By Yeh Safar Hamara Hai · Based on our live walk-through from Christ Church · Updated November 2026

Booking a hotel in Shimla is confusing. Every listing says “near Mall Road”, but on a hill station that can mean a two-minute stroll or a steep climb with luggage. Maps show distance, not the slope, the steps or which side of the lift you will actually be on.

So we did it the practical way. We stood at Christ Church, the main point of Shimla, and walked outwards on foot, noting every hotel we passed and how it felt to reach it. This guide is that walk, written down: 20 hotels, grouped by where they really are, with a Google Maps pin for each so you can check the exact building before you book.

The short answer

• First time in Shimla, want to walk everywhere: stay on either side of the Tourism Lift.
• Want quiet and valley views and don’t mind a climb: look at the Jakhu Road and Lakkar Bazaar side.
• Want to be right beside Christ Church and the Ridge: the two hotels just behind the church are the closest.
• Hoping to find hotels beyond Scandal Point: we walked that stretch and found very few stays. Don’t plan around it.

How this guide is organised

Everything is measured from Christ Church, the yellow church on the Ridge that every visitor ends up at. From there, Mall Road runs along the hillside, and the Tourism Lift brings visitors up from the road below to Mall Road. Most hotels people search for sit close to that lift, either on its right side or opposite it. Further out are the Scandal Point stretch, the Lakkar Bazaar side and the Jakhu Road climb.

Before you read: Mall Road is car-free

Vehicles are not allowed on Mall Road, and this changes how you choose a hotel. Reviewers of several hotels mention parking near the lift, taking the lift up and hiring a porter to carry bags the rest of the way. Some hotels also have their own steps, in a few cases dozens of them. When you compare hotels, ask how many steps or how much uphill walking there is from where your taxi drops you, not just how many metres away it is on the map.

1. Right side of the Tourism Lift

When you come out of the lift and turn right, you find the largest cluster of hotels, all within walking distance. This is where most first-time visitors end up.

• Willow Banks: one of the more premium options in this area, about 100 metres from the lift. Reviews mention an in-house restaurant, brewery and spa.
• Hotel Prashant: right beside the lift and renovated in 2024, according to its listing. Just a few steps ahead of Willow Banks.
• Hotel Rock Sea: directly in front of Hotel Prashant. A budget-friendly option close to the lift.
• Hotel Le Talbot: beside the Tourism Lift, a little further along from Rock Sea.
• Hotel Crystal Palace: on Cart Road, right next to the lift. On Google it appears as “Hotel crystel palace”, so search carefully.
• Cosmos Hotels: on Mall Road near the High Court, opposite Oberoi Clarkes. Some booking sites list it as Hotel New Cosmos.
• Hotel Shingar: a long-running Mall Road hotel with around 30 rooms. A little further on foot, but still within walking distance. Reviews mention a short climb from the road.
• Hotel Eve: very close to the lift, next to Hotel Shingar. Several reviewers mention a long staircase to reach it, so think about luggage and elderly travellers.
• Avadh Palace: in the Bemloi area, in the same stretch as Shingar and Sangeet.
• Hotel Sangeet: near the High Court. Reviewers say there is no lift in the hotel and the stairs are steep.

Who it suits: families, couples and first-timers who want to step out and be on Mall Road quickly. Watch out for: stairs. This cluster is convenient, but several hotels here sit above the road.

2. Left side: opposite the Tourism Lift

The opposite side of the lift has three hotels grouped together, followed by the entrance to a fourth building with rooms above.

• Hotel Samrat Regency: opposite the Tourism Lift, near the Indira Gandhi Stadium. One reviewer notes that there are two Samrat Regency properties in Shimla, so check the pin before booking.
• The Legacy: part of the Bridge View Estate. Reviews say it has a restaurant and spa.
• Bridge View Regency: opposite the lift near the Moti Mahal restaurant. Guests mention the terrace view and that the hotel has its own lift.

Who it suits: travellers who want the shortest possible walk from the lift. Watch out for: similar names. Bridge View, Legacy and Samrat all have more than one listing, so confirm the exact property.

3. From the lift to Scandal Point, and beyond

We walked from the lift all the way to Scandal Point. In between we saw only one small homestay; the rest is mainly market. Past Scandal Point we kept walking and found no stays at all. If a listing claims a hotel is “just past Scandal Point”, check it carefully on the map.

