A Visit to the Queen

To me, the idea of a perfect holiday is spending time in the beauty and splendor of nature. So when its time to relax the nerves, I make a quite retreat to the hills. And when I say hills, I mean Shimla, the grand old town that is so very deservingly called the Queen of Hills. So well tied is the place to the idea of an Indian holiday that it is highly unlikely that you have ever contemplated a vacation without the name springing at the back of your head.
Situated in the North-west Himalayas, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the Hill state of India. Although over the years, increasing number of tourists and vehicles have had their toll on its natural beauty, it still exudes a rare mystical charm. I have been a regular visitor since childhood and do not blame me if you see me getting carried away in describing its beauty.
Situated at a distance of about 350 kms. from New Delhi, the capital of India, Shimla is easily accessible through road as well as by air. During the British rule, Shimla was the summer capital of the Earstwhile British government whose mighty officials frequented the place for fun and frolic as also to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Even today, most of the official buildings in Shimla carry the same architecture reminiscent of the colonial era.
If you are travelling to Shimla for the first time, I strongly recommend the rail route to get there. Now a part of the World Heritage sites, the approximately 6-hour long journey across the Kalka-Shimla railway line makes it through 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, each complementing the abundant natural beauty surrounding it. For a taste of it, you will have to take the road route till Kalka, a small sleepy town from where there are regular trains to Shimla.
Once there, the first thing you want to experience is a quiet walk on the Mall. Usually bursting with tourists from all over, it gives you a nice panoramic view of the hill city. Also situated on the Mall are the ancient Christ Church (the second largest in North India) and the Shimla state Museum. From the Mall, you could trek to the Jakhu Hill, the highest point of Shimla at 8000 ft. It has an ancient Hanuman (a famous Hindu God) temple and provides a great view of the snow laden Himalayas.
Another magnificent building you cannot afford to miss is the Institute of Advanced Studies. Constructed sometime in 1884 and home to the Viceroy (aptly called the Viceregal Lodge) during the British rule, it is now a centre for research inhabited by leading scholars from all over the country. Surrounded by majestic Pine trees and lush green grounds, you will be amazed by the quietness and serenity surrounding the area. At a short distance of 5 kilometers is Summer Hill, the home to Himachal Pradesh University, one of the leading universities in the country. Mahatma Gandhi spent considerable time here when visiting the hill state.
I could go on and on raving about the wonders of this beautiful hill city but I guess, an easier thing to do would be to refer you to the official website of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism (http://hpshimla.nic.in/). It has tons of information on the do’s and don’t’s, places to visit and everything you wanted to know about Shimla.
One word of caution though! The weather remains cold during April to September and absolutely freezing during the rest of the year when it snows heavily. So take appropriate clothing with you.
I can safely assure you that this rendezvous with the Queen shall remain etched in your memory for a long-long time.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

The Rose Festival

Chandigarh, my home town, has abundant greenery (a rarity in these times) largely due to the fact that its residents like to be close to nature. So even though, Chandigarh is like any other urban city of the world with its high volumes of traffic, tall buildings, and ever increasing population, It has still managed to create and preserve huge chunks of land as gardens and lakes. One of such wonderful delights is the world famous, Zakir Rose Garden. Named after India's former President, Zakir Hussain and created in 1967 under the expert guidance of Dr M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first Chief Commissioner, the garden has the distinction of being Asia's largest. It is spread over sprawling 30 acres of land and is home to 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species. Apart from its wonderful layout and colorful Roses, its popularity has one solid reason, the Annual Rose Festival that takes place in the closing days of February.

The timing is just right as foggy and freezing days make way for a nice warm sunshine ahead of spring. Celebrated mainly as a tribute to the magnificence of Rose itself, the attractions remain food, drinks, joy rides, and contests of varying nature (photography, gardening, landscaping, bonsai, and Rose prince and Princess). The best bit about the contests is that they are all open to the residents or institutions from nearby places. So if an amateur does photography or gardening just for the pleasure of it, this event provides a window to show-case his or her talent. Equally, it also allows professionals from their respective fields to display their prowess in various skills. So if your idea of a weekend excursion is fun, frolic, indulgence, or simply basking in the sun, this is the place to be during this time of the year.Chandigarh has a dubious distinction, among outsiders, of being a dull city devoid of swanky shopping malls, food joints, and especially night-life. I have found this a rather illogical assumption, although I admit that I am myself a laid-back kind of person, not exactly the kind you would call a social animal. So my judgment can be highly misleading in matters such as these. In any case, when events like the Rose festival happen, they not just promise a welcome break to the otherwise hectic routine of the weekdays but also help knocking out the baseless myths related to the City Beautiful. Flocks of families make their presence count, get dressed in the brightest attires, and set out to enjoy the sun and the festivities. And since no festivity is ever complete without lots of food and drink, you can be assured of the best Punjabi cuisine to satisfy your gastronomic senses.

In these times, when growing population is exerting an undue pressure on the earth and its resources, such festivals go a long way in making people aware of preserving green belts. I have fond memories of the garden dating back nearly two decades, when I used to frequent it along with family and friends, either for small family picnics or this annual extravaganza. Although its beauty and green cover has certainly taken some beating in all these years but yet it has retained its charm, thanks to the administration that has focused a lot on maintaining it as a peaceful sojourn for the weary travelers, love-struck couples, morning joggers, and children alike.

It is our duty to ensure that its beauty and tranquility is preserved so that future generations can also partake in its beauty and serenity.