While you are in Shimla, it’s not wise to miss Mall Road. The place which often remains full of tourists, locals and foreigners, Mall Road of Shimla is a traveler’s paradise in Shimla. Dotted with lots of cafes offering some scrumptious food, fine dining to shops selling handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, etc. this place has everything in one place that you will need. If ran out of money, you have ATMs there. You need some highly aromatic coffees, you have coffee cafes here. You feel like eating lip-smacking pizza, you have restaurants here.
Take a long walk when the sun starts to kiss the horizon and spread its most vibrant hues on the hills when the sky turns into a canvas of most romantic colors. The best place to meet, sit, sip and talk, Mall Road of Shimla is a happening place, full of life and hustle-bustle. Built during British Era, Mall road houses police station, fire service, and municipal corporation buildings. Only emergency vehicles are allowed and thus there is no traffic on Mall Road.
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Back during British Raj, Mall Road wasn’t accessible to the public. Only the Viceroy could take a stroll around the road in his carriage. The city’s major shopping bazaar area, there are lots of things to do around Mall Road. The road on one side leads to Christ Church and the other is Clarkes Hotel. Standing at the famous, Scandal Point, one can get spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains. The lower bazaar is easily accessible from Mall Road through stairs at several points.
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What the major things to do around Mall Road Shimla?
Mall Road Shimla is a major shopping area that is full of shops selling traditional items to clothes, jewelry, etc. The road is all covered with such shops along the side and people throng around all day, especially during the peak season.
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Shopping at the Mall Road Shimla
One of the most famous things to do at Mall Road Shimla is shopping. This place is heaven for people who love shopping. Some shops sell local as well as branded clothes. There is a Tibetan Refugee Handloom Shop from where you can shop for Tibetan clothes. The shop is run by Tibetan émigré here. Lower Bazaar is adjacent to Mall Road which is a noisy market area. You can shop for clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, handicrafts, etc. Himachal Government Emporium, located opposite the Telegraph Office, is a shop from where you can buy local handicrafts.
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Cafes and Restaurants at the Mall Road
Mall Road is famous for a wide range of cafes and restaurants ranging from local cuisines to international dishes. You have all the options available here, whether you want to sit in a fine dining restaurant or you want to enjoy street food at the stalls. There is a famous restaurant by the name Goofa (Cave in English) and you can have like snacks along with tea or coffee. Indian Coffee House is a budget option if you are tight on the pocket, located near Himachal Emporium. There are banks and ATMs located on the Mall Road, in case if you run out of money or you need other banking services.
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A Walk Across the Mall Road to the Ridge
Mall Road leads to the Ridge on one end which is another famous place to hang out and spend some quality time. The steeply stepped narrow alleys of Shimla make it a beautiful place to take a walk. The Ridge is Shimla’s well-known landmark, mostly visited for the Christ Church. The municipal library next to it is always a cherry on the cake for the visitors. Sitting at the benches at the Ridge and watching the sunset is yet another incredible experience people have after coming here.
You can visit the following places from Mall Road
– Scandal Point
– Gaiety Theatre
– Kali Bari Temple
– Town Hall
The ridge is centrally located, adjacent to the Mall Road, this is the main point from where you can visit several other attractions of the city. The city which was once settled by the British for their purposes, now at present, has grown in harmony. The silence spread across the hills reaches the city which later is woken up by the shouts of vendors and songs of the birds.
Shimla’s Mall Road spreads in around 1KM of the area. One can reach Mall Road through a lift from the Circular Road. There’s a road by the same name i.e. Mall Road in Dalhousie as well. Holding a cup of coffee and cherishing the panoramic beauty of the surrounding is something no one would want to miss.
