Shimla,India

Shimla

Shimla formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital

of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the “Queen of Hills,” a term

coined by the British. Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 2,205 metres (7,234 ft), the

city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters.

The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India,

the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km

(226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of

the Hindu Goddess Kali.

Main Places:

The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices

and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People walk up and down the Mall slowly, stopping to gossip,

as it is the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal point are the two main meeting points at the Mall.

The mall is dotted with many eating places .The most famous among them is Trishul bakery which is known for its pastries.

Christ Church: Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic

appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.

Christ Church is a place all visitors should spend some time in.

Jakhu Hill: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and offers a beautiful view of the

town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, which is also the home of

countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors.

Shimla State Museum: The Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the

state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles.