Tara Devi Temple Trail and Walking Tour Shimla - 4 - 5 Hours (Half Day)
The sacred hilltop shrine of Tara Devi Temple, located at an altitude of approximately 2,100 metres (6,890 ft.), is one of the most peaceful and scenic spiritual destinations around Shimla. Dedicated to Goddess Tara Devi, this historic temple is believed to be over 250–300 years old and is perched beautifully on a ridge overlooking the lush valleys and Himalayan landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by dense forests and panoramic mountain views, the temple offers a perfect blend of spirituality, nature, and adventure.
Tour Overview & Description
Duration : 4 - 5 Hours (Half Day)
Location : North India, Shimla
Best Season : Throughout the year
Category : Nature Walks, Hiking & Trekking with Offbeat Experiences in Shimla
Covering : Tara Devi Temple
Special About Tour :
The sacred hilltop shrine of Tara Devi Temple, located at an altitude of approximately 2,100 metres (6,890 ft.), is one of the most peaceful and scenic spiritual destinations around Shimla. Dedicated to Goddess Tara Devi, this historic temple is believed to be over 250–300 years old and is perched beautifully on a ridge overlooking the lush valleys and Himalayan landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by dense forests and panoramic mountain views, the temple offers a perfect blend of spirituality, nature, and adventure.
Although the temple is now connected by a motorable road from the Shoghi side, many travellers and local devotees still prefer the traditional hiking route to experience the beauty of the forest trail. The walk usually begins from Tara Devi Bus Stop or Tara Devi Railway Station, situated around 7 km from Shimla on the historic Kalka–Shimla Highway. From here, visitors can enjoy a gentle uphill trek of around 4–5 km (one way), which generally takes about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the pace.
The hiking trail to Tara Devi Temple passes through enchanting forests of pine, oak, cedar, and rhododendron trees, offering a refreshing escape into nature. Rich Himalayan flora, chirping birds, cool mountain breeze, and open meadows along the route make this one of the most rewarding short hikes near Shimla. The winding forest path gradually ascends towards the hilltop, making it suitable for nature lovers, photographers, families, spiritual seekers, and casual hikers alike.
Along the way, several viewpoints open up to breathtaking panoramas of Shimla town, surrounding countryside, deep valleys, and the distant snow-clad Himalayan ranges. The peaceful atmosphere, fresh mountain air, and scenic surroundings create a rejuvenating experience for visitors looking to spend time amidst nature away from crowded tourist spots.
One of the unique highlights of this experience is the option to combine the hike with a memorable journey on the famous UNESCO World Heritage Kalka–Shimla Mountain Railway - a Toy Train Adventure. Travellers can board the charming narrow-gauge toy train from Shimla Railway Station to Tara Devi Railway Station, enjoying beautiful mountain views, tunnels, bridges, and forest landscapes during the ride. After reaching Tara Devi Station, guests can begin the scenic uphill hike to the temple.
For travellers looking for a more relaxed option, it is also possible to drive directly to the Tara Devi Temple by road from Shimla in approximately 30–40 minutes. Guests may choose to drive uphill and later enjoy a pleasant downhill forest walk of around 2 hours towards Tara Devi Bus Stand or Railway Station, where the vehicle can meet them again for the return drive to Shimla.
Please Note: Travellers wishing to combine the Tara Devi Trek with a journey on the historic Kalka–Shimla Mountain Railway are advised to book the tour at least 30–35 days in advance. This allows us sufficient time to arrange and confirm train tickets in advance for a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
Our guided Tara Devi hiking experience includes pickup from your hotel in Shimla, generally around 09:30 AM, followed by a comfortable drive by Toyota Innova / similar vehicle to the starting point of the trek. Depending on your preference, the hike can begin either from Tara Devi Bus Stop, Tara Devi Railway Station, or directly from the hilltop after a scenic drive.
The Tara Devi hike is ideal for travellers seeking an easy nature walk in Shimla, a spiritual escape, photography opportunities, birdwatching, and peaceful Himalayan landscapes. The combination of heritage, spirituality, forest trails, and mountain scenery makes this one of the most beautiful offbeat experiences near Shimla.
Place Wise Itinerary : 1 Day Tour
Tour Duration
Tour Duration: Approximately 4–6 Hours depending on the hiking pace, route chosen, and optional toy train experience.
Available Slots: 09:00 A.M. onwards. Flexible timings can also be arranged on request.
Tour Options & Group Size
The Tara Devi Hill & Temple Walk can be enjoyed as a private guided experience for solo travellers, couples, families, and small groups. The tour can easily accommodate individual travellers as well as groups travelling together.
Guests may choose between a complete hiking experience, a toy train + hike combination, or a drive uphill with a scenic downhill walk depending on their comfort, fitness level, and interest.
Tour operates throughout the year on all days of the week.
The tour may occasionally remain unavailable during heavy rainfall, snowfall or due to local weather and forest conditions.
Experience
Upon confirmation of your Tara Devi Hill & Temple Walking Tour, the exact meeting and pickup details will be shared with you. Our local guide will pick you up from your hotel in Shimla around 09:30 AM followed by a comfortable drive by Toyota Innova / similar vehicle to Tara Devi Bus Stop, which serves as one of the starting points for the scenic uphill forest walk to Tara Devi Temple.
