Shimla

Introduction

Viceroy Lodge, Shimla

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Shimla is the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Located at an altitude of around 2,100 metres, it is often referred to as the ‘Queen of hills’. During the British rule, Shimla was the summer capital of India. Its cool climate, easy accessibility and numerous attractions have made it one of the most popular hill stations in northern India. Blessed with some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes anywhere, it is a traveller’s paradise with lofty snow peaks, deep gorges, lush green valleys, rushing rivers, beautiful temples and monasteries steeped in time. Reaching Shimla can be an experience in itself. Most of the tourists prefer to use the Kalka-Shimla toy train which chugs up into the Shivalik foothills, meandering its way through numerous bridges and forests to reach Shimla, covering the 96 kilometres journey in around 4-5 hours.

History

Suburbs

Sights

Some of the places worth visiting are:

• The Mall is the centre of attraction and also the main shopping centre of Shimla. It also has a number of clubs, bars, restaurants and tourist offices. The Ridge and the Scandal Point are the two main meeting points at the Mall.
• Christ Church situated on the ridge is one of the oldest church in North India.
• Jakhu Hill is the highest point of Shimla and offers a beautiful view of the town and of the Himalayan mountain ranges. There is an old temple of Hanuman at the top of the hill.
• Shimla State Museum has a collection of miniature Pahari style paintings, sculptures, wood carvings and also textiles and jewellery of the mountain region.
• Viceregal Lodge has now been converted into Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, India’s premier academy for higher research.

Some of the nearby excursions that can be undertaken are:

• Kufri
• Fagu
• Naldhera
• Narkanda
• Chail

Activities

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

The nearest airport is at Jubbarhati (Airport code: SLV), 23 kilometres from Shimla. Regular flights are available from Delhi, Chandigarh and Kullu and the major airlines operating on this route are Kingfisher Airlines, and Jagson Airlines.

By Train

It is linked by a narrow gauge line to Kalka which is connected to Delhi, Kolkata and Amritsar by broad gauge. Kalka-Shimla is 96 kilometres and takes about 4-5 hours by train. Train timings, fare and availability of berths can be checked at the official Indian Railways website.

By Car

By Bus

Shimla is well connected by road to most towns within the state and to all major towns in North India. Indicative distances to some of the major cities are:

Shimla - Delhi= 370 kilometres
Shimla - Chandigarh = 117 kilometres
Shimla - Kalka= 90 kilometres
Shimla - Ambala= 166 kilometres

By Boat

Getting Around

Shimla can be easily done on foot, while for visiting the nearby attractions taxis/autos can be hired. It is better to fix the rate before boarding any vehicle as most of the meters in auto are not working.

By Car

By Public Transport

By Boat

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• Himachal Pradesh University

Keep Connected

Internet

Cyber cafes are available in plenty with access rates of around 40-80 rupees per hour. STD/ISD booths for making domestic and international calls can easily be found in all parts of the city.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

India Post is the national postal service of India, and on their website you find details about prices to send postcards, letters and parcels, both domestically and internationally. For most postcards to send internationally, it is better to visit the post office before writing on the card as you may need quite a few stamps. Parcels must be taken to a tailor, he will then sew it up in white linen. Make sure he seals it with red wax, otherwise the post office may refuse to send it or try to get you to pay them to do it. Sewing up a parcel should only cost 50rs to 200rs. In general, post offices are open from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm in most bigger towns and cities, though there are regional variations and some might keep longer hours or be open during (part of) the weekend as well. Ask around.