November in Shimla hits different, I swear. The chilly air, that thin veil of mist curling around the hills, and golden leaves falling everywhere like we are walking through some fairy tale. We had barely been there five minutes, and my hands were twitching to click some panoramic views. We had read about the gondola ride shimla online and knew that cable cars were the move for today. Just imagine the views!
A mother’s Must do!
We were having the time of our lives, fully in vacation mode, when my mom dropped the ultimate “we have to do this” suggestion. Out of nowhere, she goes, “We’re going to Jakhu Temple. No questions.” Now, Jakhu Temple is legendary, with that huge Hanuman statue you can literally see from half of Shimla, but getting there was a whole different story. We heard it could take an hour by car, and in no way were we about to kill an hour of daylight when we could be doing cooler things. Then, it hit us – Jakhu Ropeway. A quick glance at Google Maps, and we were sold. No way we were taking a long cab ride when there was a whole ropeway waiting to zip us up there!
So, we booked our tickets and hopped on. This ropeway ride was way different from the earlier one – shorter, but steep. Like, “hold onto your phone and don’t look down if you’re scared” steep. But the view? Unmatched. The temple slowly came into sight, surrounded by even more trees, with the city sprawled out far below us. You could feel the energy shift, almost like the air was thinner and fresher, like we were moving into another realm.
The Jakhu Temple
When we got off, there was this whole vibe at Jakhu. It was quiet, almost serene. And then, there it was – that massive Hanuman statue towering above us, orange and proud against the sky. We couldn’t help but stand there in awe. I mean, it felt like the statue was watching over Shimla, this whole place filled with history and legends. And the best part? Those pesky monkeys people warned us about were out in full force, doing their monkey business, climbing around like it was their playground. They were pretty chill if you didn’t look like you had snacks, though.
We wandered around, taking it all in, letting the peaceful vibes of the temple calm us down after the thrill of the ropeway. The prayers, the incense, the soft chanting – it was like being in another world for a bit, far away from the hustle of Mall Road and all the food stalls. Mom looked super happy, like this was the highlight of her trip. And honestly, I get it. There’s something about visiting places like Jakhu Temple that makes you feel connected, like you’re part of something bigger, even if you’re just here for a day or two.
By the time we wanted to head back down, it was about 4 pm. From up here, the city looked like a painting, all the buildings nestled in the hills like they were meant to be there forever. We took the ropeway back, just soaking it all in. It’s weird how a place can make you feel so alive and so calm at the same time.
The Way down
So, there we were, gearing up for a second ride on one of the best cable cars in shimla. We hopped on, and let me tell you, it was next-level surreal. The cable car starts off with this slow, creaky rise that feels kind of like anticipation building up. As we went up, the pine trees under us looked like green carpets rolled out by nature herself. Looking down, all you see is a sea of emerald trees, scattered cottages with red roofs, and roads snaking through the hills like some hidden trail leading to a treasure.
When the cable car dipped and swayed slightly in the wind, my heart did a little jump. We looked at each other and laughed, half because it was low-key terrifying and half because it was so freeing. We just kept snapping pictures and saying, “Oh my god, look at that!” every time we saw a new angle of the hills. It was one of those “you had to be there” moments. But I swear, it felt like Shimla was showing off just for us.
The evening snacks
Once the ride ended, it felt like we’d unlocked a secret view of the city. We weren’t just tourists anymore; we’d literally seen Shimla from above. But, being on the ground again had its own charm, so we headed straight to Mall Road to explore. And wow, the vibes here? Immaculate. You have got street musicians playing soft tunes, colorful stalls, and the smell of fresh momos wafting through the cold air. There’s something about the cold mixed with street food that hits right, you know? We tried this thing called a “bun chaat” – I’d never had it before, but wow, the crispy, spicy-sweet thing was pure magic.
And then, because no Mall Road trip is complete without it, we had to get our hands on some steaming hot gulab jamun. Imagine biting into one, and that warm, syrupy sweetness melts in your mouth, just as a chilly breeze hits your face. It’s the little things, honestly. I’d never really thought of Shimla as anything more than a pretty hill station, but today, it was so much more. From the cable cars in shimla to the temple views to the little things like momos and gulab jamuns, every bit of it felt like we were on our own little adventure.
As we walked back, Shimla’s night lights started blinking on one by one, like the city was saying goodnight. And us? We were already planning what to do tomorrow. But whatever’s next, today’s Shimla magic was going to be hard to top.
