Retiring Room at Shimla Station

chonnochara

Hi

I've heard that there are well appointed retiring rooms at Shimla station. Is it true? If yes, then how can I book a room in advance? Any ph number or e-mail id?

Thanks & Regards
Chonnochara

delhiwala

Shimla Railway Station is on the fringes of the city and you can't book retiring rooms in advance.....

You need to show your journey ticket, then only you are allotted the room.

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chonnochara

Thanks for the Info.

How much a room costs per night?

Regards
Chonnochara

delhiwala

Only Rs. 300 per room.

chonnochara

Thanks, delhiwala

indracal

I am planning to travel to Shimla during Nov/Dec'09. I would have my wife and kid and would not pre-book any hotel as it is off-peak.

I am thinking that I would keep the luggages in the cloak room, go to the mall area, finalize hotels, and then come down again to take the luggages. I would need a porter though, or may be tip someone from the hotel to do it for me.

I have heard about hotel Sangeet and hotel Samrat to be good budget options.

• First of all, is there a cloak room in Shimla Rly Station?
• And do you think my idea is realistic?
• I understand there is no transport available from the station itself, (i.e. you need to take porter service for heavy luggages) - is that correct?

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chonnochara

Hi Indracal

I think the Shimla station has a cloak room but can't tell that for sure, because I did not keep my luggage there.

About the realistic nature of your plan, I would advise against tipping someone from the hotel you will be staying to come and collect your luggage. You should come yourself instead.

I think you need to know the following to take an informed decision whether to hire a porter or not:

1> Get down from the toy train and walk towards the start of the platform (that is: walk backwards).
2> You will soon spot a kiosk named "Shimla Information Center" or something like that near the exit.
3> Coming out of the exit, take the slope (it's the only choice)to come outside.
4> You will see plenty of taxis waiting to take you to your destination.

Alternatively, you can hire a porter from the railway station itself to take you to the hotel. However, consider this before you hire either a taxi or a porter:

a) The minimum taxi fare is RS 50 (at least when I was there in May this year). A porter won't charge you less.
b) Shimla is very steep, so think if your wife and kid will be able to walk all the way to the hotel after spending two nights in train and considerable number of hours in the toy train.

I have not stayed in either of the hotels you mentioned. What I can tell you from my experience is try to stay in a hotel near the Victory Tunnel. This is the main bus stand from where HPTDC buses leave for sightseeing. This place is also close to the mall road.
However, you can stay in hotel dalziel. It's completely made of wood and on the mall road, just a stone throw away from Shimla kalibari. Unlike other hotels, room tariff here is very reasonable. Most hotels in Shimla charge excess price for a room really small and ill maintained (atleast this was my experience when I went there in May this year). Although I did not stay in the hotel, I went inside to enquire about the room tariff. Liked the exterior. You can check the link below.
http://www.dalzielhotel.com/

indracal

Chonnochara,

Many thanks for sharing the inputs. I have seen a few Dalziel reviews, the only (and quite serious) downside is that it seems to have acute water crisis.

Last time we stayed at Hotel Devdoot around the bus stand, and was pretty okay for 450/- bucks. This time with the kid I wanted to stay around the mall (less walking up and down) - and that's why the hunt!

If you don't mind, could you share about the hotel where you stayed?

Thanks again!

chonnochara

Hi Indracal

Glad to know that you found my points useful. My wife and I stayed in hotel Ganga http://www.hotelgangashimla.com/
On the pros side, the hotel is just 5-7 mins by car from the railway station and about 5-6 mins on foot from the Victory Tunnel. A staircase right in front of the hotel will take you to the mall road (again less than 10 mins on foot). The food is really nice and cheap. You can order room service or have it in the restaurant.

Now the con side: We stayed in a super deluxe room for 1600/night including tax. the room was spacious, nice decor but It was not well maintained—rust on window panels, crack on artifical ceiling etc. However the bahroom had round the clock water (both hot & cold). At 1600 a night we expected something wow but the room, according to me, did not quite justify its price tag.

Another problem is—to reach the hotel entrance, you need to climb some steep stairs. And depending on the room you choose, you may have to climb some more. But you can check out the hotel as you will not be pre-booking a room. They have a super deluxe room on the first floor, insist for that if you decide to stay. It's good.

However, a lot of hotels are located in the vicinity of this hotel. Hotel Hans is right next to hotel Ganga. Although rooms are smaller than Ganga, they are priced just like it.

But, if you are thinking of going to Manali, stay in Hotel Beas (an HPTDC hotel). It possibly has the best location in Manali with river Beas flowing just a few meters off the hotel perimeter. Priced at 1500 on MAP basis, you will love it.

indracal

Sorry folks, it was hotel Rajdoot, not Devdoot!

http://www.hotelrajdootshimla.com/