Thursday, January 21, 2016

Shimla, India

Shimla , also known as Simla, is the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northern India. It is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of the hilly regions of the state.The colonial architecture and churches, the temples and the natural beauty of the city attract large number of tourist making Shimla one of the most sought after tourist location in the country. 
                  The major attractions include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and The Ridge which together form the city center.The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British a UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a big attraction for tourists from all across the World. Shimla also has the largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia.  
                     Apart from being a tourism center the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions. The city also has sporting venues like the Indira Gandhi Rajya Khel Parisar, the main sports complex and the Naldehra Golf Club as well.




Climate

            The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters, and moderately warm during summer. Temperatures typically range from −4 °C (25 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) over the course of a year. Snowfall in the region, which historically has taken place in the month of December.



Places to be seen in shimla

 The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theater is also situated there.


Christ Church: Situated on The Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.


Jakhu Hill: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak an offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, which is also the home of countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors. A 108 feet (33 meter) statue of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity, at 8,500 feet (2,591 meters) above sea level, is single statue to stand at the highest altitude among several other master pieces in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.





Summer Hill: Situated at a distance of 5 km from The Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill, at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.


Tara Devi: 11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.

Totu: A major developing suburb of Shimla on NH-88. Houses Jutogh railway station & HimFed under Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.


Kufri: 16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local winter sports centre, and it also has a small zoo.



Transport


         Local transport in Shimla is by bus or private vehicles. Buses ply frequently on the circular road surrounding the city centre. Heavy local transport can be seen between Shimla and its major suburbs which include Sanjauli, Kasumpti, Summer Hill, Totu, and New Shimla. Tourist taxis are also an option for out of town trips.



Road

         Shimla is well-connected by road. National Highway 22 (NH 22) connects Shimla to the nearest big city of Chandigarh. Shimla is connected by road to all the major towns. Distance between major towns and Shimla.


Airport
          Shimla Airport is at Jubbarhatti, 23 kilometers  from the city.Currently, there are no regular commercial flights to the city. Nearest major airport is Chandigarh Airport in Chandigarh about 116 km away.

Rail: The Shimla Railway Station


           The scenic Kalka Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge track, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the steepest rise in altitude in a distance of 96 km. Kalka, the plains rail terminus, has daily departures to major Indian cities. The city boasts a total of three railway stations with Shimla the main station and two others located at Summer Hill and Totu (Jutogh) respectively. It was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the Indian rail system. The route is famous for its scenery and improbable construction.



Food

           Thick and rich gravy, with aromatic spices, is used in dishes of himachal pradesh . Now, steamed momos (dumplings) and noodles are also readily available and popular with travelers who want to graduate to Indian food slowly. Some of the specialties of Himachal include Manee', Madira, Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and chutney of Til. We can taste street food also like vada pav,golgappas etc.


              Shimla will be one of the best place to spend our summer vacation. We can enjoy the wonderful climate as well as food available there.

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