Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Simla and around

Simla

Shimla(also known as Simla) is a tourist destination par excellence. It is a beautiful hill town in the lap of nature, surrounded by pine and deodar forests. Temperature is ideal in summers and tourists flock it in great numbers and it is highly advisable to get hotel reservations done well in advance despite the fact that there are over 1000 hotels in Shimla. It is well connected by road to the plains. Facilities and amenities are good. People are friendly. It is also comparatively safer than other tourist destinations. All this makes it the favorite travel destination of tourists from India and across the world. A amazingly high percentage of tourists come back here again.

It is situated in the north-west Himalayas and is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India. It is a 18 sq km mountainous region lying at an altitude of 2,213 meters. British coined the term “Queen of the hills” for Shimla. It has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. The biggest industry in Shimla is hotel, travel and tourism. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, the town retains a colonial aura, with its grand old buildings. If you happen to visit Shimla without hotel reservations, you can take the services of one of the numerous porters who double up as travel guides and touts for hotels in Shimla.

A hotel in Shimla Besides being the ultimate summer retreat it remains an ideal spot for adventure sports. Tourists can go in for the various treks to the Kullu valley or indulge in trout fishing at the Pabbar River. The more adventurous may ski at the Narkanda and Kufri from January to mid-March. The nine-hole golf course at Naldehra is also a major draw for the tourists.

This beautiful hill resort also offers a lot for those who would like to indulge in a shopping spree. The Mall is the place to check out for the best in garment and textile industry. Here the State emporium offers the himachali (local) handicrafts and handloom items. The hats that are available in a wide range of charges and colors make the perfect souvenirs. For the dry fruits and natural herbs carrying medicinal properties you may check out any of the local shops whereas the Lakkar Bazaar is the one stop market for the wooden items of all shapes and sizes.


History of SHIMLA

Shimla came into existence in 1819, after the Gurkha War, when a thickly wooded spot, then known for the temple of goddess `Shyamala' was discovered by the British. Its climate commanded itself to British officers on leave and remained a summer village of tents for about three years. It was only in the year 1822 that Captain Kennedy constructed the first double storey building here known as the Kennedy House. Lord Amherst, the first Governor General who visited Shimla, in 1827 stayed at the Kennedy House. It was during Lord William Bentinck's time that Shimla was truly acquired by the Government of India. The old Dak Bungalow of Shimla was demolished to provide a site for the Bentinck Castle, which is today the famous Grand Hotel. Soon Shimla became the summer capital of the British Indian Government. Lord Bentinck's successor Lord Auckland, chose a residence on the northern eastern spur of the Shimla range which was known as the Auckland House. The Auckland House, one of the oldest houses of Shimla, was a scenario of brilliant balls and theatricals.

The British made Shimla their summer capital in 1864 and it remained so until 1939. The summer exodus of the officials from the plains, however, ended after 1947. Shimla continued to serve as a temporary capital of the east Punjab until the new city of Chandigarh was completed. It has remained the capital of Himachal Pradesh ever since 1966.

Getting There <<<<<<<<

(1) Air »»»
Nearest airport to Shimla is at Jubberhatti, 26 km from Shimla. It 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. Following is the schedule of flights from and to Shimla:

  Jagsun Airlines
  Flight No.       From       To       Departure       Arrival       Days of Week
  JA221       Delhi       Shimla       8.40 AM       9.40 AM       Tue, Thu, Sat
  JA221       Shimla       Kullu       10.00 AM       10.20 AM       Tue, Thu, Sat
  JA222       Kullu       Shimla       10.50 AM       11.20 AM       Tue, Thu, Sat
  JA222       Shimla       Kullu       11.40 AM       12.40 PM       Tue, Thu, Sat


(2) Road »»»

Shimla is well connected by road with Kalka, Chandigarh, Ambala, Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Jammu and other towns of Punjab and Haryana. Following are the road distances from Shimla to major cities of India:

  Place       Distance (Km.)
  Kalka       90
  Chandigarh       117
  Delhi       370
  Ludhiana       220
  Dehradun       240
  Kullu       240
  Manali       280
  Kalpa       260
  Narkanda       64
  Mandi       156
  Dharamshala       280
  Nahan       140


Taxi services are available on a seat- basis between Shimla, and Kalka. There is deluxe bus service between Shimla and Delhi. Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation also runs deluxe buses between Shimla and Delhi.

(3) Train »»»

Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, a narrow gauge line covers 96 kilometers, of track. The journey by train, which takes about six hours, crossing 103 tunnels is one of the finest ways of enjoying the scenic beauty. There is another option for a fast train Shiwalik Express or a delightful ride in the Rail Car.

