Shimla
Introducing ShimlaOne of India's most popular hill stations, picturesque Shimla is the capital of northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists in great numbers visit Shimla all throughout the year. A place gifted with an abundance of natural beauty, the landscape of Shimla is known for its great diversity. Shimla is spread across 12 kms along a ridge and overlooks some magnificent terraced hillsides and cultivations. The rich flora of the place includes dense forests of oak, fur, pine and rhododendron. While a few buildings bring back memories of the colonial past, gorgeous modern buildings also add a new colour to the landscape. The views of snow clad mountain ranges of Himalayas from the place are most enchanting.
Shimla derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', a manifestation of Goddess Kali. Till the early part of the 19th century, Shimla was a part of the Nepalese kingdom. A place of mesmerizing beauty, Shimla was discovered by the British in 1819. The British lost no time in declaring it the summer capital of India in the year 1864. Shimla was initially the capital of Punjab after independence and later made the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla has also emerged as a popular base for adventure sports like Trekking, Skiing, Fishing and Golf.
Climate
Shimla has a very pleasant climate. It is said that Shimla's climate is much similar to that of London which had prompted the British to declare Shimla as India's summer capital during pre-independence period. Summers are mild with temperatures in the range of 15-28 degrees. Winters are very cold and temperatures may fall below 0 degrees. Shimla also experiences chilly winds from the upper Himalayas in winters. In December-January, Shimla also experiences snowfall. The average annual rainfall is 165 cms.
Best Time to Visit
March-June and September-November
How To Reach
Air : Shimla figures in the air map of India. Shimla airport is located on the outskirts of the city at a distance of 12 kms. Both Indian Airlines and private carriers operate regular flights to Shimla from many national destinations including Delhi.
Rail : Due to Shimla's high altitude location, only narrow gauge lines could be laid. Infact, the narrow gauge line is considered one of India's greatest engineering feats. Kalka railway station connects Shimla with the rest of India. There is direct connectivity between Kalka and Delhi.
Road : Regular deluxe bus services are available to Shimla from national capital Delhi and many other destinations of northern India. The road to Shimla passes through picturesque landscapes.
Shimla has a very pleasant climate. It is said that Shimla's climate is much similar to that of London which had prompted the British to declare Shimla as India's summer capital during pre-independence period. Summers are mild with temperatures in the range of 15-28 degrees. Winters are very cold and temperatures may fall below 0 degrees. Shimla also experiences chilly winds from the upper Himalayas in winters. In December-January, Shimla also experiences snowfall. The average annual rainfall is 165 cms.
Best Time to Visit
March-June and September-November
How To Reach
Air : Shimla figures in the air map of India. Shimla airport is located on the outskirts of the city at a distance of 12 kms. Both Indian Airlines and private carriers operate regular flights to Shimla from many national destinations including Delhi.
Rail : Due to Shimla's high altitude location, only narrow gauge lines could be laid. Infact, the narrow gauge line is considered one of India's greatest engineering feats. Kalka railway station connects Shimla with the rest of India. There is direct connectivity between Kalka and Delhi.
Road : Regular deluxe bus services are available to Shimla from national capital Delhi and many other destinations of northern India. The road to Shimla passes through picturesque landscapes.
Where to Stay
A wide range of hotels, lodges and guest houses are available in Shimla in the budget, mid-range and top-end categories. During the lean season, hotels offer heavy discounts to attract tourists. The best hotels of Shimla in the luxury category are Shilon Resort, Cecil Oberoi, Combermere, Asia The Dawn and Springfields.
Attractions in Shimla
Jakhoo Hills : Jakhoo hills offer a great panoramic view of Shimla town. The Jakhoo peak is the highest in Shimla. There is also an attractive small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
Chadwick Falls : Every tourist coming to Shimla makes it a point to visit the Chadwick Falls. Chadwick is a 67 metre waterfall cascading into a deep gorge. Best views of the falls are available after monsoons when it is full of water. The falls are surrounded by thick forests which further adds to the beauty of the place.
Taradevi Temple : The temple of Taradevi in picturesque locations is widely visited by tourists. The deity worshipped is Tara Devi, a Hindu version of the Tibetan Goddess Drolma.
Sankat Mochan : Sankat Mochan is the place on the outskirts of Shimla in the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. There is a popular temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman here. A splendid view of entire Shimla town is available from the place.
Himachal State Museum : At a distance of 3 kms from the city centre, the Himachal State Museum is located in a beautiful building that is regarded as a great piece of colonial architecture. The museum has a wide collection of statues, miniatures, coins, photos and other items from around Himachal Pradesh. A visit to the museum gives a good idea of the history and culture of Himachal Pradesh.
