Simla: Hills, culture and special discoveries

Simla offers specific points of interest for a range of travel interests. The city was built on seven hills. Experiences include a short hike, a Hindu temple, a doll gallery and a site with a history of military use. There is also an ice-skating rink with a special distinction in the national context. If you are planning together, you can first decide whether outdoor activity, culture or history should play a bigger part in your stay.

Hills, hiking and temples

The Indian Institute of Advanced Study is located on Observatory Hill. This is one of the seven hills on which Simla was built. In this way, a specific building location connects a place with the city’s layout. If you are interested in the shape of a travel destination, you can consider this detail alongside the individual sights: it draws attention both to a building and to the hilly setting of Simla.

Jakhoo Hill, near Jakhoo Temple, is suitable for a short hike. Jakhoo Temple is a Hindu temple and houses a Hanuman statue described as the world’s largest. Here, different travel interests come together: a short hike and the religious theme of a temple with a statue described as the world’s largest. As you plan, you can consider whether you would prefer to include a hike or focus more on the temple and statue. If you are travelling together, this provides a specific conversation starter, without requiring everyone’s interests to fit into the same activity.

Ice-skating rink, history and museum

The ice-skating rink in Simla is described as India’s oldest. This is a distinctive detail if you also look for a place’s unique features when travelling. Annandale adds themes from Simla’s surrounding area: in the past, the site hosted military parades and sports tournaments, among other events. Thus, the rink described as India’s oldest and the historical use of Annandale sit side by side, offering different perspectives on these places.

The doll gallery at the Himachal State Museum displays bride and groom dolls. This subject differs from the religious theme of Jakhoo Temple: the gallery focuses on figures with clearly named roles. With children, this can become a shared topic of conversation, for example by talking about the terms “bride” and “groom.” The doll gallery thus offers a cultural experience distinct from the temple and statue.

Consider experiences and your holiday apartment together

When choosing a holiday apartment, it can help to first decide what matters most during your stay. If you would like to include a short hike, Jakhoo Hill is a specific option. If religious or museum themes are a priority, the temple, statue and doll gallery may feature more prominently in your plans. Those interested in historical use will find another point of reference at Annandale. For several travellers, deciding between outdoor activity, culture or history is a practical starting point: some time spent being active is a different preference from a stay with a stronger cultural and historical focus. This way, you can tailor your holiday apartment search to the experiences that will make your stay meaningful to you.

Discover more destinations

Mashobra, Karyali, Matiana, Kiar, Jubbal, Kotgarh, Baldeyan, Naldehra

For the main travel overview: Shimla.