Mall road Shimla Travel Guide

Overview

Mall road Shimla is the most popular place to visit in Shimla. Mall road of Shimla is located in the heart of Shimla city. It is primarily famous for restaurants, cafes, brand shops and colonial architecture.

Shimla is equally famous among all types of tourists like friends, families, couples or student groups. Everyone wants to enjoy the lively atmosphere of Mall road on their Shimla visit.

Where is Mall road Shimla

Mall road is located beside the ridge above the circular road. This is the main tourist and commercial area of Shimla. Mall road includes various tourist spots including Ridge, Christ Church, Scandal Point, Gaiety Theatre and Kali Bari temple.

Vehicles are restricted to enter the Mall road. It makes it comfortable to explore all the tourist spots on foot.

Why is Shimla Mall road famous

Shimla Mall road is famous for

Brand Shops
Local cloth houses
Cafes and restaurants
Local Himachal Handicraft shops
Woollen clothes in winters
Souvenir shops
Colonial architecture like Gaiety Theater, Christ Church and Railway Board building
Branches of almost every bank
Local Himachali cuisines’
Chinese food

Places to visit on Mall road

The Ridge

Ridge ground is the famous open area on mall road. This is the most famous landmark. Ice cream palours are located to enjoy ice cream cones at Ridge. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi is a famous monument of Ridge ground. Christ Church is also located on ridge ground.

Christ Church

Christ Church located at Mall road Shimla is the most important British architecture of Shimla. The unique architecture of this building makes it the most photographed building by visitors. The church is located on open ground and makes a photogenic site for the visitors.

Scandal Point.

Scandal Point is located on western end of Mall road. The statue of Lala Lajpat rai is the landmark of Sandal Point. It is the popular meeting point to enjoy coffee. Alfa restaurant is the most famous restaurant on scandal point.

Kali Bari temple

Kali bari temple is located on a very nice location at Mall road Shimla. Earlier this temple was located at Jakhu hills and shifted to its current location by Britishers in 1845. This temple is devoted to goddess shayamala where Shimla name derived from. Kali bari temple located just one minute of walk away from Scandal point.

Lakkar Bazzar

Lakkar Bazaar is located 1 minute walk away from Ridge ground. This is the famous market for wooden handicraft. Other than this you can also shop woolen items, shawls, pashmina and winter wear. You can also enjoy skating at the roller skating rink of Lakkar Bazaar. Famous Sita Ram luchi cholle shop is also located at Lakkar Bazar.

Things to do on Mall road

Mall road is the main activity area of Shimla for local and tourists. There are a number of activities to do on Mall road.

Walk on Mall road

Mall road of Shimla is the walking paradise for the pedestrians. You can enjoy walking from lift to scandal point, scandal point to Lakkar bazar, Scandal point to Targhar and Scandal point to Kali bari temple. Longer walks also there like Lift to Chotta Shimla and Tar ghar to Summer hill. As vehicles are not allowed at Mall road so it is really easy to walk on Mall road.

Explore local shops

Mall road has brand show rooms and local handicrafts. You can buy woolans, jackets and shawls from any shop. This area is comparatively expensive as compared to bargain markets due to prime location.

Local food

Tourists can enjoy local food at Mall road Shimla. Himachali local food like Dham can be enjoyed at Himachali Rasoi in Middle Bazaar. Similarly Shimla famous Sita Ram Luchi Cholle is famous for trying Lakkar Bazaar. Chinese food items like Momo, Kurkes and Noodles are available at many cafes on Mall road.

Enjoy mountain view

Mall road is the area where you can enjoy the snowcapped mountain from the Ridge ground. Mall road is located at a height where you can enjoy a 360 degree view from different locations.

You can view the mountains of Chail valley from Rani Jhansi park. Snow capped mountains of Kinnaur valley can be viewed from Ridge ground. Kamna hill and Tara devi temple can be viewed from Kali Bari temple.

Take Photograph

Mall road is the tourist spot well known for British architecture and natural landscape. Every spot on Mall road is neat and clean here people love to take photographs. At ridge ground local photographers can take your photo dressed in local traditional attire. Other than this Christ Church is also a famous spot to take photographs.

Best times to visit Mall road

The mall can be visited any time in a year. However in every season the mall road has different colors.

Summer

Summer is the best season to visit mall road. All streets of Mall road are busy with tourists. The sky is clean and open. It is considered to be the most favorable time to visit Mall road.

Monsoon

Monsoon is also a good time to visit mall roads. You can view the foggy surrounding mountains from Mall road. You should carry an umbrella and rain coat in monsoon to visit Mall road.

Winter

Winter is the season when the mall road becomes full of tourists who want to see snow. It feels very romantic and makes the mall road a more photogenic place. However, excessive snowfall and bad weather makes the road slippery.

Best time of the day to visit Mall road

Mall road is the place where people relax and enjoy walking. The most favorable time to visit mall road is late evening and afternoon. It is considered to be the best time when sunlight is limited and favorable for walking and leisure.

How to Reach Shimla Mall road

From Shimla Railways Station

Mall road can be reached from Shimla railways station by direct walking route via railway board building and AG office. However you can also go Mall road by taxi but taxi will drop at lift and you can go Mall road using lift. Walking is the most favorable way to go Mall road from the Railways station. Hire a porter for luggage at Shimla railways station.

From Old ISBT

If you are at the old ISBT of Shimla. You can travel by taxi and bus. After reaching the lift you can take the lift from the circular road. Alternatively there is a direct pedestrian route available via command.

Shimla Mall road taxi

If you have a full day you can book a full day taxi for Mall road, Kufri, Viceroy lodge, Sankat Mochan temple and Jakhu temple.

A small sedan cab will cost you 2500 for full day sightseeing. Cost also depends on season and availability. As vehicles are not allowed on Mall road, taxis will pick/drop from lift at circular road.

Shimla Mall road timings

Shimla Mall road is not a tourist spot with fixed open and closed timings. It is an open pedestrian area that can be visited any time a day.

All the shops, restaurants, cafe and banks have their own opening and closing timings. If you want to visit for a particular activity check the individual timing.