Area : 18 Sq.kms.
Altitude : 2,130 mts.
Season : Throughout the year, Snowfall in winter.
Place of History and Heritage
A quaint little hill train chugs up into the Shivalik foothills,
over dramatic loops and high arched bridges to the hill resort of
Shimla ( 2130 mts. )- The capital of the mountain state of Himachal.
Shimla, the Queen of the Hills, was once a string of hill stations
that the British established to escape from the scorching heat of
the plains. The 12 kms. Crescent shaped ridge on which it is located
was first occupied by the British troops in the early part of the
19th century, during the Anglo-Gurkha War. It was once the part of
the Nepali Kingdom and called Shyamala, another name for the goddess
kali but received few visitors until it was ‘discovered’ by the
British, who were seeking respite from the baking plains in 1819.
Three years later, the first ‘British’ house was erected, and in
1864 Shimla became the summer capital of India. Even now, it holds
the lingering echoes of a bygone era. Shimla’s salubrious climate,
easy accessibility and numerous attractions have made it one of the
most popular hill stations in northern India. The splendid views of
the snow-clad ranges of the Himalayas, fine walks through oak and
flowering rhododendrons, enchanting resorts within easy reach, golf
at Naldehra and skiing at Narkanda make Shimla an attractive
destination throughout the year. This is the enchantment of nature’s
generous bounty. To the north, the awesome snow ranges race across
the horizon.
Places of attraction
Himachal State Museum and Library: - About 2.5 km. west of Scandal
Point, near the communications mast the museum is located in a
colonial building set amidst spacious lawns. It has a good
collection of statues, Pahari miniatures, coins, photos, stone
sculptures, local handicrafts, textiles, embroidery and other items
from around Himachal Pradesh and is worth a visit. Photography is
strictly prohibited.
Christ Church:- The second oldest church in northern India ( the
oldest is in Ambala), Christ church was built between 1864 and 1857.
The church is one of Shimla’s major landmarks and is renowned for
its stained- glass windows.James Ransome designed the Library next
door in the mock Tudor style.
The Glen:- About 4 km. West of the Scandal Point is one of the
former playgrounds of rich British colonialists. Now it has become a
picnic spot.
Annandale: - Follow the first part of the route as for the glen, and
continue down along the metalled road to this large glade surrounded
by deodar woods. The turn-off is on the way to the museum and goes
through Annandale, another lovely area. This was the site of a
famous racecourse, and cricket and polo still played there.
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:- This lodge is also known as Rashtrapati Niwas.
Anyone can take a guided tour of the lodge from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
daily (except Monday). The lodge is a pleasant 2 km. Walk west of
the museum. Housed in the Gothic Splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is
the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, India’s premier academy
for higher research. It stands in well-tended gardens with good
views of the mountains.The building was completed in 1888 and drew its architectural
inspiration from the renaissance in Elizabethan England.Next to the lodge is a small aviary featuring, among other birds,
the Monal pheasant( Himachal’s state bird). The aviary is open 10am to 5 pm daily
(closed Monday)
Jhaku hill: - The steep climb to Jakhu Hill, Shimla’s highest point,
is rewarding, for there are superb views of the town and its
surroundings. At the top, there is a temple
(2.4 kms.), which dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god and
frequented by monkeys. It is east of the town center near the
highest point of the Shimla ridge (2455mts.).This temple is known as
Jhaku Temple.
Summer Hill:- A pleasant ‘ suburb ‘5 kms. From town, is a stop on
the Shimla-Kalka railway.It’s also famous because Mahatma Gandhi
once stayed at the Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur Mansion here.
Chadwick Falls (1586 mts.): Just beyond Summer Hill is the 67 mts.
Waterfall, cascading into a deep gorge. The Falls are best seen
after the monsoon. (7 Kms.)
Prospect Hill (2175 mts.): A 15 minute climb from Boileauganj,
Prospect Hill is another favourite walk and vantage point with
breathtaking views. There is a little temple to Kamna Devi on the
top of the hill (5 kms.).
Sanjauli (2257 mts.): 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.
Local Festivals:
June:- Summer festivals include cultural programmes from Himachal
and neighbouring states, art and handicrafts exhibition.
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 Mochan (8 kms.).
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