Shimla India – 12 Best Ideas on What to Do There

The scenic landscapes of Shimla are a natural contributor to outdoor activities and adventure sports. All you need to do is to merge with the nature and it will do the rest for you. The green carpets of forests, mystic valleys, gentle chirping of birds in the background and a breath of fresh air in your lungs fills you with a renewed life and energy. Find out what you can engage in while you are on your expedition to Shimla.

1. Hiking and Camping

Being a hill station, Shimla is full of hiking and camping spots for travellers of all levels. You will also find local tour guides from whom you can hire maps, hiking equipment as well as guided tours. We recommend short day hikes of 5 km to 10 km to Forest Road, Summer Hill or Kamna Devi Hike, St Bede’s Walk. (Prices: INR. 1750, opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm)

2. Paragliding/ Paramotoring

One of the adventure sports that attract people to Shimla from all parts of the country is Paragliding and Paramotoring. A sport that is liked both by professionals and novices! We take a detour to Bir Billing, about 200 km from Shimla where you can enjoy the sport (Price: INR. 3000 per trip, opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm) in the scenic valleys of the Himalayas. This is a whole day activity and you might need to stay overnight for the trip.

3. MTB Himalaya

The mountain terrain biking (MTB race) came to Shimla in the year of 2005 and covers the distance of 310 miles over an 8-day course with 8 stages of increasing challenge levels, formed among the toughest MTB terrains of the world. (Prices: International Riders USD 950 approx INR 62,000, 1 USD = INR 65)

4. National Parks

Shimla is surrounded by pristine getaways that are an instant connection with nature. The Reserve Forest Sanctuary in Mashobra, Shimla is a 7 km one-way trail that takes you through the serendipitous flora and fauna and lush greenery of the protected forest. (Price: INR 100, Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm).

The Kiala forest is the bounty the nature lovers can escape to. The alpine forests, invigorating natural beauty and enchanting bird species, the Kiala Forest is every photographer’s dream destination. (Prices: Free, opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm).

5. Shimla Waterfalls

Among Shimla’s other unspoken secrets is Chadwick waterfalls, 5 km from Shimla. Gushing down from a height of 1500 meters, the water flows down into a gorge 80 meters deep. We recommend hiking to this place via the Summer Hill. It is a whole day activity and you will enjoy the nature at its best as you walk through the misty green shades of the pine and deodar trees. We captured some of the best waterfall and forest pictures on the way. As you climb up, you can feel the splashes of the waterfall soothing your face and the chill in the air keeps you from tiring. (Price: Free, opening hours: 6 am- 6 pm, Self-Hiking Activity)

6 Lakes in Shimla

The unique jewel of Shimla is Tani-Jubber Lake. Head here in the evening for a peaceful stroll or a photography escapade. (Price: free, opening hours: 7 am - 6 pm)

The Chander Nahan is a glacial lake 120 km from Shimla and is at a height of 4000 meters. An ideal place to trek to, the lake reflects picturesque mountain views in front and is ideal for camping. If you are looking for a unique mountain adventure experience in Shimla, we recommend taking a camping trip here spending 3-4 days for the ultimate adventure.(Price: INR 8000)

7. River Rafting in Tattapani

Grab your inflatables and get ready for a high-energy session on the Tattapani freshwaters, on river Sutlej. The river rafting has 3 circuits terminating at Tattapani, from Sunni (5km), from Chabba (12 km) and the longest circuit Pandowa (36km). (Price: INR 1200, opening hours: 9am-4pm)

8. Kufri Ski Resort

Being a hill destination, Shimla is a natural choice for travellers seeking ice sports in winter. The snow-capped hills of Shimla are a perfect place to try out skiing. We recommend a trip to the Kufri Ski Resort if you plan your trip in winter and look for some ice-skating adventure. There is no entrance fee to the Kufri Resort but the skiing rates are hourly. (Prices: INR3,000 per hour, opening hours: 9 am - 5 pm)

9. Ice Skating

Shimla has the largest and the only natural skating rink in India. Come in winter and you can take part in the Ice Skating Festival here that attracts travellers from all over the world. (Prices: INR100 – INR200, opening hours: 8am – 11am; 5pm – 8pm)

10. Health Promoting Activities

One thing that is typical of any place in the Indian Himalayan Region including Shimla is its ability to heal and improve health. It won’t be wrong to say that people often visit India in search of inner peace. After a journey to the Himalayan Mountains Steve Jobs created his business! Shimla has developed over the natural wealth of the region to offer rejuvenation and relaxation to its visitors.

The Sandhya Hot Springs Health Care is a health and wellness resort that offers Ayurvedic and Natural Healing Therapies. Nestled in peaceful surroundings, the resort has qualified doctors and well-maintained rooms.

Note: The spas and wellness centres are integrated with hotels and come as a wellness tour package, rather than an independent spa service.

11. The Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex

The best way to get acquainted with Shimla’s iconic culture is to take a tour of the erstwhile Shimla at the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex. Designed in the idyllic Victorian theatre architecture, this complex has an Art Gallery, amphitheatre, and is a miniature version of the London’s Royal Albert Hall. The Gaiety has been home to thousands of musical performances, art shows and plays since the middle of the 19th century. We were amazed to walk through the gallery that had well-preserved pictures of the old art and theater performances. (Prices: INR 25, opening hours: 9am- 5pm)

12. The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies Shimla

The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies is located along the Viceregal Lodge and has a rich history of more than 2 centuries. Nestled on the Observatory Hill, it is today the Rashtrapati Niwas (President House). We took the guided tour to this complex and learned a lot about India’s pre and post-independence history. (Prices: INR 50, opening hours: 8 am – 6 pm).