Weekend Gateway-SHIMLA

Known as “The Summer Refuge”, Shimla was formerly the capital of the British India and has a picturesque location conferred with the nature’s bounty that makes it quite distinctive from the rest of the hill stations of north India.
Everything in this quaint town has a unique appeal and never fails to impress even the most demanding tourists. Before embarking on a tour, information about Shimla is certainly going to be of immense help that would make for a rewarding travel experience.
Shimla is perhaps the most picturesque town that you would come across on your tour of north India. During the British era, Shimla was the summer retreat and was renowned as the “Queen of the Hills”. Its topography is characterized by undulating hills, lush green valleys, garrulous rivers, dense woods and a pleasant climate that makes it an ideal getaway from the din and rush of the plains. Besides, you will also encounter several tourist attractions in Shimla that are worth catching a glimpse.


History:
The history of Shimla dates back to the 19th century when it was founded by the British in the year 1819 after the Gurkha war. During that period, it was most popular for the temple of Hindu Goddess Shyamala Devi. In 1822, the first British summer home was constructed by Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy. Shimla became the summer capital of the British Raj during the latter half of the 19th century and the soldiers of the British army, merchants and civil servants dropped in here to get relief from the scorching heat of the plains. A remarkable event took place in the history of Shimla when the Kalka-Shimla railway line was constructed in the year 1906 that significantly added to its quick accessibility and it gained immense popularity. Apart from this, Shimla was declared as capital of the undivided state of Punjab in the year 1871 and remained so until Chandigarh (the present-day capital of Punjab) was given the status of the region’s capital. Himachal Pradesh got separated from undivided Punjab in the year 1971 with Shimla becoming its capital. You will come across several British structures in Shimla such as the Viceregal lodge, Auckland House, Gorton Castle, Peterhoff house, and Gaiety Theatre that are the reminders of the colonial times.

When to go:
Best Season, Climate and Clothing
The summer season in Shimla starts from April and lasts till June, with maximum temperature of 28° C and a minimum temperature of 15° C. For the summer season, light woolens/cottons are recommended.Winter season lasts from November to February and the temperature rises to a maximum of 8° C and a low of 0° C or even lower. For the winters, heavy woolens are essential.

How to reach:
Transportation and Access to Shimla by Air:
You can reach Shimla by air which is the most convenient and rapid mode of transport. Shimla has its own airport that offers connections for Delhi and Kullu. However, Chandigarh is the best option. It is well connected with Delhi by many domestic flights, and is the gateway to Shimla.
Transportation and Access to Shimla by Rail:
Reaching Shimla by rail is also very convenient as Kalka is the nearest major railhead which is connected with Shimla on the meter gauge. Further, Kalka is well-connected with the other main cities of India on the broad gauge line. Shivalik Express ( Kalka – Shimla toy train) is the luxury Deluxe Train that links Shimla with Kalka.
Transportation and Access to Shimla by Road:
Access to Shimla by road is made possible by the well-maintained and efficient network of roadways, National Highway 22 that links the town with Chandigarh. The transport system within the town is also good and bus or private vehicles can be used to travel from one part of the town to another. A journey by road takes about 3 hours.
Where to visit:
Himachal State Museum and Library: This museum is indisputably one of the prime tourist attractions in Shimla and remains open to the public except on Mondays and public holidays. This museum houses a fine collection of antique sculptures, paintings, coins, photos and other items not only from the state but also outside it. You will also find a library here which houses several historical books and manuscripts. Viceregal Lodge and Botanical Gardens: Also famous as “Rashtrapati Niwas”, it is a spectacular building located on the Observatory Hills and was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. Its construction was accomplished in the year 1888 and every brick for the building was carried by mules according to the sources. The massive six-story building is surrounded by well manicured gardens and lawns.
Indian Institute of Advanced Studies: Located in the Viceregal Lodge, it was constructed in the year 1888. The kind of architecture is English Renaissance with stonework of the walling in light blue limestone and the wrought stonework being done in sandstone in a stunning light gray shade. The grounds are open to the public only on Sunday and you need a ticket in order to enter. The Ridge: This place is an open space in the heart of town and offers outstanding views of the distant mountain ranges. The two prominent landmarks of Shimla, the Neo-Gothic structure of Christ Church and the new Tudor Library building are the other attractions located here. The Mall: It is the key shopping centre of Shimla with restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices, tourist offices and most of town’s highlights. The place becomes breathtakingly romantic in the evening offering wonderful views of the lit up city below. You can laze around the Mall and spend some intimate moments with close ones. It is the most significant among the tourist attractions in Shimla. Summer Hill: It is a scenic spot located near Shimla at an altitude of 1,283 meters and is much visited by the tourists. The legendary Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi during his sojourn in Shimla spent some time in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur located here. Glen:It is a charming picnic spot and is a 4 km walk through the dense woods located at a height of 1, 830 meters. You can also go for picnic at this spot since it is completely secluded and tranquil. Tara Devi Temple: Among the various places to visit in Shimla, this temple occupies a crucial place and is also of great importance for the pilgrims. It is located on top of a hill facing Shimla and commands panoramic vistas of Shimla. It is also an ideal picnic spot surrounded by thick forest of oak and rhododendron.

