# Places to Visit in Shimla 2026: 18 Sights with Timings, Fees & Distances

> 18 places to visit in Shimla with the timings, entry fees and distances we could verify in October 2026: the Ridge, Christ Church, Mall Road and Scandal Point, Gaiety Theatre, Lakkar Bazaar, Jakhoo Temple, the Viceregal Lodge (IIAS), the State Museum, Kali Bari, Annandale, Glen, Summer Hill, Tara Devi, Kufri, Mashobra, Naldehra, Chail and the toy train.

- **URL:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/places-to-visit-in-shimla
- **Category:** Guides
- **Published:** 2026-10-27
- **Updated:** 2026-10-27
- **Author:** Dharamshala Stay Team
- **Image:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/viceregal-lodge.jpg (The Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas) in Shimla, a grey stone building with towers behind a green lawn)

**Short answer:** The essential places to visit in Shimla are all within walking distance of each other: **the Ridge, Christ Church, the Mall Road and Scandal Point, the Gaiety Theatre and Lakkar Bazaar**. Add **Jakhoo Temple** (about 2.5 km east of the Ridge) and the **Viceregal Lodge** (Rashtrapati Niwas, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study), which runs 30-minute guided tours, is **closed on Mondays** and costs **₹200** for Indian visitors from 1 March 2026. Day trips go to Kufri (about 20 km), Mashobra (about 13 km), Naldehra (about 22 km) and Chail (43 km).

![Christ Church on the Ridge in Shimla after a snowfall](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/shimla-christ-church-snow.jpg)

This list gives what we could verify for each place: where it is, timings and fees from official sources where they exist, and how long to allow. Where no official timing or fee is published, we say so rather than copy unverified figures from booking sites. Checked on 27 October 2026. For the bigger picture, see our [Shimla travel guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/shimla-travel-guide).

## Shimla Sights at a Glance

| # | Place | Where / distance | Timings and fee | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ridge | Town centre, about 2,205 m | Open space; free | 1 hour |
| 2 | Christ Church | East end of the Ridge | No official visiting hours published; free | 30 minutes |
| 3 | Mall Road and Scandal Point | Below and west of the Ridge; Scandal Point is where they meet | Street; free | 1 to 2 hours |
| 4 | Gaiety Theatre | On the Mall | No official timing or fee found | 30 to 45 minutes |
| 5 | Lakkar Bazaar | Just off the Ridge | Shops | 1 hour |
| 6 | Jakhoo Temple and ropeway | About 2.5 km east of the Ridge, about 2,438 m | Ropeway fare not officially listed | 2 hours |
| 7 | Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas, IIAS) | Observatory Hill, west Shimla | 9.30 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays and national holidays; ₹200 Indians, ₹1,000 foreigners | 1.5 hours |
| 8 | Himachal State Museum | West side of town, towards the Viceregal Lodge | No official timing or fee found; closed Mondays per several listings | 1 hour |
| 9 | Kali Bari Temple | Walking distance from the Mall | Built 1845; free | 30 minutes |
| 10 | Annandale and Army Heritage Museum | About 3.2 km below the Ridge | No official timing found | 1.5 hours |
| 11 | Glen and Chadwick Falls | Forest below the town | Free | Half day |
| 12 | Summer Hill | West Shimla; a station on the toy train | Free | 1 to 2 hours |
| 13 | Tara Devi Temple | About 11 km on the Shimla-Kalka highway; 1,851 m | Not published | 2 hours |
| 14 | Kufri | About 20 km; about 2,510 m | Free (activities extra) | Half day |
| 15 | Mashobra and Rashtrapati Niwas, Chharabra | About 12 to 13 km | Estate closed Mondays and public holidays; book online | Half day |
| 16 | Naldehra | About 22 km, about 50 minutes; about 2,200 m | 6 am to 7 pm (Incredible India) | Half day |
| 17 | Chail | 43 km, about 1.5 hours by car | Free (palace is an HPTDC hotel) | Full day |
| 18 | Kalka-Shimla toy train | Shimla station, below Cart Road | Currently Dharampur to Shimla only | Half day for a short ride |

Distances: Shimla district administration, Incredible India, Wikipedia (Jakhoo, Annandale) and the President’s Secretariat (Mashobra). Timings and fees: official sites only, as named.

