The salubrious air and scenic views of the Himalayas accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era creates an aura which is very different from other hill stations.
Shimla derives its name from Goddess Shyamala, an incarnation of Goddess Kali, the deity of power and wrath. However, unlike its name, Simla is a perfect heaven for the ones in search of tranquility. Nature has blessed this capital city with innumerable gifts and man has used them to make Shimla one of India’s best locales. Discover the Queen of Hill station on foot, it’s simply the best way. The walking trails are superb with tall pines and majestic deodar and spectacular views of the brilliant Himalayas.
Shimla has a number of spaces to visit. Local hangouts like the mall road and ridge are in the heart of the city. Most of the heritage buildings in the city are preserved in their original tudorbethan architecture. The Viceregal lodge which houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and Wildflower hall that is now a luxury hotel are some of the famous ones. A collection of paintings, jewelery and textiles of the region can be found at the State Museum (built in 1974).
The heritage narrow gauge toy train has also found its place in the list of UNESCO heritage sites. The travel to Shimla by rail and road is itself a distinct experience as the tracks pass through lovely mountains and valleys and the view changes at every turn.
Places To Visit:
The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People walk up and down the Mall slowly, stopping to gossip, as it is the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal point are the two main meeting points at the Mall. The mall is dotted with many eating places .Indian Institute of Advanced Study is housed in the Viceregal Lodge, built in 1884-88.
Annandale developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale is 2–4 km from the Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a favourite spot for cricket, picnics and polo.
Tara Devi which 11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Sankat Mochan where a Lord Hanuman temple is located .
Christ Church situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility. Christ Church is a place all visitors should spend some time in.
Jakhu Hill which is 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, which is also the home of countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors.
Shimla State Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.
Junga is a Tehsi 26 km from Shimla ; its original name (with diacritics) is Junga and is a former royal retreat of the princely state of Junga (also known as Keonthal Estate).
Mashobra which is 13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.
Kufri a wonderful place to be visited is 16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the winter sports capital and also has a small zoo.Chharabra which is 13 km from Shimla is on the route to Kufri.
Naldehra which is 22 km from Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club. The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra. Chail was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence, known for its cricket pitch, the highest in the world.
Arki (46 km) is the site of an 18th century fort built when Arki was the capital of the erstwhile hill state of Baghal
Tatapani which is the location of sulphur springs which are found near the Tatapani mandir(holy temple)
Sanjauli is the main suburb of Shimla.A 108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord Hanuman, at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea level, is the highest statue in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
How To Reach :
By Rail : Kalka is the nearest broad gauge railhead. (96 Kms from Shimla). The tourists will have to change their train at Kalka from where The Kalka Shimla toy train runs on a UNESCO heritage narrow gauge track connecting to Shimla. Almost all the major cities in the country are directly connected to Kalka, through train. The Himalayan Queen and the Howrah Express provide services everyday from Delhi to Kalka. The narrow gauge train from Kalka and Shimla passes through more than 100 tunnels providing breathtaking views of the surroundings. The narrow gauge toy train takes about 5-1/2 hours to reach Shimla Railway station.
By Road: Excellent road (national highway No 22 from Ambala to Shimla) including the hill stretch with many food joints along the highway ( from Delhi 368 Kms, from Chandigarh 118 Kms). There is never a boring moment on this road. The eating joints lined up on both sides of the road and the cool breeze from the hills make for a heady combination.There is 24 hours bus service from Chandigarh (travel time 4 hours, 118 Kms) and Delhi (travel time 9 hours, 368 Kms) and buses depart at short intervals of time.
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