Wildflower Hall

Overview

About this property

Wildflower Hall is a luxury resort in the hills above Shimla, in Charabra. It was once the residence of Lord Kitchener, the former Commander-in-Chief of the British army, and it still feels like a grand colonial estate. It sits in 23 acres of cedar forest, at 2,515 metres above sea level, as the resort's own site says.

The resort is quiet and green. The air is cool, the forest is all around, and the views open out over the Himalayas. It is the kind of place where you slow down without trying.

Wildflower Hall suits people who want a special mountain stay. Couples on a quiet holiday, families who want space and nature, and anyone who likes old colonial buildings will feel at home here. It is not in the middle of Shimla town, so it is calmer than a Mall Road hotel, but Shimla town is still easy to reach.

If you want luxury in the mountains, with a spa, a pool and beautiful dining rooms, this is one of the best picks in the Shimla hills.

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 Wildflower Hall are done in a heritage style, as listed on the resort's own site: the Lord Kitchener Suite, the Deluxe Suite, the Superior Room with Balcony, the Premier Mountain View Room, the Premier Valley View Room and the Deluxe Garden View Room.

The Lord Kitchener Suite has a four-poster bed, a furnished living room and an ornate fireplace, with picture-frame windows over the mountains. The Deluxe Suite has a grand fireplace at the heart of the living space. The Superior Room with Balcony lets you eat on your own private balcony, beside views over the evergreen treetops.

The Premier rooms have two-poster beds, Victorian-style lamps and wooden ceiling fans. The Mountain View Room wakes you to sunrise views over the Himalayas, and the Valley View Room looks across Shimla's valley and cedar forests, in mist, sunlight or snow.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the resort'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 Wildflower Hall serves International and Indian food, as the resort's own site says. You can sit indoors, in the elegant glass conservatory, or on the al fresco terrace, with Himalayan views and traditional bonfires in the evening.

For drinks, there is The Cavalry Bar. Leather stools perch beside the bar, silk sofas hug the fireplace, and antique war memorabilia adorn the walls, as the resort's site says. It is a calm, old-style bar, and it suits the resort well.

If you are staying for more than one night, try to have at least one dinner inside the resort. The dining rooms, the bonfires and the mountain air together are part of the experience here.

Things to do

A slow day at the resort

A good day at Wildflower Hall starts with breakfast and a walk in the cedar forest around the resort. The resort's own site mentions guided nature walks, and the forest paths are the best way to start a mountain morning.

In the afternoon, the temperature-controlled indoor pool is a good place to relax, with mountain views through the windows. The outdoor whirlpool, open to the sky, is there too, for a warm soak with Himalayan views around you.

The Oberoi Spa is there if you want a massage. Its private therapy cabins sit in the cedar forest, and it offers Eastern, Western and signature Oberoi treatments. A private yoga session can also be arranged, for all ages and skill levels.

In the evening, a drink at The Cavalry Bar, then dinner at The Restaurant. After dinner, the firelit lounge, the snooker room or the well-stocked library are good places to spend a quiet hour before bed.

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.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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