In & Around – Hotel Marina Shimla

In & Around

Places to see in Shimla

The Mall Road

10-15 minutes walking distance from the hotel

The Mall Shimla is open on all days thru out the year. The good news is that though being a famous tourist place there is no entry fee for visiting Mall Road Shimla. It is a no vehicle zone as no other vehicles except emergency vehicles are allowed on this road which serves as an icing on the cake. So you can enjoy the pollution free environment while strolling without worrying to keep a watch on traffic. Timings of the Mall Road Shimla are 9 am to 9 pm.

The other major attractions which add to the beauty of The Mall Shimla are Scandal Point, Gaiety Theatre, Kali Bari Temple and Town Hall.

Scandal Point is the place where Mall Road Shimla joins the Ridge road. It was named so because of a historical story associated with it. It is said that an Indian Maharaja eloped with a British lady from the Scandal Point. After this instance, this place was named Scandal Point because of its connection with the escape affair.

Lakkar Bazaar

10-15 minutes walking distance from the hotel

Lakkar Bazaar is known for wooden toys made by a small group of Sikh carpenters who settled there a century ago from Hoshiarpur. Wooden walking sticks are famous. Lakkar Bazar was like a small village in itself. Sita Ram is famous for its alloo tikki and chole Bhature. Regal Building, comprising a Cinema Hall, Roller Skating Hall and Meena Bazar is a famous place. DAV School produced many famous personalities and is also located in Lakkar Bazaar.

Known for exquisite wooden products, Lakkar Bazaar is located adjacent to the Ridge in Shimla. It was established by a group of Sikh carpenters from Hoshiarpur, who came and settled here almost a century ago.

The wooden souvenirs and decorative items sold in the market fascinate tourists and locals alike. It is known for wooden toys, walking sticks and other day-to-day kitchen articles.

Jakhoo Temple

06 kms by road from the hotel

Nestling atop Jhakhu Hill, the Jhakhu Temple is one of Shimla’s popular places of religious importance. It is situated 2.5 km away from the ridge, at an elevation of 8000 ft above sea level. Tourists either can walk up to the temple from the ridge or can hire a pony or taxi. This ancient shrine was built by a sage named Yaaku and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman.

There are a number of legends associated with the origin of the temple, one of which states that Lord Hanuman stopped at the Jhakhu Hill when he was looking for Sanjeevani herb. He met sage Yaaku on the hilltop and then moved ahead in his journey.

The intricate carvings and paintings on the walls of this religious edifice testify the expertise of architects and artisans. The 108 feet high idol of Lord Hanuman is the major highlight of the temple. Dussehra is one of the most important festivals celebrated here.

Christ Church

10-15 minutes walking distance from the hotel

During the British Raj in India, the area around the church was occupied by a huge flock of Britishers and Anglo-Indians. Since they were the followers of Christianity, they asked the government to build a place of worship for them. Hence, in 1844, the construction of the Christ Church started. For conducting the divine services, the church was officially given the license on October 11th, 1846, while it became a pure symbol of devotion on January 10th, 1857.

With its Neo-Gothic style of architecture, the Christ Church redefines the beauty in its own unique way. Although the interior is quite simple and plain, the most interesting feature of this religious place is its five windows that attract tourists from all over the world.

Shimla State Museum

03 kms from the hotel

The Shimla State Museum has a good collection of ancient historical sculptures, paintings, coins, handicrafts, photos, and other items from all over the state as well as from outside. It is located 2.5 km west of the scandal point (a place on Mall road) and is open every day except on Mondays and public holidays. The state museum is built in colonial style with sprawling gardens all around and is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. It was opened in 1974 with just four galleries; later more galleries have been added here and currently there are more than 9000 objects in the collection. Some of the popular galleries present here are Indian archeology, Himachal archaeology, Pre historic objects, Wood Carvings, Monuments, Photographs, Bronzes, Arms Gallery, Gandhi Gallery, Philatelic, Anthropological, Pahari Miniature Paintings, Rajasthan Paintings, Contemporary Art, and Wall Paintings Gallery.

