Shimla travel guide – tourist places in Shimla
Shimla is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India and is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. This city was earlier known as Simla, but know being popular with the name Shimla, it has become a famous tourist destination for the travelers. The Queen of Hills is situated at an altitude of 2128 feet in the north-west of Himalayas which comprises of fast flowing rivers, pleasing wildflower meadows, spectacular mountain lakes and green valleys. The panoramic view of Himalayan mountain ranges makes Shimla a paradise on earth where vacationers can enjoy a tranquillized backdrop.
Shimla is not just famous for its scenic beauty, but is also known for different adventurous sports. Adventure lovers can have a great time, as they can involve themselves in sports like skiing, parasailing, trekking, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, trekking and mountaineering. The huge loft snow Cap Mountains offer a great experience while getting involves with these sports.
The city is surrounded by Himalayan Mountains covered with forests of oak, pine and rhododendron. The city is about 115 kilometers from Chandigarh (nearest major city) and is about 350 kilometers from Delhi (capital of India). The name of the city Shimla was derived from the goddess name Shyamala Devi (re incarnation of goddess Kali).
Shimla Climate
Shimla experiences moderate summers, chilling winters, spring and soggy monsoons. Summers are moderate with a temperature ranging from 14 degree centigrade to 25 degree centigrade. Winters are cold in Shimla and range from -7 degrees to 10 degree centigrade. The city receives rainfall during springs and monsoons. The city receives snowfall during winters which is usually late in the month of December continuing to January and extending to the month of February.
Places of Interest
Shimla has become the most preferred holiday destination in India and this place attracts lot of tourists from all over the world round the year. The pleasant climate, marvelous landscapes and lots of adventurous sports makes this place really exciting for the vacationers. Some of the main tourist attractions in Shimla include Mall, Daranghati Sanctuary and Himachal State Museum. Some tourist spots around Shimla include Kufri, Hattu Peak, Hatkati, Fagu, Mashobra and Narkanda.
The Mall:
The Mall is a beautiful place located at the top of ridge which consists of several old buildings with sovereign shops and restaurants. People can enjoy a marvelous glimpse of the Christ Church from this mall which holds a great beauty with its old tainted glass windows. At the top of the Mall is a large open space facing the town known as the Scandal point from where people can get a great panoramic view of the entire city. This is a worth sight to capture in camera and people can take these memorable moments back home to cherish them in future.
Daranghati Sanctuary: Shimla and surrounding places are full of forest area, hence making the place a home for the wild animals. The State Government of Himachal Pradesh has taken a good step in preserving the unpolluted forest and guarding the wild life by creating a sanctuary which is called Daranghati Sanctuary. This sanctuary is an ideal place to visit for the wildlife lovers and one can enjoy watching some rare species like musk deer, tragopan, koklas and many other animals. This sanctuary also offers a wonderful location for trekking
Mashobra:
Mashobra is located at an altitude of 2149 which creates an ideal atmosphere for growing apples. There are ample of Apple orchids in this region and if one visits this place in the right season, he can enjoy a great scenic beauty of the apple orchids. This place has thick vegetation of pine and oak trees and to add up to the beauty, there are flowering meadows which is a treat to watch. Mashobra has lush green lawns spread over a wide stretch of land with sitting benches all around for the people to sit and enjoy the closeness with the Mother Nature.
Kufri:
If one wants to witness the geographical diversity of nature, then Kufri is the right place. Kufri is an ecstasy with fast flowing rivers down the valley, deep rocks, high peaks of Himalayas and lush green vegetation of Alpine trees. The panoramic view of the mountain ranges with a perfect climate makes this place the most visited tourist spot in Shimla. The geographical diversity of this place makes it an ideal place for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, rafting and horse riding. Kufri also incorporates a wildlife park where people can see ghoral, Ibex, musk deer, pheasants and bears.
Things to do in Shimla Shimla has a lot to offer to its visitors. Vacationers can visit various tourist spots and get close to Mother Nature. For adventure lovers, various winter sports are hosted like skiing which is a perfect option to have fun. There are several other adventure sports in which people can take part like mountaineering, hiking, paragliding, mountain biking and horse riding. Fr shopping in the city, the Mall is the best place and people can even experience different cuisines at this place.
Transportation and Stay
The main transportation options in Shimla are the local buses and private Taxis. Local buses ply around the city center, while private taxis are a good alternative for sightseeing. Shimla is one of the most visited tourist spots in India and so accommodation is not a problem in this beautiful city. The city has wide range of hotels starting from budgeted accommodation to five star hotels and resorts. Some of the well known hotels include Oberoi Cecil, Wildflower Hall and Honeymoon Inn to name a few. If you wish to go in for a budgeted option then, The Dawn, Hotel Willow Banks and Toshali Royal View resorts can prove to be quite facilitating.
beautiful pictures. Nice blog