Shimla is a hill station and the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is a very popular tourist destination. It has forests of pine, rhododendron and oak. It experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. It is 100km from Chandigarh, the nearest major city.
It is set among cool pine-clad hills with a lot of colonial charm. It also has some great views of the Himalayas.
Mid-September to late November is the best time to visit Shimla. The first snows start in January.
Viceregal Lodge was the former residence of British viceroys. It is an imposing colonial structure where a number of decisions that affected the whole of India were probably made. The botanical gardens are also worth visiting.
The Christ Church is one of the oldest churches in India. It is renowned for its stained glass windows.
Jakhu temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It is near the highest point in Shimla.
The mall road is the major shopping capital of Shimla. Christ Church, Jakhu Hill, Sankat Mochan etc. are some of the other popular attractions. The Kalka-Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge track, is also a popular attraction and merits mention in the Guinness Book of Records for the steepest rise in altitude in a distance of 96km.
Prithvi Narayan Shah of Nepal ruled Shimla shortly before the British took control of the area as a result of the Sugauli Treaty in 1816. The region (which was only known by for the temple of Shyamala Devi, not as a city) witnessed tremendous growth under the British. The first British summer home was built in 1822. Further development of the region was fueled by Lord Lytton's efforts to plan the town from 1876.Simla served as the summer Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army and also for many other Government Departments.
With the construction of the Kalka-Shimla railway line in 1906 Shimla became more accessible which resulted in further development. In 1971, Shimla became the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla is well connected by air, rail and road. Shimla Airport is just 12 km from the city and connects to major cities like Delhi. Shimla well connected by road to other neighboring cities like Chandigarh, Kalka, Patiala, Ambala etc.
Kalka Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge track connects the city to Kalka.
Shimla, also referred to as the "Queen of Hills" is a popular tourist destination in India. Known for its pleasant climate, enchanting natural beauty and breathtaking views, Shimla attracts scores of tourists every year and is also a popular summer retreat.
Mall Road is the prime attraction of the city. Mall Road is the primary shopping street of Shimla and houses many restaurants, banks, clubs etc. This is one of the popular spots for taking a leisurely stroll and meeting point.
Jakhu Hill is the highest peak in the region and is a popular tourist spot because of the spectacular view of the city and the Himalayas it offers.
Summer Hill, a scenic township on the Shimla-Kalka railway line is another famous tourist spot. Christ Church, the second oldest church in North India is another popular attraction. Other prominent places of interest includes the Shimla State Museum showcasing the cultural wealth of the region with it collection of sculptures, Pahari paintings, costumes and jewelry, Tara Devi which is a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars, Sankat Mochan temple and Junga, the former royal retreat of the princely state of Junga.
I was young. I was newly married. And I had worked like a dog. I just wanted to live and travel.