Shimla – The Queen Of Hills

Shimla is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. The name of the city is kept after Hindu goddess, Shyamala Devi, who is believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu goddess, Maha Kali. Occupying a portion of the north-west Himalayas and at a height of 2128 metres, the city is one of the most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. The city is popular for its buildings carved out of tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture of the colonial age. To add to its features, pleasant summers and snowy winters are the experiences of the people staying here. In addition, the city encompasses the natural forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak on the hilly plain.

Historic Events

Let’s take a look of some important events in the history of Shimla.

1819:

The British seized Shimla when it was popular for the temple of the Hindu Goddess, Shyamala Devi.

1822:

A civil servant erected the first summer home.

1827:

Lord Amherst and Lord William Bentinck established a summer camp.

1828:

The city drew the attention of Lord William Bentinck who considered Shimla as “Very agreeable refuge from the burning plains of Hindustan”.

1829:

Lord Combermere built a bridge between Shimla and minor Shimla.

1864:

The city became the summer capital of the British Raj.

1871:

The city was the capital of the unpartitioned state of Punjab.

Since 1876:

The Upper Bazaar was emptied where many native Indian people lived to include a Town Hall, library, theatre, offices, and many other facilities. These people were forced to leave on the steep slopes of the terrain from the Ridge.

1906:

The Kalka-Shimla railway line was established that encompasses 806 bridges and 103 tunnels adding to the city’s accessibility and uniqueness. This was designated as the ‘British Jewel of the Orient’.

1971:

The city became the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

2008:

The city formed a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mountain railways of India.

Geographic Features

The city spread itself up to 9.2 kms in the hilly terrain wherein the highest point is at 8051 feet named as Jakhoo hill. The city is designated as Zone IV (High Damage Risk Zone) as it is an earthquake prone area. In and nearby the city, there are no bodies of water; the closest river itself is 21 km away from the city that is Sutlej.

The current concern is that of the landslides during heavy rains, which actually put the major activities in the city at halt.

Culture

Festivals:

Shimla is the city of cosmopolitan people who are fond of celebrating various festivals. The Shimla Summer Festival, in which famous singers across the country perform, is celebrated for 3-4 days every year at the time of full tourist season.

Heritage Buildings:

The city well preserves the heritage buildings in their original tudorbethan style. Among these the popular ones are the Viceregal lodge, now known as the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and the Wildflower hall, now a luxury hotel.

Museums:

A State Museum, erected in 1974, has a wonderful collection of paintings, ornaments, and textiles.

Games:

In the outskirt of the city, there is Naldehra – a nine-hole golf course. The Asia’s only natural ice-skating rink is world famous place for state and national level skating competitions. The rink’s manager named the Shimla Ice Skating Club arranges for a carnival in every January that also involves a fancy dress competition and skating events.

Temples of Different Religions:

The Kali Bari temple of the Hindu goddess Kali is located nearby the mall, which is in the middle of the city. The Jakhoo temple of Hanuman is on the Jakhoo hill, the highest point. Another temple of Hanuman is the Sankat Mochan popular for many monkeys found in the locality and is situated on Shimla-Kalka Highway about 10 kms away from the city. Many rituals and festivals are celebrated in the close by temple of Tara Devi. Gurudwara close to the bus terminus is another place of worship in Shimla.

Tourist Attractions

Bus and private vehicles form the local transport. There are tourist taxis available for out of the town visits. Private vehicles are not permitted on the Mall and Ridge. Due to steep slopes, auto rickshaws are not seen here.

The Shivalik Express:

This is a luxury train running between Shimla and Kalka that has only one halt. However, there are many local trains too running on the line.

The Mall:

This is the shopping street consisting of many restaurants, banks, clubs, Post Offices, and tourist offices. It also encompasses the Gaiety theatre. The two main meeting points of people are the Ridge and Scandal point.

Christ Church on the Ridge:

This church ranks second among the oldest churches in North India. Inside the church, there are windows of stained glass that signify hope, faith, charity, fortitude, humility, and patience. It is a must to see and spend time place.

Mashobra:

It is a place of annual Sipi fair in June and is located at the distance of 13 km from Shimla.

Summer Hill:

This is located 5 km away from the Ridge at a 6500 ft high on the Shimla-Kalka rail line and encompasses the Himachal Pradesh University. It is also a resident area of Mahatma Gandhi.

Annandale:

This is the playground of Shimla situated at the height of 6,117 feet and is 2–4 km from the Ridge. People like playing cricket and polo. It is also a favorite picnic spot.

Tara Devi Hill:

This has a temple made for the Goddess of Stars and the hill is 11 km away from the Shimla bus stop. In addition, there is a military Dairy Town and the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.

Tatapani:

This is famous for its Sulphur springs of water near the Tatapani holy temple.

Kufri:

This is the capital of winter sports and has a zoo, which is 16 km away from Shimla.

Reaching Shimla

The nearest city is Kalka that is well connected to Shimla through one a narrow gauge railway route. This scenic track’s name is found in the Guinness Book of Records for its steepest rise of 96 km.

By air, the nearest airport is at Jubbarhatti at a distance of 12 km.

By road, Chandigarh is the close by, which is at a distance of 115 km.