3 Days in Shimla — A Weekend Itinerary from Delhi

For a long weekend getaway from Delhi, Shimla packs the colonial-hill-station experience into three days without rushing. The plan below assumes a Friday-evening Delhi departure and a Sunday-evening return, though the same three days work just as well midweek if you can take the time off.

At a glance

• Total days: 3 (2 nights)
• Distance: ~720 km return from Delhi
• Route: Delhi → Kalka → Shimla (via the Toy Train) → Delhi
• Best season: April–June (warm), October–November (clear), December (snow chance)
• Booking ahead: Toy Train and weekend hotels are booked out 30+ days in season

Day 1 — Delhi to Shimla

Catch the Kalka Mail overnight from Delhi (departs around 21:55, arrives Kalka ~04:55) for the most romantic approach. Even better if you can manage the Kalka Shatabdi (departs 07:40, arrives Kalka 11:40), which connects to the early-afternoon Toy Train and gets you to Shimla the same day.

In Kalka, transfer to the Kalka–Shimla Toy Train (UNESCO World Heritage, narrow gauge). The journey takes 5–6 hours through 102 tunnels and 800 bridges, climbing slowly through pine forest. The Shivalik Deluxe Express is the most comfortable service if it works for your dates.

Arrive Shimla by late afternoon. Drop bags at your hotel (best central locations: along The Mall or in Chhota Shimla), then walk up to The Ridge for sunset. Dinner at the Indian Coffee House on Mall Road is the classic Shimla evening meal.

Day 2 — Shimla town and the Viceregal Lodge

A full day in central Shimla and the colonial sights.

• Morning: Walk up Jakhu Hill (45 minutes from The Ridge) for the giant Hanuman statue and the panorama. Or take the cable car if you'd rather skip the climb. Stop at Christ Church on the way back down.
• Late morning: Walk along Mall Road (no vehicles), browsing Lakkar Bazaar and the Tibetan craft shops.
• Lunch: at the Cecil or Combermere for a heritage-hotel lunch, or at Wake & Bake for casual.
• Afternoon: Take a taxi or auto to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (Viceregal Lodge) — about 4 km from The Ridge. Guided tours run hourly until 17:00. The room where the Partition of India was discussed is open to view.
• Evening: Walk back via the Annandale ground if you have time and energy. Sunset on The Ridge again.

If you'd prefer a snow-and-views day on Day 2, swap the central walks for a half-day to Kufri (16 km, ~45 min one way; snow play in season; less interesting outside the snow months).

Day 3 — Chail or Naldehra, then home

Pick one of two side trips before heading down.

Option A — Chail: 45 km south, a quieter heritage town with the world's highest cricket ground (2,444 m) and the former Chail Palace (now a heritage hotel — book a lunch table). Allow 4–5 hours including drive.

Option B — Naldehra: 22 km north, with a 9-hole golf course laid out by Lord Curzon, deodar forest walks, and a quieter landscape. Allow 3–4 hours.

After your side trip, return to Shimla, grab lunch on Mall Road, then either:

• Take the Toy Train + overnight train back to Delhi (slow, romantic).
• Take a Volvo bus (~7 hours) or shared taxi to Chandigarh, then evening flight or train to Delhi.
• Drive yourself if you came by car (allow 7+ hours back to Delhi via Chandigarh).

Practical notes

• Toy Train booking: opens 60 days in advance. Book through IRCTC. First-class tickets are more comfortable but limited. Outside peak season the train is rarely full.
• Hotels: weekend rates jump 30–50 % from Friday–Sunday in season. Book midweek if your schedule allows.
• Vehicles in central Shimla: prohibited on Mall Road and most of The Ridge. Park at the entry-point lots and walk in.
• Weather kit: even in June, Shimla evenings need a sweater. December–February requires proper warm clothing.
• Altitude: at 2,200 m most people feel fine, but pace yourself the first afternoon if coming straight from Delhi.

Variations

• 2 days only: drop the Day 3 side trip; do Jakhu and the Viceregal Lodge on Day 2 morning, head down after lunch.
• 5 days: add an overnight at Chail or Naldehra (or both), or extend with a stop at Mashobra above Shimla for the Wildflower Hall heritage experience.
• 7 days as a Himachal hill loop: Shimla 2 nights → Narkanda 1 night (orchards, Hatu Peak) → Manali 3 nights via the Kullu valley.

Related guides

• Shimla travel guide →
• Top 12 Hill Stations in India →
• Manali travel guide → (for extending the trip)