SHIMLA
Shimla is located in the Himalayan foothills. Connected to the Punjab by road and the world famous Kalka Shimla Railway line, running the Shimla Toy Train. The journey is considered to be one of the most famous railway journeys in the world.
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Shimla found fame as a Hill station during the British Raj. During the hot summers the British government would decamp from Delhi and move completely to the cooler climate of Shimla. Hence its an Indian town but with a very colonial feel, and numerous examples of British architecture.
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Today as well as foreign tourists, Shimla is also a popular destination for Indian tourists. Particularly honey mooning couples, looking to recreate scenes from favourite old Bollywood movies!
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VICEREGAL LODGE
The Viceregal Lodge Shimla was the official residence of the Indian Viceroy during the summer months when the administrative centre moved to Shimla to escape the heat of Delhi. The Rashtrapati Nilayam is historically significant during both the independence of India movement and founding of modern India. During the independence movement Mahatma Gandhi visited the Viceroy at his residence in 1922 and later Lord Willingdon in1931. In 1945 the lodge was the venue for the Shimla Conference which proposed the Wavell Plan for Indian self-government. This rejection of a united India lead to the next historically significant meeting held in the Viceroy Lodge, the 1947 partition discussions which created India and Pakistan.
THE MALL
The Mall Road is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shimla encompassing many hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, banks, shops, offices, post offices, and tourist offices. Its a very relaxing place where people can walk up and down the Mall road slowly, and enjoy the scenic views while sipping their favorite coffee. The contrast between Indian culture, mountain landscapes and British architecture makes the Mall almost unique within India.
Specific sights on the Mall include Scandal Point which has been named so after a romantic folklore. The story says that during the British Era in 1892, Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patalia fell in love with the daughter of the viceroy. Now there is a statue of Lala Lajpat Rai, known as the Lion of Punjab, a renowned freedom fighter. the sculpture depicts Lalaji addressing his famous warning “Each scar made on my body by British oppressors will one day prove to be a lethal nail driven into the coffin of British Regime.
Other famous places of note on the Mall include the Shimla theatre and the Christ Church.
JAKHU TEMPLE
The Jakhu temple is found in the hills above Shimla. The Hindu temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman, as legend states that Hanuman stopped here to rest as he was searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshmana in the Epic Ramayana.
However the temples fame lies in the fact that it houses the biggest statue of Hanuman in the world standing at 33 metres tall. And to compliment the statue there are numerous families of monkeys to be found all over the temple complex.
The temple can be acccessed by foot, taxi, horse ride or even a cable car.
KUFRI
Kufri is a tiny hill station 20 km to the north of Shimla. The name comes from the local words for lake and developed as a tourist destination back in 1819. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle of Shimla, and relax in a more nature based environment. As well as the panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and snow-capped peaks, there are also a number of picnic spots, hiking and trekking trails in and around Kufri. A popular hike is up to Mahasu Peak the highest point in Kufri, so great views are a given—on a clear day you can even see the Badrinath and Kedarnath ranges. if you prefer something less strenuous then you can also explore Kufri and its surrounding areas on horseback.
The other places to visit in Kufri are the Himalayan Nature Park, which has a collection of animals and birds found only in Himachal Pradesh, and the Indira Tourist Park, which is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around Kufri.
