroundings. The landscape all around is a feast to one’s eyes. At the top is an old Hanuman temple.

Chadwick Falls, 7 km away from Shimla, the inviting spot of Chadwick Falls is a premier travel destination. Chadwick fall is among various most beautiful places to see in Shimla. A trip to the Chadwick Falls during the monsoons will be an unforgettable experience. Located in an incredible landscape, the place is home to some old shrines that are sites of immense significance for pilgrims.

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Eat and Drink

Eat

McLeod Ganj is a great place for eating, and the town has an abundance of restaurants, especially in the mid to upper range that cater to foreign tourists. The newer among those upscale eateries increasingly tend to offer free wifi connections. Despite the restaurateurs’ claims to the contrary these wifi services are sometimes not fully operative or the connection may be interrupted and hence unsuitable for downloads. At the very least do not allow yourself to be lured into settling down for an extended session at an eating-place solely by their outdoor WiFi signage before first ascertaining the quality of that service.

Momos sold by numerous Tibetan street vendors usually sell at Rs 10 for 4 pieces. These are safe to eat and acceptable to the Western palate even if they cannot be expected to match the level of culinary delicacy of those offered by some of the best establishments listed below.

  • Some Tibetan favorites -Dharamsala is a good place to try Tibetan food and beverages.

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Hotels in Dharamshala

McLeod Ganj has a wide selection of accommodation, most of which is located close to the main bus stop. Just walk around. It is easy to find somewhere suitable. There are also 2 smaller towns within walking distance, Bhagsu and Dharmakot. They are quieter than McLeod, whose main streets (esp. Bhagsu Rd) suffer from the usual Indian curse of lots of beeping cars/bikes/rickshaws pushing through the streets, and have a wide array of cool places to stay and courses to do.

For long-term stays, head down the Yongling stairs on Jogiwara Road; there are about a dozen cheap good places down there, with great views.

Budget

  • Lord Krishna Residency,Temple Rd, ? +91 18 9222 1588). Run by a Hindu Indian family, beautiful, clean ,rooms. Great Tea coffee and atmosphere.
  • Hotel Akash, Jogiwara Rd, ? +91 18 9222 1990). Run by a German-Indian family, beautiful clean rooms. Great coffee and atmosphere.
  • Colonel’s Cozy Corner, (near Dari), ? +91 94 18724897, (bookings) +91 98 1677 0899 (colkrishan@yahoo.co.in). Belongs to a helpful retired army officer and his wife. A secure place with no one to disturb you. Registered with Himachal Govt tourism department under their Homestays scheme. 3 rooms. Home like atmosphere, clean linen and safe water. A local ‘Dham’ (lunch) is available. Rs 600-800, negotiable upon period of stay.

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Yoga, meditation, healing, Paragliding

Learn

Courses available include yoga, meditation, reiki, Tibetan and Indian cooking classes, Tibetan language classes and Thai massage. Many courses include vegetarian meals, and are offered at meditation centers.

Yoga, meditation, healing, Paragliding

  • Paragliding Professional in India, Billing Village, ? +91-8447442275 (team@flyoctane.com). team “flyoctane”.
  • Asho Institute, Bhagsu Village. Courses in ayurvedic nutrition and tai-chi.
  • Amit Reiki & Meditation Centre, Jogiwara Rd, B, Mcleodganj (below Yongling School), ? +91 94 18909046.
  • Buddha Hall-Reiki with Usha’, (opposite the German Bakery). Courses in reiki (I,II,III and master) as well as tarot and crystal healing from Buddha hall in Bagsu. Flexible and compassionate teacher.
  • Guerrilla Yoga, (go down the stairs at Yongling School. It’s the big green building). 5 day yoga courses of several varieties in McLeod Ganj. Private instruction is available. New studio, opened in March of 2008, great staff, very friendly. Also has local art for sale, commission free.

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Read more about the article Meeting Dalai Lama

Meeting Dalai Lama

Dalai LamaMeeting (or at least getting to see) the Dalai Lama  is the dream of a lifetime for many people, an intensive spiritual experience for Buddhists and a memorable moment for people of other faiths. It’s also very difficult to pull off, so don’t plan on it. It requires a good deal of luck. If you want to give it your best shot, the first thing to do is make sure that His Holiness is actually in town when you visit. He travels frequently. His website lists his yearly itinerary and an email to the office will confirm his travel dates. While he does give scheduled public teachings, these are crowded. There are some that are only scheduled a few days in advance, so keep your eyes and ears open in Dharamsala. The ultimate goal is a private audience. His website says he is no longer giving them. This isn’t precisely true, but you have to have a really good reason or an “in.” Go to the office of his secretary.

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