## Which places can I walk to in central Shimla?

### 1. The Ridge

The town’s open square and its social centre: at about 2,205 m, it hosts the Winter Carnival from Christmas Eve and draws evening crowds all year. Views north and east over the hills are best in the morning. **Free.**

### 2. Christ Church

Designed by Colonel J. T. Boileau in 1844 and consecrated on 10 January 1857, Christ Church is often called the second oldest church in north India. It has **five stained-glass windows**; the chancel window was designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling’s father. Services are held in Hindi and English. We found **no official visiting hours**; the church is usually open outside service times, but go quietly and check at the door. At Christmas, see our [Shimla in December guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/shimla-in-december-christmas-new-year).

### 3. Mall Road and Scandal Point

The Mall runs below the Ridge, lined with shops, cafes and colonial buildings. **Scandal Point** is where the Mall meets the Ridge on the west side. The Mall is a sealed road: no private cars without a permit, which makes it pleasant on foot. The **HPTDC lift** links Cart Road with the Mall.

### 4. Gaiety Theatre

Designed by Henry Irwin, the Victorian theatre opened on **30 May 1887** and is now the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, with the old theatre hall, an art gallery and an exhibition hall. It still hosts plays and events. **We found no official visiting hours or fee**; ask at the entrance on the Mall.

### 5. Lakkar Bazaar

The old "wood market" just off the Ridge, known for wooden crafts and souvenirs. Shopping here is the main activity; bargain politely.

## What should I see a short ride from the centre?

### 6. Jakhoo Temple and the ropeway

The Hanuman temple on Jakhoo Hill, Shimla’s highest point at about **2,438 m** (Shimla district administration), sits about **2.5 km east of the Ridge**. Its **108-foot Hanuman statue** was unveiled on 4 November 2010. You can walk up (steep) or take the **Jakhu ropeway**, which opened in 2017. **Ropeway timings and fares are not published on an official site**, so check at the lower station. Keep glasses, phones and food out of reach of the monkeys.

![Dussehra effigies burning among deodar trees at Jakhu Temple, Shimla](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/ravan-dahan-shimla.jpg)

### 7. Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas, IIAS)

Built between 1880 and 1888 for the Viceroy, designed by Henry Irwin, the Viceregal Lodge on **Observatory Hill** hosted the **Simla Conference of 1945** and now houses the **Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS)**. It is the most rewarding single sight in Shimla.

| Detail | Official information (IIAS, checked 27 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Open | Daily 9.30 am to 5 pm; **closed Mondays and national holidays** |
| Guided tours | From about 10.30 am; last tour 4.30 pm; 30 minutes; Hindi and English; up to 60 people per group; lunch break 1 to 1.30 or 1.30 to 2 pm |
| Fees (from 1 March 2026) | Indian nationals ₹200; children 6-12 ₹50; foreign nationals ₹1,000; PWD and private-school students ₹50; children up to 5 free; serving armed forces and dependants, and government-school students, free with documents |
| Gardens only | ₹60 Indians; ₹100 foreigners |
| Tickets | Time slots, first come first served; non-refundable; a missed slot is not moved |
| Photography | Not allowed inside the main building; allowed outside; drones banned |
| Getting in | Park at the main lot; golf cart from the main gate to the ticket booth ₹10 per person per ride |

**Do not confuse it with Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra** (number 15), the President’s retreat at Chharabra, which is run separately by the President’s Secretariat.

### 8. Himachal State Museum

Rare books, manuscripts, coins and miniature paintings, per Incredible India. **No official timing or fee is published online**; several listings say it is closed on Mondays. Combine it with the Viceregal Lodge on the same side of town.

### 9. Kali Bari Temple

A temple to Goddess Kali, built in **1845** (Incredible India), within walking distance of the Mall. Free; dress modestly.

### 10. Annandale and the Army Heritage Museum

A flat ground about **3.2 km below the Ridge**, once used for polo, cricket and races, and now an army area with a helipad and golf course. The **Army Heritage Museum**, set up in 2006, displays weapons and war memorabilia; Incredible India notes it holds Pakistan’s 1971 surrender letter. **We found no official timings**; carry photo ID, as it is an army area.

### 11. Glen and Chadwick Falls

Forest walks in the Glen, below the town. **Chadwick Falls** drops about 100 m (Incredible India) and is at its best after the monsoon; in dry months it can be a trickle. Do not attempt the slippery paths in heavy rain.

