Shimla

Shimla (at an altitude of 2,205 m) is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and is India’s largest and most well-known hill station. Rudyard Kipling knew the town well and his book ‘Kim’ was based here. The cool climate and dramatic scenery make it a popular destination for Indian honeymooners. Although the town sprawls across the hills the town centre is compact and is best visited on foot. There are good shopping opportunities along The Mall. You can travel to Shimla from Delhi by train – the first leg (to Kalka) is by main line train but the second leg (taking almost 5 hours) is on a narrow gauge ‘toy’ train. The line was completed in 1903 and has 103 tunnels and 864 bridges.