Shimla is a tourist destination par
excellence. It is a beautiful hill town in the lap of nature, surrounded by pine
and deodar forests. Shimla is one of the most popular destinations in India that
are frequented by tourists. Fascinated by the charms of Shimla, British made it
summer capital of India in 1819. British coined the term "Queen of the hills"
for Shimla. It has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of.
Today, it is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. The name Shimla is derived from
"Shyamala" -the goddess Kali, whose temple existed somewhere in the
dense forest that covered Jakhu Hill.
On the very mention of Shimla, the
images that conjure up in the mind are: fast flowing rivers, singing birds, tall
pine trees, apple orchids etc. One can still see the trail of British Empire in
the form of Churches and other buildings.
What one
can see in Shimla
- The Mall
- Christ Church
-
Jakhu Hill
- Shimla State Museum
- Indian Institute of Advanced
Studies
- Summer Hill
- Annandale
- Tara Devi
-
Sankat Morchan Temple
- Chail
What
one can do in Shimla
The best handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh are
found in Shimla. One can find Tibetan jewellery and trinkets in the small Tibetan
shops near the Ridge. Woollen and Pashmina shawls, decorative items, handmade
shoes, dolls, woollen caps, carved wooden sticks, toys and other items made from
wood are made in Shimla itself and are on sale in the Lakkar Bazaar.
Shimla
has the only natural ice-skating rink in India. The Ice-skating Club arranges
an Ice-skating Carnival in January every year. During this festival, members display
their skill on ice and also participate in a fancy dress competition.
How
to reach Shimla
There are different roads that lead to Shimla for
example one can board a bus from Chandigarh, Manali, Chail and Delhi depending
upon ones convenience. From all these places Luxury coaches and taxis ply to Shimla.
The nearest airport connecting Shimla to other places is at Jubbarhatti, just
23 km away from Shimla. It is connected to Kalka by an enchanting narrow gauge
railway line - where even a quaint rail car plies.
