Mall Road
Mall Rd., Shimla, India
Cutting across the heart of Shimla, Mall Road is the city’s main thoroughfare, known for its restaurants, shops, and quite a few historic buildings. It’s where most of the main action in town is, and many travelers opt to base themselves near the road in order to be within easy walking distance of major attractions.
The basics
The two main thoroughfares in Shimla are Mall Road and the Ridge, which connects to Mall Road at Scandal Point near the city's historic Town Hall. Most walking tours of the city, particularly those that focus on history and architecture, spend a significant amount of time on Mall Road, and even driving tours will typically give you some time to explore the area on foot.
Things to know before you go
Wear comfortable shoes, layers, and sun protection while out on Mall Road, as it can be both chilly and sunny.
Only emergency vehicles and delivery trucks are permitted on the pedestrianized central stretch of Mall Road.
Much of the pedestrian stretch of the road is wheelchair accessible, and strollers are available for rent for a nominal fee.
Many people refer to Mall Road simply as “The Mall,” and the two terms are interchangeable.
How to get there
Mall Road is located in the heart of Shimla, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The road is pedestrian-only, but taxis will drop you nearby. Most people come to Shimla by long-distance taxi from other parts of the state or from Delhi, or take a regular train to the rail hub town of Kalka and switch to the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Toy Train the rest of the way.
When to get there
The Mall is typically busy throughout the day and well into the evening. It’s at its busiest in the April–June summer season, when people come in droves seeking respite from the heat. The July–August monsoon season sometimes sees heavy rains and floods and is best avoided. Winter is a great time to visit the city, and snowfall in January and February adds a beautiful coating of white to its historic buildings.
Mall Road’s Gaiety Theatre
Built on Mall Road in 1887, the Gaiety Theatre is Shimla’s main cultural center, featuring beautiful architecture on the outside and a performance hall and an art gallery on the inside (accessible for a small fee). This lovely neo-Gothic structure was designed by British architect Henry Irwin, who was responsible for a few different projects around town as well as South India’s massive Mysore Palace.
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