You have to hand it to the British: they had an uncanny knack to find stunning jewels in a jewel-studded exotic landscape. Shimla is just one of many hotspots that the former Raj rulers handpicked as the go-to spot in their exotic east colonial kingdom, a place to go away from the hassles of ruling a county that stubbornly refused to come to heel. Well, the British left, but Shimla came into its own and how!
There are quite a few theories regarding the origin of the word Shimla. Locals insist that the name originates from Shyamali Devi, a re-incarnation of the fearsome Goddess Kali. Whatever the origin of the name, the city stands undisputed as a towering station of culture and natural beauty. Sitting majestically above searing plains, Shimla reflects its British lineage through its Victorian-style buildins, mostly located in the upper slopes, while the lower slopes are occupied with Indian bazaars and restaurants. Traffic is banned from the historic central area, (known as the Mall) which means that the atmosphere is calm and the air pristine. This alone should be enough to inspire envy for the locals among city-dwellers, econd only to the climate. Located at an altitude of approximately 2,200 metres above sea level, the region has a hilly terrain and is covered by dense evergreen forests, and spell binding sights.
Sights to See
Mall Road
One place that you cannot ignore is definitely the Mall Road in Shimla. Located at the heart of the town, the Mall Road in Simla is one of the busiest commercial areas of this place.
Shimla Ridge
Located in the heart of Shimla is the famous tourist attraction known as The Ridge, the hub of all cultural activities of Shimla situated along the Mall Road. Most major places of Shimla, like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point and Jakhoo Hill, are connected through the Ridge.
Annandale
Situated at a distance of 2 kilometres from the city centre, Annandale is a lovely picnic spot that is a major tourist attraction.
Glenn
A thickly wooded forest, Glenn is another famous picnic spot four kilometres from the centre of Shimla. It used to be known as the playground of Shimla where racing, cricket and polo used to be the favorite pastime of the British.
Prospect Hill
Situated at a height of 2,155 metres, the Prospect hill is a great place to visit and unwind in the natural surroundings. It is also famous for a hilltop temple dedicated to Kamna Devi.
State Museum and Library
The Shimla State Museum is famous for is collection of ancient sculptures, paintings, coins and photographs, as well as samples of the famous Pahari miniature art form, which ceased to exist when the Western art form took over.
Summer Hill
At a height of 1,283 metres above sea level, this charming spot is famous for its university of Himachal Pradesh that is located here. It is said that Mahatma Gandhi used to come to stay here during his visit to Shimla.
Viceregal Lodge
At the top of Observatory Hills, this brilliant building served as the residence of the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin. It was completed by the year 1888 and is still well maintained and now houses the famous Institute of Advanced Studies. The lodge has famous gardens and perfectly manicured lawns.
Walk It Up
If you are fond of walking, Shimla will unfold parts to the visitors who prefer hoofing it around. Combinations by car and then on foot are possible in several areas. Choose a particular direction to head in for the day and cover the places of interest.
Suggested Walking tours
- The area around the Institute of Advanced Study has several walks. Combine these with visit to the State Museum and expand if you will towards Kamna Devi.
- Tara Devi and Sankat Mochan can be linked with a short train ride to Tara Devi station.
- Jakhoo can be combined with a stroll and shopping on the Mall and in Lakkar Bazaar. The Lower Bazaar that runs parallel to the Mall at a lower level has the flavour of a typical Indian market place. Trinkets that can be purchased here include silver jewellery. You can also walk towards Chotta Shimla and Raj Bhavan the residence of the state governor. Jakhoo has several paths that criss-cross the hill a good walk is along the old Five Benches Road near the microwaves link tower. The Bharari spur also has many walks that can be done in a few hours or carried over the day
Getting there
By Train
The nearest broad gauge head is at Kalka – a four-hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla. This railway track has recently been granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view is stunning, with the line passing through an amazing 103 tunnels. The fastest way to get to Kalka is to catch the Shatabdi Express, which departs early morning from the New Delhi Railway Station, arriving at Kalka four hours later.
By Plane
Shimla has its own airport at Jubbarhatti, 22 km away, a distance which — owing to the difficulties of the mountainous terrain, poor condition of road surfaces, and the increasing traffic congestion — it often takes hours to traverse by car from Shimla. The airport has severe limitations imposed both by its elevation and the shortness of its single runway. The Chandigarh Airport, located at a distance of 120 km from Shimla offers far better flight options. After landing at the airport, take a pre-paid taxi to minimize hassle. Chandigarh is a good four-hour drive away, so stop for a bite on the Kalka-Shimla highway.
Getting around
In central Shimla, the best option for commuting are your feet – walk it up, down and around! There’s a two-part lift connecting the east end of the Mall with Cart Road. Taxis from the train station to the bottom of the lift cost about Rs 60.