Kufri:
India's one of the best holiday paradise Kufri in Shimla is beautifully tucked on an altitude of 2,622 meter. The place is a tourist hotspot for its awesome scenic and sports activities.
You have to cover a 16 km distance from Shimla to reach Kufri. Kufri is believed to be a heaven for the tourists as the place is endowed with rippling fountains, splashing rivers, mountains, peaks draped with snow.

Getting To Kufri in Shimla: It is better to harbor on Shimla first and then you can avail of a hired car or a bus to reach Kufri. You have to ascend around 16 km towards east from Shimla. Kufri is a regular stop for Himachal Pradesh Tourism Buses and other buses that travel between Shimla and Narkanda or up to Rampur (via Fagu). A Taxi ride will take less than an hour to reach Kufri from Shimla.
Hotels:
Among the Shimla hotels, the five and four star hotels also occupy a reputed position and they are popular for their facilities and services matching the international standards.

Radisson Hotel Shimla Address :Good Wood Estate, Lower BharariShimla-171001 India Accommodation at Radisson Shimla : Radisson Hotel offers 59 well-appointed rooms with scenic valley views. These are categorized into 47 Deluxe Rooms, 4 Executive Suites and 8 Deluxe Suites. All the rooms have mini-bar, dialup modem, electronic safes, satellite television and tea/coffee making facilities.Restaurants : Cafe Valley Vue Restaurant: Garden restaurant overlooking magnificent mountain ranges.Pulse Terrace Bar: Serves a selection of wines and spirits.Shilon Resort
Address :Kufri-Chail Road, Shilon Bagh, P.O. Munda GhatShimla-170001 India Accommodation at Shilon Resort Shimla : Shilon Resort at Shimla offers 50 cottages divided into Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Family Room and Duplex Family Suites. All the rooms at Shilon Resort open up to a balcony that offers spectacular views of the scenery around. Every room has an attached bathroom with 24 hours water supply (hot and cold both), color television, telephone with STD/ISD service and 24 hours room service.Restaurants : Rain Shelter: Tea Lounge. More Please: Multi-cuisine Restaurant. Downing Street: Bar. Restaurant Terrace: Indian.

Wildflower Hall
Address :Chharabra, MashobraShimla-171012 India Accommodation at Hotel Wildflower Hall Shimla : Wildflower Hall has 87 rooms and suites which are lavishly appointed and are reminiscent of the untold luxury, style and grandeur pioneered here by the British. These are categorized as Delxue Rooms, Executive Suites and Lord Kitchener Suites. The Lord Kitchener Suite comes with a sitting room and two guest rooms. From marble bathrooms to living rooms with fire place, the rooms have a colonial vintage flavor that allures the tourists.Restaurants : The Restaurant is a multicuisine restaurant, Lutyens, serves regional cuisine while Periwinkle, the children's restaurant, serves pizzas and popcorn as well as entertainment for children. There is one bar called The Cavalry Bar.

Hotel Asia The Dawn
Address :Tara DeviShimla-171010 India Accessibility : Shimla Airport : 18 KM, Shimla Railway Station : 3 KM, Shimla Bus Stand : 4 KMAccommodation at Hotel Asia The Dawn Shimla : The hotel offers 41 spacious and exclusively decorated rooms including 3 suites. All the rooms are well equipped with all the modern amenities like CCTV, attached bath, telephone, wall- to-wall carpeting and room service. Those who like to mix business with pleasure; there is a large Banquet hall with a capacity of over 100 seats. Equipped with the latest audio-video equipment, it is ideal for conferences and meetings.

Hotel PineviewAddress: Mythe EstateShimla-171003 India Accessibility: Shimla Airport: 20 KM, Shimla Railway Station: 0.5 KM, Shimla Bus Stand: 0.5 KMAccommodation at Hotel Pineview Shimla : Hotel Pine View Shimla consists of 35 well-decorated rooms including 5 suites. The rooms are equipped with all the modern day necessities including color TV with satellite channels, attached bathrooms and room service. Pine View Hotel of Shimla takes good care of its guests ease and has different packages for different budgets.Restaurants: It has one multi-cuisine restaurant.