Mountain Views, Mischievous Monkeys & a ₹600 Food Disaster!
There are three things you should know about my first day in Shimla: the mountains were breathtaking, the monkeys were tiny little thieves, and a ₹600 apple-walnut pie nearly ruined my relationship with food.
Welcome to Shimla! A place where the clouds look close enough to touch, the mountain air makes you forget your city-life problems, and a simple food outing can turn into an unexpected adventure.
Our first day was a mix of peaceful mountain views, temple visits, street-food discoveries, and a few experiences that left us either smiling or questioning our life choices. So, if you're planning a trip to Shimla, here's how our day unfolded.
5 AM in Shimla: Sleep First, Explore Later
We finally reached Shimla around 5 AM after what felt like an endless journey. And after spending so many hours travelling, I had absolutely no desire to become a tourist just yet.
My only goal? A comfortable bed and uninterrupted sleep.
We checked into our hotel and went straight to bed. No sightseeing, no exploring, and definitely no waking up early to catch the sunrise. Sometimes, the most realistic travel itinerary begins with eight hours of sleep!
After a much-needed rest, breakfast, and getting ready, I finally stepped outside to see what Shimla had in store for us.
And just like that, all the sleepiness seemed worth it.
The Kind of Mountain Views That Make You Pause
The first glimpse of Shimla was everything I'd hoped for and a little more.
Huge mountains stretched into the distance, clouds floated lazily across the sky, and the trees looked beautiful in the soft sunshine. The entire place had that fresh, peaceful mountain-town charm that makes you want to slow down and simply take everything in.
For a moment, there was nothing to do except admire the view.
It's funny how a change of scenery can change your mood so quickly. One minute, you're exhausted from travelling; the next, you're standing in front of a gorgeous mountain landscape, wondering why you don't do this more often.
With our mountain-view moment complete, it was time to head out and explore the town.
Exploring Shimla: Walks, Streets & Mountain-Town Charm
If you've visited Shimla before, you probably know that vehicles aren't allowed on Mall Road itself. This means walking is an essential part of the experience.
And honestly, that's not such a bad thing.
Walking around Shimla gives you the chance to appreciate its colonial-era architecture, charming streets, little shops, and beautiful mountain views at your own pace. There's something lovely about exploring a destination without constantly watching the road or rushing from one attraction to another.
The atmosphere felt relaxed, the surroundings were beautiful, and the simple act of wandering around was enjoyable in itself.
Our first major stop, however, was a place with a little more spiritual significance: Jakhu Temple.
Jakhu Temple: Blessings, Beautiful Views & Monkey Business
Located on Jakhu Hill, Shimla's highest point, Jakhu Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is one of the city's well-known religious landmarks.
The temple was a lovely place to pause, offer prayers, and enjoy a quieter side of Shimla. We spent some time there, took blessings, and soaked in the peaceful atmosphere.
But while the temple offered plenty of reasons to feel calm and spiritual, its furry residents had other plans.
Yes, I'm talking about the monkeys.
There were SO many of them!
And these weren't the kind of monkeys you could casually ignore while admiring the scenery. If you were carrying a phone, sunglasses, or food, you needed to pay attention.
The monkeys seemed to operate on one simple principle: if it looks interesting and belongs to someone else, it deserves further investigation.
Imagine looking down at your phone for just a second, only to find a monkey eyeing it like it's the latest must-have gadget.
Personal property? Personal space? Apparently, these concepts don't apply here.
Travel tip: Keep your belongings secure when visiting Jakhu Temple. Avoid displaying food or valuables unnecessarily, and never try to grab something back from a monkey yourself.
Despite the unexpected monkey drama, the visit was memorable. We offered our prayers, enjoyed the surroundings, and left with a little more appreciation for the importance of keeping our belongings close.
The Mall Road Food Trail: A ₹600 Lesson in Disappointment
After returning towards Mall Road, we arrived at what I consider one of the most important parts of any trip: the food exploration.
Because sightseeing is wonderful, but discovering what a destination tastes like? That's an adventure of its own.
Our first stop was an apple-walnut pie. The name sounded promising, the idea was tempting, and naturally, expectations were high.
Unfortunately, reality had other plans.
The pie cost ₹600.
Yes, ₹600 for a slice of pie that failed to deliver the experience its price tag seemed to promise.
I was expecting a delicious combination of apple, walnuts, and buttery pastry. Instead, I was left wondering where all the magic had gone.
