The Ridge, Shimla

The Ridge is a broad, traffic-free open space along the crest of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, running east from Scandal Point above the Mall Road. The Ridge works as Shimla's town square: it hosts parades, festivals and evening strolls, and it looks out over forested hills to the snow peaks on clear days.

Shimla became the summer capital of British India in 1864, and the Ridge is where that past is most visible. At its eastern end stands Christ Church, completed in 1857 and the second oldest church in northern India, with stained glass windows and a clock. Mock Tudor and neo-Gothic buildings, including the State Library, face the open square. Underneath the Ridge sit large water tanks that supply the town, which is one reason it has always been kept open. Today the Ridge is the stage for the Shimla Summer Festival and for Republic and Independence Day events, and it is busy every evening with families, honeymooners and pony rides.

What to see

• Christ Church, with its yellow walls and stained glass
• Scandal Point, where the Ridge meets the Mall
• The mock Tudor State Library and old colonial facades
• Statues of Mahatma Gandhi and other national figures
• Lakkar Bazaar at the eastern end, known for wooden crafts
• The path up to Jakhoo Temple and its tall Hanuman statue

What to wear

Shimla sits at over 2,200 metres, so evenings are cool even in May and June, and winters bring frost and occasional snow from December to February. Pack layers, a warm jacket in winter, and comfortable shoes for the steep lanes, since the Ridge and the Mall are closed to most cars. Cover shoulders inside Christ Church and remove shoes at Jakhoo Temple. Himachali dress includes the Kinnauri cap with its green velvet band and patterned Kullu shawls, both sold in the shops around.

Local food to try

Himachali food to look for in Shimla includes siddu, steamed buns stuffed with walnut or poppy seed, chana madra, chickpeas in a yoghurt gravy, and dham, the festive rice and lentil meal. The Mall below the Ridge has cafes, bakeries and the long-running Indian Coffee House for dosas and filter coffee. Vegetarian food is easy; meat dishes are available in the hotel restaurants.

Good to know

• Best time: March to June and October to November; December to February for snow
• Hours: open all day; most lively from late afternoon into the evening
• Entry: free
• Allow 1 to 2 hours, more with the Mall and Jakhoo
• Getting there: Shimla is about 115 km from Chandigarh by road or the UNESCO-listed toy train from Kalka
• Vehicles are restricted; a lift links the Cart Road to the Mall

Nearby places

Shimla is about 115 km from Chandigarh's Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. Further into the hills, McLeod Ganj is about 240 km north-west and Rohtang Pass above Manali about 270 km north.