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Shimla
is located in the north of India in the lap of the
mighty Himalayas. Though it is surrounded by lofty
mountain ranges, the place is well connected to the rest
of the country by all means of transport. In this
section that has been titled "how to reach Shimla", you
shall find information regarding all queries about
reaching Shimla and getting to Simla. You will get all
required information over here and traveling to Shimla
will seem like a cakewalk.
Shimla, was the Summer capital of India under British
rule . Presently, it is the state capital of Himachal
Pradesh, with its population around 1.6 lacs (Shimla
town only). Shimla has seen many important historical
events such as the famous Shimla Pact between India &
Pakistan which was signed here. The place is also
famous for its natural beauty, architectural
buildings, wooden crafts and apples.
Things to visit:
The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping centre 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.
Christ Church:
Situated on the Ridge is Christ Church, which 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 kms. 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 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
project 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 and jewellery of the region.
Tara Devi:
11kms. from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi has a temple
dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill.
There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the
headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides. At a height of
6,070 ft. Tara Devi is an ideal place for a person
wanting peace and some rest.
Sankat Mochan:
A popular Hanuman temple is located here. We get an
excellent view of Shimla from the temple. It can be
reached by car or on foot.
Kufri:
16 kms. from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft. Kufri is
the winter sports capital. During winter, visitors have
the facility for skiing. The skiing season is at its
best during January and February. Equipment for sking is
available from HPTDC winter sports club at Kufri. Apart
from skiing, Kufri is a lovely picnic spot with a
beautiful view of the hills around and the snowy peaks.
There is also a zoo that delights children.
Naldehra: 22 kms. from Shimla and surrounded by beautiful deodar trees.
Naldehra has a well kept nine-hole golf-course. It is a
lovely, popular picnic spot. The annual Sipi fair in
June is held in Naldehra.
How to Reach:
By Air
Shimla can be easily reached by air. The place has its
own airport at a place called Jubbarhatti, which is
located at a distance of 23 kilometers from the main
city center. Flights from New Delhi,
Chandigarh and Kullu (another hill station) operate
on a daily basis. Jagson Airlines is the flight that
operates from these places on a regular basis.
By Rail/ Train
The nearest railway station that connects Shimla to
neighboring states is at Kalka. This place is located at
a distance of 96 kilometers from Shimla. From Kalka, it
takes around 6 hours to reach Shimla. The frequency of
trains that ply from Kalka to Shimla is pretty good,
with atleast 4 trains plying to and fro from Shimla. The
journey from Delhi to Kalka is an overnight journey and
reaches Kalka early morning. There are many tunnels en
route with the longest being 1.2 kilometers long!
By Road
Shimla is well connected to neighboring places like New
Delhi and Chandigarh through national highways. The
journey from Delhi to Shimla by road takes approximately
8 hours. The highways are well maintained by the
authorities and are a pleasure to drive on. There are
many tourist buses that ply from neighboring places to
take tourists to this beautiful hill station. |
