Places to visit in Shimla
Snuggled in the lap of the Himalayas, Shimla is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. The capital of the North Indian State of Himachal Pradesh is nestled at 6500 ft. above sea level. Formerly, the official summer capital of the Government of India right up until 1947, when India gained Independence. The era of the British Raj witnessed the development of the scenic hill station to a getaway of tourists. Even years later, it is one of the favourite holiday destinations in India. Shimla tours offers amazing opportunities to bask in the bliss of the hills.
Originally a small village in the hills, it was named after the Goddess Shamla Devi, a manifestation of Kali. In 1819, the days of the British Raj it became a popular refuge, especially from the heat of the plains of North India. Owing to the pleasant weather and the scenic location, it gradually became a tourist town. In 1903, to make the town easily accessible, a railway line, a marvel of engineering was laid, connecting it to the plains. The Toy Train that stills runs on a narrow gauge train track from Kalka to the foothills was one of the major tourist attractions of Shimla. It later got the status of UNESCO World Heritage. The beautiful journey through the mountains is simply amazing! The salubrious weather of the hill town equally contributes to lure visitors. The summer months have blissful weather while winters bring in snow. Also, being one of the closest hill stations from Delhi its popularity is quite high.
The colonial charm of Shimla is kept alive in the British era monuments and buildings can be seen till date. Jakhoo Temples, Christ Church, the Mall, Ridge, the Himachal State Museum, Gorton Castle, Old Viceroy Hall, etc. Shopping for beautiful handicrafts is a delight in Shimla. Walk through the Mall Road, the major hub of tourism in the town. Grab a bite at the cafes and eateries. Kufri is a scenic getaway as is Chail, which has beautiful cricket ground and the palace of an Indian King. Chadwick Falls, Summer Hill and many other scenic places to visit in Shimla.
Owing to its status of being one of the favourite getaways in India, Shimla too treats its guest well. The hill town is dotted with many scenic accommodations that offer the best of views, comfortable amenities and best of all cherished experiences.
Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens
The Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly known as Viceregal Lodge, is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India. It houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs going back to the times of the British rule in India. The Viceregal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during Lord Dufferin’s tenure as Viceroy. Its construction started in 1880 and was completed in 1888. Lord Dufferin occupied the lodge on 23 July 1888. The final cost of project was around 38 lakh rupees with the annual upkeep cost being around 1.5 lakh rupees in the 1880s. At that time the estate stood on an area of 331 acres, but today is reduced to 110 acres. The structure draws inspiration from the architectural style of the English Renaissance, and also reflects elements of the castles of the Scottish Highlands. The building is of light blue-grey stone masonry with tiled pitch roofing. The interior of the main building is noted for elaborate woodwork which has stood the test of time. Teak was brought from Burma, and was supplemented by local cedar wood and walnut.
The Ridge
The Ridge road is a large open space, located in the center of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Ridge is the hub of all cultural activities of Shimla. It is situated along the Mall Road, which is the famous shopping center of Shimla. Most major places of Shimla like Snowdon, Mall, Jakhoo hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. It runs east to west alongside the Mall Road, and joins it at the Scandal Point on the west side. On the east side, The Ridge road leads to Lakkar Bazaar, a wooden crafts market. It's the major landmark and the most easily recognized face of the hill station. When winter sets in and when the country had its first major snowfall of the year, most newspapers printed photos of the ridge submerged in clumps of fresh snow. Prominent landmarks on the Ridge area is Christ Church, a neo-Gothic structure built in 1844 and a Tudorbethan styled library building built in 1910. There are three statues on the ridge; that of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Y.S. Parmar, the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
Mall Road Shimla
Mall Road is the major hangout point and shopping centre in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. Constructed during British colonial rule, the Mall road is located a level below The Ridge. The offices of municipal corporation, fire service and police headquarters are located here. Automobiles, except emergency vehicles are not allowed on this road. Mall Road has a number of showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes. A Himachal emporium that offers handicraft products of Himachal Pradesh like locally designed woolen clothes, branded clothes, pottery items, wooden products, and jewellery is also located here.
Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo
Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman. It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, Shimla's highest peak, 2.5 km east of the Ridge at a height of 2,455 m above sea level. Each year, a festival is held on Dussehra, before 1972 the festival used to be held at Annadale. According to the Ramayana, Hanuman stopped at the location to rest while searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshmana. A giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman was unveiled at Jakhoo Hanuman temple on 4 November 2010. At 108 feet, it surpasses the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which measures at 98 feet, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cost of construction was Rs 1.5 crores. The public unveiling was officiated by Abhishek Bachchan. The temple is accessible by foot, horse, taxi or ropeway. The Jakhu Ropeway is an aerial lift that links a point near the centre of Shimla to the temple. It was developed by Jagson International Limited and opened in 2017
Christ Church, Shimla
Christ Church, Shimla, is the second oldest church in North India, after St John's Church in Meerut. It is a parish in the Diocese of Amritsar in the Church of North India. Its current incumbent is The Rev. Sohan Lal, whose ecclesiastical designation is presbyter-in-charge. Worship is conducted in Hindi and English.
