There is none who hasn’t heard of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The state is well known for the tourism and adventure activities given the prime location it is in. It is surrounded by snow cap mountains, lush green valleys, and scenic sites, melodious waterfalls and rich heritage.
What not! The Himachal Pradesh Capital is Shimla, the largest city in the state. It is known as ‘queen of hill stations’ given the popularity it has from visitors of all across the globe.
Table of Contents
Let us see more of the information on Himachal Pradesh Capital in this article.
General
The name of Shimla has derived from Hindu Goddess Shyamala Devi. The Goddess is an incarnation of Kali and has several temples dedicated all across the state. Given the geographicalocation of the state, these temples are surrounded by snowy mountains and scenic beauty as well. The city is known to be as the summer capital of India from the time of Britishers. This continued even after independence. Shimla, after independence firstly was capital of undivided Punjab and then shifted to the city of Chandigarh in 1971. Later on, it became the Himachal Pradesh Capital after the state is formed. However, the city still does not stop to mesmerize us with its beauty every time we visit the place.
| Area | 5131 sq km |
|---|---|
| Altitude located | 2000 meters on average and above |
| STD code | 0177 |
| Sub Division | 7 |
| Block | 9 |
| Temperatures in Summer | 15 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius |
| Temperatures in winter | -4 degrees to 7 degrees Celsius |
| Languages | Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi and English |
| Approx population | 813,384 (Census, 2011) |
| Religion | Hindus, Buddhism, and Sikhism |
| Currency | Indian Rupee |
Places to see in Shimla
Here are a few important places and must visit places in Himachal Pradesh capital that one should not give it a miss.
- Christ church is a well-known and popular church given the numerous churches present in Shimla. Established primarily by the British, this is attractive given the rich architecture and paintings around.
- Fagu is a region where apple fruits are produced. This is located in the rural area of Shimla with all beautiful orchards around. This village can be traced around 22 km away and stands at a height of 2500 meters.
- The Jakhu temple, placed at an altitude of 8500 ft above sea level is well known for not just religious beliefs but also scenic beauty. This is easily accessible through bus from Shimla. This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman by Yaaku sage
- Scandal point is the site of a museum where one can find good antiques, statues, miniatures, and coins. This being established in 1974 still stands to be prominent in Himachal Pradesh capital.
- The Mall Road is the site of the commercial area in Shimla. It is in length of around five km, and one can find all hotels, restaurants, food joints, cafes, shopping showrooms, street shopping in here. This area is famous for collecting handicrafts, accessories and other shopping.
- Naldera which is around 23 km from Shimla is the oldest golf course in India. Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy was himself amazed to see the place given the beauty and scenic bliss it delivers. This was later designed and developed the viceroy’s daughter Naldera. Hence we now know why the name. It is still covered by deodar trees all around and among most visited place.
- Summer hill, around five km away from Shimla is at an altitude of 2000 meters above. This is also a well known scenic beauty and viewpoint site.
- The Viceregal Lodge is located near Summer Hill around 2000 meter above sea level. This is a lodge and has great architecture.
- Kathu peak is excellent for trekking activity given that the peak is taller above snowline in the western Himalayas. This is covered by snow all-round the year. One should take the necessary precautions to go around the trek given the difficulty level. You will come across Himalayan cedars, fir, spruce, pines, oaks, yews and alpine on the way.
- Kufri located around 16km away from Shimla is placed at an altitude of 2600 meters. This is well known to be beautiful if visited in winter given the way snow carpets are covered all around, amidst the views of deep valleys and forests
How to reach Shimla
All modes of transportion are well developed in Shimla. One can travel through air, rail, and road as well. To watch the scenic beauty of Shimla, you have to go through the narrow gauge lane connected to Shimla Hill station to Kalka station. This crosses around 103 tunnels. Further, you can reach Shimla by road as well. The Himachal Pradesh transport is well connected from Delhi and Chandigarh. Daily bus services and also taxi services are well available. Further, Shimla also has an airport in case you wish to travel directly. It is around 25 km away from Shimla and can be connected from major cities in India.
In case you are looking for tour packages within Shimla you can easily approach the taxi unions which provides suitable and reasonable rates and timings.
Given the beauty which one cannot relish in a lifetime, do not miss out on visiting this enthralling hill station. This Himachal Pradesh capital delivers all that you need, be it from adventure activities to scenic beauty, and spiritual bliss. Why wait now, go ahead and book your tour to this fantastic place.