Explore Shimla

Shimla is famous for its status as the former summer capital of British India, the Viceregal Lodge (1888, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study), Mall Road, The Oberoi Cecil (est. 1884), Christ Church (1857), and Kufri snow activities. It is Himachal Pradesh's state capital, situated at 2,200 metres in the Himalayan foothills. The Kalka-Shimla UNESCO Railway (toy train, 95 kilometres, 102 tunnels) is a World Heritage heritage route.

The Viceregal Lodge (Indian Institute of Advanced Study since 1965) on Observatory Hill was built in 1888 as the summer residence of the Viceroy of India. Major decisions of the British colonial period-including the Simla Agreement of 1914 (McMahon Line) and the 1945 Simla Conference-were made here. The building is largely unaltered. Alike's complimentary Viceregal Lodge heritage walk includes guided access inside with a certified historian. Advance registration is required and handled by Alike.

Alike Holiday uses The Oberoi Cecil (5-Star, built 1884, India's oldest Himalayan luxury hotel), Wildflower Hall An Oberoi Resort (5-Star, 2,438m, former Kitchener residence at Mashobra), Welcomhotel ITC Shimla (5-Star, Ridge-facing, forest edge), and Radisson Hotel Shimla (4-star, reliable quality, central). All are pre-verified and contracted. The Oberoi Cecil and Wildflower Hall offer the most heritage-significant experiences; Radisson is the most practical for families.

The best time for a Shimla holiday is March to June (spring, 15-25°C, apple orchards blooming in April) and September to November (post-monsoon clarity, 10-20°C). December to February is the snow season-scenic for snow seekers but sub-zero nights and possible road closures. The Shimla Ice Skating Rink (one of the oldest in Asia, open December-February) is an added draw. Avoid July-August for road-heavy itineraries.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway (1903, UNESCO World Heritage) runs 95.6 kilometres from Kalka (at the foothills) to Shimla, passing through 102 tunnels and over 800 bridges. The route climbs from 656 metres to 2,076 metres. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881) is a separate UNESCO route in West Bengal. Both are narrow-gauge mountain railways and World Heritage Sites. Alike can incorporate the Kalka-Shimla journey as an alternative arrival or departure experience in the Shimla itinerary.

Kufri (2,600 metres) is 16 kilometres from Shimla, approximately 45 minutes by private car. From December to March, snow activities include snow tubing, sledding, and horse riding on snow. The Himalayan Nature Park holds bar-headed geese, Himalayan brown bears, and snow leopards. Kufri also provides the broadest Himalayan panorama accessible from the Shimla area on clear days. Alike includes Kufri as a full-day excursion with private transfer.

Shimla suits families with young children, heritage lovers, and first-time Himachal Pradesh visitors-colonial architecture, Mall Road, Kufri, and a gentler pace. Manali suits couples, adventure seekers, and travellers who want dramatic mountain scenery-the Beas River, Solang Valley snow, Rohtang Pass, and 5-Star riverside resorts. Alike combines both in a popular 5-night Shimla-Manali circuit: 2 nights Shimla, drive to Manali, 3 nights Manali.

Yes-The Oberoi Cecil and Wildflower Hall provide the most atmospheric couple experiences in the Himalayas. A private Viceregal Lodge walk, a sunset on the Ridge with Christ Church behind, and a Wildflower Hall dinner with snowline views are experiences suited to couples rather than groups. Alike's Shimla couple package is built around these two properties with evenings designed around the heritage circuit rather than the Mall Road crowds.

From Delhi, fly to Chandigarh (45 minutes) and Alike arranges the private chauffeur for the 2.5-hour mountain drive to Shimla. From Mumbai, fly to Chandigarh (2 hours) and connect by road. The Kalka-Shimla toy train (5 hours from Kalka, 35km from Chandigarh) is an alternative arrival included as an experience in some Alike packages. Door-to-door from Delhi is approximately 4-5 hours including the Chandigarh connection.

Browse Alike's Shimla holiday packages, select a package, and click "Reserve from Rs 999". A non-refundable token locks your dates. An Alike consultant calls within 24 hours to confirm group profile, dates, and whether to include Manali as an extension. Full payment follows after consultation. The Rs 999 is adjusted against the final package cost.