Shimla, June 3
As part of the International Shimla Summer Festival 2026, a culinary competition under the Shimla Pahadi Swad Mahotsav was successfully organised at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Kufri, showcasing Himachal Pradesh’s rich food heritage and traditional cuisine.
The event was held under the guidance of IHM Principal Dr. Mukul Dimri and aimed at promoting local food culture, indigenous ingredients and traditional Himachali dishes.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Sachin Sharma, attended as the chief guest and praised participants for their culinary skills, innovation and efforts to preserve the state’s gastronomic traditions. He said such initiatives help bring Himachal’s rich culinary heritage to a wider audience.
The competition was coordinated and judged by Prashant Vijeta, Head of Department, and Yatharth Chauhan, Senior Lecturer at IHM Shimla. Nand Lal, former General Manager of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), also served on the judging panel.
A total of 30 participants competed, presenting traditional Himachali dishes and innovative recipes. Entries were evaluated on taste, presentation, originality, hygiene and technical expertise.
Out of the 30 participants, 13 were selected for the next round, including five Self-Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), one group under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) and seven participants from the open category.
The selected contestants will set up stalls at Rani Jhansi Park from June 8 to 12 and compete in the final phase, where the overall winner of the Shimla Pahadi Swad Mahotsav culinary competition will be chosen.
