Shimla - Queen of Hill Stations, this is how the British people used to call Shimla. Situated in the north-West Himalayas, Shimla the summer capital of India before independence is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala", which means the goddess Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forest that covered Jakhu Hill in the early 19th century.

Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations.

Shimla changes its moods with the seasons. In spring we see flowers of all kinds, both wild and cultivated, smiling in each garden. During the monsoon, we see some of the best sunsets in the world. The best time to be around Shimla is its winter seasons, which is also known as season of "Long moon-night." It becomes a frost glistening silent city.

Christ Church, Shimla
Built in 1846-1857, Christ Church is the second oldest church of Northern India. The Church overlooks the ridge and is one of the landmarks of Shimla. The Church's exquisite beauty comes with the stained glasses that are fitted on its windows. The other important churches are St. Michael's Cathedral and Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is just off the mall road .

Shimla Museums
The museum is located 2.5-km west of the scandal point and opens daily except on Mondays and public holidays. It has got a good collection of ancient historical sculptures, paintings, coins, photos and other items from all over the state as well as outside it. It has also has a library, which houses many historical books and manuscripts.

Viceregal Lodge, Shimla
Viceregal Lodge or "Rashtrapati Niwas" as it is other wise known is located on the Observatory Hills. This magnificent building was the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. This lodge was completed in 1888 and it is said that every brick for the building was carried by mules. This is a six-stories building and is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and lawns. The lodge has now been converted into Institute of Advanced Study and is further 2-km from State Museum.

The Mall in Shimla
This is the main shopping centre of Shimla with many restaurants. The Gaiety Theatre, which is a reproduction of an old British theatre is a center of cultural activities. Lakkar Bazaar which is adjacent to the ridge is popular for its wood-crafts and souvenirs.

Prospect Hill, Shimla
At an altitude of 2,155m is a temple dedicated to Kamna Devi which is just fifteen minutes walk from Boileauganj. It offers a spectacular aerial view of the area.

Jakhu Temple, Shimla
Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is at an altitude of 2,455m near the highest point of Shimla ridge. It offers a fine view over the surrounding valleys, out to the snowcapped peaks, and over the town itself. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Mall. Jakhu is a vantage point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets. more...

Sankat Mochan, Shimla
On Shimla-Kalka road is the famous "Lord Hanuman" temple. Situated at an altitude of 1,975m, it commands an excellent view of Shimla town.

Himalayan Aviary, Shimla
Close to the Viceregal lodge is the Himalayan Aviary or the Himalayan Bird Park. This park is a natural habitat of numerous species of birds found in Himachal such as Himalayan Monal, Pheasants, Peafowls and National Bird of India, the Peacock.

Shimla Ice Skating
It has the only natural ice-skating rink in India. January is the best month to be around during this time Ice-skating club organizes an Ice-skating carnival which is attended by the ice skating in large numbers.

How to get there in Shimla

Air:
The Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines cater their services from here to Shimla. One can catch direct flights from Delhi.

Rail:
Shimla has a narrow gauge railway line on which toy train runs from Kalka to Shimla. The train cruises its way through valleys and beautiful landscapes at a very slow pace making the journey very pleasant. From Kalka one can take trains to other parts of the country. The Toy train from Shimla is of two types - one is the normal multi coach train and the other is the single car train, which has a glass roof giving an enthralling experience during the journey.

Road
Roads connect the capital city of Himachal with other places in the state as well as other major towns and cities. There is regular bus service from Delhi and Chandigarh. One can also cross over to Leh and Ladakh via Rohtang pass from here.