About Shimla

Probably the most popular hill station in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, toy train etc. among honeymooners and families alike. Shimla was once a summer retreat for the British rulers and has become one of the most visited tourist destinations of India. It is also the capital city of the Himachal Pradesh located in the north part of India. Shimla has Kinnaur in its east, Kullu and Mandi in its north and Solan and Sirmaur on its south and the state of Uttarakhand in its south-east direction. Shimla has improved a lot in terms of education and economy. Many renowned educational institutes are here and many notable persons from India as well as outside have been educated here. Shimal houses many vintage architectural marvels and most of them were built during the British rules. The city has temples, churches and palaces which still bear the rich culture and heritage of our country.

History of Shimla

Shimla is visited by hordes of tourists for its unparallel natural beauty. Known as one of the most popular hill stations of north, Shimal is also popularly called as “Queen of the Hills”. The name “Shimla” has been derived from the name of the Goddess “ Shymala Devi”, that is a form of Goddess Kali. Due to wonderful scenic terrains of Shimla, in the year 2005, MTB Himalaya biking Race has been started in Shimla. It is considered as one of the biggest events of South East Asia. Nestled among the lap of the nature, Shimla has a picture perfect look. The town is nestled among the snow-clad ranges of Himalaya and has many lakes and lush green plantation. The ambience created by this city is not found anywhere else in India.
The History of the Shimla is very exciting. It is located on the lower Himalayas. Shimla is at an elevation of about 7500 feet above sea level. Shimla is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttaranchal in the south, Sirmaur, district in the west. The topology of the district is rocky and hard. The word ‘Shimla’ is derived from ”Shayamla Devi”, which is the other name of Goddess Kali.

The British Empire may have ceased to exist, but its echoes linger on in Shimla (2130m). As the ‘summer capital’ of the British in India. Shimla was once part of the Nepalese kingdom and called Shyamala. In 1864 Shimla became the summer capital of India. Following independence, Shimla was initially the capital of the Punjab, and then became the capital of Himachal Pradesh in 1966. Today, Shimla is a pleasant, sprawling town, set among cool pine-clad hills with plenty of crumbling colonial charm. High season is mid-April to mid-July, mid-September to late October and mid-December to mid-January. The best time to visit is mid-September to late November.

History of Shimla goes back to the period of Anglo-Gurkha war in the start of 19th century. In 1804 the Gurkhas, who had undergo a harsh beat at the hands of the Sikhs at the battle of Kangra, a hill stronghold about sixty miles from Shimla, where according to some accounts they gone thousand of men in the fight and many others from disease, commenced to damage the states and hills surrounding Shimla. Gurkhas built many forts around Shimla. Shimla holds interest exclusively for visitors from England who trip Shimla to visit the churches and cemeteries for information about their grandparents who served here during the British rule in India. We provide history of Shimla with complete information about its appearance.

Top Things To Do In Shimla

Ridge
Located in the heart of the ‘British Summer Capital’ – Shimla, The Ridge is a wide open street located on the side of mall road. The Ridge has everything, from shops selling some exclusive artefacts to the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountain ranges set against an orangish hued sky. It is famous for a lot of things, but best known for shopping. This place is a delight for all kinds of tourists, and the old British establishments beckon visitors from all over to this centre of the beautiful hill station. The Ridge is not just a market place but also the social hub of the city.

Mall Road
The Mall Road in Shimla, located in the heart of the town, is the main street that is lined up with a myriad of restaurants, clubs, banks, shops, post offices and tourist offices. At the same time, the place boasts of the other exciting attractions that it houses, such as the Scandal Point and Kali Bari Temple. One of the busiest and more commercial areas of Shimla till date, this stretch is a mini-world in itself. Mall Road is the one stretch, that truly celebrates the spirit of Shimla, its tourist rush and valleys and hills covered with houses and hotels.

Jakhoo Temple
This temple has the world’s largest Hanuman statue, which is visible from most parts of Shimla. Visit the temple, to view this statue upright and strain your neck a bit admiring its magnificence.

One can also get a panoramic view of the Shivalik ranges and the town of Sanjauli from the temple. According to the legend that surrounds this temple, Lord Hanuman stopped at this spot to take some rest before resuming his search for the Sanjeevani Booti to revive Lord Lakshman.

Kufri
While in Shimla, visit its colder, higher and less crowded cousin, Kufri just 13 km away from the main town. The views and sceneries here only get better, and the landscapes more flattering, a bit untouched with the tourist rush.

However, Kufri too is becoming increasingly popular with the visitors, especially due to the zoo here. One must visit Kufri’s zoological park which is famous for having rare species of Antelopes, Felines, Bears and birds including Himalayan Monal, which is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.