Breathtaking lakes, attractive greenery, snow-covered mountains, and pleasant weather- Shimla has everything you can ask for. Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Nestled at an altitude of nearly 2206 meters, it was built over seven hills namely Observatory Hill, Inverarm Hill, Prospect Hill, Bantony Hill, Summer Hill, Jakhoo Hill, and Elysium Hill. Shimla has the right blend of British sophistication with Indian glory. With rich greenery and lakes around, Shimla welcomes people from across the world for the whole year. This stunning hill station has picturesque views that will welcome you at each nook.
It was the enchanting beauty and spectacular views of snow-covered Himalayan ranges that made the British declare it as their own summer capital. The attractiveness of this hill station increases greatly when the winters come as the whole city gets covered in snow offering a sight worth remembering. Shimla sprawls along the mountain ridges enveloped in pine, rhododendron, and oak forests. An ideal place to wander, the hill station displays some of the finest colonial-period architecture as well.
Shimla is named after Shyamala Devi, a Hindu Goddess who is the incarnation of Kali. In the 18th century, Shimla was mostly trees and forests. It only had some scattered huts and the Jakhoo temple. In 1806, Nepal’s Bhimsen Thapa invaded and captured the present-day’s Shimla area. After the Anglo and Nepalese War of 1814-16, the control was taken by the British East India Company. In 1830, the surrounding land was also acquired by the British in exchange for Rawin Pargana and part of Bharauli Pargana. After this, the settlement developed quickly, from only 30 houses in around 1830 to nearly 1141 in 1181.
Earl Dalhousie the successor of Combermere visited Shimla in 1881. Soon, many other British officers began visiting this area to socialize with their higher-ups. Thus, Shimla became a famous hills station for parties, balls, and other events. Later, schools for upper-class pupils were established here. By 1830, this city became a great center for art exhibitions and theatre. John Lawrence, India’s Viceroy chose to shift the British Raj’s summer capital to Shimla. He put his efforts to develop this city. In 1876, the summer capital of Punjab also shifted from Murree to Shimla.
In 1970, The State of Himachal Pradesh was approved by the Parliament and this new state was formed on January 25, 1971. Shimla then became a part of Himachal Pradesh and was declared the state capital.
With wonderful magic in the air, Shimla makes everyone who comes here fall in love with this place. With a wide range of popular places and attractions, Shimla is worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. So, let’s enrich the best places you should visit in Shimla:
Toy Train Ride: The toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla is the best thing to do when in Shimla. This railway line present along the mountains gives a calm picture of this place. If it begins to drizzle during your ride, you’re going to be lucky!
Shopping: For all those shopaholics, shopping in Shimla at the Lakkar Bazaar can be a completely different experience. The shops there offer some of the best wooden artifacts. You can also buy reasonably priced winter wears here, especially Nehru jackets and shawls.
Nature Walk: You will find many exciting hikes from in Shimla that will take you around the city and between the pine forests. Because of the romantic weather and the beauty of the hikes, nature walks can be quite interesting.
Camping: Except for luxury hotels, camping is another great activity to go for in Shimla. It will offer you a very different experience between the finest setups of nature. People will find some excellent spots to camp in Shimla.
Paragliding: Paragliding in Shimla lets you take a deep dive into the sky. Since Shimla is blessed with some of the best natural landscapes, it is an ideal place for paragliding across the crystal-clear skies.
River Rafting: The gushing rivers of Shimla makes it a perfect place for water sports like river rafting. All those adventure junkies can have a great time with river rafting.
Cycling: If you wish to take a relaxing break from the busy city life, you can go for cycling. There are some great, peaceful treks where you can go cycling and spend some quality time with yourself.
Golfing: Golfing at Naldhera is another famous activity to enjoy in Shimla. The place has an alluring golf course that is surrounded by magnificent splendors. To add to your golfing experience, it has a wonderful atmosphere too.
Ice Skating: If you want to enjoy ice skating, Shimla has an open-air skating rink. This rink draws thousands of people who want an astonishing ice skating experience.
Shimla is located 88 km northeast of Kalka, 247 km south of Manali, 350 km northeast of Delhi, and 116 km northeast of Chandigarh. It is well-connected by a wonderful road network to every major city and town situated nearby. The Shimla Airport situated at Jubbarhatti is nearly 23 km from the city. The Kalka Shimla Trek, a narrow-gauge railway station, is located at a distance of 96 km.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to indulge in thrilling activities and explore the beautiful sights of Shimla!
