Travel Info
Shimla is the capital and the largest city of the state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.
The climatic conditions of Shimla attracted the British to establish the city in the dense forests of Himalayas. Its name is derived from the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali.
Shimla is on the south-western ranges of the Himalayas at 31.61°N 77.10°E. It has an average altitude of 2,206 metres (7,238 ft) above mean sea level and extends along a ridge with seven spurs. The city stretches nearly 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) from east to west.[17] Shimla was built on top of seven hills: Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhoo Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the Jakhoo hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft).
Shimla features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under the Köppen climate classification. The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters and moderately warm during summer.[24] Temperatures typically range from −4 °C (25 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) over the course of a year.[25]
The average temperature during summer is between 19 and 28 °C (66 and 82 °F), and between −1 and 10 °C (30 and 50 °F) in winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in November and 434 millimetres (17.1 in) in August. It is typically around 45 millimetres (1.8 in) per month during winter and spring, and around 175 millimetres (6.9 in) in June as the monsoon approaches.
Places of interest in Shimla or sight seeing places in Shimla
The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, post offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is situated there.
The Ridge: The Ridge is a large open space, which is situated alongside the Mall Road and hosts all the cultural activities in the city. Christ Church, The State Library and Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex are some of the notable buildings located here.
Christ Church: Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. Inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.
Jakhoo: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8,000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak in the city and has views of the city and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the hill is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity which is popular among tourists and locals alike. A 108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord Hanuman, at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea level, is the statue standing at the highest altitude among several other masterpieces in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[58]
Jakhu Ropeway: This ropeway connects Jakhu temple to the ridge ground and is the first ropeway in Shimla.
Jutogh: Located 8 km from the city centre, this army cantonment is near Totu, an important suburb of Shimla city.
Shimla State Museum: The museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.
Indian Institute of Advanced Study: This institute is housed at the former Viceregal Lodge, built in 1884–88.
Summer Hill: The township of Summer Hill is at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.
Annandale: Developed as the racecourse of Shimla, Annandale is 2–4 km from the Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is now used by the Indian Army.
Tara Devi: 11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi Hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Sankat Mochan: It is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
Junga: Junga is nearest Tehsil, 26 km from Shimla. Its original name (with diacritics) is “Jūnga”, and it is a former royal retreat of the princely state of Keonthal. It is known as the Keonthal Estate.
Anand Vilas: Midway between Shimla and Junga. “Sarva Dharma Mandir”, Temple of all faiths, is a spiritual group dedicated to Mother Nature. Thousands of visitors and devotees come here every year. There is an “Art is Values” school with pupils from all over India. Classes are provided free of cost.
Totu: A major suburb of Shimla on NH-88. Houses Jutogh railway station & HimFed under Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
Mashobra: 13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.
Kufri: 16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local winter sports centre, and has a small zoo.
Chharabra: 13 km from Shimla on route to Kufri.
Naldehra: 22 km from Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club. The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra.
Chail palace, located near shimla
Chail: Situated at 45 kilometers from Shimla, Chail was built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj, it is known for the world’s highest cricket ground at a height of 7220 feet situated in the cantonment area.
Sanjauli: The main suburb of Shimla.
Lakkar Bazar[60]
Shimla distance from various places:
Shimla is well-connected by road network to all major cities in north India and to all major towns and district headquarters within the state. National Highway 22 (NH 22) connects Shimla to the nearest big city of Chandigarh.
Distance between major towns and Shimla:
- Kalka to Shimla distance is 90 km
- Chandigarh to Shimla distance is 120 km
- Ambala to Shimla distance is 165 km
- Patiala to Shimla distance is 172 km
- Bathinda to Shimla distance is 330 km
- Amritsar to Shimla distance is 342 km
- Panipat to Shimla distance is 275 km
- Delhi to Shimla distance is 380 km
- Dehradun to Shimla distance is 227 km
- Jammu to Shimla distance is 482 km
- Agra to Shimla distance is 568 km
- Jaipur to Shimla distance is 629 km
- Haridwar to Shimla distance is 278 km
- Srinagar to Shimla distance is 787 km
- Pithoragarh to Shimla distance is 703 km
- Kolkata to Shimla distance is 1460 km
- Mumbai to Shimla distance is 1742 km
- Kanya Kumari to Shimla distance is 2500;km
- Manali to Shimla distance is 250 Km
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