It wasn't worth the money, and the experience could be summed up in one sentence: ₹600 ka pie nahi, ₹600 ka sadma tha.
Some food disappointments are easy to forget. Others become permanent travel memories simply because your wallet refuses to let you move on.
This was definitely the second kind.
Fruit Chaat: Finally, Something Good!
Thankfully, our next stop was much more satisfying.
The fruit chaat was fresh, tasty, and genuinely enjoyable. After the disappointment of the pie, it was nice to find something that actually lived up to expectations.
It wasn't extravagant or complicated, but sometimes the simplest food is exactly what you need.
The day was slowly recovering from its expensive beginning.
The Bhel That Had Everything Except Flavour
Next up was bhel, a popular Indian street-food snack that usually delivers a delightful mix of crunch, tanginess, spice, and chutneys.
This version, however, was a little confusing.
It seemed to have every ingredient imaginable. There was plenty going on in the bowl, but somehow, the flavour itself was missing.
It was a classic case of all ingredients, no personality.
The uncle serving it was lovely, which made the situation slightly awkward. I wanted to like the bhel, and I genuinely appreciated the effort, but the taste just wasn't there.
Sorry, uncle. The service gets a smile, but the bhel loses points.
At this stage, our food trail had delivered one expensive disappointment, one pleasant surprise, and one snack that seemed to have forgotten its own purpose.
But then came the dish that changed everything.
Chole Kulche: The Undisputed Star of the Day
Just when I thought our food adventures were going nowhere, we discovered the real winner: chole kulche.
And oh, what a comeback!
The chole kulche were absolutely delicious. The combination of spicy, tangy, chatpata flavours was exactly what the day needed. One bite was enough to make me forget about the overpriced pie and the disappointing bhel.
This was the kind of street food that reminds you why exploring local food is such an essential part of travelling.
But the food wasn't the only highlight.
The uncle preparing the kulche was an absolute delight. He was cheerful, funny, and kept the atmosphere lively with his playful conversations and friendly banter.
There was something wonderfully refreshing about the entire experience. It wasn't a fancy restaurant with elaborate décor or an impressive menu. It was a simple street-food stop made memorable by delicious food and a genuinely fun interaction.
And that's what makes travel special: sometimes, the best experiences aren't planned at all.
Even now, I would happily eat those chole kulche again. In fact, if anyone knows a reliable courier service that delivers fresh Shimla chole kulche across cities, please let me know. I have a serious craving to address.
A Crowded Bakery & One More Food Stop
You'd think that after all that eating, we would have called it a day.
But apparently, my appetite had other plans.
We also stopped at a bakery that was already packed with people. And let's be honest: when you see a food place surrounded by a crowd, it's difficult not to become curious.
You immediately start thinking, "There must be something special here."
Of course, a long queue doesn't always guarantee good food. But thankfully, this bakery lived up to the hype.
We tried a bun, and it was genuinely good. It was a satisfying end to our little food adventure, especially after the mixed results of our earlier stops.
By this point, our day had become a journey of food-related emotions, ranging from financial regret to genuine happiness.
The ₹600 pie tested our patience, the bhel confused our taste buds, the chole kulche won our hearts, and the bakery gave us one final reason to be glad we'd stopped.
All in all, a fairly eventful food trail!
Final Thoughts: Is Shimla Worth Visiting?
Our first day in Shimla was a reminder that a good trip doesn't need to go exactly according to plan.
We arrived exhausted, woke up to beautiful mountain scenery, explored the town, visited a peaceful temple, encountered some very confident monkeys, and discovered both disappointing and delicious food.
Not every experience was perfect, but that was part of the fun.
The mountains were beautiful, Jakhu Temple offered a peaceful break, and walking around Mall Road gave us a chance to experience Shimla at a relaxed pace. The food, meanwhile, provided enough stories to keep us talking long after the trip.
Would I recommend exploring Shimla? Absolutely.
Enjoy the mountain views, take your time wandering around, visit Jakhu Temple, and make room for some local food. Just remember to keep your belongings safe around the monkeys and perhaps think twice before spending ₹600 on a pie without knowing what you're getting.
Because at the end of the day, the best travel memories aren't always the picture-perfect ones.
Sometimes, they're the unexpected laughs, the friendly food vendors, the dishes you can't stop thinking about, and the overpriced dessert you will never let yourself forget.
Shimla gave us mountains, memories, monkey drama, and magnificent chole kulche. And honestly, that's a pretty good start to a trip.
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