The Oberoi Cecil

Overview

About this property

The Oberoi Cecil is a heritage hotel in Shimla, at the quieter end of the Mall Road, near the Viceregal Lodge. Its own site says it was Shimla's most exclusive hotel during the British Raj, known for its grand ballroom dances and fashionable guests. More than a century later, it still carries that old style, with a white facade and green terrace railings at the front.

Inside, the hotel opens into a large atrium lobby, lit from above by a skylight that runs the length of the building. Marble fireplaces stand in the lobby, and the lounge sits under the skylight. The feel is calm and old-fashioned, in a good way. Nothing here is loud or rushed, and the staff keep things moving quietly in the background.

The hotel suits people who like old buildings and a quiet stay. Couples on a special trip, families who want a calm base in Shimla town, and anyone who likes colonial-era hotels will feel at home here. It is on the Mall Road, so the shops, cafes and the Ridge are easy to reach on foot, but this end of the Mall is quieter than the busy centre.

One thing to know before you book: this is a formal, heritage hotel, not a casual budget stay. The rooms, the dining rooms and the public spaces all keep the old style. If you like that kind of place, you will enjoy it a lot. If you want a modern, plain hotel, one of the other Shimla hotels on this page may suit you better.

If you want a heritage stay on the Mall Road, with a spa, a pool and dining rooms that still feel like a ballroom, The Oberoi Cecil is a good pick. It is one of the best-known hotels in Shimla, and its name comes up again and again when people talk about the town's old hotels.

At a glance

What you get here

Everything above is taken from the hotel's own website. If something is not listed here, it means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Rooms

Rooms made for rest

The rooms and suites at The Oberoi Cecil are done in a heritage style, as shown on the hotel's own site: the Luxury Suite, the Deluxe Suite, the Premier Valley View Room, the Luxury Room and the Deluxe Room. They have two-poster beds, wooden floors and classic furniture, with modern comforts fitted in around the old style.

The Luxury Suite is the largest of the rooms listed on the site. It has a grand master bedroom and a separate living room, with a bathroom that has a bathtub, a separate shower, twin washbasins and a vanity counter. The Deluxe Suite has a grand, brass-ornamented two-poster king-size bed, a comfortable living room with a sofa and armchairs, and a bathroom with a full-size bathtub.

The Premier Valley View Room has a two-poster king-size bed, a comfortable sofa and a leather-topped writing desk, with a walk-in wardrobe and its own bathroom. The Luxury Room carries cavalry and flag designs that pay tribute to Shimla's British history, with a two-poster bed, a plush armchair and a sofa. The Deluxe Room has two-poster beds, a plush sofa and a leather-topped writing desk, with rich wooden floors laid with warm handmade rugs.

If you want a particular room style, ask the hotel when you book. The suites give more space, which helps if you are travelling with family or staying for more than a couple of nights. The valley view rooms are worth asking about, as the views over Shimla Valley are a big part of staying here.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the hotel's own website will have the latest list. We do not show prices here because they change often, and we do not want to show you an old price.

Food & drink

Where to eat

The Restaurant at The Oberoi Cecil serves International and Indian food, as the hotel's own site says. It sits in the room that was once the hotel's ballroom, so the dining room is large and grand, with views across the Shimla Valley. Meals here feel like an occasion, even a simple lunch.

Cedar Garden is the hotel's second place to eat. Its site describes it as a journey into the culture and food of Himachal Pradesh, with smoky grills and drinks, along with authentic Himachali dance. If you want to try local food in a hotel setting, this is the place to do it.

For drinks, there is The Lounge & Bar, under the skylight in the signature atrium lounge. The hotel's site says high tea and alcoholic drinks are served here, with live classical piano every evening. It is a calm place for a quiet drink, and the piano in the evening makes it feel special without being loud.

One small tip: if you are staying for more than one night, try a different place each evening. The Restaurant one night, Cedar Garden the next, and a drink in the Lounge & Bar after dinner. That way you get the full range of what the hotel offers, without leaving the building.

Things to do

A slow day at the hotel

A good day at The Oberoi Cecil starts with breakfast, then out onto the Mall Road. Walk to the Ridge, see Christ Church, and take in the views over Shimla town. The hotel's own site lists Christ Church as a short walk away, on the Ridge near Lakkar Bazaar and the Mall Road.

The hotel also runs guided walks, and these are worth asking about. The Colonial Heritage Walk covers Shimla's history, with sights that include the Viceregal Lodge, Gorton Castle, St. Michael's Cathedral, the Mall, the Ridge and Clarkes Hotel. The Walk in the Woods starts with a short walk or drive to Annadale, then goes down through rhododendron and cedar forests into the Glen, for a picnic lunch beside a stream.

