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