The Kali Bari Temple on Bantony Hill is the oldest temple in Shimla proper, dedicated to Shyamala Devi — the dark manifestation of the goddess from whom the city is said to take its name (Shimla being a corruption of Shyamala). The temple predates the British settlement; local tradition holds that the goddess was worshipped on this hill before the British arrived in 1819.
The temple sits above Lakkar Bazaar, reached by a short walk up a steep path from the bazaar area. It is an active place of worship and draws a significant crowd of devotees on Tuesdays and Saturdays — the days traditionally associated with Kali worship. The views from the temple precinct extend over Shimla's western ridges and down toward the railway station. The combination of the temple visit with a walk through Lakkar Bazaar (which sells wooden crafts and is worth exploring) makes for a pleasant morning away from the crowded Mall.