Travel to Shimla
Shimla is the capital Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is nestled in the middle Himalayas in northern India. Shimla is a hill station destination much beloved by honeymooners and other tourists, particularly in summer. The British called Shimla the 'Queen of Hill Stations'. Situated in the north-West Himalayas, Shimla the summer capital of India before independence is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is well connected by air, road and rail with all parts of Himachal Pradesh, and the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union territory of Chandigarh. Covering the area of 18 sq. km. at a height of 7,238 ft. Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests.
Shimla’s well developed facilities, easy accessibility and numerous attractions make it one of India's most popular and biggest hill-stations. Shimla gets its name boski the Indian goddess Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forests that covered the Jakhu Hills in the early 19th century. The English were the one who named it Shimla. Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Still Its well developed facilities, easy accessibility and numerous attractions makes it one of Indian's most popular and biggest tourist destination for both local and foreign visitors.
Getting in Shimla
Shimla is connected by road and is 375 km from Delhi. it is 116 km from Chandigarh and from Kalka 89 km. The closest railhead is at Shimla near bus stand and is linked with Kalka with the toy train. Kalka is linked with many big cities through narrow gauge. The airport at Shimla is at a distance of 23km at Jubbarhati. Taxis/buses are available from these places to Shimal. Direct flghts from Delhi are available on alternate days.
By Air
Nearest airport to Shimla is at Jubberhatti, 26 km from Shimla. It has connecting flights to Delhi and Kullu. The nearby Chandigarh airport is, however, more handy as it is connected to all the major airports in India.
By Road
Shimla is well connected by road with Kalka, Chandigarh, Ambala, Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Jammu and other towns of Punjab and Haryana. Taxi services are available on a seat- basis between Shimla, and Kalka. There is deluxe bus service between Shimla and Delhi. Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation also runs deluxe buses between Shimla and Delhi.
By Train
Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, a narrow gauge line covers 96 kilometers, of track. The journey by train, which takes about six hours, crossing 103 tunnels is one of the finest ways of enjoying the scenic beauty. There is another option for a fast train Shiwalik Express or a delightful ride in the Rail Car. The Rail Car takes about 4 hours. Kalka has direct rail connections with Delhi, Calcutta and Amritsar
Palace to see in Shimla
The Mall : All visitors to Shimla inevitably walk down the Mall, the main promenade that runs along the top of the ridge-a busy shopping area with old colonial buildings, souvenir shops and restaurants. At the top end of the Mall is Scandal Point, a large open square with a view of the town-a favourite rendezvous for visitors and the local people. Overlooking it is the elegant Christ Church with its fine stained glass windows. The labyrinth of Shimla's bazaars spill over the edge of the Mall.
Viceregal lodge : Housed in the Gothic splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, India's premier academy for higher research.
Himachal State Museum : Very close to the Institute, in a colonial building set in spacious lawns, is the museum. It has collections of Pahariminiatures, stone sculpture, local handicrafts, textiles and embroidery.
Jakhoo Hill : Hill, Shiml's highest point, is rewarding for there are superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple.(2Km).
Annandale : Hill, Shiml's highest point, is rewarding for there are superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple.(2Km).
Glen : A pretty picnic spot beyond Annandale is located in the thickly Wooded Glen , beside a sparkling stream.(4 Km).
Summer Hill : The quiett and lovely suburb of summer Hill has secluded, shady walks and charming views.
It was here that Gandhiji stayed on his visits to Shimla, in the elegant Georgian mansion that belonged to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. Summer Hill is located on the Shimla - Kalka railway line.(5 Km).
Chadwick Falls : Just beyond Summer Hill is the 67 m waterfall, cascading into a deep gorge. The Falls are best seen after the monsoon.(7 Km).
Prospect Hill : A 15 minute climb from Boileauganj, Prospect Hill is another favourite walk and vantage point with breath taking views. There is a little temple to Kamna Devi on the top of the hill.(5 Km ).
Sanjauli : A serene location with delightful walks, Sanjauli is ideal for a tranquil weekend. There are fine vistas and the lights of Shimla and Chail can be seen twinkling at night. On the other side, Mashobra and Naldehra are visible. (3 Km)
Temples : Among the little temples dotted around Shimla is the ancient temple of Bihargaon - a splendid example of traditional Himachal architecture.
Just short of Shimla are the temples of Tara Devi and Sankat Mochanb. (8 Km)
Daranghati Sanctuary : This sanctuary located in the upper area of the Shimla district has an undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife-monal, tragopan, koklas and khalij pheaseants and musk deer, ghoral and thar. There is a network of bridle paths in the sanctuary. Visitors are advised to seek assistance from the forest staff posted at Dofda and Sarahan. The area is ideal for those who love to trek.
