Places to visit in

Himachal

Shimla served as the summer capital of British India and retains a rich colonial-era architectural legacy (Mall Road, Ridge, Viceregal Lodge). It is an important cultural and administrative center of Himachal Pradesh, acting as a gateway to many Himalayan hill stations and trekking routes. Shimla's natural importance lies in its montane ecosystems — cedar and pine forests, apple orchards, and panoramic views of the Shivalik and greater Himalaya ranges.

The Ridge, Shimla is the town's central open space and a cultural hub dating back to the British colonial era. It served as the social and administrative heart of Shimla during the Raj and remains an iconic example of colonial urban planning. The Ridge links important civic landmarks (Christ Church, Scandal Point, the Mall Road) and offers commanding panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges, making it significant both culturally and scenically.

Mall Road is Shimla's principal promenade and historic commercial heart, established during the British colonial era when Shimla served as the summer capital of British India. The Road and its adjoining Ridge area showcase well-preserved colonial-era architecture, civic buildings and churches, reflecting Shimla's role in administration, leisure and social life during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It remains the city's main social and shopping hub for both locals and visitors.

Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, perched on Jakhu Hill — the highest point in Shimla (approx. 2,455 m). It holds religious significance for devotees from across Himachal and India and is an integral part of local cultural identity. The site also offers ecological value as part of the region's oak and deodar forest, providing panoramic Himalayan views and a natural habitat for wildlife.

Christ Church, Shimla, is a landmark Anglican church located on The Ridge in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Built in the mid-19th century in the Gothic Revival style, it is one of the oldest churches in North India and a prominent symbol of the British colonial era in the Himalayan hill station. The church has served as a central place of worship and a cultural landmark for Shimla’s local and visiting Christian community, and it contributes to the town’s architectural and historical character.

The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), housed in the former Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas) in Shimla, is a late 19th-century landmark built as the summer residence of the British Viceroy of India. Constructed in the 1880s, the building is an important symbol of colonial-era governance and architecture and later repurposed in 1965 as a premier research institute promoting advanced scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. The site combines historical, cultural and natural significance: historically as the setting for high-level political meetings in the final decades of British rule, culturally as a preserved example of imperial life and administrative power, and naturally for its commanding hilltop location with landscaped terraces and Himalayan views.

Kufri is a small hill station near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, valued mainly for its natural beauty and as a gateway to Himalayan experiences. It offers panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges and hosts the Himalayan Nature Park, important for local biodiversity conservation and rescue of Himalayan fauna. Kufri's proximity to Shimla also gives it cultural importance as a popular short-break destination for domestic and international visitors.

Mashobra is a peaceful hill town in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, known primarily for its natural beauty rather than major historical monuments. Nestled in oak, pine and deodar forests, it has long served as a quiet retreat close to Shimla (the former British summer capital). The area is important for local agriculture (notably apple orchards) and for preserving Himalayan forest ecosystems and birdlife.

Narkanda is a scenic hill station in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh noted for its natural beauty, apple orchards and as a gateway to the Hatu Peak area. Historically it lies along the old Hindustan–Tibet trade route (part of the old NH-22, now NH-5), giving it strategic and cultural importance for travelers moving between the plains and the higher Himalaya. The region's landscape, conifer forests and alpine meadows are important for biodiversity and seasonal agriculture (notably apples).

Hatu Peak is a prominent high-altitude summit near Narkanda in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. At an elevation of approximately 3,400 m (about 11,155 ft), it is valued for its natural beauty, dense deodar and conifer forests, panoramic Himalayan views, and cultural significance due to the ancient Hatu Mata temple near the summit. The peak is both a scenic viewpoint and a local pilgrimage site.

Naldehra is a small hill station near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, India, notable for its scenic natural beauty and colonial-era leisure heritage. It is home to one of India's oldest natural golf courses (established in the early 20th century), extensive deodar and pine forests, and panoramic views of the lower Himalaya. The area has long been a quiet retreat favored for nature walks, horse rides and easy treks, contributing to its regional importance as a low-impact tourist spot close to Shimla.

Tattapani Hot Springs (literally 'hot water') is a natural geothermal spring in Himachal Pradesh valued for its thermal waters and riverside setting. It is both a cultural pilgrimage site (locals consider the springs sacred and curative) and a natural attraction where heated groundwater emerges due to regional geology. The spot also forms part of the scenic Sutlej river valley, offering picturesque views and riparian ecology.

Chail, located in Himachal Pradesh, India, is a hill station known for its tranquil pine forests, panoramic Himalayan views, and historic legacy as the summer capital of the princely state of Patiala. Developed in the late 19th century by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, it retains colonial-era architecture, royal heritage structures such as the Chail Palace and the famous Chail Cricket Ground (the world's highest cricket ground), and a tranquil atmosphere that contrasts with busier hill stations. The area is also part of a rich natural landscape with diverse flora and fauna, trekking routes, and nearby forests that support birdlife and Himalayan wildlife.

Chail Palace is a heritage summer retreat built by the Maharaja of Patiala in the late 19th/early 20th century. It served as a royal getaway and remains a fine example of hill‑station royal architecture combining colonial and traditional Himalayan design. The area around the palace is ecologically significant as part of the Chail Sanctuary and dense pine and deodar forests, providing habitat for Himalayan birds and fauna.

Kasauli is a small colonial-era hill station and cantonment town in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. Established and developed during the British Raj, it retains well-preserved Victorian-era architecture, a quiet cantonment atmosphere, and densely forested slopes of the lower Himalaya (Shivalik range). The town is valued for its natural scenery, pine and deodar forests, clean mountain air, and biodiversity (notable birdlife and small mammals).

Natural and recreational importance: Gilbert Trail is a popular, easy walking trail in Kasauli that showcases the town's quiet pine and deodar forests and offers panoramic views of the Shivalik ranges. It contributes to Kasauli's reputation as a peaceful hill station with colonial-era heritage and provides a green public space for residents and visitors to enjoy nature, exercise, and photography.

Highest viewpoint in Kasauli with religious and natural significance. Monkey Point is the highest and one of the most visited viewpoints in the Kasauli cantonment. It combines a small hilltop temple (dedicated locally to Lord Hanuman) with panoramic views across the plains and the Sutlej/Doab region, making it important for both pilgrims and nature lovers.

Dagshai Cantonment is a small British-era military station in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, established in the mid-19th century as a garrison and hill posting. It retains well-preserved colonial architecture, a historic military jail and cemetery, and offers panoramic views of the lower Himalaya—making it of interest for military history, colonial heritage, and peaceful hill scenery.

Barog is a small but historically significant hill station on the Kalka–Shimla railway line, part of the UNESCO World Heritage mountain railways (the Kalka–Shimla Railway is on the WHS list). It is named after Colonel Barog, who is associated with the famous Tunnel No. 33 — a major engineering landmark on the route. The area's natural importance lies in its pine and deodar forests, mountain vistas and cool climate, making it a classic example of Himachal Pradesh's lower Himalayan hill stations.

Solan is a historic town and district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh, India, located on the southern slopes of the Himalaya between Shimla and Chandigarh. It serves as an important administrative, cultural and commercial center for the lower Himachal region. Solan is known for its pleasant hill-climate, orchards (notably apples), and forested hills. The town combines colonial-era architecture, local Himachali culture and modern development, making it a gateway to many nearby hill destinations.