Shimla

State – Himachal Pradesh
Best To Travel – All the year round
STD Code - 0177
Main Attraction – The Mall and the Himachal Museum
Climate - Summer:   28 °C - 15 °C , Winter: 7 °C - -4 °C

One moment we were on a hilltop, the next on a cloud....the environment of Shimla will make you feel the same way. From part- time capital of India to full-time capital of a state, the hill station of Shimla has remained as charming as always. You can count on the gorgeous Himalayan views and make excursions to the countryside around. The salubrious air and scenic views act as a balm, helping us to ignore the scars of modernity. Shimla turns out to be a perfect tourist destination that endorses many travel attractions, breathtaking highways, inaccessible mountains and colourful people.

History
Shimla owes its character almost to the British, who established the hill station to escape from the scorching heat of the plains. The 12-kms, crescent shaped ridge on which it is located was first occupied by the British troops, in the early part of the 19th century, during the Anglo-Gurkha War. The little village of Shymala, a retreat for British officers, soon grew to become the glamorous summer capital of the British, in India.
Places Of Interest
The Mall - This is the major shopping centre of Shimla. The Mall also has some finest restaurants. The Gaiety Theatre, which is a reproduction of an old British theatre is a centre of cultural activities. The Mall also houses shops that are filled with materials of latest fashion and trends.

Prospect Hill - The hill is situated at an altitude of 2,155m offers a spectacular view of the area and is a major picnic spot.

Glen - The Glen forests are located at a distance of 4 km from the Ridge at an altitude of 1830 mts. An ice cold stream flows through this forest which makes it a fascinating picnic spot.

Jakhu Temple – The Jakhu Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is at an altitude of 2,455m near the highest point of Shimla ridge. It offers a fine view of the surrounding valleys, out to the snowcapped peaks, and over the town itself. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Mall. Jakhu is a vantage point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets.

Chadwick Falls - One can reach these falls by taking about 45-minutes (7-km) walk from Summer Hill Chowk. These falls are surrounded by thick forests.

Summer Hill - At an altitude of 1,283m, Summer Hill is a picturesque spot on Shimla-Kalka Railway line offering shady walks in quiet surroundings. The Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Shimla lived in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here. Himachal Pradesh University is also situated over here.

Himachal State Museum – The Himachal Museum is set in spacious lawns of Shimla. It has collections of Pahari miniatures, stone sculpture, local handicrafts, textiles and embroidery. Himachal State Museum was opened on January 26, 1974 with the purpose of collecting and protecting the scattered cultural heritage of Himachal Pradesh particularly in the Western Himalayan principalities.

Attractions
Kalka-Shimla Toy Train - The state of Himachal Pradesh is the proud owner of two narrow gauge rail tracks of which Kalka-Shimla is one. The expedition between Kalka and Shimla is one train ride that offers an experience which one wishes, never to forget.

Ice Skating - The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. Membership in this rink is available for the season as well as for shorter terms and even for single sessions.

Accommodation
Give all the privilege of deciding your accommodation in Shimla to your pockets. As Shimla offers variety of accommodation options ranging from budget to luxury class. To mention a few are:

• The Cecil Oberoi Resort
• The Peterhoff
• Hotel Holiday Home
• Shilon Resort
• Hotel Chapslee Palace
• Hotel Combermere
• Hotel Asia, The Dawn
• Springfields
• Hotel Mayur
• Hotel Crystal Palace
• Honeymoon Inn
• Start Resort

Stomach Friendly
Finding something to eat of your taste and choice is not always easy, agreed? But if its the all rounder restaurants of Shimla then one can find it easy to please one's stomach. Shimla has a number of restaurants, that are absolute delights for the tourists visiting the land. Like :

• Ashiana Goofa Restaurant
• The Ridge
• Fascination Restaurant
• Alfa Restaurant
• Himani Restaurant
• Nalini Restaurant
• Seventh Heaven
• Silver Oak
• Bhasoli Restaurant

Check IN – in Shimla
By Air : The airport at Shimla, 22 km from the main city, has connecting flights to Delhi and Kullu. The nearby Chandigarh airport is, however, more handy as it is connected to all the major airports in India.
By Rail : Only train plying between Shimla and Kalka joins them through railways network.
By Road : Shimla is well connected by road to most towns within the state and to all major towns in Punjab and Haryana. It is linked by bus and coach to Delhi and Chandigarh as well.