Mall Road, Shimla

Mall Road is where most visits to Shimla begin. This car-free colonial street below The Ridge holds the Gaiety Theatre, Town Hall and Himachal Emporium, and leads to Scandal Point.

The Mall is the commercial spine of Shimla, laid out during British rule one level below The Ridge. Private vehicles are not allowed on it (emergency vehicles excepted), so it functions as a long pedestrian promenade. Along its length are the offices of the Municipal Corporation, the police and fire service headquarters, the front facades of the Gaiety Theatre and the Town Hall, and a mix of showrooms, department stores, bookshops, restaurants and cafes.

Himachal Emporium at the western end sells state handicrafts and handloom such as woollen shawls and caps. The Mall meets The Ridge at Scandal Point, a popular meeting spot whose name is tied to a colonial-era story of an elopement involving the Maharaja of Patiala. Lower Bazaar, a denser local market, lies just below the Mall, and Lakkar Bazaar, known for wooden crafts, is reached from the eastern end of The Ridge.

An HPTDC passenger lift connects Cart Road with the Mall, which saves a steep climb for visitors arriving from the bus stand or parking areas. The street is at its liveliest in the evening when the lights come on, and during events such as the Summer Festival in June and the Winter Carnival. Expect crowds on weekends and holidays in peak season.