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Published on: September 13, 2023
Located high up in the Himalayas, Shimla in summer enjoys pleasant temperatures, beautiful vistas and little traffic, making it the perfect choice for a break away from a busy schedule.
If you would like to make a Shimla hotel booking near Mall Road, our Grand Heritage Hotel, The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla is an unrivalled choice. With its traditional décor, warm hospitality, modern conveniences and dedicated Children’s Activity Centre. This is the ultimate place for a refreshing summer family holiday.
Perched at 2,515 metres above sea level, Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort, is ranked #1 amongst five-star hotels in Shimla. It is a wonderful venue for holidays with children over 12 years. Our luxury resort sits nestled in fragrant cedar trees and features an al fresco whirlpool with views of the Himalayas, a terrace where you can enjoy breakfast beside mountain vistas, trekking, mountain biking and picnic opportunities in the surrounding forests and valleys, as well as personalised spa treatments in private cabins in the woods. High tea and croquet can be experienced on the front lawn. Private dining can be pre-booked for a romantic evening in the gazebo.
During the day, Shimla in summer temperatures rarely reach above 25 degrees Celsius. By night, it can still be a little chilly, so you would be wise to pack a light jumper, a shawl and long trousers or skirts. With its naturally lit accommodation and plush carpets, Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort, is the most comfortable of five-star hotels in Shimla. Some of the best things to do in Shimla in summer include taking a colonial heritage tour around the centre of the city.
As well as Wildflower Hall, The Oberoi Group has two five-star hotels in Shimla on Mall Road: The Oberoi Cecil and Clarkes Hotel. Take a personalised tour and you might like to stop by these iconic properties for lunch or high tea. Also along Mall Road you will find Gaiety Theatre, with its gothic and modern halls, art gallery and exhibition spaces. And Scandal Point, the infamous spot where the British Viceroy’s daughter is said to have eloped with a Maharaja! Mall Road becomes The Ridge at Scandal Point, and it is along this stretch that you will find not only fine examples of British architecture, including the State Library, now a repository for rare books, and Christ Church with its looming steeples, but also no cars! The Ridge is a lovely, wide, pedestrian-only promenade and one of the most popular places to visit in Shimla in summer.
A tour of Shimla in summer should also take in Gorton Castle. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, who also designed St Stephen’s College in Delhi and Albert Hall in Jaipur, Gorton Castle was named after a British administrator who owned the land. Gorton Castle consists of 125 rooms spread over 3 storeys and its rooftops peer over the tops of the surrounding deodars, keeping a watchful eye on the city of Shimla.
Viceregal Lodge should also feature on your list of places to visit when making a Shimla hotel booking. Viceregal Lodge or Rashtrapati Nilayam (the President’s Residence) was the summer holiday home for British officials visiting Shimla in summer and later for Indian Presidents doing the same thing. At the time of its construction, it was a shining example of modern British design and featured technologies such as light switches!
Outside of the central Shimla area, there are a number of picturesque Himalayan villages and trekking stops you should also make time to explore. Annandale is located at 1,898 metres above sea level and features a circular ‘playground’ which has long been used to host cricket and polo matches. In recent times, it has also doubled up as a helipad for VIP guests to Shimla. From all around Annandale, the views are amazing. Take a picnic, take some time out and get away from it all in Annandale.
Narkanda is worth taking a day out to visit. Located on the former Hindustan-Tibet highway, Narkanda sits at 2,469 metres above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the Shivalik Ranges. Driving here from Wildflower Hall, you will find apples and cherries being sold by farmers along the roadside. Narkanda is also the perfect place from which to trek to Peak. The trail takes around 1 hour from Narkanda to the hilltop temple at the summit. Narkanda is also a great spot for skiing during the winter months.
Located 135 kms or around 5 hours by car from Chandigarh airport, Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort, also offers the chance to experience a road trip with your family and friends. Take in the sights and sounds as you ascend into the hills. Stop en route to purchase apples and cherries from local farmers. And have your cameras ready to take picture-perfect memories of Shimla in summer as you pass through. Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort, is also approximately 15 kms from central Shimla. The roads are steep, well-maintained and the traffic is little. Should you wish to drive from Delhi, Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort, is around 360 kms or 7.5 hours by car.
