When we talk about the travel hotspots or most popular places to visit within Shimla we become really mesmerized at the thought of choosing from all these tourist places that deserves traveler's appreciation of most diverse range. From picturesque natural valley to the color of Himalayan valley flowers to the beautiful wave of green pasture in the golf course dotted by the pine trees to the colorful hue of pine and rhododendron reaching the summit of Jakhoo hills to the great variety of most astounding range of royal and architectural marvel sprawling across the city, Shimla is having most diverse assimilation of natural beauty and magnificence of heritage monuments of Shimla and this gave a dimension to the most popular places to visit within Shimla city which is really unique at its offering. Here we would present these most popular places to visit within Shimla city in two different categories, the places of natural beauty and the heritage buildings of Shimla.
A first-hand guide to the six most beautiful heritage and historical buildings of Shimla
Among the scenic hill stations of India which have been a favored destination for millions of tourists from all over the world Shimla bears a special reputation of being charismatically historic. As British at first made it to be their summer retreat and lastly their cherished summer capital which dates back closely to a century preceding the Independence, they paved the way to make Shimla a modern town from what it was, a knot of villages in the midst of soaring mountains. Elizabethan British with their aristocratic taste and a typical sense of meticulous design and comforting plenitude gave Shimla an array of astounding architecture which now became venerable tourist attractions.
Below followed a list and brief description of some of the most attractive heritage and historical buildings of Shimla:
The Vice Regal Lodge (Now known as The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies)
It is located on the Observatory hill in the western fringe of Shimla. It occupies almost a total hill by itself. This huge, mammoth of a gothic architecture surrounded by the wave of picturesque mountains is the most revered architecture of Shimla. Within the premises there are numerous encircling roads leading to three different entrances from Summer Hill, Boileaugunge and the Mall Road. What is astonishing in first sight is its hugeness from the sprawling green lawn facing the main building to the ravishing beauty of wooden interior once you step inside the building. A gallery with gorgeously designed tick paneling is the central place of the building around which other rooms are arranged. The state drawing room, ball room and the wood-paneled dining room which is decorated with coats of arms of former governor generals and viceroys lead to the gallery in the lower level. At different levels and heights the entire building is circled by long verandas and balconies with delightfully designed wooden frames. Way back in 1888 this building had electric lights and the unbelievably surprising fact is that it had an indoor tennis court too! This Scottish baronial architecture bears the memory of a handful of historical decisions which played a big role in shaping the fate of India and the subcontinent. After Independence, till 1960 it had been the summer retreat of the President of India.
Feeling a bit tired with historical evidences, facts and architectural marvels of wood and stone? Come out of the building and have repose in sitting on a reclining bench around the sprawling lawn and garden. If it is already late in afternoon, the most beautiful sunset of Shimla which is so special of this particular place is awaiting you.
Visit to Christ Church of Shimla
On the summit point of the Mall Road which is called The Ridge, one architecture which revels with its vertical Gothic height and a peculiarly peaceful aesthetic is the Christ Church. The silhouette of this beautiful landmark can be seen from miles around. It reminds you of the beautiful old England churches. The Church along with its numerous antique marvels which belong to it dates back to 1857. Beside its faith-inspiring Gothic tallness what would undoubtedly demand your artistic appraisal are its five stained glass windows in the main prayer hall.
Gorton Castle (Now the office of the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh)
This is one of the few buildings of British Empire in Shimla which accomplishes a fusion of different architectural traditions. This gigantic building bears the mark of new gothic tradition which at that time was a modern variation of traditional gothic architecture. In its balconies and in various parts of the building there is a considerable amount of presence of Rajasthani 'Jali' work in curved wooden panels and iron frames and this ornamental design work gave it an altogether different beauty so foreign to the gothic tradition. The construction of this building dates back to 1904 and after Independence for first few years it housed the office of the Accountant General of India.
The Railway Board Building (Now it houses the office of the Passport Authority, Income Tax Dept. and several other state and central govt. offices)
It is the most unusual kind of building among the entire British-made architectural heritage in Shimla with its prime emphasis on security, durability and technical strength rather than aesthetic and artistic appraisal. Way back in 1896-97, this building was built on a cast iron and steel structure completely imported from England and befitted in the construction with other material. This building is made to be completely fire and earthquake resistant and several earthquakes and a recent fire is a testimony to its strength. What impresses one from outside is its stupendous block-like structure meticulously cased in an iron structure from one end to other.
