Shimla The Queen of Hills of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla is literally blessed with natural beauty. Shimla has to offer archaic British monuments, fragrant apple orchards, Tibetan markets, hiking trails, and deep forests. Shimla is a popular crowd-puller all year round because of the lovely weather. This summer capital of India and astonishing hill station is the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

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With an average annual temperature of 15°C, the best time to experience this gem of the Himalayas is from March to June and September to December. The weather during this period is so suitable that it enables you to explore the exquisite valley extensively. Mall Road is the major attraction in Shimla. There are many branded stores and upscale restaurants here. One can shop here or window-shop for hours and explore nearby. There are alternatives like Lower Bazaar, Lakkar Bazaar where you can buy souvenirs for a reasonable price. The Gaiety Theatre is a heritage tourist attraction on Mall road. You can have the best view of full Shimla city from the mall road arena. The Ridge is where people hang-out and have great views of the city. On the Ridge there are statues of Bapuji, Indiraji and Parmarji. There are also tudorbethan style buildings and a church built in neo-gothic style. The church truly is one of its kind. In the night the illuminated church transports tourists to the medieval period. Jakhu Temple is among Shimla’s most famous templeshigh up a forested peak 2kilometers from the mall road. Dedicated to the Lord Hanuman, the temple is a steep hike from the Ridge through a narrow pathway flanked by dense deodars on both sides. Kufri is a winter sports capital. This place is situated at 2628 meters above sea level. This place is about unreal panoramic views and the beauty of magnificent mountains. You can pursue training and facilities for exciting winter sports like ice skating and skiing as it is an adventure hub. Near Kufriyou can visit the Himalayan Zoo and a Nature Park. Near Vice-Regal Lodge there is a Himalayan Bird Sanctuary which is spectacular. All these places have an entrance fee plus a camera fee. The Kalka-Shimla train ride is an essential part of Shimla travel. Built-in 1898, this narrow-gauge railway has recently been added to the mountain railways of India World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The train runs through the extremely scenic and mountainous route from the Shivalik Range foothills at Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla. Also, the train ride offers eye soothing views of the surrounding hills and villages. It stops at a number of tourist destinations, like Solan, Dharampur, Summer Hill, Salogra, Taradevi, and Barog, among others. This adventurous journey will take you through approximately 864 bridges, 919 curves, and 102 tunnels.

Vice-Regal Lodge is a very popular attraction of Shimla. Built-in Scottish style the building has beautiful wooden interiors. The teak panels and walnut ceilings are beautifully carved. Located on Observatory Hill the building houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Kali Bari temple is also a popular tourist destination which is actually Shyamala Devi temple. The name Shimla came from the name of the Goddess. Jakhu Hanuman temple is located on the summit of the highest peak in that particular zone. The legend associated with this temple is very intriguing.Hindu epic Ramayana mentioned, when Hanuman was carrying the Sanjeevini mountain from the Himalayas to Lanka to save the life of injured Lakshmana. Hanuman took some rest here on his way. It is believed that the tip of the mountain was flattened with the weight of Hanuman and the temple is built around his footprints.

How to go:

The nearest broad gauge head is at Kalka - a four- to seven-hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla. If hiring a private taxi, ensure that the driver has experience driving in hilly regions and is not deprived of sleep.

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Written by, Sabbir Ahmed Seam References (Information Collected)

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