Once Upon a Time in Shimla
Best places to visit in Shimla, sightseeing & tourist attractions in Shimla
A living museum to the Raj, Shimla does not sweep you off your feet but slowly reveals facets of her timeless beauty and ageless soul. Indeed the state capital of Himachal Pradesh initially assaulted visitors with car fumes and vistas of densely built up slopes. It is only after one spends some time in these vertiginous heights amid mountain peaks that melt into the horizon that one starts to plug into its many charms. In this, the greenest urban capital in the world, history flows espresso style, thick and fast. Perched on a 7,000ft spur of the lower Himalayas, its chalet-like houses seem to threaten to tumble off its green slopes
Map of Shimla: Places to Visit in Shimla, Sightseeing & Tourist Attractions in Shimla
Whats Famous Here:
Natural beauty: Lord Amherst was the first to conceive of Shimla as a hill station, a decision that led to the development of the magnificent chain of hill resorts from Dalhousie to Darjeeling. Enamoured by the beauty and virtual inaccessibility of the spot on the crescent-shaped ridge and the rustic simplicity of his environs.
In 1864 Shimla became the summer capital of the Raj and popular as a resort for philandering and frivolity where bachelors and unattached women would come in search of permanent or semi-permanent commitments. Here they would stroll down the mall where subject princes, mighty western nobles and travellers from far-flung countries used to strut. Even today it is fragrant with the perfume of pines and has a backdrop of mountain peaks that stand with their heads above the clouds.
What to See; Tour package of Shimla sightseeing spots
National Academy of Audit and Accounts: The house where Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan, once lived, is now the National Academy of Audit and Accounts, shielded by thick cedar trees.
Mall Road: Once the haunt of the pleasure seeker and the flirt, the mall today flaunts stately Punjabi beauties and pink-cheeked Himachali lasses. Tourists mingle with the slant-eyed people of the hills and the occasional lama with lowered eyes turning a prayer wheel slips past people gossiping at Scandal Point.
The Town Hall: The town hall where the Gaiety Theatre is located is being restored. One may even sit in the wood-panelled Simla Amateur Dramatic Club and sip cups of tea.
Observatory Hill: At the far end of the mall is Observatory Hill crowned by the Viceregal Lodge, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Said to be one of the most flamboyant edifices of the Empire, the grey stone building is offset by green parkland and a stately oak tree in front of it. Built in the Scottish baronial style by architect Henry Irwin for Lord Dufferin, this legacy of the Raj has an air of spooky grandeur.
Within these portals, inlayed with rich Burma teak, the decision to partition the country took place. It is said that when Lord Mountbatten asked Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Ali Jinnah if they favoured partitioning the country Jinnah nodded while Nehru shrugged. And the wisteria-cloaked stones of the Viceregal Lodge remain silent though they guard untold secrets of what went on in the tumultuous past.
Travel to Shimla:
Local languages: Hindi and English
Best time to visit: March to October
How to reach Shimla:
AIR: The closest airport is at Jubbarhatti (12 km), Delhi (100 km) however is far more convenient as it has more flights.
RAIL: One can also take a train to Kalka. From here ride the toy train up to Shimla which takes six hours.
ROAD: Shimla is accessible by road. Regular buses leave for Shimla from Chandigarh and Delhi. You can also hire a care to Naldehra
Excursions from Shimla: Places You Should Not Miss in Shimla
Naldehra: The mountains that circle Naldehra, an hour’s drive from Shimla, strike impressive poses. The landscape has an almost pre-historic air – purple hilltops, green slopes, and lonely temples snuggling in green hollows and on craggy cliffs. Here at a height of 6,500 ft, you have the magnificent scenery all to yourself especially as you gaze out at the spread of cedar trees – deep and mysterious. And if you are seeking peace and solitude, this is the ideal place for doing nothing.
Chail: At 2,250m, Chail still has a tranquil aggrieved air partly because it remains largely untouched by unbridled mass tourism. It preens pretty across three hills and at its heart is the hilltop palace. A cluster of pine cottages that dot the lavish grounds and which once housed the Maharaja’s Bhupender Singh of Patiala support staff are now part of The Palace hotel complex. The maharaja, a keen cricketer, also created a cricket ground by leveling the top of a hill and today it is the highest pitch in the world, ensconced in the shadow of mighty oaks and deodars.
Kausauli: Another beautiful hill station which has not been spoilt by mass tourism. The hill station houses the Kasauli Brewery- the highest brewery and distillery in the world. Situated on an altitude of 1800 meters, the place has still not lost it age-old golden charms.
Kufri: Is one of the most serene and tranquil locations. The place is an attraction for hikers, skiers, trekkers and adventure-seeking travellers. The tiny hill station’s snow-covered slopes attract thousands of tourists every year.
Hotels and Resorts in Shimla
The hill station has a spectrum of accommodation including the classy Oberoi Cecil and the Oberoi Clarke’s the city also has a whole range of accommodation from budget to star category hotels.
Shimla Travel Packages: Customize your travel. Write your requirements we will revert with a quote soon.
Flights to Shimla
The closest airport is at Jubbarhatti (12 km). Delhi (100 km) however is far more convenient as it has more flights.
Trains to Shimla : One can also take a train to Kalka. From here ride the toy train up to Shimla which takes six hours.
Buses to Shimla : Shimla is accessible by road. Regular buses leave for Shimla from Chandigarh and Delhi.
Car Hire in Shimla: To experience Shimla at your own pace you can take a care hire. Hire a cab and get enchanted by the captivating locations of Shimla. You can also hire a cab for excursions from Shimla