Gaiety Theater
Once which was the Town Hall for British Aristocrats' celebratory and theatrical activities became today's Gaiety Theater, located in the middle of the Mall Road, just below the Ridge point. Its interior shape is typically round with a heightened dome-like ceiling which arouses a feeling of encompassing time and which is so reminiscent of lot many British and European architecture with a strong Byzantine influence. Down below the lower ream of the dome several alcoves and a balcony encircles the theater hall. The historical charm of the theater is optimized with the presence of an array of astounding murals curved in the hanging walls of the balcony between every pillar. There are several old oil paintings and sculpture which jeweled the entire interior with a sense of historic magnificence.
The opening of Gaiety Theater dates back to 30th May, 1887, in the same year of Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration and from then on, until today it had been the centre of Shimla's cultural activities.
Wood Ville Palace (Now, a royal museum and a heritage hotel in ITC group heritage hotel network)
If one thinks of a calm repose in a lush green lawn surrounded by the long cedar trees and a astoundingly beautiful wave of blue mountains fading afar, if one wants to hear the cooing of birds gently piercing the silence all around, if one wants to go on looking to a architectural marvel sitting absolutely relaxed in the lap of nature, this is his ideal place. This building along with its sprawling premises is one of the oldest and finest heritages in Shimla. The construction of this building date back to 1865 by British and after several passing over of ownership finally it had been purchased by the royal family of Jubbal and they made it to be their summer palace. The palace museum is a big wooden paneled hall with innumerable photographs from the royal family's yesteryear's and an impressive display of royal armory. The beauty of this palace is more about its planning of the landscape rather than the architectural marvels of the building.
Must to See Shimla State Museum
Though the building is not considered to be a heritage property the collection of local art and crafts made it to be one of the most popular places to visit within Shimla city and is considered to be a place associated with city's cultural heritage. Shimla state museum has been founded in the year 1974 to protect the cultural heritage of the state and to promote the cultivations of the hill cultures and tourism interest in the people regarding the aboriginal and historic cultural heritage of the state. A great collection of miniature paintings, sculptures, bronzes, wood cravings, textiles, costumes and jewelry of the region are portrayed here to produce a stunning collection of cultural art pieces and handicrafts of hill people.
Places of astounding Natural Beauty in Shimla
As a hill station Shimla boasts of some of the most exotic range of natural beauty with varied specter in various seasons. While snowfall in the winter provides most spectacular scene throughout Shimla, the monsoon in the city provides a different kind of beauty with magnificent luminance and changing color of the sky, play of low hanging cloud, views of smoky mountains, freshness of the green and color shades of natural plantations all around, though summer months are the most popular season of visiting the city for crystal clear view of the distant mountain range and the clarity of natural flora and fauna in the bright sunlight. We would present here some of the most beautiful natural places to visit in Shimla.
Must to Visit Jakhu Hill of Shimla
Jakhu Hill is the highest point of the Shimla city and from here you can see almost the whole city and its surrounding. When you approach the city for the first time, the towering hill that you see just facing the bus stand or the mall road or from any part of the city is the Jakhu Hill. The hill is covered with thick forest of pines, rhododendron or other Himalayan high altitude trees and all these long towering trees that stem from deep inside the ridge and grows aloft to the blues of the sky give this cliff a raw beauty that is rare in the sophisticatedly developed city of Shimla. Jakhu is also the best sunrise point in Shimla and from here if the weather is clear or even sometimes in between the cloudy weather you can see most beautiful rainbow and its colorful arch spreading over the blue mountains of Shimla. When from atop the hill you see the tiny match box like houses deep down in the slopes of Shimla mountains or the ant like movement of the tiny vehicles in the curving road deep beneath, a lofty unexpected feeling of joy and happiness of seeing life move on from afar feels your heart. Like the whole city Jakhu is also inhabited by the Himalayan monkeys all around, but here you will find them in large concentration and in most varied mode. A must see beauty of Shimla that is a photographer's delight as well!
