A hill station turned into a concrete jungle. Review on Shimla

Once a charming place to visit, Shimla has now been turned into a concrete jungle no less! Traffic jams, garbage, vanishing green cover and what not!

Shimla is 355kms north of Delhi and you reach there via NH1(Delhi-Ambala) and then NH22(Ambala-Zirakpur-Kalka-Solan-Shimla)

The drive takes 8-9 hours depending on how you drive. As soon you enter the city, touts surrender your vehicle and offer package/rates of different hotels. In peak season, if you havent booked a hotel, this is a good option. But for lean seasons, head to Himachal Tourism, Holiday Home.

There is a lot to do in Shimla, but I would recommend spending time inside the city only in off season, not in peak. You wont enjoy at all in peak season, there is just too much traffic and tourist flow from near by places. Instead head to places like Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda, Hatu Peak, Naldehra Golf course, GiriGanga near Kharapathar, Tattapani springs etc. All of these are 1hour to 4hours drive away.

Of late, the season of weather has been changing and snow comes in rarely in dec. The high season for snow is jan and feb now and if travelling at this time, take precautions for snow and black ice on the road. If walking on the mall road, watch out for monkeys: they like stealing away food/shades/phones/caps etc.

In the lean season, its a joy walking on the mall road, sipping hot soup, sitting beneath the big clock-cum-temp screen, viewing the hills around or just killing time. Stray dogs are friendly enough and will play with you too:)

If you dont wish to drive, take the volvo service(expensive) or normal state buses to shimla. If you love biking(like I do.), then go ahead, it will be on great memorable experience