Pleasant weather conditions, intermittent rain and cool temperatures attracted a large number of tourists to Himachal Pradesh over the long weekend and the state capital Shimla witnessed a huge influx of visitors from various parts of the country.
Tourists said that the city’s favorable weather, scenic beauty, religious monuments, rich culture and relatively smooth traffic make their holiday experience enjoyable despite the heavy crowds.
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Families traveling during summer vacations and weekends flock to hill stations across Himachal Pradesh to escape the sweltering heat prevailing in Delhi and other parts of the northern plains.
Talking to ANI, Manish Goyal, a tourist from Delhi, said he was enjoying the pleasant weather in Shimla. “We came from Delhi. The weather here is very nice. It is really good to be here and enjoy a lot. There are not many crowds. Of course, there are many tourists, but we are comfortable. We did not face much traffic,” Goyal said.
Another tourist from Delhi, Sumit, who visited the famous Jakhu Temple, said the long weekend and cold weather attracted a large number of visitors to Shimla.
“The weather is excellent and very pleasant. We have holidays and long weekends. There are a lot of crowds, but the weather is wonderful. We came to Jakhu temple for darshan. There is a huge crowd, but we had a very good darshan. God called us and gave us the opportunity to offer our prayers. Shimla is completely packed. Considering the heat in Delhi and other parts of the country, I think the tourist rush will continue,” he said.
“I would say that people should happily come here and definitely visit it. It is a great tourist destination. Everyone should come at least once. It is a very beautiful place,” he added.
Parul, who also came from Delhi, said the weather and smooth traffic arrangements enhanced their experience. She visited the Lord Hanuman temple in Jakhu.
“The long weekend has given people an opportunity to visit tourist destinations. Traffic is running well and there are no major problems. We are facing delays of just five to fifteen minutes and are reaching our destinations comfortably. Delhi is very hot, so people are getting a chance to visit tourist places. We had a very good darshan and are feeling great. We came to Shimla for sightseeing and since we traveled by car, we wanted to start our trip with blessings of Jakhu Hanuman temple. It is a great feeling to be here,” he said.
According to Shimla Police, the number of tourist arrivals remained high during the tourism season.
During the month of May 2026, nearly 8.5 lakh vehicles entered Shimla through major entry routes, including Shoghi, Bilaspur and Kinnaur, police data showed. In June, about 3.8 thousand vehicles had already entered the area through various entry points.
To ensure smooth traffic movement amid the tourist rush, Shimla Police has implemented a comprehensive traffic management plan.
The number of police and home guard personnel deployed for traffic management has been significantly increased from 127 personnel in 2025 to 210 personnel in 2026. In addition, around 70 reserve police personnel deployed during the recently concluded summer festival in Shimla have been retained to manage traffic pressure during the tourism season.
The police also engaged about 50 civilian and student volunteers to assist traffic personnel at key locations across the city.
To respond quickly to congestions and emergency situations, 32 traffic cyclists were deployed in different sectors of the city, while interceptor vehicles were used to ensure compliance with traffic regulations.
The city is divided into five traffic sectors, each supervised by an officer responsible for ensuring smooth movement of vehicles in the designated area.
Special arrangements have also been made at the main parking facilities to facilitate entry and exit of vehicles and reduce congestion in congested parts of the city.
Shimla Police encourages tourists traveling towards Cauvery, Narkanda, Theog and Kinnaur to use the Shoghi-Mehli bypass road, which helps reduce pressure on the city’s roads. Police said about 800 vehicles are diverted daily via the alternative route.
Awareness campaigns are also being conducted through social media, where informational videos are being circulated about the best routes to Jakhu Temple and the use of the Shoghi-Mohli branch road.
To reduce dependence on private vehicles, the authorities have also allowed commuters, Urbania trucks and other public transport vehicles to operate on the Cart Road.
Police said these measures helped maintain the normal and smooth flow of traffic despite the large influx of tourists. To address the congestion resulting from breakdowns, three cranes were stationed in different sectors of the city for immediate response.
Shimla Police welcomed tourists visiting the hill station and appealed to visitors and locals alike to follow traffic rules, use designated parking spaces and cooperate with authorities by adopting alternative routes whenever advised.
With schools closed for summer vacations, pleasant temperatures prevailing across the hills and long weekends attracting travelers from neighboring states, tourism stakeholders expect visitor numbers in Shimla and other popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh to remain high in the coming days.
