Shimla Tourism

India’s famous tourist places in Shimla Tourism, the seven picturesque hills of Shimla are in southern Himachal Predesh, 347 km North of Delhi.

Simla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the “Queen of Hills”. Located in the north-west Himalayas range at an altitude of 2,130 metres 6,988ft, the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron and oak, experiences pleasant summers, cold and snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture reminiscent of the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India. Shimla is approximately 115 km from Chandigarh, the nearest major city and 365 km from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

Shimla owes its character almost wholly to the British who turned this stopover on the way to the temple of hill goddess Shamla into the summer capital of a subcontinent. The rest of its make-up is courtesy the governments of independent India. From part-time capital of India to full-time capital of a state, Shimla took it all in her stride, but the strain has begun to show. Many a tear was shed for their beloved Shimla when the colonizers had to leave. Even today just a mention of their summer capital and the British stiff upper lip quivers in sorrow at the thought of what their paradise has become. But that’s too bad, considering they were never meant to have been here in the first place.

Things to See.

Lords Auckland, Dufferin, Kitchener, Wavell, Bentinck and Curzon all left their mark on the town and many of the Elizabethan and Edwardian edifices they built still stand, spread across the seven hills of Shimla.

Walking Tours

Shimla is built on a central ridge, around which seven peaks jut out into the sky. The original village of Shimla first sprang up on the flat ridge and developed vertically, settlements moving upwards as each new viceroy took over from his predecessor. Depending on how much time and evergy you have at your disposal, Choose a hill for what interest you.

Summer Hills Stations

A 15 minute climb from Boileauganj leads up to the temple of kamna Devi at the summit of prospect Hill, Shimla’s western most. Take longer if you like, pausing to take in the views of the countryside.

Elysium and Jakhoo Hills Stations

Trucked behind Jakhoo Hill reaching out towards the Bharari spour of the Shimla Ridge, Elysium Hill affords views of all of Shimla spread out below. Lord Auckland chose this hill for his home, Auckland House, now a school. You’ll pass by it on your way to Lakkar Bazaar.

Jakhoo Hill the tallest of the seven hills, on which sprawls central Shimla is crowned by the Hanuman Temple. This is the hill you must climb to enjoy the most sublime sunrises that Shimla offers.

Route: NH1 to Ambala via Panipet and Karnal, NH22 to Shimla via Zirakput (bypassing Changigarh), Panchkula, Kalka and Shoghi