Shimla in the snow — three days with Kufri and Narkanda
Three short winter days built around where the snow actually is. Day one is the town itself: the Ridge, Christ Church, the forest on Jakhoo hill and Kamna Devi. Day two is Kufri, the nearest snow that lasts. Day three goes up the Rampur road to Narkanda and Hatu Peak, where winter cover is deepest. The reasoning, month by month, is in snowfall in Shimla.
Photos: UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0) · UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Jeyasree S.B (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ashish Gupta from Noida, India (CC BY 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Couples and families who want snow underfoot from December to February without the longer journey to Manali, and who are happy with short days and early nights.
Day by day
Day 1The town in snow
4 stops · 31 min on the road
The town in snow
Winter days are short. Start after the sun is on the Ridge, keep the walking to the middle of the day, and be indoors before dark: the lanes freeze once the sun goes.
- 10:00The Ridge, ShimlaThe open square at the top of the Mall is the snow picture of Shimla. Go the first morning after a fall, before the crowd and the slush.
- ↓ a short walk11:30Christ Church (Shimla)On the Ridge itself. Its yellow walls against snow are the reason half the winter photographs of the town exist.
- ↓ 6 min by road · 2 km12:30Jakhoo TempleThe forest on Jakhoo hill holds snow longer than anywhere else in town. Shoes that grip matter on the paths up here, and the monkeys are as bold in winter as in summer.
- ↓ 24 min by road · 11 km15:30Kamna Devi TempleA quiet hilltop temple on the other side of town, for the last of the afternoon light. We have no measured walking time for the approach in snow; allow extra.
Day 2Kufri, where the snow lasts
2 stops · 4 min on the road
Kufri, where the snow lasts
Kufri is the nearest reliable snow to Shimla and only half an hour out, so this is an unhurried day. In a deep winter the path through the potato fields becomes a ski track.
- 10:00KufriSnow on the open slopes when the town is clear. Ask at the hire stalls whether the ski track is running; it depends entirely on how much has fallen.
- ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km13:00Himalayan Nature Park KufriThe forest park beside Kufri, quiet in winter, with the Himalayan monal among its birds. Its paths are not measured on our map; keep to the open ones in snow.
Day 3Narkanda and the Hatu ridge
2 stops · 31 min on the road
Narkanda and the Hatu ridge
Leave Shimla early: Narkanda is about two hours up the Rampur road, slower after snow. Sleep at Narkanda tonight, or drive back before dark; do not do the road at night in winter.
- 10:30NarkandaThe town on the open ridge at 2,708 m, and the winter ski area on the slopes around it. The snow here is deeper and lasts longer than at Kufri.
- ↓ 31 min by road · 13 km12:30Hatu Mata TempleOn the summit of Hatu Peak, 3,400 m. After heavy snow the road up may be closed; ask in Narkanda in the morning and walk only as far as is safe.
Getting there
Shimla is about 108 km and three hours from Chandigarh by road, or up the Kalka–Shimla Railway. See how to reach Shimla.
Where to stay
Two nights in Shimla, then either a night at Narkanda or the drive back the same afternoon. Ask for a room with a heater in both places.
Know before you go
- January and February carry most of Shimla's snow on the IMD record; December only a little. Keep the dates loose if you can.
- After a heavy fall the town's roads are cleared before the ones above it; let day two and day three start late if they must.
- Pack thermals, gloves, a hat over the ears, sunglasses and boots that grip on packed snow.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Shimla itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Shimla →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Is three days enough for Shimla in winter?
Yes, for snow. One day covers the town, one covers Kufri half an hour out, and one goes up to Narkanda, where the cover is deepest. Winter days are short, so a fourth day only helps if you are waiting for a fresh fall or the road above Kufri is closed.
Is Narkanda better than Kufri for snow?
Usually, yes. Narkanda stands on an open ridge at 2,708 m, is a winter ski area and keeps its snow longer. Kufri is closer, about 29 min from Shimla, and is the easier half-day. In a thin winter Narkanda may be white when Kufri is not.
When is the best time for this snow plan?
Late January to mid-February. Shimla's IMD record puts 42 cm of snow in January and 43 cm in February against 7 cm in December. Book refundable rooms, watch the forecast in the last week, and go when a fall is coming rather than on a fixed date.