OVERVIEW

 

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills, was once famous as the summer capital of British India. Shimla is blessed with all the natural bounties one can think of – a scenic location, lush green hills, and snow-capped peaks. Shimla combines the beauty of the mountains, the slow charms of an Indian hill station, and the energy of a city – India’s only hill station to do so. You can climb hillocks giggling and panting; you can stroll down thickly wooded romantic trails and meet practically no one on the way. Its easy accessibility and several attractions have made Shimla a very popular hill resort.

 

 

1. THE MALL:

 

 

The Mall meanders its way for almost 4 km, between old and even older buildings. It is one of the longest stretches of purely pedestrian open-air strolling and shopping in the world, and forms the core of the Heritage Zone of Shimla. This is the hub of Shimla’s social life. Lined by shops and restaurants, this pedestrian thoroughfare is one of the main attractions of Shimla. The mountains and the crisp air always keep you company.

 

 

2. THE RIDGE:

 

The large open space in the heart of the town presents an excellent view of the mountain ranges. The short stretch of the Mall between Christ Church and the imposing building, which now houses the Municipality, is called the Ridge. It’s a place of action or the spot to run miles from, depending on what mood you are in. At the end of the Mall promenade also lies Scandal Point, a memory of Shimla’s once libertine lifestyle.

3. CHRIST CHURCH:

 

 

Shimla’s landmarks – the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ Church and the new Tudor Library building is worth seeing. It is the second oldest church in Northern India. It tells the story of a part of the town’s rich history and its pews to mark the seats of the Viceroy, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. The memorial tablets in brass and marble commemorate some who shaped what was the British Empire.

 

 

4. GAIETY THEATRE:

 

 

This lovely Victorian theatre has long been a center of cultural activities. It was an important part of the Town Hall and a marvel of architecture with perfect acoustics and theatre facilities. A hub of the performing arts, Gaiety Theatre saw legendary artists like Rudyard Kipling, K.L. Sehgal, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, the Kendall’s, and many more perform on its historical stage. The theatre is tiny, just nine rows deep, and 12 seats across, with the box of honour for the viceroy and his staff. Don’t miss the photographs: under titles such as the Fatal Nymph and Dear Brutus, tall men with false moustaches are pictured kneeling down, proposing marriage to comely girls in flapper hats.

 

 

5. VICEREGAL LODGE & BOTANICAL GARDENS:

 

 

Located on Observatory Hill, the Viceregal Lodge is also known as ‘Rashtrapati Niwas’. It is perhaps the most resonant of old structures in Shimla. This magnificent building was the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin and every last brick of the lodge finished in 1888, was carried up here by mule in the days before the railway was built. It is a six-storey building and is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and lawns. Though little of that glory remains, one can walk around in some portions of the first floor, including the main hall and a small museum, accessible on a nominal ticket. The lodge has now been converted into the Institute of Advanced Study. The Institute is surrounded by a lovely botanical garden through which you can meander at peace.

 

 

6. JAKHOO TEMPLE:

 

 

Two km from the city center, this is Shimla’s highest point, towering over The Ridge behind the Christ Church, and offers a panoramic view of the town’s hills and distant mountain ranges. The peak has a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Legend has it that he stopped here while searching for the Sanjivani plant. In the temple complex is a 108 feet tall idol of Lord Hanuman. There are spectacular views at sunrise and sunset. It’ll take you an hour to climb up the steep but pretty walk from behind the church. While this route is the standard one, those willing to try something different, and who feel fit enough, should go to Sanjauli and take the longer track up to Jakhoo from here. The walk will take you through thick wood and you’ll be pretty much alone except for oak, thododendron, and cedar.

 

 

7. THE KALKA SHIMLA RAILWAY:

 

 

The Kalka Shimla Railway, a 96 km. the long, single-track working rail link, built in the mid-19^th century is considered a great engineering foot. It runs on a narrow gauge track through picturesque mountain scenery ascending from Kalka at 2,800 feet to Shimla at 7,000 feet. It was opened to public traffic on 09^th November 1903 and is one of the three Mountain Railways in India, included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

 

 

8. ICE SKATING:

 

 

Ice-Skating in Shimla is a big attraction for the sports-lovers during winter. Shimla is the only place in Asia that has the privilege of having a natural and largest open area rink with naturally frozen ice and offers a popular pastime to participants and onlookers alike. Ice skating normally begins in early December and carries on the entire February. Fancy dress carnivals, gymkhanas, ice hockey, and dances enliven the season.

 

 

9. SUMMER HILL:

 

 

At an altitude of 1,283 mt, Summer Hill is a picturesque spot on the Shimla-Kalka Railway line offering nice walks in quiet surroundings. Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Shimla lived in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here. The Himachal Pradesh University is also situated over here. This is the place where Shimla got its clay pots and pitchers. Today its woods have a nice camp. Past this lie the Chadwick Falls.

 

 

10.  SHOPPING:

 

 

Shimla is the main shopping center for Himachal crafts, and most of it is geared toward visitors. The best shopping area in Shimla is The Mall, Lower Bazaar, Tibetan Bazaar, and Lakkar Bazaar. There is an enormous range of goods that Shimla has to offer. This includes handicrafts, metalwork, Kullu shawls, pullovers, local tweeds, wooden articles and toys, Kullu caps, Tibetan carpets, pickles, jams, and squashes. There are also Kinnauri mufflers and scarves, Chamba rumaals, Buddhist thangkas, Kangra miniatures, and any amount of Janpath-style souvenirs.