Shimla Tour

'Prepare your eyes to witness the splendor of nature", this is Shimla all about. Majestic mountains, at rest since years, covered by blankets of alpine deodar, fir and pine, it is rightly called the 'Queen of Hills.' Snow covered mountains dancing in the moonlight in winters, pleasant aromatic breezes during summer; Shimla retains its beauty through out the year.

Once the summer capital for Britishers, Shimla has breath taking scenic beauty, British flavored architecture and soul captivating ambience. Now serving as the capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla was discovered by Britishers after the Gorkha war. It is believed that Shimla got its name from Indian deity Kali, also known as Shyamala Devi.

As compared to other hill stations, Shimla has a cosmopolitan crowd, which can be seen flaunting on Mall, which is the heart of the city.

About the Destination:

Area: 25 kilometer square
Population: 163,000

Climate: In summers the temperature ranges from 10ºC to 20ºC, while in winters it can fall up to -7ºC. Showers of snow can be seen between December to February, though the summers remain pleasant with clear skies. However thunderstorms and rain can follow in between.

Language: The most spoken language in Shimla is Hindi, though Punjabi, English and Pahari is also spoken and understood by a large part of the population.

People and Culture: The generous, warm hearted and modest people of Shimla are incredibly hospitable. They call themselves Shimlaites. The larger parts of the population of Shimla are natives from Himachal, while rests are the migrants from Pakistan and Punjab, who migrated here during the partition era. The major religion followed here is Hinduism, followed by Sikhism. One can also find Tibetan Buddhist forming a part of the population.
Shimla is known for its diverse fairs and cultural programs. Tourism and agriculture is the major industry and also the source of income for the larger part of the population.
The houses and mansions in Shimla look similar to the British form of architecture. The municipal offices are made of stones and the presences of large number of churches give a British feel to Shimla.

Major Attractions:

The Mall and the Ridge:
The spectacular five kilometer road is the lifeline of Shimla. For about one and a half kilometer the road carries multiple shops on its one side. Stylish, classic, elite, flamboyant, people from all aspects of life can be seen flocking the Mall road. Expensive yet voguish shops, bustling crowd, pubs and bars, Mall caters extensively to the appetence of the tourist. The famous Gaiety Theater is also located on the mall road.
The ridge is one of the major meeting point in Shimla. Christ Church, which is the second oldest Church in North India, is situated on Ridge.

Indian Institute of Advanced Study:
An astounding location, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, also known as the Viceregal
Lodge has a beautifully designed building with majestic gardens surrounding it. Many historic decisions like Simla Conference, 1945 have been taken here.

Temples in Shimla: Being culturally rich, Shimla is a home to numerous ancient temples. Must see temples in Shimla are:

Fairs in Shimla:
Rich inheritance of culture, high spirited and colorful locals, their traditional dances, costumes and food, fairs in Shimla provide an enlightening knowledge about Himachal.
Some of the major fairs and Festivals in Shimla are:

Adventure Sports:
Paragliding, skiing, trekking Shimla's diverse locations make adventure a fun for people. Ice skating is one of the most sought after sport in Shimla. Shimla has the largest ice skating rink in India. Interestingly, Shimla also has a golf course at Naldehra, which is also the one of the oldest golf course in India.

Shimla- Kalka Train:
The best way to enjoy the grandeur of Shimla is by traveling to Shimla in the Shimla Kalka Train. It moves smoothly on narrow gauge rail track, through midst of the mountain, penetrating pine, apricot, apple and fir trees. The 96 km long journey from Kalka to Shimla is a majestic experience in itself.