SHIMLA: A Quick Travel Guide
Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is also the summer capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is located at an elevation of 2205 meters above sea level. The region was covered with dense forests. Like European countries, Shimla is also famous for Ice skating and mountain climbing.
Shimla is one of the famous tourist destinations in India. Though there are many other unexplored hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has always been on the bucket list of mountain lovers.
Shimla is visited by lakhs of Indians and foreigners’ tourists throughout the year. Snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas, adventure tracks of green forests and valleys attract tourists the most.
Climate conditions:
Shimla has a subtropical highland climate.
In summer (May to July) maximum temperature goes up to 30 degrees.
In the rainy season (July to September) maximum rainfall occurs.
In winter (December to February) temperature falls up to -5 degrees and one can see snow in Shimla during the winter season.
Best time to visit:
The climate here remains cold throughout the year, but summertime is pleasant. The best time to visit Shimla is summer when the weather is favorable for the city, but some people come here in winter to enjoy snowfall.
How to reach:
By Air
Jubbarhatti Airport, which is about 20 km from the city, is the nearest airport to Shimla. There are regular flights to Shimla from cities like New Delhi and Chandigarh. Travellers coming from abroad can book tickets from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to Jubbarhatti.
From Jubbarhatti airport, travellers can avail prepaid taxis to reach Shimla.
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By Train
Kalka railway station is the nearest Indian railway that connects Shimla to neighbouring Indian cities. Frequent trains are available from New Delhi and Chandigarh to Kalka railway station. From Kalka station, a private taxi or taxi can be hired to reach Shimla.
By Road
The hill station is well connected via national highways with neighbouring cities such as New Delhi (350 km), Dehradun (230 km) and Chandigarh (115 km). Travelling by car from Delhi to Shimla is also a good route for long drive lovers.
Distance from various cities:
Kullu- 210 KM
Chandigarh- 120 KM
Delhi-350 KM
Mumbai-1740 KM
Kolkata- 1810 KM
Jaipur-605 KM
Chennai-2510 KM
Hyderabad-1890 KM
Things to do:
Shimla is surrounded by dense forests and snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. People come from all over the world to see the beauty of the city.
You can enjoy Trekking, hiking, ice skating, skiing shopping, churches, hot springs, rivers, valleys, and temples nearby Shimla.
Some of the famous places around Shimla:
The Mall
The Mall is a famous hangout point for visitors and tourists. With lots of showering rooms, there are cafes, theatres, restaurants, and a whole bunch of excitement, it is close to all places of interest. Gaiety Theater is the place to go for cultural activities.
The Ridge
The Ridge is a wide-open place located on the side of Shimla Mall Road.
Jakhoo Temple
It is located at the top of Jakhoo hill. It is dedicated to the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. There is a 108 feet statue of lord hanuman. Jhakoo hill is just 2.5 km away from the ridge.
Lower Bazar and Lakkar Bazar
This place is full of crowded streets and old buildings. Lower Bazaar, also known as Sabzi Mandi, is full of a chaotic life. The market is located just below the Mall Road and starts from the bus stand Shimla. It includes endless roads that merge into each other, including shops selling everything from wooden items, walking sticks, winter clothes to mobile phones and vegetables. There is also a book market between these streets.
So, these are some of the primary key attractions in the town.
Transportation costs:
Public Transportation
Local buses run from 7 am to 9 pm whereas government buses are run last up to 10 pm. Fares vary by destination.
Taxi
Govt taxis (Ride with pride) are also available at low prices in some places of the town. But if you want privacy, then you can hire a taxi at an affordable or expensive price according to your pocket.
Where to stay:
If you want a luxury hotel room, then you should definitely go for luxury hotels like the Oberoi Cecil, hotel Clarkes, Radisson jass Shimla, etc. Still, if you want a budget hotel, then there are lots of hotels. Some of the best budget hotels are snow valley resort, hotel Silverine, Ashiana Clarks inn, Larisa resort Shimla, hotel spring fields, etc.
Conclusion:
Shimla is definitely worth visiting, and there are a lot of places to explore. It is not only nature lovers, but also people interested in history and architecture who will be delighted after visiting this historic hill town. I hope the above information will help you in making a trip to Shimla.