Indian Institute of Advanced Studies

3.5 kms from the hotel

From 1823 onwards, for some six decades the Governors-General and later Viceroys of India had shuttled from one unsuitable residence to another during their summer sojourns in Shimla. It was Lord Lytton (1876-80), who chose Observatory Hill for constructing the building that was to be the final Viceregal address in town. The hill derives its name from Observatory House which was built in 1840 by Captain J. T. Boileau. In time, Observatory House became the residence of the Viceroy’s Private Secretary. Observatory Hill is a watershed which stands figuratively astride India. The waters from one side of the hill flow down to the Bay of Bengal, and the wash from the other heads towards the Arabian Sea.The first designs for the new Viceregal residence were prepared by Captain H. H. Cole of the Royal Engineers. These were presented before the workaholic Viceroy, Lord Lytton at the Simla Fine Arts Exhibition of 1878.

Summer Hill

05 kms from the hotel

From 1823 onwards, for some six decades the Governors-General and later Viceroys of India had shuttled from one unsuitable residence to another during their summer sojourns in Shimla. It was Lord Lytton (1876-80), who chose Observatory Hill for constructing the building that was to be the final Viceregal address in town. The hill derives its name from Observatory House which was built in 1840 by Captain J. T. Boileau. In time, Observatory House became the residence of the Viceroy’s Private Secretary. Observatory Hill is a watershed which stands figuratively astride India. The waters from one side of the hill flow down to the Bay of Bengal, and the wash from the other heads towards the Arabian Sea.The first designs for the new Viceregal residence were prepared by Captain H. H. Cole of the Royal Engineers. These were presented before the workaholic Viceroy, Lord Lytton at the Simla Fine Arts Exhibition of 1878.

Annadale

4.5 kms from the hotel

Annadale was first used by East India Company and then the British Raj, which is why natives originally called it “Company Ka Baag”. It was a place of enjoyment and entertainment for the British, offering fancy dress shows, picnics, and birthday celebrations. Every year a National Championship of Polo was organised there.Cultural and social festivals were organised there including Gymkhana, fete champetre and sports such as polo and cricket. Under the British Army, the grounds were also used for training and parades. A funfair was organised in September 1833 to raise funds for setting up a school at Sabathu for native girls. In 1839, the first Fancy fair was organised there.The Durand Football Tournament was started in 1888 in Annadale by Mortimer Durand. It was interrupted during World War 1 and World War 2. The venue was shifted to Delhi in 1940.

Places to see Around Shimla

Tara Devi

The Tara Devi Temple is a holy place, located 11 km away from the Shimla Bus Stand. It is positioned amid a thick forest of oak and rhododendron and offers scenic views of the lofty Himalayas surrounding the town. The temple is very famous among tourists as the clean and fresh atmosphere here helps them relax from the day to day worries of life. It is believed that the goddess Tara Devi came all the way from Bengal to Himachal Pradesh and so this temple is dedicated to the goddess of stars. Tara Devi Temple is an ideal place for a person seeking peace and tranquility.

Sankat Mochan

Sankat Mochan temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shimla, which is located amid the lush green and tranquil locals of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists visit this temple to pay obeisance to the deities of Lord Rama and other notable gods of the Hindu pantheon. This spiritual destination is located approximately 5 kilometers away from Shimla and it is the second most popular tourist spot after Jakhu Temple. The temple, which was established in the year 1950, was the result of an initiative taken by the noted religious figure-Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj, who was amazed by the beauty of the place. He stayed in the deep dark woods for ten days and decided to establish a Hindu temple on the location. This majestic temple houses the deities of Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, and Hanuman.

Mashobra

Mashobra is often called the birdwatcher’s delight, and for very good reasons! The Reserve Forest Sanctuary in Mashobra houses one of Asia’s largest watersheds which acts as the source of water for Shimla and is among the best places to visit in Mashobra.

