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Shimla: The Summer Capital |
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The summer capital of the British Raj in the past, Shimla is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla (previously known as Simla) lies about 350 km from Delhi.
Traditionally, Shimla was a diminutive village, which was a part of the Nepalese kingdom prior to its discovery in the 1890`s by the British. The town deduced its name from `Shyamala`- the goddess Kali, whose temple subsisted in the dense deodar forest that once sheltered Jhaku.
A train to Kalka followed by the toy train to Shimla serves as a memorable experience as one can bask in the glory of nature at its best.
Situated at an altitude of about 2000 meters, the summers here are quite dulcet and winters not too cold, leaving aside the months when it snows.
 Shimla`s proximity to the plains has continually swarmed it by tourists in a hunt for getaways. Once a petite village, Shimla now is a bustling beehive. Eloped by the magnificence of the Shivalik range, Shimla has a lot to offer.
One of the main attractions here is the gratifying walk in the upper reaches. Shimla extends short sojourns to its contiguous towns like- Chail, Shilon Bagh, Naldhera, Kufri, Summer Hill and Chadwick Falls. Apart from these places, Shimla`s exceedingly celebrated place is the famous Mall Road and the Ridge Road.
The Mall Road is a fusion of shops and eateries. From bookstores, to music stores to accessories, to Dominos, one can unearth virtually everything here. A stroll around the mall road and a handful of shopping bags is a peculiar prospect. Shimla`s Lakkar Bazaar and the Tibetan Market are also good avenues to venture on. The vicinity is busy as some of the preeminent souvenirs are found here.
For the entertainment enthusiasts, Shimla also bears a cinema hall with phenomenoly inexpensive tickets, but at the cost of good hygiene and genre.
Sports and outdoor activities tend to be a solemn concern here. With a skating rink and a number of horses and ponies, they involve professionals willing to carve up their skills with the public, but at a price. Apart from these two sports, one may also take pleasure in a bracing game of golf at Naldhera at one of India`s oldest golf courses, distanced at 27 kms.
A hike upto Jhaku Ma ka Mandir on the Jhaku Hill could not get any better. The summit of Jhaku Hill, on a clear day permits a view of snow-capped peaks at a distance. Similar views from the Ridge Road also tend to be exceedingly captivating.
With its share of history, nature and snow peaks, Shimla is by far, one of the most exhilarating and popularly visited hill stations!
(Posted on : 18/04/2007)
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| Shimla: The Summer Capital |
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