Capital of the beautiful north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla nestles amongst the hill of the Himalayas. Once a British summer capital, Shimla still has enough colonial style cottages, mansions, bungalows and churches to make it look like a typical English village. The temples of Shimla, on the other hand, are evidence of a culture that is typically Indian, while the large Tibetan population has made the town famous for its cheap Tibetan goods. Students and researchers from all over India come to study and work at the Indian Institute of Advanced Sciences, 5 kilometers away from the Mall.
Tourist Attractions in Shimla
The Mall, in the heart of Shimla, has many shops and restaurants, and an old theatre built by the British. The
Ridge Chowk has a large old church that reminds one of Old English churches. The
Kali Bari Temple, near the main post office, is dedicated to the Goddess Jagadamba.
Jhakoo Peak is Shimla's highest point, rising 2450 meters above sea level. The
Hanuman Temple on the summit is worth a visit. The
State Museum is 3 kilometers away from the Ridge. It displays old Himachali artifacts, sculptures and paintings. The
Viceregal Lodge, built in the 19th century, presently houses the
Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.
Summer Hill, a quiet green area, is home to the
Himachal Pradesh University, apart from graceful Georgian mansions.
Sankat Mochan temple, 7 kilometers away on the road to Kalka, is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The site, almost 2000 meters above sea level, offers a panoramic view of downtown Shimla and surrounding areas.
Nearby Attractions
The village of
Fagu, 20 kilometers away from Shimla, is a vantage point famous for the views of the surrounding snow capped mountains. The
Tara Devi shrine, dedicated to the Goddess of the Forest, is 10 kilometers away on the road to Kalka, and easily accessible by bus or train.
Mashobra is 11 kilometers away. Beautiful pine forests surround this popular picnic spot.
Kotgarh, 80 kilometers away, is famous for its fruit orchards.
Jubbal, 90 kilometers away, has a French style villa built on the orders of the erstwhile prince of Jubbal.
How to Reach Shimla
Shimla is well connected to all the major cities in India through road, rail and air.
Air:
Regular flights between Delhi and Shimla run by Indian Airlines and private operators.
Road:
Well connected by road to Delhi, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Mukerian, Ambala, Jaipur, Jalandhar and Dehradun. Regular luxury/non luxury bus services are available. You can also hire taxis, vans and jeeps.
Train:
Connected to Kalka by train. Kalka is well connected to major cities of India by train.
To find out more about these hill stations, please click on the links below:
Taj Mahal Tourism offers bookings for tours to Shimla. For booking online, or for more information, please fill the form below
