All You Need To Know About The Mall Road, Shimla

Located in the heart of the city and running by the side of a 12 km long ridge resides the Mall Road of Shimla. This is the most popular place for the tourists and the busiest commercial area of the city. The mall has everything from hotels to restaurants, heritage buildings to museums, handicraft to antiques. A complete day would be less to explore this amazing place.

How to reach

The mall road begins from the Auckland Bridge and ends at A.G Chowk near Kali Bari. No transportation is allowed within the mall road. This 2 km stretch can be easily covered by foot. There are two ways of reaching the Mall, one you can get down at the Auckland bridge and walk through Lakkar Bazaar to the Scandal Point and then all the way down to the Lower Bazaar. Alternatively, you can take the lift operated by the Himachal tourism department, which is located just 1 km away from the bus stop and walk uphill towards the Scandal Point. The lift operates from 8 am to 9 pm.

Where to stay

The Grand Hotel – It is one of the oldest properties there but this hotel only allows the Government of India employees and their family to stay. The fares are very reasonable and the rooms are great. You can book your room here.

Hotel Willow Bank and the Cedar Grand are other best hotels that you can stay in at the Mall Road.

Where to eat

You will find an abundance of eateries at the Mall that serves lip-smacking food. From local street vendors serving Paranthas, Chole-Kulche & Fruit Salad to classy urban style cafes serving international delicacies, you can find a great variety of delicious food here. Some of the best outlets you can try are Café Sol (Near the Himachal Tourism Lift), Café Shimla times (Just next to Café Sol, Willow Bank Hotel), Krishna Bakery serving amazing pastries, The Indian coffee house, Wake & Bake and many more.

Timings

Mall Road stays open all seven days of the week from 10 am to 9 pm. Some of the shops might stay closed on Sundays but majorly all shops remain open.

Attractions

1. Christ Church

This beautiful neo-Gothic church lies near the Ridge just next to the State Library. The beautiful paintings inside portray the life of Jesus Christ.

Timing: 8 am to 6 pm

2. Scandal Point

The Scandal point is the hub of Shimla’s social life. The place is named so because it is said that the daughter of British Commander eloped with Maharaja of Patiala from this point.

3. State Library

A colonial style building standing right beside the Christ Church. If you want to turn the pages of history, this is just the right place as the library has a great collection of old and rare books.

Timing: 10 am to 5 pm (Monday closed)

4. Gaiety Theatre

The Mecca for theatre artists, nestled between the Ridge and the mall road is a must-visit place. This is one of the main landmarks of Shimla now serving as a major cultural centre.

Timing: 11 am to 6:30 pm (Monday closed)

5. Shimla Heritage Museum

Take a short journey to the past in black & white at Shimla Heritage museum. The museum resides inside the United Service Club building that displays pictures of Shimla during the British rule.

Timing: 10 am to 5 pm (Monday closed)

6. Johnnie’s Wax Museum

Shimla’s own version of Madame Tussauds. An interesting and unique near to the mall lift, displaying amazing wax statues of famous personality worldwide.

Timing: 10 am to 10 pm

7. Kali Bari Temple

Near to the Grand Hotel, a famous religious spot in Shimla. Hundreds of tourist and localities every day visit this temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.

8. Lakkar Bazaar

Lakkar Bazaar is the first market that you encounter if you enter the Mall road via Auckland Bridge. The market offers wooden articles like wall clocks, showpieces, souvenirs etc.

9. Lower Bazaar

The most crowded lanes of the Mall road. The road that goes down from the Christ Church takes you straight to the lower bazaar. You will see more old buildings, shops selling household stuff and eateries.

P.S: If you want to buy great jewellery and house decorative articles then do visit Tibetan Handloom (Shop no.5 Willow Bank).