Shimla is known as the Queen of Hill Stations, situated in the North-west Himalayas and is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala" - the goddess Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forest that covered Jakhu Hill in the early 19th century.
History
Originally under the Nepalese kings, Shimla came to British attention in 1819. Wowed by its salubrious climate, the British persuaded the Nepalese king to part with it in 1830 and it became the most fashionable summer resort in northern India. In 1864, it was declared the summer capital of British India. The construction of the railway line from Kalka to Shimla made the hill town more accessible. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab until 1966, when it was transferred to and became the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
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How to get there
Air
The Jubbarhatti airfield, 22 km from Shimla has regular flights from Delhi, Chandigarh and Kullu. But due to rough weather conditions during winter, flights may be irregular, especially from December till February. Alternatively, Chandigarh Airport at a distance of 120 kms, can be used for air connections and then up to Shimla by road.
Train
The broad-gauge line terminates at Kalka, about 100 kms down in the plains. The Kalka station is connected to most major cities in India, including Delhi and Calcutta. From Kalka, the narrow-gauge line connects to Shimla. The toy train that runs from Kalka and back, takes about five-and-a-half hours to reach. The luxury first class compartments have glass sides to give a superb view of the ride through tunnels, over bridges and up steep slopes. Though the train journey is romantic, it is much slower than travelling by bus.
Road
Shimla is connected by road to Chandigarh, Delhi, Dehradun, Kalka, and other major north-Indian towns. There are regular bus services to Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Delhi, Mandi Pathankot, and Ambala. Most travellers prefer to drive up to Shimla in private or hired vehicles.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Shimla is between October and November, when the temperature is moderate. From December till February it gets very cold with heavy snowfall. In the summer months from April till June the town is overcrowded with tourists escaping the hot plains, and it is best to stay away at this time.
Dining Out
Shimla is much too commercialised to serve anything traditional. The hotels all have restaurants serving varied cuisine. You will find several eating joints in the Mall. Devicos is a multi-cuisine restaurant, serving north Indian, south Indian, Chinese and Continental. Baljees is ideal for breakfast or a quick lunch while shopping at the Mall. Chinatown predictably serves Chinese. The Park Café at the east end of The Mall has a bar. Its milkshakes are worth an order. A good bet for Continental cuisine is Lutyen's Room at Springfield’s (opposite Tibetan School, Chotta Shimla). If you want to dine in style, then the Cecil awaits you with its long list of wines and finger-licking fare.
Shopping
Head straight to the Mall, lined with shops selling everything. The Himachal Emporium here stocks some of the best handicrafts. The Tibetan Refugee Shop sells traditional Tibetan wares, carpets and tees. If lucky, you can land fantastic deals at the Chinese shoe shops and at Diwanchand Atmaram (for woollens).
Lakkar Bazaar is famous for its woodcraft. It offers a whole range of goods from small key chains to toys, boxes and walking sticks. You can pick up dry fruits from Subzi Mandi, and cherries, apricots and apples of course.
Tourist Offices
HPTDC Marketing and Information Office, The Mall, Shimla, Ph: 0177 - 2652561, 2658302
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