Other entertainment
In the northern part of the city, below ANZ Grindleys Bank, there is an ice rink. By Mail, niedaleko Indian Coffee House, there are at least two billiard rooms.
Guided tours
Excursions around the area are mainly organized in summer. The booking is made by the tourist office at Mail Road; price of the trip, usually ongoing 10.00-17.00 totals 100 INR. Lovers of longer trips (110 INR) have a choice of, among others. a trip to distant 64 km of Narkanda, from where there is a wonderful panorama of the Himalayas.
Biuro YMCA (72-375; fax 21/1016) organizes expeditions around Himaćal Pradeśu (700-800 INR per person per day). A four-day trip to the Jalori Pass is very popular among tourists going to the Kulu Valley. The YMCA also specializes in organizing safaris to Kinnauru, Spiti i Lahaulu. Eight-day trip for a group from 2 do 5 people cost 89 $. Reservations must be made at least one month in advance.
Accommodation
High accommodation prices increase during the peak seasons from mid-April to mid-July, from mid-August to mid-October and from mid-December to mid-January. There may be problems with finding accommodation during the months mentioned, therefore it is best to book in advance. It is better not to plan your stay in Śimla during the rainy season, lasting here from mid-July to mid-September. The prices listed below are for double rooms (single seats are rare) rented out of season. In high season, prices double.
Accommodation – the cheapest
In high season, the lowest prices are offered by the clean and quiet YMCA Hotel (72/375). Due to popularity, accommodation must be booked in advance. For a single room, two- and a triple room with shared bathroom and hot water are paid accordingly 90, 130 i 200 INR. There is only one double room with bathroom in the hotel (150 INR). Tourists must purchase a YMCA membership periodically – 40 INR, The price includes breakfast. The indicated prices remain unchanged throughout the year. Dinners can be purchased on site: vegetarian dishes cost money 30 INR, Meat dish -45 INR. There are plans to open a TV room and a cafe open until late at night, admission will cost approx. 25 INR. Your stay at the YMCA is made even more pleasant by the wonderful views from the terrace. In bad weather, tourists can play a game of pool or table tennis. The YMCA also organizes mountain trips and safaris (tooth: Guided tours). The road to the hotel leads past the Mayur Ritz Cinema Hotel. You should not pay attention to the touts hanging around the train and bus stations, convincing, that the YMCA Hotel is closed, recently burned down, it is located very far away, and to make matters worse, a flood flooded him.
Hotel Tashkent, built near the Victory Tunnel, 10 minutes from downtown, offers en suite rooms too 80-100 INR. Also in the same part of town, near the bus station, there is a slightly more expensive hotel Vikrant. You have to pay for a room without a bathroom 100 INR, with bathroom 150 INR.
The relatively inexpensive Basant Hotel has a well-deserved reputation (78-381). Single rooms without bathroom cost money 66 INR; while single and double rooms with bathroom respectively 83 i 110 INR; you pay for a bucket of hot water 5 INR. The hotel is situated on Cart Road, east of the bus station. Opposite is the much more expensive High Way Lodge (20/2008). Rooms with bathroom and constant hot water supply included in the price 200 INR.
Several hotels are also situated above Mail Road, in the northern part of the city. Due to this, that they are located at a considerable distance from the bus station, offer fairly low accommodation prices. The best part is the clean and nice Uphar Hotel (77/670). You have to pay for a room with a bathroom and a constant supply of hot water 100-150 INR or 200 INR for a room with a nicer view.
Accommodation – average category
Most of the hotels in Śimla belong to the middle category, however, their proposed prices are only favorable in the off-season.
There are some fairly good hotels on Lakkar Bazaar Street, in the northern part of the city. At best, the new Chanakya Hotel (21/1232), the rooms are clean, comfortable and have private bathrooms – costs 150 INR. Nearby Diplomat (72/001) offers rooms too 170 INR and a bit more expensive, with a nicer view, for 220 INR; all rooms have private bathrooms. The White Hotel also enjoys a quite good reputation (5276). Prices, varying within limits 330-380 INR, remain unchanged throughout the year. Each room has a bathroom, An unquestionable advantage is also a constant supply of hot water.
Same street, not too far from the main Mail Rd, very nice Auckland is situated (72/621). The accommodation price is approx. 180 INR.
In the eastern part of Śimla, most hotels are located at the eastern end of Mail Rd, near the funicular. The huge Bridge View looks interesting (78/537). Unfortunately, the service leaves much to be desired, and accommodation prices are quite high – you have to pay for a room with a bathroom 300 INR. DoegarHotel situated a little higher (21/1927) is much better. Nice en suite rooms with satellite TV cost just 150 INR.
Opposite the Hotel Oberoi Ciarka s, also at the eastern end of the Mail, there are two recommendable hotels. In Sliingar (72/881) room with bathroom, constant supply of hot water and satellite TV costs money 250 INR, and with a nicer view 300 INR. In an equally clean and nice hotel Sangeet (20/2506) after the season, prices are much lower. For staying in an ensuite room, hot water and TV you have to pay 175 INR. The most expensive rooms cost approx. 300 INR.
Not far away from here, because on Cart Road, at distance 10 minutes from downtown, the well-run Holiday Home hotel is situated (21/2890), owned by HPTDC. There is a bar and a café on site, the most expensive rooms have satellite TV. The price for a mid-range room is 400 INR, while for a night in the most luxurious one has to pay approx. 975 INR. The given prices are valid all year round.
Accommodation – the most expensive
By far the most convenient of the expensive hotels is the Woodville Palaces Resort (72/763), situated 1,5 km to Oberoi Clarke’s. The ivory-decorated building was erected in 1938 R. at the behest of Raja Ran Sir Bhagat Chander, the rulers of Jabalpur. The current owner of the hotel is the grandson of the Rajah. Although the building itself is small, inside there is a room for billiards and ping-pong. In fine weather, guests can relax in the beautiful garden. A double room costs money 1120 INR, apartment 1600 INR. In high season, prices go up by 25%.