ATTRACTIONS
Places to visit in & around Shimla
The Ridge
The ridge is a remarkable piece of architecture that is located in the heart of Shimla at an altitude of 2205 meters above sea level. It is a major tourist attraction that boasts of an exceptional water tank which is placed right underneath it. This incredible water stockpile is believed to have been constructed in 1880 just with lime mortar and has an enormous capacity of 1 million gallons of water.
The Mall Road
The Mall Road is one of the most sought after places to visit in Shimla. It was constructed during the British regime and is the prime shopping street of the town that comprises of restaurants, cafes, saloons, showrooms, department stores, banks, post offices, municipal corporation office, fire station, police control room and many tourist offices. It is an ideal place to enjoy gentle walks with your family.
Christ Church
The Christ Church is the jewel of the town and was built in the 1857 to serve the Anglo British Community staying in Shimla. It was designed by Colonel J.T. Boileau in1844 and it was consecrated in 1857 by Bishop Thomas Daltrey. The estimated cost of construction at that time was around 50,000 rupees. It is a prominent landmark of the city and is visible from kilometres around the vicinity of Shimla.
Scandal Point
The Scandal Point is a famous tourist attraction which boasts of an interesting story not everyone is aware of. The legend says that the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh fell in love with the daughter of the British Viceroy. He fled with the British lady from here on his horse and hence it got its name, the Scandal point. Later he was banned from entering the town, so he constructed a new summer capital known as Chail.
Lakkar Bazaar
As the name suggests, Lakkar Bazaar is a bazaar known for selling wooden products. It is located next to the ridge and is a popular tourist attraction where you may shop for wooden souvenirs like wooden toys, walking stickes, key rings, wooden pens, etc. You can also visit the Roller Skating Rink, Meena Bazaar, Tripti Bakery and enjoy delicious street food like aloo tikki, chole bhature, chole kulche & gol gappe chat.
Gaiety Theatre
The Gaiety Theatre is a remarkable landmark of the town. It was established in 1877 and is located on the famous Mall Road. It was designed by Henry Irwin, the same guy who designed the Viceregal Lodge in Shimla. The current structure of Gaiety Theatre comprises of an Old Theater Hall, Art Gallery, Amphitheater, Exhibition Hall, Seminar Hall and a Multipurpose Hall that attracts a lot of tourists from across the globe.
Gorton Castle
The Gorton Castle is a famous heritage building that was built in 1904 in a Neo-Gothic style. It has been named after the original owner, Mr. Gorton and was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, a renowned British architect of that era. This three story building has 125 rooms of varied sizes and has beautiful Rajasthani style designed balconies that offer picturesque views of the town and the valley beyond.
H.P. State Museum
Shimla has been the summer capital of the British and it boasts of a rich architectural and cultural heritage. All this has been precisely captured in the H.p. State Museum. Housed in a 1860’s mansion, the museum was established in 1974. It has an enormous collection of sculptures, coins, photos, jewelry, handicrafts, paintings, historical books & manuscripts along with a lot of other precious articles.
Himalayan Bird Park
The Himalayan Bird Park is located near the H.P. State Museum and the Viceregal Lodge at an altitude of around 2213 metres. This beautiful bird enclosure serves as a magnificent place for bird lovers and has a considerable collection of birds like Pheasants, Peacocks, Peafowl, etc. Natural conditions have been fabricated within the park by creating a short waterfall, water channels, and ponds. The park is open for visitors from March to September.
Viceregal Lodge
The Vicergal Lodge also known as the Insitute for Advanced Studies is strategically located on the Observatory Hill. It was built in 1880 and served as the abode for the British Viceroys of India. It also served as the summer retreat for the President of India between 1947 till the mid ’60s. Later it was handed over to the Institute of Advanced Studies, where it acts as a postdoctoral humanities research center.
Jakhoo Temple
The Jakhoo Temple is an ancient Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It is the highest peak of Shimla that offers panoramic views of the town. The legend says that Lord Hanuman stopped here to grab some rest while searching for the Sanjeevni Booti. You can find his footprints engraved on a marble in the main temple complex and it is advisable to take care of your belongings in order to guard them from the monkeys.
Tara Devi Temple
The Tara Devi temple is situated on the top of Tarav Parvat and offers a picturesque view of the town and the valley beyond. It is primarily known for its spiritual and heritage valley and dates back to more than 250 years. It is believed that Maa Tara Devi, the Goddess of Stars came all the way from Bengal to Himachal Pradesh. The temple has a beautifully themed temple and is a must visit place for anyone seeking peace and blessings.
Annadale
The Annadale derives it name from two words ‘Anna’ and ‘Dale’, where Anna used to be the girl Captain Charles Patt was attached to and ‘Dale’ means a valley. The Annadale ground was used as a playground by the Britishers and also used to organize fancy fairs, dog shows, parties, fetes, birthday balls, races, polo matches and many other activities. It currently acts as a Golf Course, a helipad and an Army Training Ground.
Baba Balkhu Railway Museum
The Baba Bhalku Railway Museum is a tribute to Bhalku Ram, who was famously known as Baba Bhalku. He was an Indian who used his common sense and brilliance to guide the construction of the Shimla-Kalka Railway Line. The museum lies below the Old Bus stand and has a decent collection of lanterns, wooden chairs, prehistoric wall clocks, steam locomotive headlights, rare old photographs of the railway line, etc.
Shimla - Kalka Toy Train
The Shimla – Kalka Railway track is a World UNESCO heritage which dates back to 1903. This remarkable track is based on a narrow gauge and comprises of 20 railway stations, 103 tunnels, 969 bridges & 919 curves. The train running on this track is known as a toy train because of its slow speed and smaller size. The entire journey is enchanting and takes you through the lush green valleys, mystical forests, and ever changing gorgeous landscape.
Kufri
Kufri is a small hill station famous for its cool and salubrious climate in the summers and the snow covered peaks in the winters. It is the venue for winter sports festival which is annually organized by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department. It has some notable tourist attractions like Kufri Fun Campus, Hip Hip Hurray Amusement Park, Indira Tourist Park, The Himalayan National Park, Mahasu Peak and Chini Bungalow.
Naldehra
Naldehra is a famous tourist attraction around Shimla which is mainly popular for its Golf Course and mesmerizing sunsets. The Naldehra Golf Course is among the highest and the oldest golf course in India and was established in 1903 by Lord Curzon. It used to be a 9-hole course but it was later transformed into a 18-hole course. You may also choose to visit the Chalet’s to have a delicious meal at their revolving restaurant.
