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INTRODUCTION ( Shimla Hill Station)

Shimla (also spelt as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', which is another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of Himachal Pradesh came into light when the British discovered it in 1819. Till then, it was a part of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla.

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.

Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snowclad peaks.

Excursions from Shimla:

Chail
(43Km.)
The former 'summer capital' of Patiala, Chail is 43-km from Shimla and dwelling in the midst of a lush green setting. At 2,250m, it has the world's highest cricket pitch and a polo ground, the old palace, now a hotel and the possibility of some angling are added attractions. more..

Kasauli
(12Km.)
77-km from Shimla and 35-km from Kalka, at 1,927m, Kasauli is a quaint little town that seems to exist in a time wrap of an era that reminds one of the 19th century. more..

Kufri
(19Km.)
Some great Hiking, some skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment that's what Kufri is all about. It is famous for its trekking and hiking trails. Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes. more..

Solan
(48Km.)
Blessed with a pleasant climate all the year round, Solan is the district headquarters of Mashru, another city established by the British, is named after the Goddess, Soloni Devi, whose temple is located in the southern end of the town. Solan also remained capital of east, while Bhagat State for many years. more..

Barog
Once just a brief stopover on the Kalka-Shimla highway, Barog town has grown to be destination in itself. Surrounded by pine trees and oak trees, Barog is located in an idyllic setting. The pines of Barog are full of cavort and pleasantries. Barog's railway station, on the Kalka-Shimla, is one of the most picturesque stations, modelled in the Scottish-style.

Nahan
(140Km.)
A well-laid out picturesque town of Nahan is situated on an isolated ridge in the Shiwalik hills, overlooking greenfields. Known for its cleanliness and dust free streets, saints and princes are linked with the origin of Nahan. The city was founded as a capital by Raja Karan Prakash in 1621.

Narkanda
(110Km.)
Narkanda, at 8,100 feet, 440-km from Delhi and is a two hours drive from Shimla. It is slightly higher than Shimla (7,400 feet) and the road linking the two runs almost near the crest of the mountain with a gradual ascent. One is constantly treated to a bird's-eye view of the different valleys as the road twists and turns from one spur to another. Especially breathtaking is the view of Narkanda from Fagu, a small village enroute.

Renuka Lake
(45Km.)
With a circumference of 3214m, Renukaji is the largest natural lake in Himachal. Shaped like the profile of a reclining woman, this is regarded as the embodiment of the Goddess 'Renuka'.

Sarahan
(44Km.)
Soaked in nature's beauty, Sarahan is flanked on the banks of the meandering Sutlej River. Located amidst Deodar forests, Sarahan was the ancient capital of the mighty Bushahr. It's a belief that Sarahan is the Shonitpur of old times, and this was the place, where Banasura once ruled.

Sirmour
(142Km.)
The Sirmaur district has the Shivalik hills in the south and the northern parts are made up of the forests and ravines of the first and second belt of the Himalayan ranges. The places here have man made lakes as well as natural ones, temples, tea gardens and ruins of ancient and not so ancient forts. This district connects the hills of Uttaranchal to the hills of Himachal.

Mashobra & Craignano And Naldehra
(11Km.)
Mashobra is a small village just 11-km from Shimla, which has a fair every May at Sipi. The lovely trail around takes one to the Shiva temple. Nearby is Craignano, which has some pleasant walk and trails. 15-km further North comes another small village Naldehra. This place is famous for one of the oldest and highest golf courses in India. Right in the middle of the Golf Course is the Mahunag temple.

Rampur
(140Km.)
140-km from Shimla and built by the banks of river Sutlej, lies Rampur, capital of the erstwhile Bushahr state. This was once a major stopover on the old trade routes and the Lavi fair, held here every autumn, still barters and sells a variety of goods. The old palace is a remarkable piece of architecture. Short of the town, at Dattnagar and Nirath, are some exquisite old temples.

Sarol
(23Km.)
23-km from Shimla and named after the little temple that stands on the links, is a 9-hole golf course. Lord Curzon was so much enchanted by this spot that he gave his daughter Alexandra, Naldehra as her second name. During the monsoons, several golf tournaments are also held over here.

White Flower Hall
(13Km.)
This is the former residence of British Commander in Chief and was taken over by the Himachal Tourism to be converted into a hotel. This lovely building was burnt down in 1994. The White flower hall is located in Chharabra 13-km from Shimla.

Significance - Shimla

Historical
Colonial shimla's pot pourri had some vital ingredients. There were 'Grass Widows' - unattached ladies spending a 'season' at Shimla while their husbands sweltered it out on the plains.

Then there were members of the 'Fishing Fleet' - young women who sailed out of England, usually chaperoned, in search of husbands. No dance was considered complete without numerous, cunningly devised 'Kala Jagahs' (dark places). In these nooks, one could sit with one's partner on a small sofa or even on a single armchair, and no word of criticism would be uttered.

But of all the clubs and societies that were unique to Shimla, the most enigmatic was the 'most noble order of the black hearts', only men were eligible for membership and they too could not commit the offence of "living in open matrimony." More staid were the Annandale Gymkhana Club and, the Amateur Dramatic Club - the latter still exists.

Fairs & Festivals - Shimla
Every year in the month of June, the Folk Dance festival, the "Mushaira" - recitation of Urdu poetry by poets, the Red Cross Fair, Golf and the Flower Show are some of the events held in Shimla, to celebrate Summer Festival. In December, Ice-Skating Carnival is held and then Christmas celebrations overtake Shimla.

How To Get There - Shimla

By 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.

By 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 as well as ordinary; semi deluxe, deluxe and AC coaches for Shimla are available too. One can also cross over to Leh and Ladakh via Rohtang pass from here.

By 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.