### 12. Summer Hill

A quiet, wooded suburb in west Shimla and a **station on the Kalka-Shimla railway**. Good for an unhurried walk away from the Mall crowds.

## What are the best day trips from Shimla?

### 13. Tara Devi Temple

A hilltop temple to Goddess Tara at **1,851 m**, about **11 km from the centre on the Shimla-Kalka highway**, per the Shimla district administration (the same page also gives 20 km by another road). Taradevi is also a station on the toy train. Timings are not published.

### 14. Kufri

About **20 km** from Shimla at about **2,510 m** (Incredible India). Known for winter snow play and skiing when there is enough snow; Incredible India also lists the Himalayan Nature Park in this area. In winter the road beyond Dhalli is the first to close after snow: see our [Shimla in December guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/shimla-in-december-christmas-new-year) for the snow record.

### 15. Mashobra and Rashtrapati Niwas, Chharabra

Mashobra, at about 7,700 ft, is about 13 km from Shimla (Incredible India). Nearby at **Chharabra** stands **Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra**, the President’s summer retreat, a wooden building first built in 1850 and **open to the public since April 2023**. The visit includes a guided heritage-building tour, gardens, a view from the Kalyani helipad (8,600 ft), a 1.8 km nature trail and an orchard trail. It is **closed on Mondays and public holidays**, and also while the President is in residence (Outlook, 2023); book online or offline through the President’s Secretariat visit portal, enter by Gate No. 1 and park outside it. The estate is about 12 km from Shimla via the Dhalli bypass and about 5 km from Kufri. **Current fees and hours are not shown on the visit page**; at the 2023 opening Outlook reported ₹50 for Indian nationals and ₹250 for foreign nationals, so check the current fee when booking.

### 16. Naldehra

A golf course at about **2,200 m**, about **22 km** and **50 minutes** from Shimla (district administration). Lord Curzon is credited with founding it after his 1905 visit; it began with 9 holes and later expanded to 18 (Incredible India, which lists it as open 6 am to 7 pm).

### 17. Chail

**43 km** from Shimla, about 1.5 hours by car (district administration). A quiet hill town with the Chail Palace, now run by HPTDC as a hotel, and deodar forests. Combine it with Kufri on a loop day.

### 18. The Kalka-Shimla toy train

The UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line from Kalka, opened in 1903, runs 96 km through about 102 tunnels in use. **Status on 27 October 2026:** after soil washed away near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman on 30 August 2026, trains restarted only **between Dharampur and Shimla** in early September, with a road transfer from Kalka. We found no report of full running since. A short ride from Shimla to Summer Hill or Taradevi is a good way to sample the line; check IRCTC or NTES first. Full train list: [how to reach Shimla](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/how-to-reach-shimla).

## Tips for sightseeing in Shimla

1. **Mondays:** the Viceregal Lodge, Rashtrapati Niwas Mashobra and (per listings) the State Museum are closed. Plan the Ridge, Jakhoo and day trips for Monday.
2. **Walk the centre:** the Mall, Ridge and Lakkar Bazaar are on sealed roads; taxis drop at the edges.
3. **Start early in winter:** daylight is short and the roads beyond Dhalli ice up after dark.
4. **Monsoon (July to September):** waterfalls are full but landslides block roads; keep a buffer day.

Combining Shimla with the Kangra Valley? Compare with our [places to visit in Dharamshala](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/places-to-visit-in-dharamshala), plan the drive with [Shimla to Dharamshala](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/shimla-to-dharamshala), and [book a taxi](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/taxi) or browse [hotels in Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/hotels).

## What is confirmed and what is not (27 October 2026)

| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Viceregal Lodge timings and fees | Confirmed on the IIAS site (fees from 1 March 2026) |
| Rashtrapati Niwas Mashobra days and booking | Confirmed (closed Mondays and public holidays); fees and hours not shown on the visit page |
| Christ Church, Gaiety, State Museum, Army Heritage Museum hours and fees | No official listing found; third-party figures disagree |
| Jakhu ropeway fares and hours | No official listing found |
| Toy train full running from Kalka | Not confirmed after early September 2026 |
| Distances | From the district administration, Incredible India and Wikipedia, as noted |

## FAQs

**What are the must-visit places in Shimla?**
The Ridge, Christ Church, the Mall Road and Scandal Point, the Gaiety Theatre and Lakkar Bazaar, all walkable in the centre, plus Jakhoo Temple about 2.5 km east of the Ridge and the Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill. With an extra day, add Kufri and Mashobra, or Chail.

