Shimla is a spectacular location where you’ll feel that you can almost touch the sky, and feel like the clouds almost brush past you. It has earned the nickname of ‘Queen of Hills in the North’ for all the right reasons. The mornings are stunning when the skies turn a hue of rose gold and orange. The afternoons are comfortable when you can see that the sun is much closer but not too hot to burn your excitement! The evenings turn chilly when you’d want to bury yourself in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. While the gentle breeze blows, the pine trees sigh, and the weather turns so mesmerising that it pulls at your heartstrings. This brings us to the question – When is the best time to visit Shimla to experience this splendid environment?
We have the answer laid out for you!
If you are planning to come to Shimla soon, book your stay at Treebo hotels. On the official website, you can narrow down your search to reserve your rooms in a specific locality. This will help you stay closer to the tourist attractions that you are eager to explore!
We don’t want to keep you waiting anymore. Here’s the best time to visit Shimla for a memorable travel experience!
The Best Time to Visit Shimla
When is the best time to visit Shimla? – Whenever you want to! This is the place that looks ethereal at all times during the year. It all comes down to what you prefer during your vacation time. If you like to bask in the sun, drench your soul under the rain, or cuddle with your woollens during the cold days. Whatever your choice, Shimla offers it to you on a silver plate.
Let us explore the different seasons and see what you can expect from Shimla during these months.
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The Warm Summer Months
Summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit Shimla. This is when you will find the most tourist crowd as well. Slowly, the snow that covered the hill station will start to melt, and the residues of moisture will make the greenery shine more brightly. The skies are much clearer, and you can see clear visages from the famous viewpoints. Moreover, this is the season when activities like paragliding, kayaking, rope climbing, zip lining, and hiking are in full swing. The summer in Shimla begins in early March and lasts till June.
Initially, it begins as a refreshing Spring and slowly, the tugging warmth indicates the arrival of the hot season. However, the weather is pleasant, and the temperature can range anywhere between 10 to 38 degrees Celsius. The nights are cold, so you will have to carry light to moderate woollens to protect yourself. May is the hottest month in Shimla, so you are sure to develop a mesmerising tan here if you visit during that time.
Are you all up for celebrations? Then, the hot months are the best time to visit Shimla. Summer in Shimla is also famous for the Sipi Fair and Shimla Summer Festival. This is when you will see several local artists displaying their talent, and national stars also show up to entertain you. The event ends with the much-awaited ‘Miss Shimla’ beauty pageant.
The Monsoon Showers
Is monsoon the best time to visit Shimla? Hmm…that is debatable and depends on the tourists again. It won’t be wrong to say that the rainy season is too intense in Shimla. The showers begin in the month of July and last till October. The temperature can range anywhere between 8 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius. You will see constant wet rains that spatter against your windows and cover the valley with a layer of droplets. Yes, Shimla does look gorgeous during the monsoon months, but the rain will prove to be a great hindrance for sightseeing.
Sometimes, because of the intense rains, the viewpoints will be closed because of slippery pathways. Camping and hiking are almost unfavourable owing to the strong gusts of winds. However, monsoon is the best time to visit Shimla if you are looking for a budget travel option. Monsoon is considered to be the off-season, so the hotel tariffs, restaurant menu prices, and even the local market sale rates are much lower. You will have most of the tourist places all to yourself! The rain lowers will enjoy walking down the streets during the moderate pouring. This is also the best time to visit Shimla if you plan on a ‘workation’.
The locals of Shimla celebrate the Rhyali festival in the monsoons to thank the rain Gods for their mercy and generosity. You can join them and make offerings to the deities.
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Embracing Cold in Winters
Winter is the best time to visit Shimla for snowfall! Ever seen the white miniature balls of thermocol fly around in the air before landing graciously on the ground? That is exactly how the snow in Shimla is! The winter season begins in the month of November and lasts till February. Initially, the weather turns colder, somewhere around 5-8 degrees Celsius, and at night, it can even hit the minus scale! The maximum temperature hovers around 25 degrees Celsius.
Early winter is the best time to visit Shimla for sightseeing, street shopping, and camping. You can enjoy a plate of Maggi under the stars, drink your favourite cup of tea while gazing at the sky or simply lie down with a book next to the fireplace. You will find that the hotel prices are moderate during the season.
