Shimla – The Queen of Himachal

“I talk a lot, with everybody, about everything but, when I reached Shimla I was speechless..”

The majestic snow clad mountains, stunningly rich greenery and the beautiful lakes in the land of Shimla welcomes you to enjoy their timeless beauty. Shimla holds magic beyond comparison. No wonder it is called the Queen of Hill Stations.

One of the best features of Shimla is that you could visit it any season during a year. Here are some leading attractions of Shimla, which necessarily find a place in any tourist’s itinerary.

1. The Ridge

At the center of the town is The Shimla Ridge, which offers spectacular views of the mountain peaks of the land. The Ridge is a spacious open space that runs from east to west along the Mall road, which is yet another famous tourist destination. It connects to the Scandal point on the west. If you love the view of mountains, this is your dream destination. The marvelous view of snow-clad mountain ranges spellbinds you.

2. Jakhoo Hill

Jakhoo Hill is the highest peak in the entire hill station. It is home to the ancient Jakhoo Temple, which has a large statue of Hanuman, its chief deity. Located at an altitude of 8500 feet above sea level, the 108 feet tall statue has sensors to drive away the birds. It offers scenic view of the city and snow capped Himalayan Mountains. The 8000 ft. Jakhoo Hill is a famous tourist attraction that is visited by nature lovers and pilgrims as well.

3. Mall Road

Mall Road is located below The Ridge, It offers a glimpse of Shimla in a nutshell. It is filled with many shops, cafes, restaurants, bookshops and many tourist attractions. If you take a walk on Mall Road you will get surprised at every turn by the things this place has to offer. The scenic beauty of Shimla can also be seen through here.

4. Kalka–Shimla Railway

Kalka- Shimla Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Mountain Railways of India. It was built in the year 1898 to connect Shimla with other railway lines of India by British. It runs from Kalka (a town in Haryana) to Shimla. It stops through many tourist places like Summer Hill, Solan and many more. A rail trip through this line will give the viewers some breathtaking views and the journey through many tunnels and bridges make up for an unforgettable experience.

5. Christ Church

A perfect example of neo-gothic architecture, Christ Church has been an irreplaceable part of Shimla's scenery. Located on The Ridge, it was built in the year 1857 and it took almost 3 years to complete this architectural marvel. The stained glass windows, the clock tower and the frescos are some of the attractions of this church. It also houses the largest pipe organ in India and has been a part of many Bollywood Films like Black and 3 Idiots.

6. Summer Hill

A quaint town located on the outskirts of Shimla, Summer Hill is also called as Potter’s Hill. In the past, this was where potters used to gather clay to make pots. At a height of 1283 meter above sea level, Summer Hill offers spectacular views of the valley and the greenery around. It is 5 km from the famous Ridge, which is frequented by tourists in great numbers. The hill is a part of a cluster of seven hills, which form Shimla and hence you are sure to have breathtaking sights from the top.

7. Kufri

Kufri along with some places around Shimla once belonged to the Nepal kingdom. This place is must visit for everyone visiting Shimla because of the stunning views it offers and also because of its status as an adventure hub. Kufri is located 17 kms away from Shimla. At an altitude of 2510 meters and in the Himalayan foothills, the hill station delights nature lovers and adventurers alike.

8. Annandale

Annandale, also referred to as Annadale, is one of the star attractions of Shimla. It is around 4 kms from the Ridge. This flat terrain was once the playground for the British, who played cricket and polo here. Racing was also a popular sport conducted here. Now, the racecourse is converted into a small golf course, which is also used as a heli-pad.

9. The Shimla State Museum

The Shimla State Museum also known as Himachal State Museum and Library is situated at the top of Mount Pleasant. It was constructed to preserve the cultural richness of the state and to record its rich past. The colonial style building amidst marvelous lawns in itself is an inspiring sight. It gives you an in depth view of the city’s glorious past. It has a stunning collection of various objects relating to art, cultural anthropology and archaeology. The sculptures, paintings, handicrafts and coins are some of the classic collections found here.

Things you not miss when in Shimla

§  Travelling in Toy Train

§  Shopping at Lakkar Bazar

§  Ice skating: Asia’s only open-air ice skating rink

§  Rafting at Tattapani

§  Witnessing sunrise at the Chadwick waterfall

§  Trekking to the top of Jakhu Temple

§  Photography at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies

§  Catch a sunset at the Scandal Point

How to Reach Shimla

By Bus: For all those people searching for how to go to Shimla on a budget, Shimla trip by bus is the right choice. There are frequent buses to Shimla from all major cities in North India. Himachal Road Transport Corporation and many private operators provide daily buses to this destination, hence making a Shimla visit by bus an easier choice. Buses would be an optimum choice to travel in and around the city.

By Train: Kalka, is a small railway station that connects trains to Shimla. There are 3-4 trains to Shimla from Kalka and vice versa on a daily basis. A better look at the Shimla train timetable will give you a better clarity on the timings of the trains. This travel from Kalka by Shimla train travel is in a toy train that travels through 103 tunnels.

By Flight: This is the answer to the question how to reach Shimla as quick as possible. The capital does not have its own Shimla airport. Jubbarhatti, 25 km away from the town, is the nearest airport to Shimla. There are regular flights to Shimla from Chandigarh and Delhi. Flights to Shimla normally would have stopovers at 1-2 places. Taxis are an easy way to travel from the airport to Shimla.

By Cab/Car: Shimla travel by cabs is always a good choice for all those who love a beautiful drive as it offers better sightseeing opportunities. Well-connected roads make travel to Shimla by road an easy choice. Traveling within Shimla by car is a cheap alternative helping you to take your own time within the town.

Interesting Facts about Shimla

§  This beautiful hill station is built on seven different hills

§  Shimla has the largest Ice Skating Rink in India

§  “The Guinness book of Railway facts and feats “ records Kalka Shimla Railway as the greatest narrow gauge Engineering in India.

§  Shimla’s name is derived from the Goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Kali.

§  Shimla is Earth quake prone Hill station

§  Maria Brothers is a Antique bookstore on Mall road which has unique collection of treasure of old books.

§  The ‘chudail baudi’ is situated between the part of the Shimla highway from Navbahar to Chota Shimla . It is the place where the speed of your vehicle will automatically slow down, no matter how fast you were driving or how hard you press the accelerator of your car.

§  Shimla has been choice for many movie makers in Bollywood. 

§  BCS ( Bishop cotton School ) is the oldest boarding school of Asia

 When you find a land, which has endless natural beauty, writing about its leading attractions is as difficult as covering the entire place in one go. Shimla is a place that needs many visits before you could claim that you have indeed seen Shimla. So when is your next visit?