Shimla

From World travel guide

Shimla is the capital of the Himachal Pradesh region in India.

1 Understand
2 Get in
3 Get around
4 See
5 Do
6 Buy
7 Eat
8 Drink
9 Sleep
10 Get out
11 External links

Understand

Sitting majestically above the searing plains, the British designated the town as their summer capital. The higher levels of the town reflect this British connection, being comprised mostly of Victorian style buildings, while the lower slopes are occupied with Indian bazaars and restaurants. One of the town's most endearing features is that traffic is banned from the historic central area, (known as the Mall) which means the atmosphere is calm and the air pristine.

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Get in

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By road

The easiest route from Delhi is via Chandigarh, a total distance of around 400 kms. The road is well maintained and wide (four laned) as far as Chandigarh. From there, the road narrows and it is a winding steep ascent to Shimla.

If you are motorcycling, then get in from the back roads from the Uttaranchal border via - Dehradun - Chakrata - Tiuni - Rohru. Its beautiful all the way but tough and the roads are nothing to right home about.

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By rail

The nearest broad gauge head is at Kalka. Otherwise, you can make the journey to Shimla on the toy train. The view is stunning and the line passes through an amazing 103 tunnels.

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By plane

Shimla has its own airport that accommodates turbo-props Dorniers, while Jet, Airbus A310, 320s and Boeing 737s can all land at the larger Chandigarh airport.

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Get around

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See

http://www.himachaltourism.net/

http://www.ibiblio.org/himachal/tourism.html

http://www.lizaworldtravels.com/best-of-himachal.html

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Do

The sleepy town offers limited options within the town limits. You can take leisurely walk at the Mall, visit the zoo if interested in the Great Himalayan Snow Leopard. Snow skating is available from Nov to March. IF you want to unwind, you can soak in the sun and enjoy the fresh, crisp Himalayan air.

If you are the more sporty, adventurous kinds, you can do skiing in Kufri 20 ks. and Narkanda about 55 ks from Shimla though it is only available when it snows heavily in winters.

You can hit-off at Naldehra 19 hole Golf course 25 ks. away from Shimla. You can take the kits on hire at not much cost.

There are trails available for bicycling though they might be gravel or dusty.

Good treks are available but recommended when undertaken as part of a group.

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Buy

Further down the Mall Road is the "Lakkar Bazaar", which has quite a few shops selling wooden handicrafts. The Mall is full of shops selling woolens (most of which find their way to Shimla from Ludhiana in Punjab) and Kullu shawls.

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Eat

International cuisine is available to suit every pocket, and while fast food is often the choice of tourists, ethnic Himachali cuisine is a more delicious and cheap alternative. At the Mall, definitely try the confectionery at "Trishool" near the Gaiety Theatre.

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Drink

Himachal is known as the fruit-bowl of India. It has a thriving food processing industry that churns out fruit-based drinks, squashes and concentrates. The most famous flavours are plum, litchi, strawberry, mango and guava.

For alcoholic drinks, try the locally brewed wines such as apricot, plum and apple & ginger cider. In predominantly Tibetan areas, a rice wine known as "Chang" is popular.

You can also try the real "aqua minerale" spring water available near the source (if you are trekking)!

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Sleep

There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. On line booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over an reserve a room in person. Rooms in Shimla range from as low as US$10 to about US$250.

http://www.himachaltourism.nic.in/welcome.htm

http://www.himachaltourism.nic.in/hotdir/hotkhoj.asp

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Get out

Shimla is a convenient base to visit other parts of Himalachal.

If you are interested in Buddhism, visit the district of Kinnaur on the border of Tibet. This area is home to ethnic Tibetans, and there are several Buddhist monasteries located in the region. Getting there: Take the Hindustan-Tibet highway out of Shimla, passing through Narkanda - Rampur - Wangto - Kalpa - RekongPeo - Sangla Valley - Tabo - Kaza. This route is not for the faint hearted and is not open in winter.

Manali (260km) is another destination of interest. If you are driving your own vehicle, take the back road via Basantpur - Kingal - Anni - Jalori Pass - Shoja - Banjar - Kullu. This road will take you through the famous trout fishing valley of Tirthan.

Another area that Buddhists and Tibetologists will enjoy is McLeod Ganj , the home of H.H. Dalai Lama and the Tibetan-Government-in-exile. There are also many Buddhist monasteries in the area.

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