Shimla Shopping & entertainment guide

There is an enormous range of goods that Shimla has to offer. This includes handicrafts, wood and metalwork, shawls, pullovers, local tweeds, caps, juices, pickles, jams and squashes.

Lakkar Bazaar

The discerning shopper would find shopping in Shimla a pleasant experience. Like all hill stations in India, Shimla also has a rich and diverse forestland. One thing that must feature in your shopping cart in Shimla is the walking sticks. This and more is available in the Lakkar bazaar adjoining the ridge. The bazaar offers everything from toys, figurines, candle stands, key chains, carved sticks to pots, pans and spoons - all made of wood. The ace craftsmen in Shimla make exquisite walking sticks out of the wood available in Shimla. Shimla fruit products are also ideal gifts for near and dear ones.

The Mall

Shimla shopping center is basically centered around the Mall of Shimla. The Mall flocks with innumerable shops on both the sides. Shopping in Shimla is an absolute delight. There are various emporiums loaded with handicrafts on the mall. The government emporiums are more famous.

Local Himachal handicrafts like Woolen and pashmina shawls, decorative items, handmade shoes, dolls, the famous Himachali woolen caps, rugs, woolen coats etc. are available in these emporiums. 

Weavers in the Kullu-Manali region weave colorful caps on their looms, which are favorite with the tourists visiting this region.

Lower Bazaar

As the name suggests the Lower Bazaar is located below the Mall. In between these two is the middle bazaar. These the shopping place for the local people. People from villages around Shimla are seen shopping at these markets. Goods here are also cheaper as compared to the mall. This is a narrow bazaar with traditional shops on both sides. Natthu Halwai, Mehru Halwai and Gujjar Khan Sweets are popular sweet shops in Lower bazaar.

Restaurants

These are some of the most popular restaurants in Shimla located on and around the mall road. 

• Baljees Restaurant

• Alfa Restaurant

• Indian coffee house

• Embassy Bar and restaurant

• Devicos sweets and restaurant

• Deepak Vaishnav Bhojnalya

• Himani restaurant

• Rendezvous Bar & Restaurant

• Nalini restaurant

• Ashiana & Goofa restaurant ( government)

 Bakeries

These are the popular bakeries on the mall road famous for pastries and cakes

• Trishool bakers
• Krishna Bakers Confectioners
• Beekays

Cinema Halls

Shimla has three cinema halls. These are old ones and have limited seating capacity. Ritz being the best in ambience.

• Rivoli Theatre :Located near Ice skating Rink, Lakkar Bazaar
• Ritz Theatre : located at the ridge behind Christ Church and
• Shahi Theatre Located near Bus Stand

Theatre

Gaiety Theatre is a prehistoric building in Shimla located on the mall road. It is one of the major attractions of Shimla. It has been renovated recently to make it more attractive. Many movies have been shot in the old theatre (like Gadar) and it is witness to some of the finest stage plays of its time. Many popular film personalities have performed on its stage. Attached to the theatre is a club known as Amateur Dramatic Club (ADC) meant exclusively for members. Various shows and events are organized here from time to time. Schools in Shimla also use this theater for performing arts.