Shimla

‘The Queen of the Hills’ and the former summer capital of The British Raj, today, Shimla maintains an antiquated feel. Nestled amidst the Himalayan foothills, it hugs a 12km-long ridge, affording views of The Himalayan Range on a clear day. Its pedestrian thoroughfare, The Mall, is characterised by its colonial architecture and historic churches. Perhaps most charmingly, it is the final destination of the century-old ‘Himalayan Queen’ toy train, a six-hour scenic train ride, from Kalka in Haryana to Shimla, which boasts a new panoramic Vistadome carriage on some journeys, for unparalleled valley views. Mild in the summer, snowy in the winter, it can be visited year-round, though most prefer to travel between March and June.