St Michaels Cathedral, Shimla - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 1 km from Shimla Railway Station, St. Michael's Cathedral is a catholic church situated near Shimla Bus Stand. It is one of the popular churches in Shimla and among the popular Shimla Tourist Places.

Opened for the public in 1886, St. Michael's Cathedral is the first Roman Catholic church in Shimla. It comes under the diocese of Shimla-Chandigarh. The church is famous for its architecture splendor showcasing French-Gothic Style designed by Henry Irwin, a famous architect who was the then Superintendent Engineer and Architect of PWD in Shimla. The place of worship was often referred to as the 'Ripon Place' as this site for building the cathedral was selected by Lord Ripon, the then Viceroy of India.

This majestic church incorporates a nave, a vestry, a confessional room, a baptistery room, and two aisles. Greystones have been used to build the outer part of this cathedral while the interiors have fine mirror work that attracts devotees and tourists alike from all over India. The cathedral has one of the finest and oldest organs in the Himachal Pradesh. The other fine attractions are old glass tapestry and a precious old statue of 'Our Lady of Guadalupe', a gift from Mexico. It can accommodate around 400 worshipers in the main hall. The entire church premise and the surrounding area look charming offering a breathtaking view during the night when all lights are lit. Close to the church is an old library that was built in 1910 and designed in a typical Elizabethan style. It has a good collection of books mostly related to Christianity and also a good collection of ancient scriptures.

The church carries activities like marriage ceremony, baptism, the First Holy Communion and the Confirmation Mass, confessions, etc. The Friday Mass tradition is an interesting one here. The church remains closed during the months of heavy snowfall (September to early December).

Timings: 8 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free