• Take a leisurely walk at the Mall — this 7km thoroughfare is famous for its Victorian Architecture, and retains much of its Raj-era charm. To get there, take the lifts from Cart Road, an ingenious system designed to save pedestrians from walking. Rs 7 per trip. The central area of the mall is composed of half-timbered buildings and is the place to rub shoulders and clash knives and forks with Shimla's elite. A statue of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai is located at Scandal Point, the highest point on the Mall. Further along is the very pleasant Clarkes Hotel, which is an excellent place to take a break and relax over a coffee.
• Visit the zoo at Kufri (tel:+91 177 265-2911) — home to native species such as the great Himalayan Snow Leapord, and varieties of Musk Deer. Open daily, Rs 15 per person. Special free passes are available during weekends.
• Ice skating is possible in Shimla from November to March, though Kufri and Chail on the outskirts of town offer better options.
• Trek in the local mountains. Walk along the meandering roads to the meadows at Annadale, 5 kms out of town. The Glen, further west, is a favorite picnic-spot with locals. Head north and visit Wildflower Hall, the former retreat of Lord Kitchner. Furthur on along the Hindustan-Tibet Road lies the quaint village of Mashobra. A gravel-road indicates the entry to the Seog Wildlife Sanctuary. The annual Sipi Fair is held in a little steep pathway off Mashobra.
• Tee off at the Naldehra Golf Course, on the northern outskirts. The 9-hole golf-course, set amidst sloping meadows, was designed by Lord Curzon in the 19th century. The flora is impressive, ranging from alpine grass to pine and deodar.
• Heritage Tour[9], the origin & history Shimla as a British Himalayan Town. The 190 years old town was entirely set up by British Officers arrived in 1815 and decided to use it as a Summer Capital of British Empire in future.

Kinnaur Kailash Parikrma Trek: Kinnur is one of the most beautiful places but very less known district of Himachal Pradesh. This place is surrounded by Tibet, Garhwal Himalayan, spitti valley and Kullu. Sutlej River also flows from the Kinnaur valley. Tourists can experience a Buddhism life style, due to its proximity to Tibet. [10]

Theater

• The Mall: The mall is the main shopping centre of 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 Hill. Open every day. 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, bag and (especially) food. Entry free, donations welcome (Sticks for warding off the monkeys can be rented at the entrance to the temple for Rs 5).
• Dorje Drag Monastery, Sarasvati Garden Estate, Kusmuti. A monastery in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Thubten Evam Dorje Drag. Entry free, donations welcome.
• The Ridge, Jakhu Hill (North of The Mall). Built at the top of the town at 2230m, The Ridge is the center of Shimla's cultural and social life - an excellent place to view the surrounding mountains.
• Christ Church, The Ridge (Near Municipal Library). Open every day, services Su 8AM-11AM. Constructed in 1846, this is the second oldest church of the North India. The stain-glass windows,representing charity, faith, patience, hope, fortitude and humility, and 19th century organ are particularly impressive. The fresco that surrounds the chapel window was designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling's father. Entry free, donations welcome.
• Lower Bazaar, The Mall (Below Central Section). Shops Open Mo-Sa. The Lower Bazaar is home to the city's less expensive hotels, cheaper restaurants and stores, and a congested wholesale vegetable market. Although less opulent than its upper neighbor, the Lower Bazaar retains an old worldly charm and is an excellent place to try some Shimla specialty dishes, like Uradh Dal with rice or Shepard's Pie.
• Viceregal Lodge, The Mall (Atop Observatory Hill), +91 177 283-1375. Open every day (Only the entrance hall and gardens are open to the public). An imposing British-raj mansion built under the guidance of Lord Dufferin in 1888. Manicured British style gardens surround the mansion on three sides, while the fourth side is a place to relax and watch the sun dip below the Himalayan foothills. The teak-paneled interior is impressive, and well worth a viewing. Entry Rs 10, cameras not allowed inside (Guided tours available).

Tara Devi

Tara devi is famous for the temple of Goddess of stars. This temple is located on the top of the hill. Tara devi is located at the distance of around 11 kms form the bus stand of Shimla. This is a perfect location for the people who are looking for some rest and peace at a high altitude of around 6070 ft.