4. Lakkar Bazaar side

We walked a long way into Lakkar Bazaar, almost to the end of the market, and found no real stays. The few places we saw were basic. This area is better for shopping and wood crafts than for finding a hotel.

• Hotel Flora: on the Ridge near Lakkar Bazaar. A budget hotel; guests praise the terrace view.

5. Jakhu Road: quiet, views, and a climb

Taking the Jakhu Road route down brought us to a group of hotels on the slope above Mall Road. They tend to have better views and more peace, but they are uphill, and some are hard to reach by car.

• Tripli Hotels Le Royale: on Jakhoo Road near the Ridge. Reviewers praise the valley views and say to expect a steep climb from the lane near Christ Church.
• Nau Nabh Lodge: a colonial-era property at Holly Lodge Estate, Jakhoo Road. Don’t confuse it with the Nau Nabh Heritage Hotel in Rampur Bushahr, which is a different place.
• The Ashoka Inn: on Jakhu Road near the Ridge. Guests say that arriving by car is difficult, and that the hotel has a sister property with parking on the Jakhu Temple road.
• Hotel Amar Palace: on the hill above the Ridge. Guests praise the views but warn about a steep, long walk to the entrance.

Who it suits: travellers who want a calmer stay and are fine with a climb. Watch out for: luggage, taxi drivers who refuse to go up, and older family members.

6. Right behind Christ Church

The two hotels immediately behind the church put you the closest to Christ Church and the Ridge.

• Hotel Mayur: on Mall Road near the Ridge. This is the hotel we stayed at ourselves.
• Hotel Ridge View: behind Christ Church. Reviewers mention a climb of many steps and an entrance that isn’t obvious, so check the directions with the hotel.

How to choose: quick comparison

If you want…	Choose this area
The easiest walk from the lift	Right or left of the Tourism Lift
The most hotels to choose from	Right side of the lift
Views and a quieter stay	Jakhu Road
To be next to Christ Church and the Ridge	Behind Christ Church
Fewer stairs with luggage	The hotels closest to the lift on either side

Practical tips before you book

1. Check the pin, not just the name. Several hotels in Shimla share similar names. Open the Google Maps link and match the building to photos.
2. Ask about steps. Message the hotel and ask how many steps there are from the drop-off point, and whether there is a lift inside.
3. Plan your luggage. Cars stop at the lift car park. Porters are available, but carrying luggage uphill adds time.
4. Read recent reviews. Standards and management change. Check dates on the reviews you read.
5. Confirm before paying in advance. Check the cancellation policy and what is included before you pay.
6. Don’t rely on “300 m from Mall Road”. On a hill station, distance and effort are two different things.

Hotel details, rooms and prices change. Always check current photos, reviews and rates before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Which area is best to stay in Shimla for first-time visitors? The area around the Tourism Lift. You can reach Mall Road and Christ Church on foot, and there are the most hotels to choose from.

Can I drive to my hotel on Mall Road? No. Vehicles are not allowed on Mall Road. You park near the lift and walk or hire a porter for your luggage.

Are there hotels near Scandal Point? In our walk we found very few stays between the lift and Scandal Point, and none beyond it.

Is Lakkar Bazaar a good area to stay? It’s great for shopping, but we found almost no hotels in the market itself. The Jakhu Road side above it has more options.

Which hotels have a view? Hotels on the Jakhu Road side, such as Tripli Hotels Le Royale and The Ashoka Inn, are mentioned most often for views, but they involve a climb.

How do I find the exact hotel I see in your video? Every hotel in this guide has a Google Maps link. Open it, check the photos and the street view, and compare with what you saw in the video.

Watch the full walk-through

We filmed this live, so you see the real street, the real steps and the real distances. If we missed a hotel, tell us in the comments and we will add it.

Final thoughts

The best hotel in Shimla is the one that fits how you travel. If you want to be on Mall Road in two minutes, stay near the lift and accept the stairs. If you want peace and views, go up towards Jakhu Road and plan your luggage. Whichever you choose, check the pin first.

Planning a Shimla trip? Tell us in the comments which area you are staying in, and subscribe to Yeh Safar Hamara Hai for more honest travel guides.