The Rail Car takes about 4 hours. Kalka has direct rail connections with Delhi, Calcutta and Amritsar. For more information on Kalka-Shimla Railway click here

 
Places to see in Shimla

The Mall:
The Mall, like most hill stations in North India, 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. Art objects in the Museum collection are mostly related to art, archaeology and cultural anthropology of Himachal and other states of India. At present Museum, has about 9000 objects in its collection. At the outset, museum started with four galleries. Since then more galleries have been added. These galleries pertain to Pre- historic, Indian Archaeology, Woodcarvings, Himachal Archaeology, Pahari Miniature Paintings Monuments, Photographs, Rajasthan paintings, Bronzes, Numismatic, Arms Gallery, Gandhi Gallery, Philatelic, Anthropological, Contemporary Art & Wall Paintings gallery. In addition to these galleries museum has one exhibition hall for arranging the exhibition and other museum activities.

Indian Institute of Advanced Studies:
This institute is housed in the Viceregal Lodge, which was built in 1884-88 during the British times. It has spacious gardens and is ringed by beautiful pine trees. All is calm and serene just the right atmosphere for a student of literature or politics.

Summer Hill:
Situated at a distance of 5 kms. from the Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill at a height of 6,500 ft. on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.

Annandale:
Developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale is 2-4 kms. from the Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a favourite spot for cricket, picnics and the princely game of polo.


Around Shimla

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.

Mashobra:
13 kms. away from Shimla, Mashobra has several excellent picnic spots. Mashobra offers ideal walks amidst oak and pine trees. Mashobra is the site of the annual Sipi fair in June. The nearest rest house is at Craignano which is 3 kms. from Mashobra, and is a beautiful holiday resort.

Naldehra:
23 kms. Under a skyline etched with conifers, Naldehra offers a well groomed nine-hole Golf course; undulating hills and giant deodars, make it a unique spot for picnics. Regular bus and taxi service. HPTDC Restaurant, Hotel Golf Glade and Golf Club.

Tattapani:
43 kms. Situated on the bank of river Sutlej it is well known of its hot springs. Regular bus and taxi service.

Wildflower Hall:
13 kms. Nestling among sylvan surroundings, the stately Hotel Wildflower Hall of the HPTDC affords a magnificent view of the mighty Himalayas and perennial snows. Charming in summer and fascinating in autumn, when winter casts its mantle of snow Wildflower Hall assumes an ethereal look.

Fruit Research Station:
18 km. The biggest fruit research station in northern India.

Kufri:
16 kms. Well known for its ski slopes. Commands good views. It also has a Potato Research Station. Shimla has an added attraction of Mini zoo amidst dense forest to the tourists where a rare breed of wild animals and pheasants species commonly found in Himalayan forest region have been kept in natural habitat. Spread over an area of twenty hectares of land with rich flora and fauna about 140 wild animals including pheasants of different verities 'Monal' the State bird of Himachal Pradesh and one of the endangered species of Himalayan region has been the other attractions of this zoo also been placed safely in this mini zoo. The other attraction of this zoo are Tibetan wolf, Brown Bear and Barking Deer. There are other popular wild animals species in the Mini zoo such as leopard, Ghoral, Samber, Himalayan Thar, Yak, black bear and number of pheasants varieties. Himalayan Nature Park has been set up at Kufri in 1992 which is spread in 90 hectare area and mini zoo has been set up in this Park.

Indira Holiday Home:
18 kms. Deodar forests at an altitude of 2,623 metres. Mini zoo, and yak and pony riding.

Chail:
43 kms. (via Kufri) and 62 km. (via Kandaghat). Chail, at a height of 2,250 metres, combines the charm and beauty of a remote and peaceful mountain resort with the splendor and elegance of a princely reserve. Chail was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence. The verdant forests around Chail are alive with many species of birds and deer.

Barog:
55 kms. A verdant place of considerable scenic charm and beauty affording extensive views of high mountains stretching range after range and valleys swooping down the Haryana and Punjab plains.

Kasauli:
61 kms. from Chandigarh, 77 kms. from Shimla, Kasauli (1,927 metres) is charming and quiet; an ideal place for those in search of peace and relaxation.

Solan:
48 kms. A popular place, named after Shoolini Devi is a Mushroom City of India. The Dr. Y S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, one of its kind in Asia, is situated here.
 

Sports and Adventures in Simla

Shimla has the only natural ice-skating rink in India. An Ice-skating Carnival is arranged every year by the Ice-skating Club during January. During this festival, members display their skill on ice and participate in a fancy dress competition.

The summer festival in Shimla offers the best entertainment of the year. Artists are invited from all parts of Himachal Pradesh and from other parts of the country to entertain visitors with song, dance and music both Indian and Western.

Besides the summer festival, regular cultural programmes are organised in Shimla during the tourist season.

Kufri is a popular ski resort and is at a distance of 16-kms rom Shimla. With thick woods around, Kufri offers a panoramic view of 2,000 miles of the great Himalayan ranges. Naldhera is another adventure area that is situated at a distance of 23-kms from the hill station. Naldhera is blessed with a thick cedar forest, attractive picnic spot and a 16-hole golf course. Fagu is another spot from where one can check out very fine views and has a lot of snow in winters for the delight of snow lovers and skiers.

