BEST OF SHIMLA (FROM CHANDIGARH)

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, The Ridge is a large open space located in the heart of Shimla. It is among the most visited Shimla tourist places and among the prime place to visit on a Shimla tour. The Ridge is situated along the Mall Road which is the famous shopping center of Shimla.

Several major places of Shimla like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhu Hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. The movement of vehicles is strictly prohibited here. The Ridge in Shimla always remains crowded with hundreds of people. Tourists from all over the country visit this awesome place for the view of the sunset.

The Ridge at Shimla also provides the tourists a view of the age old Christ Church built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture as well as the new Tudor library. The statue of YS Parmar .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Christ Church Shimla is the second oldest church in North India. The majestic appearance of the church and its stunning location makes it one of the top places to visit in Shimla.

The church was designed in neo-gothic style in 1844 by J.T. Boileau but it was consecrated after 1857. The Christ Church is situated on The Ridge where is stands out as one of the prominent landmarks of Shimla. Colonel Dumbleton in 1860 donated the giant round clock that adorns the front facial of the church. The porch was added to the structure in 1873. It started as a shrine to serve the Anglican British community in Shimla and hence is considered as one of the most visited places of worship in the country's most celebrated hill town. It is governed under the diocese of Amritsar belonging to the Churches of North India.

The interior .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Mall Road is the main street and the busiest commercial areas of Shimla. The Mall extends from Barnes court on the eastern side to Vice Regal Lodge on the western side. Shopping in Mall Road is one of the top things to do in Shimla.

Built by the British during the colonial rule in India, the Mall Road was constructed keeping in mind the traffic on this route. Entry of vehicles was banned though cycle rickshaws were allowed. It has been built in a very strategic and planned way. The Mall Road has located a level below the ridge. The offices of the Municipal Corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here.

The Mall Road also has all major hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers of Shimla. The Mall Road is full of shops that sell woolen clothes, branded clothes, handicraft items, pottery items, .....

At a distance of 16 km from Shimla Railway Station, Kufri is a small hill station in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Positioned at an elevation of 2,510 m on the National Highway 22, it is one of the best places for skiing in India, and among the must-include places in Shimla tour packages.

Kufri is quite famous as a ski resort. Kufri derives its name from 'Kufr' which means lake. It is especially popular among trekkers and it is a popular place for adventure sports in Himachal Pradesh. The British discovered it in 1819. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near Shimla as part of honeymoon tour packages.

Kufri is known for its pleasant climate and picturesque beauty. It is popular for its trekking and hiking trails. Kufri is also renowned for other adventurous activities such as skiing, tobogganing (sliding .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Vice Regal Lodge also known as Rashtrapati Niwas is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The lodge is one the best places to visit in Shimla city. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin.

The Vice Regal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during the regime of Lord Dufferin. Its construction was started in 1880 and completed in 1888. Only the local woods like pine and cedar were used to construct this marvel. Vice Regal Lodge is the only building of Shimla that occupies an entire hill by itself. The building now serves as the center for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

The entrance opening to South leads one to the reception hall which stands adorned by a splendid fireplace and a grand spiraling staircase. The building .....

At a distance of 1 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Shimla State Museum is situated at the top of Mount Pleasant. Also known as Himachal State Museum and Library, it was built in the year 1974. The Himachal State Museum is a colonial building that was built with the aim of preserving the state's rich cultural and archaeological artifacts. The colonial style building amidst marvelous lawns in itself is an inspiring sight. It is one of popular Shimla tourist places. It gives you an in depth view of the city's glorious past.

Himachal State Museum has a rich display of the cultural, artistic and archaeological heritage of Himachal Pradesh. The various galleries in the museum are Pre-Historic Gallery, Wood-Carving Gallery Archaeology Gallery, Wall Painting Gallery, Coin Gallery, Pahari Painting Gallery, etc.

The lifestyle and culture of the people of the Himalayas are reflected in the paintings. Rajasthani and Mughal paintings are awe-inspiring. .....

At a distance of 7 km from Shimla Railway Station, Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated on Jakhu Hill in Shimla. It is one of the famous religious Shimla places to visit.

Jakhu Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman, and is located at an altitude of 2455m on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla. According to mythology, a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. To save his life, Lord Hanuman came to the Himalayas to get the Sanjeevani herb. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured. After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for some time. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Kali Bari Temple is one of the popular pilgrimage places to visit in Shimla.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali who is locally known as 'Shyamala'. The name Shimla is said to have originated from the name 'Shyamala'. The original temple belonged to goddess Shyamla-which was converted into Kali Bari by some Bengali devotees. The temple of Kali Bari was constructed in 1845 by Ram Charan Bhramachari, a Bengali Brahmin on Jakhu Hill. This is one of the oldest temples in Shimla and is held in high veneration by the town's Hindu community. Later the British rulers relocated the temple to the present site.

A blue wooden idol of Goddess Shyamala at an original altar was installed by some Bengali devotees. Along with the rituals the Kali Bari provides accommodation to its tourists who visit the shrine. One can see the .....

At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Annandale is a historical playground located at an altitude of 6,117 feet in Shimla. It is one of the prime Shimla tourist places.

Annandale is located in a deep wide valley in the suburban village of Kaithu, Shimla west. This playground rests on a small patch of table-land about three-quarters of a mile in circumference. This place was named by Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, one of the first incomers to the place. Annandale is a favorite spot for playing cricket and polo.

It is quite a scenic spot as it gives a picturesque view of Shimla city and its surroundings are occupied by deodar trees, oak trees, etc. Since the 1830s, Annandale has been an important center of Anglo-Indian playful activities, amusement, and entertainment. The round playground, at present hosts army exercise, parades, sports, and Dussehra celebrations. .....

At a distance of 17 km from Shimla Railway Station, Tara Devi Temple is situated near Shogi village on Shimla - Kalka National Highway. Known for its breathtaking location and beautiful valleys around the hill, the temple is one of the top pilgrimage sites in Shimla.

The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Tara (goddess of stars) and stands on Tara Devi hilltop lies at an altitude of 1851 m above sea level between Shimla and Shoghi. The lush green environs surrounding it give the temple a very peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. It is one of the famous places for sightseeing in Shimla.

According to the legend, Goddess Tara Devi's idol was brought to Himachal Pradesh from West Bengal. The history of this temple dates back to about 250 years when this temple was built here. Hundreds of years ago a king from the Sen Dynasty visited this area. He was in the habit of carrying his family idol around the upper torso .....