**What are the Viceregal Lodge Shimla timings and ticket price?**
According to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, it is open 9.30 am to 5 pm and closed on Mondays and national holidays, with 30-minute guided tours from about 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. From 1 March 2026 tickets cost ₹200 for Indian nationals, ₹50 for children aged 6 to 12 and ₹1,000 for foreign nationals; gardens only cost ₹60 for Indians.

**Is Rashtrapati Niwas in Shimla the same as the Viceregal Lodge?**
The Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill is also called Rashtrapati Niwas and houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. A different building, Rashtrapati Niwas at Chharabra in Mashobra, is the President’s summer retreat, about 12 km from Shimla; it opened to the public in April 2023, is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and is booked through the President’s Secretariat visit portal.

**How far is Jakhoo Temple from the Ridge?**
About 2.5 km east of the Ridge, up a steep road, at about 2,438 m. You can walk up or take the Jakhu ropeway, which opened in 2017; its fares and hours are not published on an official site, so check at the lower station. Keep glasses and food away from the monkeys.

**Which places near Shimla are good for a day trip?**
Kufri (about 20 km) for views and winter snow, Mashobra (about 13 km) and the Rashtrapati Niwas estate at Chharabra, Naldehra (about 22 km, about 50 minutes) for its golf course, Tara Devi Temple (about 11 km on the Kalka highway) and Chail (43 km, about 1.5 hours).

**Which Shimla sights are closed on Monday?**
The Viceregal Lodge (IIAS) and Rashtrapati Niwas at Mashobra are officially closed on Mondays and holidays, and several listings say the Himachal State Museum is too. On a Monday, walk the Ridge and Mall, visit Jakhoo Temple and Lakkar Bazaar, or take a day trip to Kufri or Chail.

## Sources

- [For the tourists: Viceregal Lodge timings, tours and fees from 1 March 2026 (Indian Institute of Advanced Study; checked 27 October 2026)](https://iias.ac.in/for-tourists/)
- [Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra: visits, tour content, booking (President’s Secretariat; checked 27 October 2026)](https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/visit/rashtrapati-niwas-mashobra-shimla/vm)
- [Shimla: attractions, monthly temperatures (Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism; checked 27 October 2026)](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/shimla)
- [Mashobra (Incredible India; checked 27 October 2026)](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/shimla/mashobra)
- [Naldehra golf course (Incredible India; checked 27 October 2026)](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/shimla/naldehra)
- [Kufri: altitude and distance (Incredible India; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/shimla/kufri)
- [Tara Devi (District Shimla; checked 27 October 2026)](https://hpshimla.nic.in/tourist-place/tara-devi/)
- [Naldehra (District Shimla; checked 27 October 2026)](https://hpshimla.nic.in/tourist-place/naldehra/)
- [How to Reach Shimla: road distances incl. Chail (District Shimla; checked 27 October 2026)](https://hpshimla.nic.in/how-to-reach/)
- [Rashtrapati Niwas in Shimla, President’s summer retreat, to open for public on April 23 (Outlook, 31 March 2023)](https://outlookindia.com/national/rashtrapati-niwas-in-shimla-president-s-summer-retreat-to-open-for-public-on-april-23-news-275076)
- [Rashtrapati Niwas (Viceregal Lodge), Shimla (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtrapati_Niwas)
- [Christ Church, Shimla (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church,_Shimla)
- [Gaiety Theatre, Shimla (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaiety_Theatre,_Shimla)
- [Jakhu Temple (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakhu_Temple)
- [Annandale, Shimla (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annandale,_Shimla)
- [Kalka-Shimla railway (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka%E2%80%93Shimla_railway)
- [Himachal toy trains cancelled as section of Shimla-Kalka line hangs mid-air (ThePrint, 30 August 2026)](https://theprint.in/india/himachal-toy-trains-cancelled-as-section-of-shimla-kalka-line-hangs-mid-air-due-to-soil-slippage/3029052/)
- [Kalka-Shimla toy train resumes after landslide disruption; full service awaits repairs (PTI via NewsDrum, 5 September 2026)](https://www.newsdrum.in/national/kalka-shimla-toy-train-resumes-after-landslide-disruption-full-service-awaits-repairs-12495336)

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