What to Do

Every hill station has its Mall Road, but somehow, they all feel different. Whether it’s Manali, Shimla, or even Dalhousie, Mall Road is always where the town breathes. For me, it's less about shopping and more about just strolling. Walking slowly with a cup of steaming kullad chai in one hand and a soft wool scarf I probably didn’t need in the other. You’ll find the usual suspects, Tibetan shops, bakeries with flaky patties, stores selling those wooden keychains you swear you won’t buy and then do. But it’s not about buying stuff, it’s about being out in the open, with strangers and sunsets and that light mountain buzz in the air.

How to Get There

You can’t miss it, iterally. In most Himachali towns, Mall Road is either the center or the spine that connects everything else. Autos, cabs, and rickshaws usually drop you at the entrance or at a nearby parking lot because most Mall Roads are pedestrian only. Just follow the crowds or the smell of roasted corn and momos, you’ll land there eventually. Evening is peak time, so if you’re not a fan of crowds, try late morning or post-dinner when things start calming down.

For the Curious

Back in colonial times, Mall Road was where the British officers would do their “evening promenade”, basically a fancy walk in wool coats. That tradition never really stopped, we’ve just replaced the parasols with phones and the carriages with cafés. A lot of the architecture still hints at that British past, old stone railings, vintage signboards, and clock towers that sometimes even work. In some towns like Shimla, the Mall is also home to theatres, old churches, and colonial-era clubs that give you glimpses of what life here used to look like a century ago.

Good to Know

Wear comfy shoes. You’ll end up walking a lot more than you think. If you're visiting in winter, the stone paths can get slippery. Most shops don’t open before 10 AM and start shutting by 9 PM. ATMs are easy to find here, and a few places even take UPI, but small snack vendors still prefer cash. Watch out for overpriced souvenirs (you can bargain a little), and if you're looking for more peace, walk towards the far end, there's always a quiet bench somewhere away from the crowd where the view is all yours.