Chabba is located on the road to Tattapani and is 53-kms away from Shimla. There is the one of the oldest hydroelectric power project, which is nowadays famous for river rafting. Situated 64-kms north of Shimla is Narkanda, at an altitude of 2,700m, a ski resort and also a popular spot for viewing the Himalayas particularly from the 3,300m high Hatu Peak.

Shimla to Kullu over the Jalori Pass (3300m) and Bashleo Pass (3250m)and Sarahan to Sangla are some popular treks.

Skiing slopes are at Narkanda (65 km. from Shimla) and Kufri (16 km from Shimla). (from Jan - mid March)

Naldehra offers a well groomed nine hole golf course.

At Rohru (100 km. from Shimla) & at Seema (9 km. from Rohru).
 

Treks and Walks in Shimla
 
Leisure Walks In Shimla

Among the adventure travel activities that you can indulge at a leisurely pace include heritage walks and hiking tours in and outside Shimla. First major walk area is the Prospect Hill and to reach the temple dedicated to Kamna Devi that?s situated on this hill you have to take up a 15-minute walk from Boileauganj on Shimla-Bilaspur road. The hill is at an altitude of 2,155m and offers some spectacular views of the Shimla valley.

You can also enjoy walks from the Mall in Shimla, which is enhanced by some of the oldest architectural building structures that were made by the British. Some of the buildings worth checking out over here include Dalziel House, one of the oldest structures of town; Fingask Estate, the birthplace Lord Chelmsford and the Chelmsford Club; adjoining Fingask Estate is the Catholic Club in Ensham Estate's old building; the one-time residence of the famous write Rudyard Kipling, and the Sacred Art Convent Tat Tara Hall.

A sharp climb takes you to the Shimla estate Museum and a rich display of Himachal's heritage. Some other independent walks include The Glen, which is a Reserve Forest and is one of Shimla's oldest and most popular picnic spots. The area also has several narrow forest inspection paths including one that lies about the Glen and circles Summer Hill, but these paths should be done with a guide. Annandale is another green walking paradise that's surrounded by Deodar trees. The Old Carriage track also makes a good walk through the woods and was used by the Viceroy?s to go to Annandale.

Climbing & Hiking Around Shimla

At 2455m, Jakhoo Hill towers over Shimla. Filled with history and architectural charm, there are several houses along its steep.1.5km climb that starts from the Ridge and a temple dedicated to Lord Hanauman crowns the forested hill. Enjoy the most spectacular sunrises and sunset sights from this spot, especially during the monsoons.

Another beautiful trail takes you to Sanjuali and between Holly Lodge and Sanjauli, the distance is about 3-km. From Sanjauli, you can walk back via the Government College to the Ridge - 2-km, or via St.Bede's College and Ramchandra Chowka, 3-km. Alternatively, you can bus back from Sanjauli to Shimla.

The Southern Tracks from Shimla

Climb down to pine covered area of Tutikandi. Turn off towards the exquisite little temple of a local deity, Dhanu Defta at Bihargaon. Climb back under pine and cedar braches through the old cemetery, which dates back to the middle of the 19th century. The ascent continues past Kanlog, the Potato Research Centre and Bemloe to the Mall. You can reverse the route by starting from the Potato Research Institute and cemetery, to which point you can also opt to drive. The whole trip covers a distance 6 to 7-km.

The Northern Tracks from Shimla

A relatively unexplored area full of good walks along wide roads or narrow paths is the Bharari Spur. Step from Local Bazaar, go past Auckland House School and reach the long wood rise. Enclosing Stirling Castle, two roads branch from here and just before Kelston, meet again. Continue your walk down past the Police Lines Tobharari Bazaar. Return along the lower road to Goodwood, which will bring you just below Lakkar Bazaar again. A round trip from Lakkar Bazaar covers some 4-km.

Extended Treks from Shimla

From Bharari you can walk to the villages that lie to right of the Seismic Recording Centre, or to the villages of Pabo and Kamiana. Longer treks can be made to Kiar Koti and Tattapani, but for taking-up these treks you better take a guide along.

There are quite a good number of trails that can be done in the suburbs. Some are - a walk between the Catering Institute at Kufri and Wildflower Hall; a walk to Mahasu Peak from Kufri through the Himalayan Nature Park and a walk along the Bekhalty road from Mashobra and treks from Mashobra to Sipur.

There are many soft to medium treks that can use Shimla as the trek base. Some treks are to Shali Peak, to the Kullu Valley over the Jalori Pass or the Bashleo Pass, Shimla to Chail, Shimla to Tattapani. Anglers can indulge in angling for Trout on the river Pabbar, near Rohru.

 


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