In the afternoon, the swimming pool is a good place to rest, and the fitness centre is there if you want a workout. The gym has cardio machines and weight machines, and it is for resident guests only, so it stays quiet. The Oberoi Spa is there too, with therapy suites that look across the Shimla Valley.

If you are travelling with children, the Children's Activity Centre is a help. The hotel's site says it has air hockey, a carrom board, tabletop foosball, table tennis, a pool table and soft toys, along with a well-stocked library and a daily changing schedule of activities, all supervised by a member of the centre's team.

In the evening, a drink at The Lounge & Bar, with the piano playing, then dinner at The Restaurant or Cedar Garden. After dinner, a slow walk on the Mall Road, or a quiet hour in the atrium lounge, is a good way to end the day. If you have another day in Shimla, use it for the Mashobra Valley Hike listed on the hotel's site, a two-hour hike from Mashobra along the edge of the Presidential estate, through villages, apple orchards and pine, spruce and oak forest.

Amenities

Most popular amenities

These are the amenities confirmed on the hotel's own website. Anything not listed here means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Location

Where it is, and what is near

Shimla is the old summer capital of British India, and it still feels like a hill town from another time. The hotels on this page are in and around Shimla town, near the Mall Road and the Ridge. From here, the main sights are easy to reach on foot or by a short taxi ride.

If this is your first time in Shimla, these are the places most people visit: the Mall Road, the Ridge, Jakhu Temple on the hilltop, Christ Church, and the Viceregal Lodge, the old summer home of the British viceroys. The toy train from Kalka to Shimla is also famous, and many people take it for the mountain views on the way up.

We have not written distances here on purpose. Hill roads and traffic change travel time a lot, so a fixed number would go out of date fast. Ask your driver for the time on the day you travel.

The Mall Road itself is worth a slow evening. It has shops, cafes and restaurants, and it is closed to most traffic, so you can walk freely. In the evening, the Ridge fills with people watching the sunset over the hills.

Getting here

How to reach the hotel

Most guests reach Shimla by road from Delhi or Chandigarh. The drive climbs up into the hills, and the last part is on winding mountain roads. Cheapcab runs Delhi to Shimla taxis, and the route pages on this site show the fare.

You can also reach Shimla by the toy train from Kalka. The train is slow, but the views are beautiful, and many people take it for the experience itself. From Shimla station, a short taxi ride takes you to your hotel.

Keep your hotel's name and address ready on your phone, and share it with your driver before you start. Hill addresses can be confusing, and a phone address saves a lot of back-and-forth at the end of a long journey.

Best time

Best time to visit Shimla

The best time to visit Shimla is from March to June, and again from September to November. The weather is cool and pleasant, and you can walk around the Mall and the Ridge without getting tired. These are also the busiest months, so book your hotel a few weeks ahead.

December to February brings cold weather and sometimes snow. If you want to see snowfall, winter is the time to come, but pack very warm clothes and check the road conditions before you travel.

July and August bring rain. The hills look green and fresh, and there are fewer tourists. But rain can slow down travel on hill roads, so keep some extra time in hand if you come in the monsoon.

Good to know

Before you book

Cheapcab does not book hotels. You book a hotel on its own official website, using the button on this page. Prices, room types, check-in time and cancellation rules are all on the hotel's site, and they change with the season. Always read them there before you pay.

The photos on this page are from the hotel's official website, and the source link is given under the photo gallery. We do not use photos from booking sites or stock photo sites for hotels.

If you need a taxi to reach the hotel, or to go from Delhi to Shimla, you can book it from Cheapcab. The taxi fare and the hotel stay are separate. Your taxi driver will not charge you for the hotel, and the hotel will not charge you for the taxi.

One last practical tip for Shimla: carry a warm jacket even in summer, as hill evenings get cool. Wear comfortable walking shoes, because the Mall Road and the Ridge are best explored on foot. Small shops on the Mall often prefer cash, so keep some small notes handy along with your card.

Check the pool before you book: the hotel's own site once listed a short maintenance closure for its swimming pool, so if a pool matters to you, look at the hotel's site for the latest notice before you pay.

Room views differ a lot here. The Premier Valley View Room is named for its view, while other rooms look over the gardens, the terraces or the town. If a valley view matters to you, name the room type when you book, rather than just asking for a good view.

The guided walks listed on the hotel's site, the Colonial Heritage Walk and the Walk in the Woods, are worth booking early in your stay. They give you a feel for Shimla's old buildings and forest paths, and they help you plan the rest of your days in town.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

More hotels

More hotels in Shimla

Luxury resort

Wildflower Hall

City hotel

Hotel Combermere

City hotel

Radisson Jass Shimla

Boutique hotel

Hotel Willow Banks

Hotels are not included in the taxi fare — book them directly. Hotel photos unki official websites se li gayi hain.