A Solo Day in Shimla: Seeing a Familiar Town Again
Shimla has always been a part of my life; it is so close to my hometown Solan that it never felt like a ‘destination’. It was just the kind of place where we used to go with the family for a day every summer. Laughing, having fun, getting lost in the mountains, a big part of my childhood memories was spent here. Then I started showing the same places to my kids, roaming on the same Mall Road, enjoying the same softy ice cream and exploring some new upcoming cafes.
But this time I did something different – I went Solo.
Shimla from a new perspective of a Solo Traveler
Early in the morning, I picked up my car and headed towards Shimla. Mountainous paths, cold air, and greenery all around, I had probably never traveled so peacefully before. When the family is with me, I do not even realize when the journey ends in conversations and laughter. But this time, I saw and felt every turn, every sight. For me, Shimla was not just a routine getaway, but an opportunity to see something new.
The highway has become so good that now it takes hardly one hour to reach Shimla from my home. I parked the car near the lift and took a lift from there to reach Mall Road. It was morning time so there was no long queue for lift which is usually there
Breakfast at the Iconic Baljees
The first place that came to my mind as soon as I reached Shimla was Baljees, a famous sweets shop on Mall Road which is famous for its chana bhatura and fresh sweets. I sat on a table in a corner and started enjoying breakfast. Then I noticed that people around me were looking at me with curious eyes – some were surprised, some were just watching a solo woman having breakfast. Sometimes I don’t understand what to do with this attention – should I enjoy it or should I feel conscious? But that day I chose to just enjoy my food and my own company.
And you can’t miss Embassy, a very old and famous bakery. With its old-style ambiance, their cheesecake and hot chocolate are absolutely delicious. I knew I was overeating, but everything was totally irresistible, bringing back all my old memories.
Shimla’s Timeless Charm
Yes, Shimla is full of crowds. There are tourists everywhere, and sometimes it feels like this Town is overflowing beyond its limits. But still, this city has a different vibe. Old colonial buildings that have been standing here for so many years with sp many stories from the past. People sipping tea while enjoying the sun, and carefree conversations – all this is the essence of this Hill Town. Despite the chaos, there’s a kind of peace in simply being here, watching the world go by. Perhaps this is what keeps bringing people back here.
Roaming without any ‘To Do’ list
This time I had not made any to-do list for my day. I just wanted to experience this town at its own pace. After breakfast, I went out on Mall Road. Shopkeepers were opening their shops, that morning aroma of hot buns and coffee and tea was coming in from everywhere. There was no hurry, no hustle bustle – only me and this beautiful morning in the scenic hill Town. Stopped midway to admire the old buildings, felt like a tourist in a familiar town.
Lunch at Oberoi Wildflower Hall
As soon as it was afternoon, I decided to have a luxury lunch, and what could be a better place than Oberoi Wildflower Hall for this? Instead of sitting indoors, I chose outdoor seating, from where the view of the mountains was completely open. Cold air, lush green valleys, and a wonderful and delicious food, all this was with me. Taking a bite of each bite and looking at the open sky and mountains all around, though it was a simple moment, it felt priceless to me at that time. This combination of luxury and nature was so perfect and magical; a memory that will forever stay with me.
After finishing my lunch, I ordered coffee and spent some more time to enjoy these beautiful moments. I didn’t feel like leaving, but I had to; because as they say, a journey is meant to continue.
An evening in a corner of the Ridge and the story of a photographer
After noon, I sat in a corner and just started observing people. People were busy in their own little worlds – some were taking selfies, some were busy shopping, kids were playing with balloons. A strange feeling of old memories kept coming back.
Then a street photographer came to me, started pitching his services. I didn’t want any professional photos anyway, but I made a deal – he would take photos from my phone and I would pay him for his efforts. He clicked some basic but good shots from the heart. Those photos may not have been professionally the best, but they became a part of a unique memory of a solo trip.
A new perspective
When I was driving back towards Solan, I realized something – we often take for granted the places that are always near us. We feel that we know them, but when we see them from a new perspective, they seem totally new.
Shimla was always a familiar city, but after this solo trip, I saw it really differently for the first time and the memories of this daytrip were very different.