Shimla Sightseeing Attractions
Before we venture to introduce and describe the most popular Shimla sightseeing
attractions we should be a little oriented with the fame and popularity factors
that made Shimla so much sought after a destination in the hills. Shimla as one
of the hill stations in the Himalayas and having close proximity to the higher
mountain ranges and the north Indian cities in the plain is an ideal tourist
destination for mountain views and most comfortable sub-tropical climate. Shimla
sightseeing attractions are numerous and widely varied specially because of the
heritage that the city preserved from its British past and its typical position
on the verge of great Himalayan mountain peaks on the north and lower foothill
mountains and plains in the south. We would introduce here some of the most
popular Shimla sightseeing attractions that have made a bigger name in the
tourist map of the whole Country.
Vice Regal Lodge or Indian Institute of Advanced Studies
This is probably the greatest Shimla sightseeing attraction by any measure. The
gigantic edifice of the great architecture is one of the most astounding
instances of the brilliance of British and European Gothic architecture. This
huge mammoth architectural marvel that with its surrounding gardens and lawns,
flower beds, silent circling roadways and lanes covers a total hill, that is one
of the seven main hills upon and around which the whole city of Shimla,
sightseeing attractions and cities functioning places are built is called the
Observatory hill. The whole architecture is a wooden and iron edifice with huge
ballrooms, administrative quarters of the former British rulers and civil
servants, spacious and gigantic residential accommodations as well as
recreational facilities for the former British viceroy?s family and a spacious
lush green lawn facing the lawn dotted by lofty Himalayan trees, flower beds and
exotic collection of orchids all around. The interior of the building is having
a museum that depicts and tells you about the great historical heritage that
this building possesses from its beginning as the Vice regal lodge in the
British era when Shimla was the summer capital to the post-independence time
when this place became the summer retreat of the president of India and
consequently bore its name as Rashtrapati Niwas. As observatory hill upon which
this architectural marvel is situated is the highest point in the western fringe
of the Shimla city, it overlooks the mountain ranges to places far away and the
best point to see the sunset in Shimla. Reclining in one of the rot iron benches
beside the flower beds of the lawn when you look toward the descending sun in
the distance you are likely to be charmed with the best moment in the most
popular Shimla sightseeing attraction.
Woodville Palace
As this palace houses one of the posh and most famous hotels in Shimla, this
place is considered by many tour operators and travelers as a hotel and this
becomes an automatic discouraging factor for the tourists. But whoever went to
this big German country house like villa that is situated atop the sunny side of
the hill and dotted with thick lines of Himalayan pines, cedars and
rhododendrons, could not turn him or herself around from this picturesque beauty
it offers from its sprawling lawns and the beautifully crafted wooden interior.
Though this building is not that much popular in the tourist map to be
considered as one of the most popular Shimla sightseeing attractions, the place
is really unforgettable for the viewers and boarders alike with distinct charms
of natural beauty and royal heritage sprawled all over. The palace is built by
the King of the Jubbal in the eighteenth century and now houses one of the
marvelous museums depicting the splendors of local history and heritage. This
must be a great Shimla sightseeing attraction for the tourists who have a
special knack for heritage in the setting of natural beauty.
Christ Church
From long afar, even before you set foot on the proper Shimla city the tall
gothic pillars of the Christ church up on the Mall road in between the close
clusters of buildings surrounding the Mall road draws your attention. Christ
church more than just one of the most visited and most popular Shimla
sightseeing attractions is a place that you invariably would visit, at least
from its exterior as this church is located at the central place of the Mall
road, popularly named as Ridge point. The faith inspiring lofty and gothic style
of this architectural marvel and its famous glass stained five windows are
really something that deserves artistic appraisal from the viewers.
The Mall road, The Scandal Point and The Ridge
Like any Himalayan hill stations Shimla also has the Mall road as the center of
all tourist attractions and other activities around the city and no wonder as
the most accessible place for the tourists from all over the India and the world
it comes as the first Shimla sightseeing attraction for the newly arrived
tourists in the city. Like all the celebrated Malls across various hill stations
in the Himalayas Shimla mall road also boasts off some of the great
architectural marvels of the British era around the old heritage buildings that
are built alongside it, though the Mall road in Shimla is relatively longer in
length than most of the other mall roads in other hill stations. Many of the
most popular Shimla sightseeing attractions are located along the Mall road that
is stretched from almost the observatory hill in the western fringe to the High
Court in Shimla in the eastern end. Along the Mall road several important
positions are having different level of importance as the popular Shimla
sightseeing attractions. Among these The Scandal point in the middle of the Mall
road is historically popular as from here in the British era the daughter of the
then Viceroy of India had been lured and taken away by the King of Patiala.
