Shimla India

Location : 90-kms From Kalka, Himachal Pradesh
Altitude : 2,159m.
Main Attractions : The Mall, Christ Church, Kufri, Narkanda
Best Time To Visit : April To August & December To January

The Queen of Hill Stations
Set on the Shivalik foothills, surrounded by lush green meadows and glimpse of whitecapped mountains is the enchanting hill resort of Shimla, the capital of the mountain state of Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla was one hill stations that the British established to escape from the burning heat of the plains. The 12-kms, sickle shaped ridge on which Shimla, Himachal Pradesh is located was first occupied by the Britishers, in the early 19th century, at the time of Anglo-Gurkha War. The little village of Shymala, now known as Shimla, a retreat for British officers in the summers, soon grew to become the beckoning summer capital of the British, in India.

Shimla's invigorating climate, easy accessibility and numerous captivation have made it one of the most favoured hill stations in the northern part of India. The splendid display of the snow plastered mountain ranges of the Himalayas, fine routes through the oak and flowering rhododenron, bewildering resorts within easy access, golf at Naldehra and skiing at Kufri and Narkanda has made Shimla a most loved travel destination in Himachal Pradesh, India throughout the year.

Arriving at Shimla
By Flight : The Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines cater their services from here to Shimla. One can catch direct flights from Delhi
By Trackways : Shimla has a narrow gauge railway line on which Toy Train runs from Kalka to Shimla. The train cruises its way through valleys and beautiful landscapes at a very slow pace making the journey very pleasant. From Kalka one can take trains to other parts of India too. The Toy train from Shimla is of two types - one is the normal multi coach train and the other is the single car train, which has a glass roof giving an enthralling experience during the journey.
By Roadways : Roads connect Shimla with other places in Himachal as well as other major towns and cities of the neighbouring states. There is regular bus service from Delhi and Chandigarh as well as ordinary; semi deluxe, deluxe and AC coaches for Shimla are available too. One can also cross over to Leh and Ladakh via Rohtang Pass from here

The Major Fascination In Shimla
The Mall : This is the major shopping centre of Shimla with restaurants and shopping complexes. The Gaiety Theatre, which is a re-establishment of an old British theatre is a point of cultural activities. A passenger lift of HPTDC can be hired from the Cart Road and the Mall. Lakkar Bazaar close to the Ridge is famous for its wood-crafts and souvenirs.

Christ Church & St. Michael's Cathedral : Established between 1846-1857, Christ Church is the second oldest church of Northern India. The Church overlooks the ridge and is one of the main landmarks of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Prospect Hill : Crowned by a temple dedicated to Kamna Devi 15-minutes walk from Boileauganj on Shimla-Bilaspur road. The hill is situated at an altitude of 2,155m offers a spectacular view of the area.

The Ridge : The large open space in the heart of town presents excellent view of the mountain ranges. Shimla's landmarks - the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ Church and the new - Tudor Library building is worth seeing.

Jakhu Temple : Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is at an altitude of 2,455m near the highest point of Shimla ridge. It offers a fine view over the surrounding valleys, out to the snowcapped peaks, and over the town itself. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Mall. Jakhu is a vantage point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets.

Chadwick Falls : Surrounded by thick forests, one can reach these falls by taking about 45-minutes (7-km) walk from Summer Hill Chowk.

Summer Hill : At an altitude of 1,283m, Summer Hill is a picturesque spot on Shimla-Kalka Railway line offering shady walks in quiet surroundings. The Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Shimla lived in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here. Himachal Pradesh University is also situated over here.

Adventure Sports in Shimla
Trekking : The Shimla- Kinnaur region offers some exciting trekking opportunities. Narknda to Banjar (Kullu) over the Jalori and Bashleo Passes and Sarahan to Sangla are some of the popular treks, both for the domestic and foreign tourists. From Bharari you can walk to the villages that lie to right of the Seismic Recording Centre, or to the villages of Pabo and Kamiana. Longer treks can be made to Kiar Koti and Tattapani, but for taking-up these treks you better take a guide along.
There are quite a good number of trails that can be done in the suburbs. Some are - a walk between the Catering Institute at Kufri and Wildflower Hall; a walk to Mahasu Peak from Kufri through the Himalayan Nature Park and a walk along the Bekhalty road from Mashobra and treks from Mashobra to Sipur.
Hiking & Climbing :
At 2455m, Jakhoo Hill towers over Shimla. Filled with history and architectural charm, there are several houses along its steep.1.5-km climb that starts from the Ridge and a temple dedicated to Lord Hanauman crowns the forested hill. Enjoy the most spectacular sunrises and sunset sights from this spot, especially during the monsoons.
Another beautiful trail takes you to Sanjuali and between Holly Lodge and Sanjauli, the distance is about 3-km. From Sanjauli, you can walk back via the Government College to the Ridge - 2-km, or via St.Bede's College and Ramchandra Chowka, 3-km. Alternatively, you can bus back from Sanjauli to Shimla.

Camping :
Apart from the treks to the nearby areas, Shimla is gateway to Kinnaur and Spiti. Camp Blue Pines near Mashobra is an adventure-cum-trekking based gateway from Shimla. It has Swiss tents on a twin-sharing basis and a capacity for 7 couples or 45 children.

Skiing:
The skiing season generally commences in the first fortnight of January and continue till mid- March depending upon snow conditons. HPTDS organises ski courses of 7 days and 15 days duration at Narkanda, every year. The facilities for the participants include boarding, lodging and equipment.
Kufri is a popular ski resort and is at a distance of 16-kms rom Shimla. With thick woods around, Kufri offers a panoramic view of 2,000 miles of the great Himalayan ranges. Naldhera is another adventure area that is situated at a distance of 23-kms from the hill station. Naldhera is blessed with a thick cedar forest, attractive picnic spot and a 16-hole golf course. Fagu is another spot from where one can check out very fine views and has a lot of snow in winters for the delight of snow lovers and skiers.
Situated 64-kms north of Shimla is Narkanda, at an altitude of 2,700m, a ski resort and also a popular spot for viewing the Himalayas particularly from the 3,300m high Hatu Peak.

River Rafting :
Chabba is located on the road to Tattapani and is 53-kms away from Shimla. There is the one of the oldest hydroelectric power project, which is nowadays famous for river rafting.

Others Adventure Sports in Shimla
» Motorbike Safari
» Mountain Biking
» Snow Skiing