Shimla's steepest climb gets a shortcut: a lift and funicular from Lakkar Bazaar to The Ridge
A lift-and-funicular link from Lakkar Bazaar to Shimla's Ridge is in trials and targeted to be ready by 30 November, just in time for the winter rush.
Anyone who has hauled a suitcase, a pair of tired knees or a sleepy child up from Shimla's Lakkar Bazaar to The Ridge knows the climb is the real Himachal welcome. That climb is about to get optional. A new lift-and-funicular link from the old Lakkar Bazaar bus stand area to The Ridge is in its final stage, with trial runs and safety inspections under way and the facility targeted to be ready by 30 November.
What is being built
The link pairs a lift with a short funicular, a small car that runs on rails up a steep incline, pulled along its track. Together they will carry visitors from the Lakkar Bazaar side up to The Ridge, the open promenade above Mall Road that is home to Christ Church and most of Shimla's postcard views. The project is being developed by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) along with the Shimla Municipal Corporation, and the state's ropeway corporation, which is executing the work, has said it will be completed by the end of November.
Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan has said the aim is to give tourists direct access to Mall Road and The Ridge, and that senior citizens and local residents will gain the most. If the trials go to plan, the first public rides should follow soon after, with reports pointing to the first week of December for regular operations.
Why it matters for your winter trip
Shimla's peak season runs right through December and into the New Year, when the town fills with families from across India hoping for snow. Lakkar Bazaar, known for its woodcraft stalls, sits just below The Ridge, but the walk between them is short on distance and long on gradient. A mechanical shortcut means:
- Easier evenings on The Ridge: no more debating whether the view is worth the walk back up.
- Better access for elders: grandparents can now join the Mall Road stroll instead of waiting at the hotel.
- Lakkar Bazaar gets its due: the market's redevelopment includes new shops and a planned selfie point, so expect the area to become a proper stop rather than a hurried shortcut.
Reports differ on the project's cost and on how many people each car will carry, and fares have not been announced, so check with HPTDC or the Shimla Municipal Corporation before you plan around it.
How to plan around it
Until the link opens, the old rules apply: take the walk slowly and build in rest stops. Once the new link is running, a sensible loop is to start at Lakkar Bazaar for a browse, ride up to The Ridge for the sunset, and wander down Mall Road for dinner. Weekday mornings will be the best time to try it before the holiday crowds arrive.
The FHM take
A funicular in a colonial hill station is the kind of upgrade that feels both very modern and very old-world, and Shimla needed something to ease the squeeze around The Ridge. We will believe the 30 November date when we are standing in the car, but even a December opening makes this winter's Shimla trip a little kinder on the calves. Pack the woollens, skip the gasping, and spend the saved energy on a second plate of chana bhatura.
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