Visit to Mashobra Valley
Mashobra is just one hour journey from the main city of Shimla. Though the city of Shimla mainly built on the steep hills all around does not provide much recess in the landscape for any valley, Mashobra is one of those places in Shimla that can give you a mix of the beauty of valley and steep hills covered by beautiful slopes of Himalayan high altitude trees like pines, rhododendron, oak, etc. The greenery of the whole route from Devidhar to Naldehra the lush green grass and plantations in the slopes of the hills provide one of the most beautiful natural specters. More than sightseeing Mashobra is a place for staying, because only staying in this tranquility in the lap of the abounding nature of huge gorges, great descending depths and all around greenery you will be having one of the most beautiful hill experiences ever.
Naldehra Golf Course of Shimla
Naldehra gives you most diverse ranges of the natural specter of greenery. The golf course which is scintillatingly fresh and green goes on as far as the distant mountain to provide a great specter of waves of fresh grass landscapes dotted around by lofty pine, oak and rhododendron trees all around. This scenic landscape of Naldehra is one of the most gorgeous and crystal fresh among the sightseeing spots in and around Shimla.
Trip to Kufri
Trip to Kufri is just at half an hour distance from the center of the city of Shimla and provides one of the freshest specters of hill slope forest as the long stretch of pine forest from Kufri to the Fagu valley is considered to be one of the largest stretch of high altitude forest in the entire continent of Asia. Kufri is also the highest hill point in the outskirt of the city of Shimla and one of the major areas for all types of snow sports and fun. The winter view of Kufri provides one of the most electrifying snow scene with the slopes and trees of the hillside all covered with snow. Kufri is mainly an attraction for the snow viewers and ice sport aspirants who visit Shimla in the months of winter.
Travel to Tatta Pani near Shimla
In Indian language Tatta Pani means 'hot water' and it refers to hot water spring. This hot water spring is situated on the Sutlej River in the border of the district Mandi and Shimla which is just one and half hour run from the city of Shimla. Located at the banks of the great Sutlej River in the outskirt of the Shimla city this spot provides one of the most beautiful specters of one of the most important hilly rivers of India. The hot water of the spring is said to have great array of natural healing properties for various health complications.
Junga Tour
Junga is located 26 kilometer away from Shimla and the distance is not much from the places like New Shimla as these places have newly been included in the city limit. Junga is a place that provides you great view of the surrounding lofty hills and great variety of mountain trees like pines, rhododendrons, oak, etc. Junga is having a museum of the erstwhile Princely Estate of Junga and apart from it within a short trek you can have great views of the Ashwiniriver flowing through nearby hills.
Potters Hill Nature Camp
Near the Summer Hill railway station in the Kalka to Shimla heritage railway line you can have a great stay in the lap of the nature. Through the lower Summer Hill road, passing the Himachal Pradesh University campus and the scenic Himalayan village of Chaily you can reach the jungle retreat of the potter's hill. The place is mostly surrounded by the great Himalayan high altitude and low altitude trees as this place is situated on the verge of the lower belt of Shimla and the Shimla city. You will be able to find some natural flow of hill water through the hills and jungles which are called 'khad' in the local language. The boundless wave of green mountains all around and the lofty Himalayan trees like pines, oak and lower Himalayan trees like chirpiness provide a great specter of the confluence of the lower and higher Himalayan belts near Shimla city.
Chail Palace and Wildlife Sanctuary around Shimla
First of all let us mention here that Chail is not in the Shimla district and it is located in the adjoining Solan district but takes not more than two hours of motorable journey to reach at the spot. For the travelers who are travelling to Shimla from long way far from distant parts of the world or India Chail is a must see place as this place provides one of the most dazzling beauty of the distant hill sides all around the upper and lower belt of the mountain terrain of Shimla. Being located at the lofty place overlooking the great mountain range all around wave all around,it provides picturesque specter of far reaching wave of hills. The palace situated at the center of Chail is having one of the greatest varieties of exotic mountain trees all around the lush green palace lawn and beautiful and scenic quays all around the palace. Apart from the palace wildlife sanctuary atop the hill provides a great variety of Himalayan flora and fauna. The dense forest cover with pine trees, oak, rhododendron, birch, willow and sprawling grasslands the sanctuary provides great views of various animals in the most natural hill surrounding like Himalayan black beer, European red deer, leopards, panthers, wild boars and a great variety of Himalayan birds like, rhesus macaque, Indian muntjac, crested porcupine, etc.
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