Ridge point just by ascending from the scandal point is the most popular Shimla
sightseeing attraction among the spots that are situated on the Mall road. Ridge
is the most elevated point on the Mall road that overlooks all the surrounding
hills and valleys and almost the whole central part of the city from both sides.
The wide open clear expanse of the Ridge with colors of the traveling tourists
doting over the picturesque frame and the lofty height of the gothic church
compels you to stay a little longer. Especially for sunrise and the sunset the
Ridge is the most attractive spot as it comes out with the hue and color of the
sky and mountain range and the beautiful glow and shades of the sun in evolving
charms and combinations.
Gaiety Theatre
Once this famous architecture used to house the recreational and amusement
activities of the British Aristocrats who used to take refuge in the cool abode
of Shimla as it was their summer capital. Gaiety theatre is associated with many
of the greatest and most astounding cultural activities that ever happened in
Shimla. With expansive and lofty dome up above and surrounding designed pillars
the architecture is hugely reminiscent of the great influence of the Byzantine
architecture on the gothic tradition. This architectural masterpiece has several
historical paintings from the British era that contributed to this great Shimla
sightseeing attraction.
Jakhoo Hills
Jakhoo is the highest hill point within the city of Shimla and overlooks the
entire mountain range and the farthest recesses of the Shimla city. In a bright
and sunny day it provides enormously huge, sprawling and expansive specter of
the Shimla city and the distant mountain range with ever changing color and hue
of the lush, all-encompassing greenery of Himalayan trees and distant range of
blue mountains and the glow of the sunrays. Just at the end of the monsoon and
at the beginning of the autumn you can be lucky to find all of a sudden great
arch of the beauty of a rainbow that would almost leave you spellbound for some
moments. The great view of the surrounding forest, distant mountain range and
the panoramic specter of the city of Shimla made Jakhoo one of the most popular
Shimla sightseeing attractions.
Kufri
Kufri is not situated within the main city but as without visiting this place
the tour to Shimla is considered as incomplete, Kufri is an invariable choice in
our list of the most popular Shimla sightseeing attractions, especially because
of the breathtaking beauty that the city offers of its great mountain height,
one of the longest stretch of Himalayan pine forest and seasonally in the winter
months great specter of snow and in the subsequent spring time a scope of snow
sport. As a popular Shimla sightseeing attraction Kufri satisfies the traveling
taste of the tourists in all seasons.
Mashobra Valley
Mashobra is picturesquely green and steeply ascending in many places from the
great gorge underneath. The all fresh and green look of the lofty heights of
Mashobra makes this one of the most favorite spot for outing around Shimla city.
Naldehra Golf Course
Naldehra golf course is on the way en route to Tattapani from Shimla and one of
the highest peak points around the Shimla city. The lush green wavy landscape of
the golf course dotted with great range of Himalayan trees like pines,
rhododendrons, cedars, etc. made this place one of the most scenic to attract
almost all incoming tourists in the city and its corresponding status as one of
the most popular Shimla sightseeing attractions.
Shimla State Museum
The depiction and exhibition of the local culture comprising of local paintings,
sculptures, art and crafts, jewelry and traditional costume made it one of the
Shimla sightseeing attractions for tourists who have a knack for local and
aboriginal culture and heritage of the city.
Tattapani
Though it is far from the proper city of Shimla and is almost situated at the
confluence of the districts of Shimla and adjoining district of Mandi the hot
water spring at the banks of the river Satluj is one of the most popular Shimla
sightseeing attractions as this spot provides great spectacular view of the
river and its beautiful curves and turns through the lofty mountain ranges all
around and also for the healing effects that the bathing from this spring can
bestow.
Chail palace should also be considered as one of the most beautiful and popular
Shimla sightseeing attractions and many of the tour operators consider it to be
worth including as must pick choice as an inevitable part of the Shimla
sightseeing, but as the Chail palace tour takes more than a full day?s time
including traveling and sightseeing and as the place is located outside of
Shimla in the Solan district, it could not be considered. Apart from this
consideration about the estate of Chail we have only considered those places in
our list of Shimla sightseeing attractions that are invariable in most of the
Shimla sightseeing charts.
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