Shimla

Probably the most popular hill station in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, toy train etc. among honeymooners and families alike.

The tranquil beauty as well as the picturesque view of this magnificent city is something which will give you a thousand reasons to enjoy and cherish your stay at this place. Previously known as Simla, Shimla is also referred to as the ‘Queen of Hills’. Shimla Travel Guide has been the grapevine among the tourists. The mighty hill station is seen as one of the best places to visit and enjoy holidays with family and friends. Located in the state of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of 2,205 m above sea level, this gorgeous city has a number of attractions to lure the attention of the travelers all around the world.

This town has colonial-style buildings alongside the historic temples and the amalgamation of the worlds leaves everyone visiting this region spellbound. Within this city one must visit the Mall Road, The Ridge, Institute of Advanced Studies and Jakhu Temple. Shimla is also used as a base to cover other nearby places likeChail, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra, Tattapani and Narkanda. The toy train to Shimla from Kalka passes through beautiful hills and valleys and is one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.

By Train : The nearest railway station to Shimla is at Kalka, after which one can take the Kalka- Shimla train, which operates on a narrow gauge and offers breath taking views of the mountains. Here are a few trains to Kalka:
Dehradun Express: From Chennai
Jhelum Express: From Pune
Punjab Mail: From Mumbai
Himalayan Queen: From Delhi
Paschim Express: From Mumbai
U A Toofan Express: Shri Ganganagar
 
By Road : The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation offers regular bus services to Shimla from various cities like Delhi, Chandigarh and Kalka.

By Air : The Shimla airport is 25 km away from the city centre and is served by regular flights from Delhi. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Shimla.

Shimla Mall Road : One place that you cannot ignore is definitely the Mall Road in Shimla. Located at the heart of the town, the Mall Road in Shimla is one of the busiest commercial areas of this place.

Baijnath Temple : This particularly beautiful ancient Shiv temple at Baijnath is 16 km from Palampur, on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway . Built of stone in the 9th century AD in the shikhara style, it is a fine blend of sculpture and architecture. The temple is easily accessible from both Palampur and Kangra.

Summer Hill : Summer Hills is a small hill located in Shimla. Locally known as Porter's Hill, Summer Hills is part of the seven-hill cluster forming this beautiful hill station. The location of Summer Hills is extremely rewarding to the avid trekker searching for forest trails, off the beaten track. Once you have trekked through the pine and deodar tree forests, you could also try a hand at horse riding. The Nature Park in Summer Hills is worth a visit.

Trekking in the Local Mountains : The beautiful and mysterious ranges of the Himalayas are just the ideal sites for you to try your hand at the trekking sport in Shimla. One of the most beautiful and sought after hill stations of India, Shimla is the ideal place to go trekking. In Shimla, trekking can be tried on many hills and undulating terrains.

Himachal State Museum : The Himachal State Museum was set up in 1974 to protect and preserve the hill-out and cultural wealth of Himachal Pradesh. Artifacts and art objects in the museum exhibit collections pertaining to art, archaeology and cultural anthropology of Himachal Pradesh.

White Flower Hall : Wildflower Hall is nestled at an altitude of 8250 feet above sea level set in 23 acres of virgin woods of pine and cedar.

Mini Zoo : Kufri is one of the major tourist spot which is just 16 kms far from Shimla. In Kufri, a very popular mini zoo is common among the tourists. Here, one can find rare breed of wild animals of Himalayan region. Kufri Mini Zoo The area of this zoo is spread over 20 hectares of land which has nearly 140 wild animals and 200 different species of birds. Monal is an endangered species of bird of Himalayan region which is a main attraction for the tourists.

Bhimakali Temple : The famous Bhimakali Temple in Shimla is a very popular tourist attraction. Also known as Bheemakali Temple of Shimla, this architectural wonder is one of the representatives of 51 Shakti Peeths. The unique thing about this temple is that the style of architecture used to build it is a unique amalgamation of both Hinduism and Buddhism. It is built of wood and is no less than an architectural masterpiece. Located near the temple are the palaces of the royal families of Shimla.

