Shimla is a leading hill station of India and the capital of the State of Himachal Pradesh. It was settled by the British and established as their summer capital in the country. Buildings of the British Raj era still dominate Shimla's skyline. Major roads of the city involve an ascend or descend as the whole city itself is built on hills.Jolly place for people who love to walk instead of drive around. Major attractions in and around Shimla are : Jakhu Temple (a must go for hikers/trekkers!), Sankat Mochan, State Museum, Mall, Christ Church, Maria Brothers Antique Shop, Kufri (ski slopes in winter), Kiarighat and Renuka ji.
HOW TO GET THERE
:
Nearest Airport
: Shimla. It is about 23 kilometers from the city.
Nearest Railway Station
: Shimla. Accessable by toy train from Kalka.
TEMPERATURE :
Shimla is located
at an atlitude of 2205 meters above the sea level. Maximum temperature
in summer is 28 degree celcius and minimum temperature in winter is around
0 degree celcius.
SHOPPING :
Woolens, Wood articles,
fresh fruits and metal and wood made handcrafted memoirs.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
:
I visited Shimla at
the end of hot summer month of June in India. Shimla had an extremely pleasant
climate at that time of the year, and least windy. Well, restless feet
like mine wouldn't want to just lie down and look down the valley which
most hotels are situated around. But someone who loves to just rest, Shimla
is a haven for them too. One can see white clouds ascend up the valley
and ascend further higher into the sky. On the first day of my trip, I
walked up to the Jakhu temple and believe me it was an experience to remember.
The roads leading to the temple involve slopes of almost 45-50 degree slants.
It took almost one and half an hour for me to reach the temple from my
hotel room. Its advisable to always carry a bottle of mineral water while
adventuring to the temple. The temple is amongst beautiful pine forests
and full of spoiled fat monkeys. Jakhu temple is a must see if in Shimla.
The beauty of Shimla is that the three major roads of the city do not allow
cars or any other kind of automotive vehicles. The Ridge, Upper Mall and
the Lower Mall are walkers' and of course shoppers' paradise too. The Maria
Brothers shop in the Upper Mall is an antique collector's dream come true
. The Christ Church situated on the Ridge is the most popular landmark
in Shimla. The Ridge and the Upper Mall meet each other at a point known
as the Scandal Point.
Kufri is another beautiful place to visit if you visit Shimla. Many tourist buses ply between Shimla and Kufri. Kufri being at a greater altitude remains cold throughout the year. Kufri also houses a Himalayan Ecology Zoo. I experienced a hail shower in Kufri in one of the hottest months of summer in India! This place is also a very popular winter ski resort. Chael is another place accessible from Shimla. Chael houses the summer palace of the Maharaj of Patiala, which has been converted into a very lovely tourist hotel. Chael also has the highest cricket ground of the world. Not much to see at Chael though. The place is a bit inaccessible and the best way to visit Chael is by hiring a tourist taxi. A nice place to just rest and enjoy the very pleasant weather at Chael!
One surprising thing
I observed in Shimla was that the private bus operators charged lesser
fares than the Government bus services. Shimla, Kufri and Chael are simply
a wonderful experience to remember.
