An
Overview :
Located at an altitude of 2159 m above sea level, its a beautiful hill
station of the north Indian state Himachal Pradesh. Its salubrious climate
and picture perfect surroundings make it one of the best place to spend a
splendid summer holiday. Its first slowing rivers, lush green mountain,
monasteries, temples, mountain lakes, snow clad mountain peaks are the prime
attractions for tourists. The city derives its name from the goddess “Shayamla
Devi” another form of Goddess Kali. It was also the Summer Capital of
British India.
Climate of Shimla :
Shimla experience a pleasant climate throughout the year. Summers here lats
from April to June with temperatures varies between 28 and 15 degrees C. In
winters(November-February), its maximum temperature is recorded around 8
degrees C and the minimum temperature is 0 degree or even low. In the month
of December, Shimla experiences heavy snowfall. Its monsoon months lasts
from July to September and the city receives an average annual rainfall of
166 cms. The most ideal time to visit the hill station is between April to
July and from mid September to the end of October.
Tourist Attractions in Shimla :
» The Ridge - The ridge is one of the most popular
hangout zone in Shimla. The wonderful backdrop of the snowcapped peaks makes
it an attractive place for weekend holidays for the locals.
» Lakkada Bazaar - The Mall is the major shopping
area for Shimla having numerous shops and restaurants selling woolen
garments, shawls, handicraft items. It is also an ideal place to buy items
like wooden items, key chains, jewellery box and many more which make
wonderful souvenir.
» St. Michael's Cathedral - Built during the late
19th century, this yellow painted Christ Church is one of the oldest
churches in North India.
»
Tudor Library - Located near the church, this library was established in
1910 and has a good collection of historical books and major old English
language dailies.
» State Museum - It has a rich collection of
traditional and contemporary art including miniature paintings, costumes,
jewellery, stone sculpture etc. Some part of the museum is devoted to
Mahatma Gandhi, who had spent some time here in Shimla. It displays
pictorial and literary representation of Gandhi and his meetings with
British rulers.
» Taptapani - This natural hot spring is situated
on the banks of the River Sutlej. It has religious importance and invites
pilgrims to take a holy bath in its hot water. The water also known for its
medicinal qualities.
Accommodation in Shimla :
The capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has got some excellent hotels
and resorts ranging from luxury to budget class to cater its tourist needs.
These offer some of the finest options for accommodation with all kinds of
modern facilities. Some of the major hotels in Shimla are : The Cecil, The
Destination, Radisson Jass Hotel, Woodville Palace, Hotel Himdev, Shimla
British Resort and many more.
Getting to Shimla :
» By Air - Jubbarhatti Airport(23km) is the nearest
one and has direct flights to Delhi.
» By Rail - Shimla is connected by a narrow gauge
railway line on which the popular Toy Train runs from Kalka to Shimla. From
Kalka one can take trains to other parts of India. The Toy Train offers a
pleasant journey through the picturesque valleys.
» By Road - A good road network links the city with
other major cities and towns of the state Himachal Pradesh and also the
neighboring states. There are direct services available from Delhi and
Chandigarh.
