A part of Indiaonline network empowering local businesses
Home city guide hill stations in shimla

Hill Stations in Shimla

Discovered during the British Rule in India in 1819, Shimla was then the summer capital of India and has gained huge popularity and ranked itself in the topmost position in the list of best hill stations of India. Once a small town, having its name derived from “Shyamala”, a form of Kali Maa, Shimla is known for its breathtaking natural beauty formed by great Himalayan Ranges, deep valleys, deep forests of Deodar, Oak and Pine, sanctuaries and nature parks and other types of tourist spots.

Hill Stations in Shimla

Shimla is formed by seven hills and also have two popular hill stations Chail and Kufri in it.

Kufri near Shimla

A famous hill station of Himachal Pradesh, Kufri, is located about 16 km away from Shimla. This hill station is located within Shimla District and is known for its excellent views of the mountains, green valleys and dense forests. Kufri is the part of Golden Triangle of Himachal Pradesh. Every person who steps into this fascinating hill station of Himachal Pradesh gets mesmerized with the breathtaking views of the surrounding area. This hill station is located at an elevation of 2510 m in the southern part of Himachal Pradesh.

The Kufri Hill Station

Kufri is well connected to other parts of Himachal and rest of the country through all means of conveyance like road, air, and rail. Entering Kufri through Shimla is the best way. From Shimla, there are frequent bus services available. Taxi and cab rentals are also there to reach Kufri from Shimla.

Not only having the breathtaking views of the lofty Mountains and the green valley around, Kufri houses luxurious resorts to stay. Kufri is also visited by the locals and the tourists for popular adventure activities like skiing and hiking. During winter, this hill station is flocked with tourists who could enjoy Winter sports organized every year. This festival is organized in the month of February every year.

Adventure at Kufri Hill Station

Apart from the adventure seekers, Kufri is also a major attraction for the nature watchers. The Kufri Nature Park is the home of many common and endangered species. Black Bears, Gorals, Musk Deer, Monals and Pheasants of different types are found in abundance in Kufri.

If you are planning to stay in Kufri for some more time, you can enjoy walking through the wonderful Peak, Mahasu Peak that has a temple on top of it. The dense forest consisting of deodar and spruce has to be crossed for reaching this temple. Devotees and tourists come here to visit the temple and enjoy the charming views of the surrounding area. The slopes of Mahasu Peak are ideal for skiing. The British discovered Kufri in 1918.

Chail in Shimla

Chail is another hill station in Shimla that is visited by many tourists who come for Shimla Tour. Locals also flock at this hill station of Himachal Pradesh during weekends and vacations as it offers many attractions to the visitors. Chail has a history associated with it.  After the Maharaja of Patiala was expelled from Shimla, he had his new summer capital at Chail, located just 45 km away from Shimla. The hill station, then surrounded by dense Deodar forest, was an ideal choice for the royal summer capital. Chail is situated at an elevation of 2250m.

The Chail Hill Station

Chail , a place worth to visit with its sprawling meadows, deep forests, Rajgarh Palace, and serene walking trails gets hordes of visitors of all genres every year. There are comfortable staying facilities like cottages and huts in Chail. A children’s park in Chail attracts not only the kids but the adults like to come to this place. A lover’s Hill in Chail is also a center of attraction. Many adventurous sports facilities like trekking, camping, hiking etc. have made this place one of the most popular hill stations in Shimla. Many visitors enjoy fishing at Chail. Chail houses the highest Cricket ground.  There is a polo ground too in Chail. The cricket ground was made in 1893. 

Apart from natural beauty, Chail is also famous for its wildlife sanctuary. Ghoral, India Sambars, Jackals, Leopards, Monals, Fowls etc. are varieties of wildlife that one can get to see at this sanctuary.  Chail has a famous temple named Sidh Baba Ka Temple that was built by the Maharaja of Patiala to pay respect to the saint who came into his Maharaj’s dream.  Picnics, trekking, camping etc. are some other adventure sports that visitors try out in Chail. 

Animal Ride at Chail

The best time to visit Chail is from May to October though many prefer to visit Chail during extreme winters for its skiing facilities. Chail can be easily reached from Shimla through Kufri. There are bus services both private and government buses. Private vehicles and taxi/cab hiring is also preferred by the tourists to visit Chail from Shimla.  The nearest railway station is Shimla Railway Station and the nearest airport is the Jubbarhatti Airport.

Explore more about Geography of Shimla

Major Cities You Must Know

Are you a Business Owner?

Add the products or services you offer

Promote your business on your local city site and get instant enquiries

+ LIST YOUR BUSINESS FOR FREE