Apart from being an important contributor to Shimla’s abundant water supply, this watershed contributes to the marshy topography of the sanctuary, which, along with its lush coniferous cover and the year-round pleasant weather, attract a number of birds to this region.

Some of the most common bird species one can spot here include Himalayan eagles, pheasants, partridges and chukars.

Other than the birds, the park is a delight for trekkers and hikers who come here to camp under the lush covers of cedar, oak, and pine and amid scenic views of the Indus River.

Kurfi

This little hill station in Himachal Pradesh located at an altitude of 8628 feet surpasses the scenic beauty of the state capital, Shimla. Tourists who come for spending their holidays in Shimla often cover Kufri on their trip as it is located at a short distance of 17 km from the city.

The beautiful hill station of Kufri is located at a very high elevation above sea level and is home to several different species of Wildlife. There are breeds of rare antelopes, Birds and different types of felines who, much like the traveler in you enjoys the beauty of the place and the serenity that it offers.

Explore the different potato plantations around the area and click amazing photographs! Adventurers true to their spirit can embark on skiing trips around the place during the seasons for skiing, apart from other exciting activities!

Naldehra

Naldehra is small yet mesmerising hill station and one of the top tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, located just around 22 km from Shimla, 2004 metre above sea level. It is a perfect heaven for tourists looking for natural scenic beauty and want to get away from the hectic city life. The tourist destination is famous for its greenery, Golf Course and plain view of the mountains filled with thousands of pine trees.
Naldehra did not come to notice until the start of the 21st century when Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India, discovered the place and was completely mesmerized with its natural beauty. Tourists can enjoy a wonderful afternoon in the lush green Valley with clouds roaming on regular intervals or can take a horse ride to the Golf Course. Naldehra is certainly a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Shimla as it offers both peaceful and adventurous environment which is a memorable experience for the tourists.

Tattapani

A popular tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, Tattapani is a quaint village located 60 kms away from Shimla. Situated on the banks of river Sutlej, it treasures several attractions lying amid nature in its best form. It is famous for its Hot sulphur spring that is believed to have curative properties for health ailments like stress, joint pain, fatigue and other skin diseases.
On asking the locals, you can always get to hear about the must-visit spots of the destination being – Shiva’s Cave. Located 3.5 km from the town centre, Shiva’s Caves are famous for its tales of miracles and fulfilment of vows and wishes of its devotees. You can also bask yourself in the adventurous sports of White River rafting, Zorbing, Skiing, Paragliding, Trekking and Camping in Tattapani.

Narkanda

Narkanda is situated at an altitude of 2708 meters on the Hindustan Tibet road. It gives a beautiful view of snow ranges. This is an ideal location for the tourists who wish to get peace in the mountains. It displays the snow line, the inviting apple orchards and dense forests. Narkanda is famous for Skiing & Winter sports. Waiting to be fully explored, Narkanda is among the India’s oldest ski destinations with undulating beauty of nature. During these days the slopes come alive with skiers.

Perched at an altitude of 8100 ft, the slopes of the hill town is perfect for the skills of beginners as well as experienced skiers. Hatu Peak near Narkanda towering at 2000 ft is one of a popular ski slopes in the area. Easy access and fewer people as compared to other ski destinations, Narkanda boasts of safe and the most thrilling ski experience.

Chail

Chail is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Shimla and 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Solan. It is known for its salubrious beauty and virgin forests. The Chail Palace is well known for its architecture: the palace was built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj, on the land allotted to him by the British for former’s assistance in the Anglo-Nepalese War. The cricket ground and a polo ground which is there at an altitude of 2,444 m was owned by erstwhile royal family of Patiala. It is the world’s highest cricket ground.

Chail is also frequented by hikers as it offers wonderful views of the lower Himalayas. It has good trekking points from Junga, Kufri and Ashwani Khad at Solan. Many Eco camps are held here. There are many camping sites for campers and hikers, so camping in Chail is most sought after activity for enthusiasts.