The Ridge is the broad open promenade at the heart of Shimla, running along the crest of the hill between Scandal Point and Lakkar Bazaar. Christ Church, the mock-Tudor library and views of the snow line frame it, and the town's water reservoir lies beneath. It is closed to traffic and hosts the Summer Festival and most public celebrations. Evenings bring out the whole town.

Mall Road is Shimla's main street, laid out by the British below the Ridge and still closed to vehicles. It is lined with colonial-era buildings, among them the Gaiety Theatre, the Town Hall and old shops, cafes and bakeries. Scandal Point marks where it meets the Ridge. The gentle walk from end to end, with valley views between the buildings, is the classic Shimla outing.

Christ Church on the Ridge is the second-oldest church in northern India and Shimla's best-known landmark. Built between 1844 and 1857 in neo-Gothic style, it has a pale yellow tower with a clock, fine stained-glass windows representing the virtues, and frescoes around the chancel. It is floodlit at night and is especially striking under snow.

The Gaiety Theatre on Shimla's Mall Road opened in 1887 as part of the Town Hall complex designed by Henry Irwin. Its small Victorian auditorium, modelled on London theatres, staged amateur dramatics for the summer capital and has seen performers from Rudyard Kipling's day to leading Indian actors. Carefully restored, it still hosts plays, and guided tours are offered in the daytime.

Jakhu Temple stands on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla at about 2,455 metres, and is dedicated to Hanuman, who is said to have rested here while searching for the Sanjeevani herb. A statue of the god about 33 metres tall towers over the cedar forest. The temple is reached by a steep walk, taxi or ropeway from the Ridge. Monkeys are bold, so keep food and glasses out of reach.

The Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill was completed in 1888 as the summer residence of the British Viceroy of India. Built of grey stone in Scottish baronial style, it hosted the Simla Conference of 1945 and the talks that led to Partition. It now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Guided tours show the wood-panelled hall, and the lawns and gardens are open to visitors.

Kali Bari is a temple to the goddess Kali, known locally as Shyamala, from whom Shimla is believed to take its name. It was established in 1845 by a Bengali family and remains a centre for the city's Bengali community. The temple stands a short walk from the Mall, near the telegraph office, with good views over the valley. It is busiest during Durga Puja and Navratri.

Tara Devi Temple sits on a wooded hilltop about 11 km from Shimla on the Kalka road. It is dedicated to a form of the goddess brought here, by tradition, by the Sen rulers some 250 years ago, and the temple has recently been rebuilt in carved wood in the hill style. The summit gives a sweeping view of Shimla and the surrounding ridges. A road winds up from Shoghi.

Shimla station is the hill terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway, a narrow-gauge line opened in 1903 and now part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The toy train climbs about 96 km through more than a hundred tunnels and over hundreds of arched bridges. The small station at about 2,075 metres keeps its colonial character. Book seats ahead in the summer season.

Kufri is a small hill resort about 16 km from Shimla at roughly 2,500 metres. In winter it is the nearest place to the city for snow, with sledging, skiing on short slopes and pony or yak rides to the viewpoints. The Himalayan Nature Park nearby keeps bears, deer and pheasants. Summer brings clear views of the surrounding ranges; weekends can be crowded.

Naldehra is a meadow and forest of old deodars about 22 km from Shimla, known for one of the oldest golf courses in India. Lord Curzon, Viceroy at the turn of the 20th century, loved the spot and had the nine-hole course laid out. Visitors come for pony rides, walks among the cedars and wide valley views. The small Mahunag temple stands on the course.

Chail Palace was built in 1891 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala as his summer retreat, after he was barred from Shimla by the British. The stone mansion stands in large lawns and deodar forest and is now a heritage hotel run by the state tourism corporation; day visitors can see the grounds and public rooms for a fee. Chail also has one of the world's highest cricket grounds.

Barog is the prettiest station on the Kalka-Shimla Railway, set at about 1,560 metres beside the line's longest tunnel, over a kilometre long. The station and tunnel are named after the engineer who first tried to bore it and failed. Trains halt here for refreshments. The Scottish-style station buildings and pine-covered hills make it a favourite stop for railway enthusiasts.

Christ Church in Kasauli was built by the British in 1853, when the town was a cantonment and hill sanatorium. The grey stone church in Gothic style has a clock tower, a sundial in the grounds and stained-glass windows depicting Christ and the saints. It stands beside the Mall, shaded by chestnut and fir trees, and is the town's best-known landmark.