Museums/Galleries

Shimla houses a few excellent museums. The State Museum is perhaps the most well-known.

• State Museum, Chaura Maidan (Near Oberoi Cecil), +91 177 280-5044. Open Tu-Su, 10AM-5PM. Housed in a reconstructed Raj-style building, the State Museum displays a collection of around 10,000 artifacts gathered from all over Himachal Pradesh. The Pahari miniatures and 6th-11th century Gupta sculptures are especially impressive. Entry Rs 10 (Cameras free, flash prohibited).
• Photo Art Gallery, Potter's Hill (Near HP Univ.), +91 94180-11172. The gallery displays more than 20,000 photographs of Himachal taken by the celebrated photographer Inder Pal. It's a wonderful place to explore and learn more about the beauty, culture and flora and fauna of this Himalayan state. In addition, Potter's Hill is scenic area, so as well as visiting the gallery, visitors can also enjoy hiking, climbing, observing wild life and enjoy the fresh Himalayan air. Entry Rs 5 (Cameras free, flash prohibited).

Sankat Mochan: A popular Hanuman temple is located here. We get an excellent view of Shimla from the temple. It can be reached by car or on foot.

By train

The nearest broad gauge head is at Kalka - a four-hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla. This railway track has recently been granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view is stunning, with the line passing through an amazing 103 tunnels. The fastest way to get to Kalka is to catch the Shatabdi Express, which departs early morning from the New Delhi Railway Station, arriving at Kalka four hours later. A detailed list of trains between Delhi, Kalka and Shimla is available at [2] and [3]. You can also choose to get off at Chandigarh (en-route to Kalka), and catch a taxi from there.

By plane

Shimla has its own airport at Jubbarhatti (IATA code:SLV) that accommodates turbo-props Dorniers, while Jet, Airbus A310, 320s and Boeing 737s can all land at the larger Chandigarh (IATA code:IXC) airport. Commercial service at the Jubbarhatti Airport is limited with six flights a week operating to and from Delhi, all operated by Jagson Airlines [4]. Chandigarh offers far better options. Major airlines including Indian [5], Jet Airways [6] and Air Deccan [7] operate flights to Delhi, Jammu, and Mumbai. Most of the flights to Mumbai require a stop-over in Delhi, but low-cost Indus Air [8] operates a daily non-stop flight in the afternoons. Kullu and Dharamsala are smaller towns which are connected to Chandigarh through Jagson Airlines bi-weekly flights. Tip, confirm the flights till the very last moment, bad weather often delays flights during the winter fog.

After landing at the airport, take a pre-paid taxi to minimize hassle. Chandigarh is a good four-hour drive away, so stop for a bite on the Kalka-Shimla highway.

Further down the Mall Road is the Lakkar Bazaar, which has quite a few shops selling wooden handicrafts. The Mall is full of shops selling woolens (most of which find their way to Shimla from Ludhiana, Punjab) and Kullu shawls. Other favorites have included wooden toys, walking sticks and Tibetian carpets made in nearby Kinnaur. As the center of the food-processing industry in Himachal, jams and squashes made from local produce are indeed worth purchasing. The stretch between Combermere Bridge and the Telegraph Office is full of small stores which stock handcrafted Chinese shoes. The more well-known ones include Hopsons, Tatung and Hugh & Co.

• Himachal Emporium, 3 The Mall, +91 177 280-1234 (fax:+91 177 265-3164), [11]. Open Mo-Fr, 10AM-5PM. An excellent place to purchase locally-made handicrafts at set prices. Run by the Himachal Pradesh Government.
• Minchys, Anywhere in Shimla!, +91 177 286-0203, [12]. Open Mon-Sun, 10AM-6PM. The PLACE for Himachal Fruit Products! Jams and Squashes and Wines: Name it, Michys has it. And the best of the lot. Though the main shop is on the Delhi-Shimla Highway, you can find stalls everywhere on the highway and in the city. Worth a try...
• DOCKERS San Francisco, DCAR, The Mall, [13]. Open every day, 11AM-7PM. Virtually the only international brand-store in Shimla, Dockers is a trendy and upmarket place. A favorite haunt of college students.
• Maria Bros, The Mall (central section, near Baljees). Antiques and rare books dealers.
• Minerva Book House, Hotel Minerva, +91 177 225-2043. A good selection of novels.

