What to See in Shimla, India: Free Audio Guide

Shimla is a mountain city in northern India and the capital of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded by the landscapes of the Western Himalayas. Its history as the summer capital of British India, together with its churches, theatre, railway, museum and hilltop temple, makes it a rewarding place to explore on foot. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Shimla with 7 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Shimla

The most interesting things to do in Shimla bring together the city’s political history, cultural heritage and mountain setting. These places also form the stops on a self-guided route through the city.

Himachal Pradesh State Museum

The Himachal Pradesh State Museum occupies a historic residence on Inverarm Hill. The house was built out into a large Victorian residence during the 1860s and served as the hot-season residence of Lord William Beresford during the British Raj. It was also used for overflow guests from Peterhoff, the Viceroy’s smaller house in Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh acquired the building and renovated it in 1973. The museum was established there in 1974. Its collections include wood carvings, bronzes, archaeological artefacts, coins, jewellery, manuscripts, paintings and miniature paintings. Postage stamps and weapons add to the variety of objects on display, offering an introduction to the artistic and historical heritage of the region.

Shimla is part of India, a country with destinations ranging from Himalayan cities to historic urban centres.

Kalka–Shimla Railway

The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a narrow-gauge mountain railway linking Kalka with Shimla through the hills of North India. It was built between 1898 and 1903 under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington to connect Shimla, then the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the wider Indian railway system.

The line has a gauge of 2 feet 6 inches, or 762 millimetres. Its route through hills and villages is an important part of the experience. The earliest locomotives were made by Sharp, Stewart and Company, while later larger engines came from the Hunslet Engine Company. Diesel locomotives began operating in 1955, followed by diesel-hydraulic locomotives in 1970.

Gaiety Theatre

The Gaiety Theatre, also known as the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, is one of central Shimla’s notable cultural landmarks. The historic theatre remains associated with the city’s cultural life and has also attracted Bollywood productions.

Songs and films have been shot here, including Arijit Singh’s 2019 song “Pachtaoge” and Jubin Nautiyal’s 2022 song “O Aasmanwale.” Its presence in the centre of Shimla makes it a useful stop for understanding the city’s connection with performance and popular culture.

Shimla

Shimla grew from small recorded hamlets into a major political, commercial, cultural and educational centre. It was declared the summer capital of British India in 1864. After Indian independence, it became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

The city’s earlier official name was Simla, which remained in use until 1972. Its history is closely connected with the development of Himachal Pradesh, a mountain state whose landscape includes high peaks, deep valleys and extensive river systems. The state took shape gradually after independence, became a full state in 1971 and is divided into twelve districts. Shimla serves as its summer capital, while Dharamshala is its winter capital.

Christ Church

Christ Church is one of Shimla’s best-known historic religious buildings. It is recognized as the second oldest church in North India, after St John’s Church in Meerut.

Its position among the city’s central heritage landmarks makes it an important stop when exploring Shimla’s historic core. It also helps show how strongly the city’s early development was connected with the British period.

Jakhu Temple

Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It stands on Jakhu Hill, Shimla’s highest peak, and is both a place of pilgrimage and a destination for trekking. The temple is about 2,455 metres above sea level and around 2.5 kilometres east of the Ridge.

According to the Ramayana, Hanuman is believed to have stopped here to rest while searching for the Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana. Within the temple grounds is an enormous Hanuman statue, 108 feet high. It was unveiled on 4 November 2010, with the public unveiling officiated by Abhishek Bachchan.

Jakhu Temple adds a distinctly religious and mythological dimension to a visit to Shimla, while its position on the hill connects the site with the city’s mountain landscape.

Sanjauli Mosque

The Sanjauli Mosque is a prominent place of worship in Sanjauli and an important religious landmark in Shimla district. Its setting connects the city with the wider hill region of Himachal Pradesh.

Although the mosque is less closely associated with the colonial story of central Shimla, it forms part of the city’s varied religious and local landscape.

A Shimla Self-Guided Walking Tour

For travellers searching for a Shimla self-guided walking tour, Neywo’s route is called “Shimla: Summer Capital of the Raj.” It covers 4.71 kilometres, takes 97 minutes and has 6 narrated stops:

• Himachal Pradesh State Museum
• Kalka–Shimla Railway
• Gaiety Theatre
• Shimla
• Christ Church
• Jakhu Temple

The route follows the city’s historical story from its museum collections and railway connection to its theatres, churches and hilltop temple. It is designed for exploring at your own pace rather than following a group.

Travellers comparing destinations in the Indian Himalayas can also browse Leh, while Rishikesh offers another destination page within the country.

Explore Shimla with Neywo

Download Neywo and explore Shimla with its free audio guide. The city has 1 walking tour: “Shimla: Summer Capital of the Raj,” covering 4.71 km in 97 minutes with 6 narrated stops. Across the city, Neywo provides 7 narrated places, with narration available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Start the walk when you are ready and let the route connect Shimla’s museum, railway, theatre, church and temple as you explore the city.