There are many shopping places in Shimla that will take care of your demands and taste. A judicious shopper would definitely find Shimla shopping an enjoyable experience. You wouldn't be stuck with the question of what to buy in Shimla, as the place has a huge variety of things to offer tourists. The place is well known for its handicrafts and other handmade artifacts. Read on further to know where to shop in Shimla.

One of the most popular places to go to for shopping is at the Mall road in Shimla. This place is the shopping hub and commercial center of Shimla. One can find small souvenirs and knick-knacks here along with handicrafts and other artifacts that Shimla is famous for. Another popular shopping place is the Lower Bazaar, which is also known as the Subzi Mandi. This place is absolutely chaotic yet full of life. There are endless mazes of narrow lanes merging into one another and just when you think there is a dead end ahead, you find another lane full of shops selling just about anything you can think of! Local craftsmen make beautiful walking sticks by carving wood in different designs and shapes. You could one of those and use it while you walk along the woods. This is available in Lakkar Bazaar (lakkad means wood), which is quite famous for wooden souvenirs.

khatta : Khatta literally means sour and that is really what this dish is all about. It’s a scrumptiously sour gravy which is made of amchur powder which is basically a spice made by pulverizing dried green mangos. The way I like making khatta is with fried besan ka boondis (fried chick pea flour balls) but this can be substituted with regular chickpeas too. 

Black Lentils (Kali Dal) : There is nothing more comforting or delicious than a nice simmering cup of kali dal. I can’t remember a single Diwali , our Indian festival of lights, that has gone by in our house when we haven’t made Kali dal. We don’t put any of the butter and cream that makes this dal so heavy – we use mustard oil instead. Mustard oil is used a lot in Pahari food which is eaten in Himachal Pradesh in India.

Channa Madra: A Himachali Recipe (Chickpeas with Yogurt Gravy) : Madra is a thick, yogurt based gravy that is a popular dish in Pahari or Himachali food. In my mother’s house, we make our Madra with chickpeas. The most important step in making Madra is when you add the yogurt. You have to make sure that you stir continuously and do not allow the yogurt to curdle. This is a really crucial step or else you may have a disastrous gravy on your hands. If the yogurt seems to have curdled just a little bit, continue stirring the gravy and it will eventually thicken up and be fine.

​Shimla Mall Road : One place that you cannot ignore is definitely the Mall Road in Shimla. Located at the heart of the town, the Mall Road in Simla is one of the busiest commercial areas of this place.

Baijnath Temple : This particularly beautiful ancient Shiv temple at Baijnath is 16 km from Palampur, on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway . Built of stone in the 9th century AD in the shikhara style, it is a fine blend of sculpture and architecture. The temple is easily accessible from both Palampur and Kangra.

Summer Hill : Summer Hills is a small hill located in Shimla. Locally known as Porter's Hill, Summer Hills is part of the seven-hill cluster forming this beautiful hill station. The location of Summer Hills is extremely rewarding to the avid trekker searching for forest trails, off the beaten track. Once you have trekked through the pine and deodar tree forests, you could also try a hand at horse riding. The Nature Park in Summer Hills is worth a visit.

Himachal State Museum : The Himachal State Museum was set up in 1974 to protect and preserve the hill-out and cultural wealth of Himachal Pradesh. Artifacts and art objects in the museum exhibit collections pertaining to art, archaeology and cultural anthropology of Himachal Pradesh.

White Flower Hall : Wildflower Hall is nestled at an altitude of 8250 feet above sea level set in 23 acres of virgin woods of pine and cedar.

Mini Zoo : Kufri is one of the major tourist spot which is just 16 kms far from Shimla. In Kufri, a very popular mini zoo is common among the tourists. Here, one can find rare breed of wild animals of Himalayan region. Kufri Mini Zoo The area of this zoo is spread over 20 hectares of land which has nearly 140 wild animals and 200 different species of birds. Monal is an endangered species of bird of Himalayan region which is a main attraction for the tourists.

Bhimakali Temple : The famous Bhimakali Temple in Shimla is a very popular tourist attraction. Also known as Bheemakali Temple of Simla, this architectural wonder is one of the representatives of 51 Shakti Peeths. The unique thing about this temple is that the style of architecture used to build it is a unique amalgamation of both Hinduism and Buddhism. It is built of wood and is no less than an architectural masterpiece. Located near the temple are the palaces of the royal families of Shimla.