Winter is the best time to visit Shimla for adventure lovers as well! You can take part in skiing, trekking, low-level paragliding, ropeway trips and more! Pack a lot of woollens to avoid frostbite and some raincoats so you can face the occasional showers. Pick a ball of snow to start a snow fight or make lovely snowmen on the flat ground.
The people who live around Shimla find winter to be the best time to visit Shimla because of the Winter Carnival. You can take part in singing, dancing, skiing, snowman making competitions that are sure to bring a smile to your face. And then there is Christmas! This is when you can get the best baked goods from the shop, so definitely go shopping!
Also Read: 12 Iconic Bakeries in India to Visit for the Best Baked Confections
The Must-Visit Places in Shimla
Now that we are aware of the best time to visit Shimla, let us go ahead and see what are the best places to visit in the place. Shimla has a lot of tourist attractions. From viewpoints to museums, cafes to restaurants, street shopping to malls, you will find a lot of places to explore on your visit. But you will need at least a week to cover everything in leisure, and not all of us have the time owing to our busy schedules.
That’s alright!
We bring you the 5 most sought-after tourist places in Shimla that are a must-visit if you are running out of time. These will more or less sum up the travel experience for you without taking too much of your time.
1 – Tara Devi Temple
The Tara Devi Temple stands at an elevation of 7200 feet above sea level, and you will have to travel about 11 km away from the city centre to reach the place. The road trip to the temple is gorgeous, with towering pine trees lining the path. You will also find some wildlife in the forest regions if you are lucky. The temple has the perfect backdrop of the Himalayan mountains. You will see the dense green forest on one side and a well-built road on the other. Seeing how Tara Devi temple is of great religious significance, the route leading to it is well-maintained by the authorities.
The temple holds the idol of the deity ‘Tara Devi’, who is believed to be the epitome of knowledge and immense spiritual energy. She is also known as the Goddess of stars, and people believe that she looks upon the valley from the skies. The temple has the traditional ‘Pahari’ style of architecture, and it was rebuilt in the year 2018 without disturbing the original style. Along with the idol of Goddess Tara, you will also find the idols of Goddess Kali and Saraswati here.
2 – Christ Church
The Christ Church is the greatest architectural delight from the British era. It is so tall and beautiful that you can see it from a distance, towering over the roads and surrounding trees. Initially, Shimla was nothing but a simple valley with dense forests and occasional huts. When the Europeans took over, they built the church in the Neo-Gothic style to serve the Anglican British Christian community. You will be surprised to know that this is the second-largest church in North India after St. John’s in Meerut. Its pipe organ happens to be the largest in India.
A distinct feature of this church is the clocks that are installed on all four sides. They used to run mechanically before but are replaced by the electrical versions now. However, they hardly show the right time. The church is famous for its colourful glass windows, each representing virtues like faith, hope, fortitude, charity, patience and humility. At night, the place looks heavenly, with lights illuminating it beautifully. The place remains closed to visitors on Sundays, but you are free to visit the church anytime during the week before its closing time in the evening.
3 – Rashtrapati Niwas
Previously, this was known as Viceregal Lodge, It was the official place of residence for the viceroy of India. Its architecture is greatly influenced by the elegant Scottish palaces, and it took about 8 years to build the place. During those times, the annual upkeep of the place used to take about 1-2 lakh rupees! Isn’t that huge? Now, you can find a lot of scriptures, books, photographs and paintings here that will give you a glimpse of the colonial era. This place is a must-visit owing to its sheer regal magnificence.
4 – Mall Road
Mall Road is always bustling with a crowd, and this is where the local youngsters, friends, and families hang out and have a gala time. This is the primary shopping centre in Shimla, and you will find almost everything here. The bargaining experts can put their skills to the test and grab the finest shawls, coats, sweaters, gloves, textiles, Himalayan spices, honey and Tibetan accessories, too! Here, you will also come across the Gaiety Theatre and the town hall. The Kali Bari temple is also close, so do not miss out on it.
5 – The Ridge
Once you are done exploring the mall road, head toward the Scandal point in the west. This is where the mall road joins with the Ridge. This is an open space where you will find the smiles, laughter, and energy of a lot of people – both local and tourists. It is an open space that adjoins the famous Lakkar bazaar, which has many shops selling wooden handicrafts. This is also the centre of Shimla and the most enchanting place during the winter. You will find lumps of snow on the road and breathtaking views of solid Pahari constructions, trees and hills on all sides. This is where the important local events and cultural activities take place.
What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and visit the Himachal capital now! The best time to visit Shimla is exactly when you make up your mind!