Travellers also have the option to combine the experience with a memorable journey on the famous UNESCO World Heritage Kalka–Shimla Mountain Railway. Guests choosing this option can board the charming narrow-gauge toy train from Shimla Railway Station at approximately 10:25 AM and arrive at Tara Devi Railway Station around 11:15 AM, from where the guided uphill trek to the temple begins. Tara Devi Railway Station is located close to the main road and offers one of the most scenic and peaceful starting points for the hike.
The walk gradually ascends through beautiful Himalayan forests filled with pine, oak, cedar, and rhododendron trees. Along the trail, enjoy refreshing mountain air, peaceful surroundings, panoramic views of Shimla town and surrounding valleys, along with opportunities for photography, birdwatching, and nature exploration.
What to Expect
The Tara Devi Hill & Temple Walk offers one of the most scenic and peaceful hiking experiences near Shimla, combining spirituality, heritage, and nature into a memorable outdoor activity. The easy to moderate forest trail passes through beautiful Himalayan landscapes and leads to the historic Tara Devi Temple situated at an altitude of approximately 2,100 metres. The gradual climb makes the walk suitable for beginners, families, nature lovers, photographers, and travellers looking for an offbeat experience in Shimla.
Guests can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan mountains, deep valleys, forests, and Shimla town during the hike. The optional Kalka–Shimla Toy Train ride further enhances the overall experience, making it one of the most unique combinations of heritage travel and soft adventure in Himachal Pradesh.
Important Note
Guests planning to include the Kalka–Shimla Toy Train journey are advised to book the experience at least 30–35 days in advance, as train ticket availability remains limited, especially during peak tourist seasons and holidays.
- Scenic forest hike through pine, oak, cedar, and rhododendron trees.
- Visit to the historic hilltop Tara Devi Temple at 2,100 metres.
- Panoramic views of Shimla town, valleys, and Himalayan mountain ranges.
- Peaceful offbeat experience away from crowded tourist places.
- Optional UNESCO Heritage Kalka–Shimla Toy Train journey.
- Ideal for nature lovers, photographers, families, and spiritual travellers.
- Easy to moderate trek suitable for beginners and casual hikers.
- Fresh mountain air and rich Himalayan flora and fauna along the trail.
- Opportunity to experience local culture and spiritual atmosphere.
- Comfortable private transfers available from Shimla hotels.
Accomodation / Hotels
In the last couple of decades Shimla had turned to one of the most favourite and popular tourist destinations of India. To cater to the huge number of tourists visiting Shimla, the town has a large number of hotels to cater tourist of every hue. These hotels are famous for their traditional Indian hospitality and provide services which are at par with the best in the world. These hotels can be categorise as guest house, home stays, Deluxe hotels, Heritage hotels, 3 star hotels, 4 star hotels some of which belongs to Oberoi’s group and Radisson. The very famous one in the town is Oberoi’s Clarks, Oberoi’s Cecil and The Wildflower Hall a little outside of the town.
Accommodation is not included in your day tour, but if required we can arrange the accommodation for you. One can choose the place of accommodation according to one’s requirement and budget.
If required we can provide accommodation using our home stay property in Shimla at Marigold Home Stay Shimla, which itself is a unique travel experience.
Cloths: Cottons with light woollens.
Arrangements
You will enjoy the Tara Devi Hill & Temple Walk as a private guided experience accompanied by an experienced English-speaking local guide. Transportation from Shimla to the starting point of the trek and return can be arranged by private vehicle such as Toyota Innova / similar SUV or a mid-size sedan, depending on the group size and preference.
The Tara Devi Hill & Temple Walk can be taken as a private personalised tour or on a small “join-in” basis, where other independent travellers may join the experience (maximum 15–20 participants in one group).
On request, we can also arrange tickets for the famous UNESCO Heritage Kalka–Shimla Mountain Railway for guests wishing to combine the scenic toy train journey with the Tara Devi hiking experience. Advance booking is highly recommended due to limited seat availability.
Tour Cost
Price varies by group Size :
01 Pax : 3,500 INR Per Person
02 Pax to 03 Pax : 2,000 INR Per Person
04 Pax to 07 Pax : 1,500 INR Per Person
08 Pax or more: 1,000 INR Per Person
Entrance Fee :
There are no entrance fees required for this walk.
Optional Additional Charges :
A vehicle will be needed to travel from Shimla city to the starting point of the trek and back to Shimla town. We can provide a vehicle at an additional cost if necessary
Toyota Innova / SUV : 4,000 INR Per Car maximum 5 pax, per car.
Mid-size Sedan Car : 3,000 INR Per Car maximum 3 pax, per car.
Please Note: All costs are subject to change without prior notice. For Booking Contact Us on WhatsApp +919805051102 0r +919418647516 Overseas Payments: Guests residing outside India making payment via international bank transfer are requested to bear any bank transfer or overseas transaction charges, which cannot be deducted from the payable tour amount. Tour prices can also be provided in USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, and other major international currencies on request. Transportation on Request: Should you require transport to the starting point and back to hotel, we will be pleased to arrange comfortable transportation at a reasonable additional cost.
Inclusions
- Services of an English-speaking guide for the walk.
- One bottle of water per person
- All applicable taxes.
Exclusions
- Transportation for pick-up and drop (can be arranged at an additional cost on request)
- Transportation for pick-up and drop (can be arranged at an additional cost on request)
- Any kind of food, drinks.
- Tips / gratuities for tour escorts, local guides, or drivers (if any).
- Personal expenses or any services not specifically mentioned under "Tour Cost Includes".
- Please Note - Transportation: Hotel pick-up and drop are not included in the tour cost. Transportation can be arranged on request at an additional cost, subject to discussion at the time of booking.
