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| Best
Time to Visit |
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In Summer - May
to July |
| In
Winter - September to November
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Capital
of the beautiful north Indian state
of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla nestles
amongst the hill of the Himalayas. Shimla
is one of the most popular hill stations
in India. The hill station was referred
to as the 'Queen of Hill Stations' during
the Raj era. Shimla is the favourite
haunt of honeymooners, families and
youngsters who escape to sylvan heights
to spend some time in the lap of hills.
Shimla, is situated at a height of 2,196
metres. While the British have left
the echoes linger on. Today, it’s
well developed facilities, easy accessibility
and many attractions make it one of
India's most popular resorts. In the
Himalyan lower ranges, it is surrounded
by pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron
forests.
Once a British summer capital, Shimla
still has enough colonial style cottages,
mansions, bungalows and churches to
make it look like a typical English
village. The temples of Shimla, on the
other hand, are evidence of a culture
that is typically Indian, while the
large Tibetan population has made the
town famous for its cheap Tibetan goods.
Students and researchers from all over
India come to study and work at the
Indian Institute of Advanced Sciences,
5 kilometers away from the Mall. Shimla,
is at a distance of 343 km from Delhi,
260 km from Manali, and 119 km from
Chandigarh. The temperature range is
not very high and the maximum temperature
rarely crosses 25°C during summers.
Winters are cold due to the chilly winds
from the upper Himalayas.
The name Shimla has been derived
from the word 'Shyamala' the other
name of Goddess Kali, whose temple
was located in the dense forests of
Jakhu Hill in the 19th century. The
English used to call it Simla. During
the times of the Raj, Shimla was summer
retreat of the British
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| Best
Attractions |
| Shimla
is a popular hill station among tourists
mainly from the plains of northern India.
The hill station has pristine beauty,
peace and pleasant weather, which attract
the tourists. |
| The
Mall - Like every major hill
station Shimla too has a Mall Road,
which is the nerve center of the town.
Complete with well stocked shops, banks,
clubs, hotels and restaurants, the mall
has two main meeting points called Scandal
Point and The Ridge. |
| Shimla
State Museum - The museum is
a treasure trove of local arts and crafts.
It has a great collection of miniature
Pahari paintings and a good variety
of costumes, ornaments and artifacts..
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| Christ
Church - This church is the
second oldest church in north India.
Inside it has beautiful stained glass
windows each signifying different virtues
like faith, hope, charity, fortitude,
patience and humility. The church is
located on the Ridge. |
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Jakhu Hill - Located
at a distance of 2 km from Shimla is
Jakhu Hill. It is the highest peak in
the area with a height of 8000 feet
above sea level. On top of the hill
is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated
to Lord Hanuman. The surrounding area
is heavily infested with monkeys. |
| Summer
Hill - At a distance of 5 km
from the Ridge lies the township of
Summer Hill. This calm and mellow area
is 6500 feet high on the Shimla-Kalka
railway line. This is the ideal place
to escape to away from the hustle and
bustle of central Shimla. While here,
you can tour the campus of the Himachal
Pradesh. |
| Annandale
- Annandale is also referred to as the
'playground of Shimla'. At a height
of 6117 feet, close to the Ridge, many
games like polo and cricket are organized
here. |
| Tara
Devi - In the Hindi language
Tara means star, so as the name suggests
Tara Devi is a hill that gets its name
from a temple dedicated to the Goddess
of the Stars, which is located here.
Tara Devi is located a mere 11 km from
the Shimla bus stand. The area is also
the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and
Guides |
| Sankat
Mochan - Another popular Hanuman
temple is located at Sankat Mochan.
The temple affords a picturesque view
of the city below. |
| How
to reach |
Shimla
can be easily accessed through air,
train or road.
By Air :
Shimla Airport is 23 kms from the city
connected by daily flights from Delhi
and Kullu.
By Rail :
Broadguage Railway line upto Kalka connecting
Delhi,Calcutta and Amritsar. Kalka to
Shimla (95 kms.) by Narrow gauge railway.
By Road : Well connected
with Kalka. Chandigarh,Delhi, Amritsar
and Jammu etc. |
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