One of the most popular hill stations in India, Shimla was referred to as the 'Queen of Hill Stations' during the Raj era. Shimla is located on the north-west of the Himalayas and is capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla derived its name from the word 'Shyamala' the other name of godess Kali, whose temple was located in the dense forests of Jakhu Hill in the 19th century. The English called it Simla. Vacations India takes you to this beautiful hill station. Shimla is well connected with air, rail and road transport from other parts of the country. It is one of the most frequented hill stations due to its proximity to the neighbouring states of Punjab, Harayana, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir. Surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests, Shimla is a perfect destinations in the lap of nature. You can choose to tour Shimla the way you like. You can take a flight or drive up to the mountain roads but a train journey that takes the oldest route is what fascinates many. The rail link from Kalka to Shimla is the most exciting route as the toy train chugs on this rail track that was built in 1924. The train passes through 105 tunnels and winds through many scenic spots before reaching Shimla. The train takes about six hours to reach Shimla. Once you reach Shimla, the pine scented air welcomes you. The climate of Shimla varies from 10-11 degrees in winter to 24-26 degrees in summer. Thus making Shimla a year-round destination of sorts. Shimla changes colour with the seasons. No matter which part of the year you tour Shimla it is always attractive. In spring, Shimla dons a new look as flowers bloom and paint the hill station with different colors. In winter, Shimla is milky white and offers an exciting opportunity to catch snowflakes as they fall silently on earth. Monsoons may not be a very good time to visit a hill station (due to danger of landslides) but Shimla offers some beautiful sights of the setting sun during the monsoons. There are a number of popular tourist attractions in and around Shimla. The Mall is the main shopping area in Shimla dotted with shops, restaurants and clubs. You can stroll and get a feel of the local life. You can also walk up to the Ridge and Scandal Point the other two meeting points at the Mall. Christ Church, situated on the Ridge is the second oldest church in northern India. The beautiful structure has stained glass windows inside that represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, humility and patience. One can also visit to Shimla State Museum that houses a collection of Pahari paintings and sculptures. If you want to escape from the crowded city, there are numerous beautiful spots around Shimla that you can head to. Jakhu Hill is about two kilometres from Shimla and offers a scenic view of the town and snow-covered peaks. Summer Hill is about five kilometres from Shimla, is the seat of Himachal Pradesh University. The quaint hill was once house to Mahatama Gandhi, when he used to visit Shimla. The other beautiful spots around Shimla are Annandale, Tara Devi Mashobra, Kufri, Naldehra and Chail. Shimla has always been favourite destination for tourists who want to spend time in the lap of nature looking majestic mountain peaks in the backdrop. Come and enjoy your holidays in Shimla with Vacations India |