Most of the restaurants in Shimla are cheap, comfortable, atmospheric and offer good multi-cuisine food. However, if you are looking for local cuisine, the options are surprisingly limited.

• The Devicos, 5 The Mall, ☎ +91 177 280-6335. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Serves good South Indian vegetarian food, kebabs and snacks. Try the masala dosa. Rs 50-100.  edit

• Baljees, 26 The Mall, ☎ +91 177 265-2313. 9AM-11PM. Among the town's oldest eateries, Baljees offers delicious Western and Indian fare. Their desserts are not to be missed. Mains Rs 100-150, Desserts Rs 50.  edit

• Cecil, Chaura Maidan (in the Oberoi), ☎ +91 177 280-4848, [14]. 24 hours. A good selection of European and Asian dishes. Chandeliers and wood-paneling add to the old-world elegance. The perfect setting for a quiet dinner. Rs 300-400, Special rates for children.  edit

• Silver Oak, Circular Road, ☎ +91 177 225-7588. 7-11PM. Serves Mughlai and Chinese. The food is not great, but passable. Nice decor and a comfortable atmosphere. Rs 150.  edit

• The Lutyens Room, Springfields, Chhota Shimla (opposite Tibetan School), ☎ +91 177 222-1297, 222-1298. 11AM-10:30PM. Continental and Indian food. Rs 150 and above.  edit

• Ashiana & Goofa, The Ridge, [15]. Open for lunch and dinner. Whatever little can be had of Himachali cuisine can be found at these twin-restaurants run by Himachal Tourism. The food is cheap and served piping hot. Sit-in or takeaway. Dishes Rs 50, Thali Rs 80.  edit

• The restaurant at Hotel Pinewood, Barog (tel:+91 1792 238-825 & 238-387) serves cheap Punjabi fare. There's also a Cafe Coffee Day [16] outlet at Solan, which sells pastries, coffee and sandwiches and a Mc Donalds on the way.
• Loveena Restaurant, The Ridge. below rain shelter, restaurant with view.indian,chinese,continental.thali @Rs.110/-  edit

Himachal is known as the fruit-bowl of India. It has a thriving food processing industry that churns out fruit-based drinks, squashes and concentrates. The most famous flavors are plum, litchi, strawberry, mango and guava.

You can also try the real aqua minerale spring water available near the source (if you are trekking)!

• Loveena Restaurant, The Ridge, ☎ 0177-2812135. open till 10.30PM, restaurant with view. indian,chinese,continental  edit

• New Plaza Restaurant (Plaza), 60/61, Middle Bazar, Shimla, ☎ 0177-2655438.  edit

Alcohol

For alcoholic drinks, try the locally brewed wines such as apricot, plum and apple & ginger cider. In predominantly Tibetan areas, a rice wine known as Chang is popular.

• Lobby Lounge, Chaura Maidan, [17]. 24 hours. The Lobby Lounge is in the soaring 5-story atrium of the Oberoi. A good place to enjoy tea or a quiet drink in an elegant atmosphere. A roaring fire in the winters adds to the colonial charm. Drinks Rs 200-250.  edit

"Rendevous" located less than a minute walk from Christ Church on the mall, across from "Alfa Restruant". Somewhat hidden, this restruant/bar offers good bollywood tunes, a nice cozy interior and strong drinks. try to order the monkey glad, but it's not garunteed they will have the ingredients.

Coffee

• Barista, 38 The Mall, [18]. Open till 11PM. Pretty decent coffee, cold drinks, snacks etc. Coffee Rs 40-100, Snacks Rs 50-80.  edit

• Cafe Coffee Day, 5 The Mall (in The Devicos), [19]. 9AM-11PM. Similar to Barista, although not quite as good. Another branch at Mama's Kitchen NH22, Dharampur, Solan District. Cappuccino Rs 120.  edit