Where is Shimla?
Shimla,
the state capital, is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh in North
India. It lies at an elevation of 2,159 m. The beautiful hill station was
established by the British to escape the heat of the plains.
How will you gain access?
The Jubbarhatti Airport is located at a distance of 23 km from Shimla.
Shimla has a narrow-gauge railway line, running from Kalka to Shimla. The
toy-train takes you through verdant valleys and magnificent landscapes,
making the ride a never-forgetting experience for the visitors. From Kalka,
one can take trains to reach other key destinations of the country. There
are regular bus services from Delhi and Chandigarh. There are deluxe,
semi-deluxe and AC coaches for Shimla too.
What magnetises people?
» The Mall
The Mall is the chief shopping area of Shimla. One can take a trip from the
Cart Road to the Mall in the Lifts, a system to prevent the city from
crowding and to save you walking. There are numerous shops and stalls
displaying exquisite and interesting local arts and crafts. Handicrafted
Chinese shoes are famous too.
» Jakhu Temple
The Jakhu Temple, located at an elevation of 2,455 m, is dedicated to Lord
Hanuman. The temple is a 45-min walk from the Mall. It offers splendid views
of the valleys and the town. It is a vantage point, offering views of the
changing skyline as the sun rises or sets.
» Chadwick Falls
Take
a 45-minute walk ahead of the Summer Hill Chowk and you find yourself at the
Chadwick Falls. Surrounded by dense forests, the Chadwick Falls are a sight
to behold for the tourists and the visitors.
» Christ Church
Erected between 1846 and 1857, the Christ Church is privileged to be the
second oldest church of North India. The church overlooks the ridge and is a
chief landmark of the town.
» Summer Hill
The Summer Hill, a picturesque picnic spot, is perched at an altitude of
1,283 m. Mahatama Gandhi, during his visit to Shimla, lived here in the
Georgian House of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.
What are the adventures in store?
The picturesque hill station of Shimla puts forth plethora of options for
adventure enthusiasts. The Shimla-Kinnaur region offers fabulous trekking
opportunities. Both shorter and longer treks are available. But for the
longer treks it is advisable to take a guide along. Shimla is gateway to
Kinnaur and Spiti. Camp Blue Pines are located near Mashobra. It has Swiss
tents on a twin sharing basis. Skiing is another option. Between the months
of January and March Kufri (16 km) turns into a fantastic ski resort. One
can also enjoy river rafting.
Which are the nearby hotels?
One can find a wide range of accommodation from dormitories to luxury
suits. Shilon Resort (24 km from City Centre) is a 5-star located amidst the
lofty Himalayan peaks and engaging orchards. Springfields (20 km from
Airport) is a popular 4-star. It was originally built by Mohammad Yahya
Khan, an aristocrat from Lahore. Hotel Wildflower Hall (24 km from Airport)
and East Bourne Resort (24 km from Airport) fall into the 3-star group of
hotels.
What is the best time?
One can pay a visit to Shimla between the months of April and Auguts and
between December and January. The maximum temperature during the summers
records 28 degrees while the minimum during the winters records 4 degrees
centigrade.