The Mall : The mall is the main commercial centre of Shimla. The place is full of shops and restaurants. Gaiety Theatre, the main centre in Shimla for cultural activities is also located here. The theatre is a reproduction of an old British theatre. An excellent view of the nearby mountain ranges are also available from the Mall. At a point called the 'Scandal Point' in the mall area, a statue of nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai has also been erected.
A wide range of hotels, lodges and guest houses are available in Shimla in the budget, mid-range and top-end categories. During the lean season, hotels offer heavy discounts to attract tourists. The best hotels of Shimla in the luxury category are Shilon Resort, Cecil Oberoi, Combermere, Asia The Dawn and Springfields.
Attractions in Shimla
Jakhoo Hills : Jakhoo hills offer a great panoramic view of Shimla town. The Jakhoo peak is the highest in Shimla. There is also an attractive small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Chadwick Falls : Every tourist coming to Shimla makes it a point to visit the Chadwick Falls. Chadwick is a 67 metre waterfall cascading into a deep gorge. Best views of the falls are available after monsoons when it is full of water. The falls are surrounded by thick forests which further adds to the beauty of the place.
Taradevi Temple : The temple of Taradevi in picturesque locations is widely visited by tourists. The deity worshipped is Tara Devi, a Hindu version of the Tibetan Goddess Drolma.
Sankat Mochan : Sankat Mochan is the place on the outskirts of Shimla in the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. There is a popular temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman here. A splendid view of entire Shimla town is available from the place.
Himachal State Museum : At a distance of 3 kms from the city centre, the Himachal State Museum is located in a beautiful building that is regarded as a great piece of colonial architecture. The museum has a wide collection of statues, miniatures, coins, photos and other items from around Himachal Pradesh. A visit to the museum gives a good idea of the history and culture of Himachal Pradesh.
The Mall : The mall is the main commercial centre of Shimla. The place is full of shops and restaurants. Gaiety Theatre, the main centre in Shimla for cultural activities is also located here. The theatre is a reproduction of an old British theatre. An excellent view of the nearby mountain ranges are also available from the Mall. At a point called the 'Scandal Point' in the mall area, a statue of nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai has also been erected.
Ice Skating in Shimla
A popular winter sport, Ice Skating in Shimla usually starts in early December and continues till late February. During these months two skating sessions are organized per day, in the morning hours and in the evening. But, if the skies are clear and temperatures are low, several uninterrupted sessions can be organized here. Every year large number of adventure enthusiasts visit the town of Shimla to undertake the sport.
In Shimla, the ice-skating club has a huge rink with an open area covered with naturally frozen ice. This rink is situated at a distance of just 10 minutes from the Mall and is the oldest natural open ice skating rink in Asia. For this skating rink, memberships are available for the whole season as well as for shorter duration and you can even gain membership for a single session. Skates are also available at the rink, so you don't need to carry the skating gears on your own.
At the Shimla Ice-Skating rink, you can enjoy the variety of skating like figure skating, speed skating etc. Besides, every season, various fancy-dress carnivals, ice-hockey and dances enliven the atmosphere of Shimla.
Shopping in Shimla
Shimla is a good place to buy wollen products. The wollens of Shimla like sweaters, jackets, shawls and caps are in great demand among tourists. The markets are also full of well designed Tibetan carpets. Tourists can also look for wooden articles, toys and metal works. The agro products of Shimla like jams and squashes are also very popular.
The main shopping areas in Shimla are The Mall, Lower Bazar and Lakkar Bazaar.
A popular winter sport, Ice Skating in Shimla usually starts in early December and continues till late February. During these months two skating sessions are organized per day, in the morning hours and in the evening. But, if the skies are clear and temperatures are low, several uninterrupted sessions can be organized here. Every year large number of adventure enthusiasts visit the town of Shimla to undertake the sport.
In Shimla, the ice-skating club has a huge rink with an open area covered with naturally frozen ice. This rink is situated at a distance of just 10 minutes from the Mall and is the oldest natural open ice skating rink in Asia. For this skating rink, memberships are available for the whole season as well as for shorter duration and you can even gain membership for a single session. Skates are also available at the rink, so you don't need to carry the skating gears on your own.
At the Shimla Ice-Skating rink, you can enjoy the variety of skating like figure skating, speed skating etc. Besides, every season, various fancy-dress carnivals, ice-hockey and dances enliven the atmosphere of Shimla.
Shopping in Shimla
Shimla is a good place to buy wollen products. The wollens of Shimla like sweaters, jackets, shawls and caps are in great demand among tourists. The markets are also full of well designed Tibetan carpets. Tourists can also look for wooden articles, toys and metal works. The agro products of Shimla like jams and squashes are also very popular.
The main shopping areas in Shimla are The Mall, Lower Bazar and Lakkar Bazaar.
2 comments:
Though I was in Himachl for more than five years, I did not get a chance to visit this beautiful place.
Mathew
Last year along with my family we visited this enchanted place and we still hold the good memmories close to our hearts -
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